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TGIF and welcome to more than 1,000 of you who have signed up for this little newsletter in the past month! FYI that the city is launching a redesigned website soon to make it easier for residents, businesses, and visitors to find what they need — with key information accessible in three clicks or less. The new site will feature a cleaner design, better organization (like having all parks and trails info in one spot instead of scattered across multiple pages), and will meet updated accessibility requirements. Note that once it launches, some old bookmarks might not work anymore. The city is welcoming any feedback at this email address as officials prepare for the big reveal.
🎶 Setting the mood: "Downtown" by Petula Clark
Leading Off
An aerial overview of business and retail shops in Palm Desert. (Photo: Shutterstock/Matt Gush)
Palm Desert touts retail strength, unveils strategy to attract more businesses
Palm Desert's retail sector posted strong numbers in 2025 with a citywide vacancy rate of 8.3%, outperforming regional averages. The city welcomed 12 new businesses last year and expects 10 more to open in 2026.
Driving the news: Economic Development Manager Jill Mendoza outlined a three-priority strategy during a Jan. 8 City Council study session focusing on data analysis, enhanced marketing and improved business support.
The department plans to create parcel-level data to understand retail real estate inventory and respond quickly to prospects.
By the numbers: El Paseo showed a vacancy rate of just 6.1% in the fourth quarter of 2025, significantly below Palm Desert's citywide rate and regional averages. The Coachella Valley averaged 8.1% vacancy while Riverside County averaged 6.9%.
What's opening: Notable 2025 arrivals included Love Sac on El Paseo, 85°C Bakery Cafe at Desert Gateway and J.Crew Factory at Town Center. RH on El Paseo, H&H Bagel at Monterey and Country Club, and El Paseo Chophouse are among 10 businesses slated to open in 2026.
Why it matters: Palm Desert continues to lead the region in retail sales tax and maintains what Economic Development Coordinator Vanessa Maher described as an "unmatched luxury cluster" on El Paseo.
What's next: The department will launch a branding campaign in the third quarter of 2026 to promote Palm Desert's retail opportunities and prepare for the ICSC retail recruitment conference in Las Vegas in May.
Briefly
The city’s Citizens on Patrol program is looking for volunteers.
👮 Citizens invited to learn about volunteer patrol opportunities
The City of Palm Desert will host the Coachella Valley Citizens on Patrol Association Conference today from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at City Hall, 73510 Fred Waring Dr., welcoming community members interested in learning about volunteer opportunities with the public safety program.
The conference will feature presentations from public safety professionals on topics including Drones as First Responders, human trafficking awareness, new e-bike rules and regulations, and arson investigation. Attendees are encouraged to arrive at 8 a.m. to meet volunteers from various valley cities.
Details: Citizens on Patrol is a volunteer program providing residents an opportunity to support public safety efforts by serving as extra eyes and ears in the community, assisting with traffic control and special events, supporting disaster response, and helping strengthen neighborhood awareness and crime prevention initiatives. More information is available here.
🏘️ Housing Authority approves contract to fix apartment flooding
The Palm Desert Housing Authority on Wednesday approved a $240,000 construction contract with Van Engineering Inc. to address flooding problems at Taos Palms apartment complex at 44830 Las Palmas Ave.
The project will include demolishing and replacing existing asphalt, sidewalks, landscaping and drainage systems, with modifications to grading and drainage throughout the courtyards and parking areas. The work will also correct ADA deficiencies at the site.
Details: The project will be fully reimbursed through federal Community Development Block Grant funds from HUD, which the Palm Desert City Council reallocated last month to address the documented flooding and drainage problem.
A MESSAGE FROM THE LIVING DESERT
Rooted in the Coachella Valley, The Living Desert leads desert conservation on a global scale. Join us at the International Desert Conservation Summit to hear powerful stories and insights from conservation leaders on the front lines. Discover how local action supports global impact — and how you can help safeguard desert habitats and wildlife for generations to come.
📅 Featured Events
Coachella Valley Citizens on Patrol Association Conference
Today | 8:30 a.m. | Palm Desert City Hall
Meet local Citizens on Patrol volunteers, learn how the program supports our community, and discover how you can get involved. The conference will also feature presentations on topics like drones as first responders, human trafficking awareness, e-bike laws, and arson investigations.
International Desert Conservation Summit
All Weekend | Various Times | The Living Desert
The event features keynote speaker Paul Rosolie and brings together conservation leaders to highlight efforts protecting desert wildlife, expanding environmental education, and supporting conservation programs through more than $180,000 in awarded grants. ($150)
Jay Leno
Saturday | 3 p.m. / 7 p.m. | McCallum Theatre
Acclaimed TV late night show host, admired stand-up comedian, philanthropist, and more, Jay Leno is coming to the McCallum Theatre for two stand-up comedy shows on Saturday. ($103)
CV Firebirds vs. Abbotsford Canucks
Sunday | 5 p.m. | Acrisure Arena
Your Coachella Valley Firebirds are back on home ice tonight against the Abbotsford Canucks. ($34)
📌 Save The Date
Winter Bioblitz at Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument on Jan. 23
The Dreamboats at Emerald Desert RV Resort on Jan. 24
Noble Beasties Two-Day Workshop at the Artists Center at the Galen on Jan. 30
Afternoon Chamber Music at Hope Palm Desert on Feb. 1
📣 And Finally …
More utility boxes — such as those pictured here — will be beautified under a plan approved by a city committee Wednesday morning.
Palm Desert is giving its weathered utility cabinet art a desert appropriate makeover while expanding the program to bring more visual interest to intersections across the city.
Driving the news: The Cultural Arts Committee approved a four-phase plan Wednesday to replace aging artwork on utility cabinets throughout the city and add five new installations in North Palm Desert.
The refresh addresses deterioration on 13 existing installations, many of which have exceeded their expected five- to seven-year lifespan due to harsh desert conditions.
The expansion: Five new utility cabinet art sites will be added at Cook Street and Frank Sinatra Drive, Dinah Shore Drive and Portola Avenue, Country Club Drive and Oasis Club Drive, Country Club Drive and Monterey Avenue, and Monterey Avenue and Fred Waring Drive.
How it works: Artists will soon be invited to submit proposals through a call for artists process, with stipends of up to $2,000 per cabinet for artwork and an additional $2,000 per cabinet for vinyl wrap production and installation.
The bottom line: The entire project will not exceed $60,000, already included in the city's fiscal year 2025-2026 public art budget.
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