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TGIF everyone! Last week, we told you that it was time to put your Christmas trees on the curb in order to give them a proper sendoff. This week, we’ve got a follow-up about that sendoff. Not that we intend to turn this into a six-part Netflix series, but you’ve got to admit this video from Burrtec is pretty cool to watch. And just think — the next stop for somebody’s holiday centerpiece might just be your garden!
🎶 Setting the mood: "This Will be our Year" by The Zombies
Leading Off
Without a new power substation, Imperial Irrigation District officials said they will have trouble servicing new development planned for the city’s northern edge. (Photo: Shutterstock)
Palm Desert approves new energy substation to unlock development
The Palm Desert City Council unanimously approved a new $42.6 million energy substation Thursday that will enable development on approximately 70 acres of undeveloped land along the city's northern edge.
Driving the news: Imperial Irrigation District told the city it would not issue additional “will serve” letters for new developments in two zones it serves without new energy infrastructure, effectively halting development in those areas.
Will serve letters demonstrate a utility's intent to provide service and are required before developers can begin the entitlement process in Palm Desert.
The details: The Berger Foundation will pay the largest share at $10 million, followed by $7.5 million from Imperial Irrigation District. Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage and Riverside County will each contribute $5.6 million, with two developers paying the remainder.
Why it matters: The substation will serve undeveloped parcels in two zones where property owners have requested hotel and commercial development but couldn't move forward due to energy constraints.
The city estimates it will receive $1.3 million to $2 million annually in tax revenue from new development.
The city’s $5.6 million investment should be recouped through a community facilities district tax on impacted parcels.
What's next: Construction should begin in 2027, with the facility operational by summer 2028.
Briefly
A pedestrian waits in a median as traffic turns left.
💰 City wins $5.7 million grant for safety
Palm Desert secured nearly $5.7 million in federal funding to design and build street safety improvements near schools and along high-risk corridors. The city was one of 67 jurisdictions nationwide selected for an implementation grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program.
Improvements will focus on streets serving Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, Palm Desert Charter Middle School, George Washington Charter School, James Earl Carter Elementary School and Palm Desert High School. Proposed enhancements include crosswalks, ADA-compliant curb ramps, pedestrian-scale lighting, sidewalk upgrades and speed management measures.
Details: Project design and public outreach are expected to begin in 2026, with construction starting in 2027 and occurring in phases. The funding supports Palm Desert's Vision Zero Strategy, which aims to eliminate traffic-related deaths and serious injuries.
🛝 Committee pushes for bigger regional park
The Palm Desert Parks and Recreation Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to recommend expanding a planned regional park in the University Neighborhood beyond a previously discussed 28 acres, with members suggesting a target closer to 38 acres. The motion also called for clearer provisions allowing athletic fields with stadium lighting and extended operating hours.
The discussion centered on park space within the roughly 170-acre city-owned University Neighborhood planning area bordered by Frank Sinatra Drive and Portola Road. Committee members said existing athletic fields across the city are already heavily booked and expressed frustration that the 28-acre concept keeps resurfacing despite their concerns.
Bottom line: City staff said the revised University Neighborhood Specific Plan will be released for public review before heading to the Planning Commission, with the committee's recommendation for additional acreage and stronger sports facility language included in future staff reports to City Council.
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
World Desert Day
Saturday | 9 a.m. | The Living Desert
Come celebrate the deserts of the world – along with all the flora and fauna that call them home guests can learn about desert plants and animals through special guided tours and animal connections. This event also features desert-themed cocktails, specialty food items, and a desert plant sale! ($40)
Desert Winds
Sunday | 3 p.m. | St. Margaret’s Episocpal Church
The beautiful setting of St. Margaret's Episcopal Church is the stage as we celebrate the most talented members of Desert Winds in amazing solo and small ensemble works. This was a new concert last season, drawing a huge audience and two standing ovations. You won't want to miss it this season.
Jeffrey Siegel's Keyboard Conversations
Sunday | 3 p.m. | McCallum Theatre
Exhilarating Polonaises, dreamy Nocturnes, charming Waltzes, poignant Mazurkas and the Ballad in A Flat. An entertaining, enriching concert experience. Brief, captivating remarks introduce dynamic performances of piano masterpieces. Concert concludes with a brisk Q & A session. All questions welcome! ($27)
📌 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 …
With city staff present in the background, Mayor Evan Trubee fields questions from residents at his first Coffee with the Mayor event held Wednesday morning.
Palm Desert Mayor Evan Trubee hosted his first Coffee With the Mayor event Wednesday morning at the Palm Desert Entrepreneurial Resource Center, drawing more than a dozen residents and twice that number of city staff ready to answer questions about development, traffic and preserving the city's small-town character.
Driving the news: Trubee, appointed mayor in December after his 2022 City Council election, fielded wide-ranging questions while highlighting two major 2026 projects: a surf park opening late spring or early summer off Desert Willow Drive, and groundbreaking on a new city library set to open in summer 2027.
The concerns: Residents pressed the mayor on whether Palm Desert can maintain its character as it grows toward a buildout population of 70,000 to 75,000 from its current 53,000 residents.
Trubee acknowledged the concern but said the city cannot close the door to growth: "The same things I love about this desert and this town, I have to share with everybody."
Why it matters: The mayor emphasized Palm Desert's financial stability allows the city to manage growth more effectively than other valley cities, with tourism-related tax revenue funding essential services like fire and public safety.
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