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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNon-Agenda - Public CommentJanuary 5, 2022 Mayor Lisa Middleton Mayor Pro Tem Grace Garner Councilmember Christy Holstege Councilmember Dennis Woods Councilmember Geoff Kors City Manager Justin Clifton Honorable Mayor, Members of the City Council and City Manager, The Palm Springs Roundtable is a group of local Palm Springs business owners representing a variety of sectors: retail, restaurants, bars, salons, gyms/studios and small hotels. Our businesses are established in various areas throughout Palm Springs. We have come together with the understanding that although we have different issues and concerns, our common goal is in the success of Palm Springs and our community. We are writing today to urge City Council to undertake an in-depth study into the cannabis industry and potentially suspend new permit approvals until a comprehensive land use plan has been vetted and adopted. As business owners, and individuals who support a city with diverse offerings, we are supportive of Palm Springs being at the forefront of this new industry. However, following a few months of research, conversations with cannabis business owners, meetings with the City's Cannabis Special Programs Coordinator and the City Council Cannabis Subcommittee, we have some concerns. As we understand it, there are currently 21 active dispensary and lounge permits, with another 21 approved but not active. This is potentially one for almost every 1000 residents. There are now 11 in the downtown corridor. Our own city staff has expressed concerns that we have allowed this growth to happen too quickly. The concerns are as follows: 1. Our city thrives on diverse business offerings. We have seen the problems historically in Palm Springs when one image dominated the city; e.g., businesses catering to spring breakers, tacky t-shirt shops, an abandoned downtown mall, or vacant storefronts. 2. For the alcohol industry, county and state limitations play an important role. There are a relatively small number of cities allowing cannabis (and many of those having strict limitations). Since there is no real state or county oversight, cannabis companies are naturally drawn to cities with limited restrictions — especially resort towns. 3. We are encouraged by some of the cannabis entrepreneurs, specifically those that have occupied long -vacant buildings. While we believe in a free market system, we also don't want to see those making huge investments end up closing due to unfettered growth. 4. The cannabis operators have been known to drive up rents. In one situation, a cannabis dispensary paid 30% above what all of their neighbors were paying and the landlord I-VS-Z92Z puM1, i L C,b nnrr�� ITLM NO. quickly went to the neighbors, raising their rent. While landlords should certainly maximize their revenue, we have also seen that explosive growth in rents, followed by an economic downtown, results in many vacant storefronts. We need to keep Palm Springs accessible to small business. 5. We realize that there is new code enforcement and fines, but there needs to be further monitoring and assessment over time. The restaurant members of our roundtable have experienced cannabis customers come in after consuming edibles and pass out after they have been served, once the effects kick in. 6. We know City council has expressed concerns about the billboards entering town. We share these concerns. A recent Adweek article on Splashhouse and a cannabis sponsor, referred to Palm Springs has "a mecca for cannabis culture". Another article referred to our City as "Pot Springs", certainly not our preferred brand. 7. We have asked how the City's cannabis revenue is allocated. While we know there are staff monitors, it seems like the funds go into the general fund. Perhaps some of the funds could be allocated to rehabilitation scholarships for some of our homeless. 8. Several City leaders have commented that the state has determined that cannabis is on the same level as alcohol, and we don't share the same concerns with that industry. However, the alcohol industry is much more mature, and regulated by limited licenses and census. Cannabis is a nascent industry. We don't know what will happen with any of the above until we have more experience. We propose the following: 1. Holding off on any new permits until the industry and land use plan can be fully analyzed. 2. Review inactive cannabis permits and ensure there are time limits for use and a mechanism to revoke unused permits. 3. Review the process for selling permits. We should be sure there are strict controls so that ownership is monitored, considering background checks like ABC conducts. 4. Assess the effect of code compliance enforcement and fines to ensure the industry is well managed, in much the same way we have with the vacation rental industry. 5. Consider earmarking a portion of revenue for: a. Increased costs due to the industry such as public safety b. Education on use c. Social good 6. Review the effect of rents on neighboring small businesses. 7. Expand and promote the City Council Cannabis Subcommittee Meetings to occur more frequently, and reach out to members of the public and business community. 8. Develop a long-term strategy and managed growth plan. We appreciate the opportunity to share our concerns and ideas for managing this growing industry. If we can ever help in the process, we stand committed to do so. The Palm Springs Roundtable Tiffani Bailey From: Anthony Mejia Sent: Thursday, January 6, 2022 6:22 PM To: Tiffani Bailey Subject: Fwd: Report Card 2021 Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Flagged Please print and distribute with agenda correspondence on Monday. Anthony Mejia City Clerk Begin forwarded message: From: Andrew Archdale <psscouser@yahoo.co.uk> Date: January 6, 2022 at 5:26:02 PM PST To: City Clerk <CityClerk@palmspringsca.gov> Subject: Fwd: Report Card 2021 NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. Please can you confirm that the below email I sent to the Mayor and Council on December 31 st has been entered in the public record Thank you Kind Regards, Andrew C Archdale "You'll Never Walk Alone" Begin forwarded message: From: Andrew Archdale <psscouserkyahoo.co.uk> Date: December 31, 2021 at 2:43:35 PM PST To: Christy.HolsteizeApalmsprini4sca.gov, chiefApalmsprinPsca.gov, CityManager@palmspringsca.gov, Cit. Clerk @palmspringsca.gov, Christy_@chris . holste ems, Dennis.Woods@palmspringsca.gov, Geoff.Kors@palmspringsca.gov, Lisa.Middleton@palmspringsca.gov, Llubi.Rios@palmspringsca.gov, Grace.Garner@palmspringsca.gov, Jeff.Ballinger@bbklaw.com Cc: rgregory@cathedralci ov, cityhall@cityofpalmdesert.org, richardk@ranchomirageca ov, rbalocco@indianwells.com, eholmesindio@gmail.com, shernandez@coachella.org 2 Subject: Report Card 202122- 1 QoApti b tv yp*o�k rr M NO. 0 011-Aonitx— Report card 2021 Congratulation on encouraging record breaking passenger numbers to PS over the last 5 months. More pollution both carbon and noise from 6am in the morning, never ever talk about climate change again, or fireworks! Asking full time residents to conserve water and electricity whilst encouraging hundreds of thousands of visitors to use our local resource,at the hottest time of the year, totally hypocritical, but there more TOT Grade: Fail Congratulations on reaching 69 or is it 70 pot shops in PS? The problems this will create for the future is shameful and when you are all long gone there will be continued suffering as pot is a gateway drug for many and it's horrendous results. Have you even wondered who is supplying the homeless with drugs in PS, and where do they get the money to use drugs? How many drug dealers have been arrested and jailed? Grade: Fail Congratulations on finally arresting a gun toting homeless person outside Starbucks a couple of weeks ago, but a naked man on the street, a baseball bat swinging man and a woman using a fire hydrant to wash her private parts on Palm Canyon did not warrant any police action when I reported it this summer. Grade: Fail Congratulations on arresting a man, by accident who had been known to the police for 10 years with a long list of drugs and criminal activity, who murdered two people this year, one our friend Joseph Grade: Fail Congratulations on appointing a new police chief to PS where 95% of cities throughout the US are safer than PS. Have you told any tourists that? The new appointee comes from a City where 97% of cities around the US are safer than his former town. Grade: not enough data yet Congratulations on leasing out Joseph's store on Palm Canyon (murdered holocaust survivor) and allowing variations of the F..... k word to be displayed on the shop window for over 5 months, an undoubted first for PS nationwide and a nonsensical display of stupidity by the City, and attorney Grade: Fail Congratulations on approving a mural to be painted and displayed of George Floyd on Indian Avenue, a career criminal who is NOT an example for any person of any race to follow whatever the sad circumstances surrounding his demise. A proposal to relocate the mural would give the following grade Grade: Fail Congratulations on finally closing the Well in the Desert on Calle Encillia after allowing three years of nightmare for local residents and businesses from gangs of homeless. However, closing Barristo Park for kids and families, which was open for the gangs to inhabit but is now closed because you are too weak to deal with the problem of drug thugs and gangs returning is shameful.Pander to the useless, penalize law abiding residents. Grade: Fail Congratulations on the appointment of a new city manager who oversaw the disastrous road reorganization in Sedona and who feels the " Sky is the limit" and a first for PS taxpayers, for the payment of reparations to the earlier day drifters of section 14. Grade:not enough data yet but not looking good for taxpayers. Congratulations on buying a building at a cost of $10m plus to help create a solution for the "homeless". It seems that spending $millions on the Roy Wilson center that was not conveniently located for them and is not utilized to any degree was a project that you have not learned from. It's amazing that a zoo in Palm Desert can spend $14m to house 9 rhinoceros not even native to this country and PS cannot even quickly solve what is described as a homeless problem but should be more accurately be described as dealing with hundreds of people who do not want to participate nor abide by rules of common decency. Grade: Fail Congratulations on closing the PS jail and not reopening it. A disincentive by peace officers to arrest anybody when transport to either Indio or Banning is the only option. If the community of thugs knew that they would be arrested and spend time uncomfortably in jail things could improve. Still an opportunity to open and have full time counsellors on hand to deal with the genuine mental problems of some who actually need help and moved to .......ah ha Roy Wilson Center. Grade: Failing Congratulations on street cleaning of needles, human excrement and trash which now operate every single day downtown on two or three shifts from 3 am in the morning. Good to know that street cleaners now need security to shadow them whilst doing their job to protect them from the street thugs. Grade: Fail Congratulations on rotating the Mayoral role. It seems that you should all have an opportunity for personal " firsts" and fill out your resumes as a stepping stone to higher office rather than be held responsible for the decisions you make and to be around to see the consequences. Grade: Fail And finally, congratulations on the location of Forever Marilyn but a FAIL for even considering the removal of the Frank Bogart Statue who was elected for two full terms as Mayor of PS and on balance initiated and led this town steadfastly where all citizens benefitted during and after his terms of office. Time to leave PS after four decades Andrew C Archdale "You'll Never Walk Alone" Tiffani Bailey From: Anthony Mejia Sent: Monday, January 10, 2022 8:31 AM To: Tiffani Bailey Subject: FW: Public Comment - Item Agenda Correspondence Anthony J. Mejia, MMC City Clerk From: Hank Bates <mvps20lO@verizon.net> Sent: Friday, January 7, 2022 7:49 AM To: City Clerk <CityClerk@palm springsca.gov> Subject: Public Comment - Item NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. Dear Mayor Middleton and City Council Members, As work is in progress on the newly named Thompson Hotel project at Alejo Road and North Palm Canyon, I would like to suggest that the City take a look at the fountain art piece at Frances Stevens Park across the street. This description of the park is no longer applicable: "4-acre green space offering picnic tables, grassy areas & a contemporary -style fountain." The fountain, which at one time was considered "contemporary" has lost its appeal and the 4-acres has now become more of an attraction for transients than families and tourists enjoying the park. I don't want to beat a dead horse here, but I have brought this to the attention of the Council before. The situation has only worsened. Respectfully, Hank Bates 760.333.6980 MVPS Properties - Projects Director mvps2010(c_verizon.net / fax 866-571-8374 IT) :%g Tyr, City of Palm Springs Office of the Mayor and City Council 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, CA 92262 It is requested that the following letter be distributed on my behalf to all members of the Palm Springs City -Council as well as to all members of the Palm Springs Planning Commission. As an individual homeowner of New Mesquite, I have become aware of the interest in a high -density development for the former Bel Air Greens Golf Course. I wish to express my opposition to this project. We know that there are alternatives to this approach. I feel that designating this as an open space, such as a preserve, would better serve our community and visitors. if a development such as this is allowed, the following are some of the consequences that would surely occur: • Reduction of open space • Creation of increased housing density • Reduction of wildlife habitat • Missed opportunity to see the concept of Mesquite Desert Preserve fulfilled, to the detriment of future generations of residents and visitors o Loss of protected and managed natural area o Loss of educational opportunities for young and old i.e., plant and animal identification and study, birdwatching, environmental studies o Loss of recreational opportunities, i.e., walking, jogging, bicycling Missed opportunity to connect the Mesquite Desert Preserve to the east of Sunrise with the city's planned Tahquitz Creek Trail west of Sunrise Please consider my serious opposition on this matter as you evaluate this project. I want only the best fort Best ��.`PIiC ��mrnrMfi iTE:�xO. Anthony Mejia From: Richard Kedrowski <rakedrowski@alaska.edu> Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2022 7:13 PM To: City Clerk Subject: Ruth Hardy Tennis Courts NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. To whom it may concern: I can't believe we have to go through this again with those pesty pickleball players. 3 years ago at a meeting of the Mayor and the City Council, it was decided that the historic Ruth Hardy Tennis Courts would remain for tennis only and the pickleballers could have all of Demuth Park. That gives tennis 8 courts and pickleball 16 or 20. In addition, the city promised to build 24 more courts for pickleball. Now it seems that pickleball wants the Ruth Hardy tennis courts as well. Please - they have enough courts. I play tennis every morning and all the courts are usually being used for tennis all morning. We need all those courts for tennis and could use even more courts during busier times when people are often already waiting for up to an hour for a court. I realize that pickleball is the new craze but us tennis players didn't just disappear. We are still here and still need all the tennis courts at Ruth Hardy because those are the only public courts we have. Thank you, Rich Kedrowski 1 U�bl C." �Drrm� Tiffani Bailey From: Anthony Mejia Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2022 4:03 PM To: Tiffani Bailey Subject: FW: Taquitz Creek Golf course AC Anthony J. Mejia, MMC City Clerk From: Llubi Rios <Llubi.Rios@paImspringsca.gov> Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2022 3:37 PM To: City Clerk <CityClerk@pal mspringsca.gov> Cc: Monique Lomeli <Monique.Lomeli@ paImspringsca.gov> Subject: FW: Taquitz Creek Golf course Please see comments below - From: ken ogren <oerenken @yahoo.com> Sent: Saturday, January 8, 2022 2:00 PM To: Llubi Rios <Llubi.Rios@Palmsprinesca.gov> Subject: Taquitz Creek Golf course NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. My wife and I are twice a year visitors. We come every year partly for the golf. We heard that you are thinking of closing the municipal course because it appears to not be making enough money to sustain itself. We just want you to know that this will cost the city lost revenue in loss of income from rentals, restaurant revenue and shopping revenue. You have a rare gem and you better think hard and long before you give it up. Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android -13 - 'V f ubl i(� C DM WIA^k 1'1 LIvf Ni,). 6MMtt1 (r Anthony Mejia Subject: RE: *NEW SUBMISSION* Submit Public Comment to the City of Palm Springs from: City of Palm Springs<palm spri ngsca @enotify.visio n internet. com> Sent: Monday, January 17, 2022 10:11 PM To: City Clerk <CityClerk@palmspringsca.gov>; Anthony Melia <Anthony.Mejia@palmspringsca.gov> Subject: *NEW SUBMISSION* Submit Public Comment to the City of Palm Springs Full Name/Nombre Alexander Stein City of Residence/Ciudad de residencia Palm springs, Phone (optional) /Tel6fono (opcional) Email (optional/opcional) Your Comments/Sus comentarios Vaccination Way Vaccinate Ave Vaccinate everybody in the potty Vaccinate don't way vaccinate all day long vaccinating your song vaccinating your shirt vaccinate in your skirt steak the needle in your arm six NATO and your mom just vaccinate your dad and mom Vaccinate Amanda Prime just Vaccinate The Way Vaccinate right now vaccinate you all day long vaccinate me right or wrong vaccinated you white or black Vaccinate The one smoking crack vaccinated druggies vaccinated buggies vaccinate them all vaccinate my friend name Paul this is Pan 1099 the king of all Conspiracy follow my YouTube channel a conspiracy Castle and make sure I have my Instagram at primetime stein Thank you, City of Palm Springs This is an automated message generated by Granicus. Please do not reply directly to this email. ubl;c, Clo" e.Mt NO. ON- Anthony Mejia Subject: RE: Save PS Golf - Petition Update From: Ernest Cecena <ernestimsavepseolf.ore> Sent: Saturday, January 8, 2022 6:03 AM To: Flinn Fagg <Flinn.FaRF!oalmsprinRsca.eov> Subject: Save PS Golf - Petition Update NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. Good morning, Director Flinn Fagg. Save PS Golf would like to present you with an update on our petition to save the Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort course. As of today, 2,517 community members have signed the petition, in our support. They recognize the importance of having affordable golf accessible to all and the value that each player brings to the Palm Springs economy. https://www.change.org/Save PS Golf Sign the Petition Save PS Golf - Tahquitz Creek Golf Courses www.chanae.ora As we continue to inform the community about the possibility of losing this resort city treasure, we hope that you will take this petition, this collective voice, into consideration and join us in saving the Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort. Thank you very much. a� p� Icc, CQV-% # ITEM NO. W ' A.L.ftx 1 & ADVOCATESWILDLIFE 1775 E Palm Canyon Dr #4020 Palm Springs CA 92263 760-385-8255 January 2022 Mayor and City Council City of Palm Springs Re: 30x30 Thank you for your commitment to the 30x30 movement to mitigate climate change on a local level. These efforts will help to provide safe, accessible outdoor spaces and ensure that our local ecosystems can survive, thrive and serve Palm Springs residents for generations to come. We have researched the city owned properties and identified three which would qualify for the city's involvement in the 30x30 campaign. The most obvious candidates are the properties identified as Boulders and Crescendo. These properties are pristine habitat for local wildlife, migratory birds, are rich with native flora and cryptobiotic crust which serve as local carbon sinks and offer sweeping views of the Colorado Desert's unique biodiversity. Further, these properties could be maintained in a way that includes hiking trails and recreational use for the residents of and visitors to Palm Springs. We would like to request that the Boulders and Crescendo properties be donated into conservation or that they each have a conservation easement placed on them. We would also like to request that The Resort Course of the Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort be sold for conservation. This property contains critical wildlife habitat that could be restored to allow for the movement of native wildlife as well as a resting place for the many migratory birds seeking refuge as they pass through on their annual journeys. Under the management of a conservation group, The Resort Course would offer the public a safe, accessible place to view and learn about local biodiversity and serve as a tourist destination. This acquisition is supported by the US Fish and Wildlife service, as evident by the letter attached below. Additionally, we believe it would be beneficial for the city to adopt guidelines around native vegetation and existing heritage trees. Similar to the protection of historical buildings within the city, trees and other vegetation that critically support the surrounding habitat or provide shade cover to residents should be considered for protection from demolition. Protecting native flora is one of the strongest tools we have in the battle to mitigate climate change, particularly in an ecosystem subject to extreme drought conditions where commercial landscaping cannot as efficiently absorb carbon or provide habitat without the aid of other valuable resources. Protecting our existing shade trees is necessary for the safety of our residents, particularly in the summer months when temperatures are regularly upwards of 1000. We, the undersigned, are asking the City of Palm Springs to consider these requests in your upcoming visionary session. Protection of these properties and implementation of guidelines around native vegetation would be an important first step in the City's attempts to mitigate climate change on a local level while also providing equitable access to valuable outdoor spaces for all its residents. Oswit Land Trust (OLT) Palm Springs Wildlife Advocates Little Tuscany Neighborhood Organization Bighorn Sheep Institute Friends of the Palm Springs Mountains Thank you in advance for your consideration of these requests. If you have any questions, you may contact Jane Garrison of OLT at 843-343-8887 or Michael Fleming of the Little Tuscany Neighborhood Organization at 310-386-5284. %_ 13-jxrAZ' ITEM No. Alan- o`Ty�' United States Department of the Interior U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE ul EcoIogical Services Palm Springs Fish and Wildlife Offrcc 777 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 208 �4pcH 3, �0a Palm Springs, California 92262 November 22, 2021 Sent by Email Jane Garrison President Oswit Land Trust 1775 E. Palm Canyon Drive, # 4020 Palm Springs, California 92263 Subject: Letter of Support for the Acquisition and Conservation of Portions of the Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort, Palm Springs, California. Dear Ms. Garrison: On behalf ofthe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (Service) Carlsbad and Palm Springs Fish and Wildlife Offices, we are writing to express our support for the proposed acquisition and preservation of portions of the Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort in Palm Springs that will benefit the recovery of listed species. We understand that the proposed acquisition of the Resort Course portion of the City -owned parcels by our partners for natural resource protection is under consideration by the City. The Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort parcels consist of desert wash, floodplain and upland habitat. Specifically, the proposed acquisition will conserve critical areas along Tahquitz Creek that will help enhance and sustain habitat occupied by Casey's June beetle (Dinacoma caseyi) to facilitate its recovery. Casey's June beetle is a federally endangered species endemic only to Palm Springs and the Service, along with our partners, have been working to conserve and recover the species since it was listed. The only known remaining population of Casey's June beetle is found in the Palm Canyon Wash and Tahquitz Creek area of Palm Springs, which totals less than 800 acres. The Resort Course parcels proposed for acquisition are in Tahquitz Creek, one of the only two remaining desert riparian wash habitats that support Casey's June beetle. Conservation and restoration of the proposed Resort Course parcels would expand suitable Casey's June beetle habitat, re-establish connectivity with the upper reaches of Tahquitz Creek, and enhance the long-term survival and recovery for the species. Preservation of the limited remaining suitable and occupied habitat is a high priority for Casey's June beetle conservation and recovery. We offer our support for land acquisition from willing sellers at fair market value that advances the conservation and recovery goals for Casey's June beetle as exemplified by the proposed preservation of portions of the Resort Course at Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort. If you have any questions, please contact Noelle Ronan' of this office by email or by phone at 442-303-7919. Sincerely, ° SCOTT efp1`°''c W oC SOBIECH „ :=B ' Scott A. Sobiech Field Supervisor r noelle_ronanQfws.gov AnthonyMe'ia From: Mark Luellen <marknsf98@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, January 17, 2022 10:17 AM To: City Clerk Cc: CityManager Subject: Additional Pickleball Courts NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. Please consider adding 12 new lighted Pickleball courts in Palm Springs. We support the community initiated proposal to the Measure J Commission to construct these courts. Please distribute my email to all City Council members and each member of the Measure J and Parks and Recreation Commission. Best, Mark Luellen Resident Palm Springs. ITEM No. Gh•• Anthony Mejia From: amy mosher <amymosher333@gmail.com> Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2022 10:45 AM To: City Clerk Subject: Pickleball courts NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. The city is in dire need of 12 new, lighted Pickleball courts. This is the fastest growing sport in the country. We support the community initiated proposal to the Measure J commission to construct these courts. Please forward my email to all city council members & all members of the Measure J & Parks & Recreation commissions. Thank you, Amy Mosher & Marlys Schuh Palm Springs Sent from my iPad C-0tr+l^�'�' rmmm. A)ar,—qov� AnthonyMe'ia From: T & Jack < ta ndjac k@ya hoo.co m > Sent: Monday, January 17, 2022 11:29 AM To: City Clerk Subject: Additional Pickleball Courts NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. Dear City Clerk, Please distribute this email to all City Council members and each member of the Measure J and Parks & Recreation Commission. We support the community initiated proposal to the Measure J Commission to construct these courts. Please consider adding 12 new lighted Pickleball courts in Palm Springs. Thanks for your consideration and support, T Santora & Jack Jackson 184 Via Huerto Palm Springs, CA pL,,6 c, CAYA *f fMM NO. Anthony Mejia From: Cali Corbs <calicorbs@gmail.com> Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2022 1:48 PM To: City Clerk NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. I play tennis everyday at ruth hardy with my family we do not need pickle ball players on tennis courts build pickle ball courts dont take from tennis 1TFM NO. Anthony Mejia From: Scott Torgan <scotttorgan@yahoo.com> Sent: Friday, January 14, 2022 5:46 PM To: City Clerk Subject: More Pickleball Courts in Palm Springs Please! NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. Dear Mr. Melia, Please consider adding 12 new lighted pickleball courts in Palm Springs. We support the community initiated proposal to the Measure J Commission to construct these courts. I am new to the sport, a recent convert from tennis. The Demuth courts are always crowded (and I'm happy to say, in my experience, consistently friendly and welcoming to new players). And it is interesting to note, In 2020, 4.2 million people played pickleball in the U.S., up from 3.46 million in 2019, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association's (SFIA) 2021 Topline Participation Report, released in February 2021. That's a whopping 21.3% increase from 2019 to 2020, the highest of any U.S. sport. My guess is that the demand for court usage will continue to increase commensurate with the growth and popularity of the sport. The Demuth courts (and entire park) is already impressive; adding new courts to the City would be another attractive aspect for residents and visitors to the City. Please distribute my email to to all City Council members and each member of the Measure J and Parks and Recreation Commissions. Thank you. Sincerely, Scott Torgan Resident of Palm Springs. 1-13-- aoa..)i Pubs it, camp UENI NO. AnthonyMelia From: Yisu Kim <yisu1205@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, January 14, 2022 7:14 PM To: City Clerk Subject: Ruth Hardy Park tennis courts INOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. Hi, My name is Yisu Kim and I have lived in Palm Springs for four years. I heard that there was a petition to turn the tennis courts at Ruth Hardy Park into pickle bail courts. I would like to request that the petition does not go through as there are pickle ball courts already designated at Denuth Park and Palm Springs Princess Park. There are not plentiful tennis courts in Palm Springs other than at Ruth Hardy. Thank you very much for your consideration. Sincerely, Yisu Kim �,,�1tic, czmW� ITEM NO. 1 ► 1 Brent Ras! To: Anthony Mejia Subject: RE: James 0 Jesse unity center skate plaza From: derrick pine <dtpine@vahoo.com> Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2022 10:47 AM To: City Clerk <CityClerkpalmspringsca.gov> Subject: James O Jesse unity center skate plaza NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. My name is Derrick pine 43 years old I have been in the community since I was 2 And as a young kid growing up on the rougher side of Palm Springs i believe Giving the kids something to do Rather than just hang out in the streets would be a great impact on the community I participate in the come ride with us Program and i think it's great. Before covid hit I used to round up all the kids and take them down to the Palm Springs skate park one time Throughout the week and the weekends. It is very hard to do because there are a iot of kids who are interested and would love that opportunity but I only have one truck and only can do so many things by myself and having 4 kids of my own. With that being said I think a skate plaza inside the community would be great and can change the future for our kids. I am willing to help teach any which way I can. Thanks Derrick pine. Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android pz ?- Trrm Nn. Brent Rasi To: Subject: Anthony Mejia RE: Pickleball From: Nancy Transue<nktransuePemail.com> Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2022 12:33 PM To: Anthony Mejia <Anthony. M eiia@ paImsprinpsca.go> Subject: Re: Delivery Status Notification (Delay) NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs sure the content is safe. To whom it may concern: DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are am writing concerning the future of tennis in Palm Springs. I just recently moved here from Bainbridge Island, Wa, the birthplace of pickleball. Pickleball interests have taken over tennis courts there and now the private tennis club was purchased by the parks and recreation department with funding that is unclear and apparently with the intent of converting the 4 remaining indoor tennis courts there to pickleball courts. The first step is "striping" courts there so both sports can be played on them. Pickleball money has already caused parks and rec to "stripe" the remaining two playable tennis courts there , so both sports can be played there. Trouble is, it's very hard to play tennis with all those confusing lines on them. In fact, I slightly injured myself adjusting to them. A short time later I starting playing Pickleball, thinking if you can't beat them, join them. After a month or two, I ended up in physical therapy. Turns out pickleball may be more injurious to older players than tennis.( Good news is I bought a condo in Palm Springs that has terrific well maintained courts at Ruth Hardy park and, my realtor thought, at DeMuth park. Of course, before I purchased I discovered that DeMuth is now just pickleball. But the good news is, if I time it right, I can still play at the Ruth Hardy public courts. I am just overcome with sadness that the Ruth Hardy courts have come under attack too. Please do not "stripe" the Ruth Hardy courts. Pickleball is a fad. As the injuries mount up, it will fade. ( One older person at my club in Bainbridge died last year about an hour after playing a strenuous pickleball match. )Tennis has been around for hundreds of years. People come to Palm Springs and move here for the joy of playing tennis in the winter outside. Save Palm Springs public tennis. If wealthy pickleball interests want more courts, have them fund them at Demuth. Sincerely, A tennis refugee, Nancy Nolan Q�bl�� i3orr�" rmIN0. Brent Rasi To: Anthony Mejia Subject: RE: In kind donation: I Heart Tennis RR Doubles event From: Taroli Tennis <tarolitennis@Rmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2022 12:53 PM To: Jasmine Waits <Jasmine.Waits@ pal mspringsca.gov>; City Clerk <CityClerk@palmspringsca.gov> Subject: In kind donation: I Heart Tennis RR Doubles event NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. To whom it may concern - My name is Sean Bulmer. I am the owner of Maverick Tennis in Palm Springs, CA. I am writing you as a formality as it appears my request is dead in the water before it's even been presented. As you surly must know, over the last 7 years Palm Springs has gone from world class tennis destination to tennis graveyard. Even in a global pandemic that disallows every single sport with the exception of golf and tennis zero programming exists at Ruth Hardy Park. A community sport in which a tennis court in Southern CA is worth aprox. $80,000.00 a year to its Parks Department sits empty. A sport that the CDC tells us if played 3 hours a week can cut in half the risk of almost any deadly disease, remains unused. Weather my conspiracy or incompetence the Peoples Courts sit rotting, unwashed and unlit. Why is that? Like it or not our Park & Recreation department is a governmental entity. It's socialism at its very finest serving ALL of The People no matter ethnicity, country of origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, or economic background. The "World oldest social network" is also the most socially distanced safe sport requiring 78' between players. It is custom made for the physical and emotional challenges we face today. Yet despise a few lightbulbs being replaced and a return to a few lot courts at Ruth Hardy Park, the city's own app. warns local and visitors alike "No lights available until further notice." Why is that? I lived in PS proper from 2012-2016. As a 3rd gen California and San Francisco native I've called Palm Springs a second home all of my adult life. My grandfather and my grandmother, a DiMaggio from SF, used to bring me down here as a kid so I could learn how to play tennis and how to be a gentleman. One out of two isn't bad. I returned to PS in October of 2020 with one goal in mind... to return tennis to the city that literally owes its life to Tennis and the movie stars that played it. For God sake's there's a 9 foot bronze statue of Charlie Farrell aka Mr. Palm Springs, a former mayor and well- known actor who opened the Racquet Club a Palm Springs in 1934. In fact I run the Facebook page for the club. But when I returned I found a negative undercurrent at the park. Worse yet, I found tribalism between a sport and a recreation that has divided a Ciry, it's snowbirds and it's guests. There's no possible way any of you do not know what's been going on. Yet you sit by and watch as though nothing has happened. Why is that? I did not return to play Police -person, therapist, or become the Messiah of Tennis. For 15 months I've worked diligently to sever that negative influence from Ruth Hardy Park and embrace Pickleball as one of their fellow players. In fact I took free Pickleball lessons last summer at 6:15 in the morning before I went to Palm Springs high school to give an hour of tennis tour local children to the park and rec department. Things are dramatically different at Ruth Hardy Park and I've been embraced by most of the pickle ball players. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I am pro recreation. I am pro Arts. I seek harmony, not chaos. I shouldn't have to be telling any of you this nor should I have to be doing your work for you. I'm willing to take a bullet on behalf of others. One of the final pieces of the puzzle is an event I produced called the I Heart Tennis round robin tournament. The dates are February 12 and 13th Valentine's Day weekend. That weekend was originally scheduled for a Sanctioned senior tournament. Despite having created a bridge between United States 1 (-l$ -.W2 =- 0411*C Co rruMC ►� rMM NO. _a'IOA aAMOtA tennis Association and the park in Recs Department of Palm Springs California I've yet to see any real support from the governing body of Tennis. Therefore at the request of the regulars Who play at the park I pivoted to a locals tournament instead. I'm asking the city for an in -kind donation that would pay for the printing of the flyers for the tournament as well as the court fees. Court fees I may add, that do not include cleaning of the courts or their lighting. Why is that? I've already received my answer. To paraphrase, "If we do it for him we will have to do it for everyone." That attitude doesn't make me angry. It doesn't even frustrate me. To be honest, it kind of breaks my heart. People are dying. People are taking their own lives. People are unhoused, people are unemployed. People are loosing faith in their own government. I returned to give our cities unofficial sport a little nudge. But what I found was a park in disarray and our cities official sport abandoned. Someone very special to me asked me to go the extra mile and try to heal some of the past wounds our tennis community still suffers. I won't bother you all with what my answer was, but I can promise you it wasn't, "If I do it for them I'll have to do it for everyone." Why is that? Please add me to 01/24/2022 agenda. In gratitude, Sean PS: please find the mock up or the event attached. THIS IS NOT THE FINAL IMAGE. It was custom drawn by Joe Phillips for the event in order to project a "travel poster" feel for the City of Palm Springs. By donating the courts and printing not only is the City showing their support for the event and the tennis residents of PS Proper, they are helping me keep the event affordable. The fee is only $30 per person. That's 1/3 the normal fee. If we do not receive help the cost will have to be baked into the fees. And to be clear this is not a for -profit event. A portion of the proceeds are earmarked to provide free and affordable programming for youth and senior residence of Palm Springs she's a Palm Springs park and recreation department. z If - y1b T� Sponsored by Ably Apparel Moveric Tennis F Tennis Coalition of PS Maverick Tex 41 . 94_4223 Coach Taroli Founder: Maverick Tennis NorCal/SoCal w) 213.538.2697 c) 415.794.4223 please consider the environment before printing this email CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email transmission, including any attached files, may contain confidential information and is intended only for use by the individual(s) to whom it is addressed. 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