Leading off: Memorial moves forward

One significant public art project is a step closer to reality, but the fate of funding for another faces a delay following a Palm Springs Public Arts Commission meeting Wednesday evening.

Driving the news: The Arts Commission gave unanimous approval during its regular meeting to cover the costs of installing the planned AIDS Memorial Sculpture in the city. But it tabled a decision to help breathe new life into an existing mural significant to the city’s Black community.

• The AIDS Memorial Sculpture is planned for the new Downtown Park. The Commission committed spending up to $65,000 for site preparation and installation at the park whenever the artwork is finished.
   
• The mural is located on the south wall of the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center. The initial work of converting the painted mural to a tiled mural is estimated to cost $100,000, but additional costs could be as much as $200,000.
   
• Arts Commissioner Shawnda Faveau was the lone no vote against tabling a decision about the mural until city officials can work with the artist to determine the exact final costs.

• More details on the effort behind the artwork — including how to donate for costs associated with its creation — are available here.

• We told the story of the mural, its meaning to the Desert Highland Gateway Estates neighborhood, and how area students helped in its creation, in a story last September.
   
• If commissioned, Wyatt would draw on experience creating one of his better-known pieces – Hollywood Jazz: 1945-1972 – in recreating the mural in tile.

What they’re saying: “It’s important to get a more current estimate from the artist,” Arts Commission Vice Chair Russell Pritchard said of the vote to table a decision about the mural. “Everything in the world has increased in price. So, I don’t think we should discuss it until we have a firm budget.”

Next steps: Backers of the memorial sculpture said they are “in heavy fundraising mode” and hope the installation takes place in late summer or early fall 2023. As for the mural, city officials will be tasked with reaching out to the artist to get a final project estimate.

In brief: Big brand has grand plans

Plans to redevelop one of the city's historic properties were submitted this week by one of the world’s most exclusive members-only clubs.

The news: Colony 29 in the Historic Tennis Club neighborhood is set to be re-developed into a “modern-day swim club” operated by Soho House. The project's backers emailed The Post about their plans Wednesday afternoon.

• The seven-acre enclave was built in 1929 and is made up of six homes set into a hillside at 147 South Tahquitz Drive. 
   
• It’s a popular venue for weddings, and one of the homes was featured in “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.”

• The construction is described as “limited,” and developers say they will be rehabilitating the existing buildings and any new construction will be inspired by the current Spanish style of the site.
   
• They hope to open the doors by 2024.

• To keep membership young and cool, there’s a discount if you’re under 27. The nominating committee may also consider your career when evaluating you.
   
• Even then, there’s still a record high 79,000-person waitlist to score a membership.

• Membership Collective Group also owns The Saguaro Hotel in South Palm Springs.

Celebrate the Fourth With The PSCC!

🤠 AM Roundup: Grab a cup & catch up 

🚰 Sobering words from a Nevada water official: "We are 150 feet from 25 million Americans losing access to the Colorado River." (LA Times)

🥑 On a flight home to Washington state from Palm Springs, a woman was so inspired by what she’d seen here she decided to open up “Bougie Brunch” back home. (NBC Right Now)

🏸 Palm Springs residents started a liquor brand based in the city called “Racquet Club.” (Locale Magazine)

📅 On tap 

The City Council holds its regular meeting tonight at 5:30 p.m. Here’s what you need to know: 

Navigation center: Approval of a contract for architectural and other design services related to the homeless navigation center that’s set to be built in the northern part of the city is one of the key agenda items.

• Go more in-depth with our story from earlier this week.

Money talks: Councilmembers will also continue the discussion from last week on the fiscal year 2022-23 General Fund, Measure J, and Airport Fund budgets, and the preliminary five-year Capital Improvement Program.

• Here’s what happened at last week’s meeting. 

Road safety: The city will also receive two reports related to road and pedestrian safety. Officials will discuss both reports and will vote on whether to file them.

• One of the plans, the Local Roads Safety Plan (LRSP), is required to obtain future grant funding from the Highway Safety Improvement Project (HSIP).

• In-person preschool story time happens at Palm Springs Public Library at 10:30 a.m.
   
• The Palm Springs Sunshine Sisters are having a game night this evening at 5:15 p.m. Learn more here.
   
• VillageFest is happening downtown, and the summer hours have started so it won’t start until 7 p.m. Also, there’s free admission to the Palm Springs Art Museum.

• Tahquitz Creek Yacht Club meets to clean the creek bed Saturday at 7 a.m. (Note the earlier start time due to the heat).
   
• The city's annual Juneteenth celebration is slated to start at 12 p.m. Saturday at the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center. The Post is proud to help sponsor this event. Find details here.
   
• The Palm Springs Cultural Center continues its "Rewinds" series Saturday with a showing of "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" at 8 p.m. Saturday.
   
• The Idyllwild Arts Native American Arts Festival begins this Sunday and lasts until June 24. It's out of the area, but worth the trip to check out demonstrations, Native food tastings, film screenings, and more.

And finally ...

🐾 Each week, The Post partners with a local animal shelter to feature one or more of the many animal companions ready for a new home in our community. 

• This week we invite you to meet a Ella, a sweet 7-year-old mixed breed at Palm Springs Animal Shelter.
   
• Staff at the shelter say she is a mellow girl who enjoys walking, car rides, and playing with other dogs in the yard. See her pet page here.

Details, details: You can visit the shelter at 4575 E. Mesquite Ave. Hours are 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on all days except for Tuesdays (open for intake and clinic only) and Thursdays (1 p.m. until 7 p.m.). You can always call the shelter at 760-416-5718.

🏃‍♀️ Kendall can’t believe Kate Bush is running up the charts thanks to Stranger Things Season 4.

💗 Mark married his publisher's daughter 32 years ago today!

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