Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Desert Hot Springs public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
5 issues in roads with high priority
Residential street slurry seal and pavement management
The city's average pavement score has slipped to 67.5 from 78 in 2019; a $2.5 million bond-funded slurry seal of residential streets is planned now, with ongoing funding from cannabis tax revenue once reserves max out.
Road Funding and Five-Year Paving Plan
Councilmembers Voss and Pitts wanted to explore a half-cent sales tax for street repairs, but the idea died without a motion after colleagues balked at a new tax. Instead, a two-member subcommittee will look at every other funding option first, using the upcoming pavement management plan as a roadmap.
School Safety on Avenida Jalisco
A completed safety plan targets dangerous drop-off conditions at Bella Vista Elementary and Painted Hills Middle. Quick fixes cost $68,570; the full $2.7 million rebuild depends on grants, and families have waited 14 years.
Palm Drive and 20th Avenue traffic signal
Bids for the long-awaited signal come in June 25, with construction expected to finish by next summer.
Warehouse truck traffic and city access
A 1.16-million-square-foot warehouse near the I-10/Palm Drive interchange promises hundreds of local jobs but residents worry about already-congested Palm Drive traffic. Turn-lane improvements on Varner Road may or may not coincide with the planned South Palm Drive project.