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Free Shred Event

Daylight Saving Time Ends

Don’t forget to turn back the clocks this Sunday, November 5. We get an extra hour of sleep as Daylight Saving Time comes to an end at 2 a.m. Turn back those clocks one hour!

Shop La Quinta Local

City Website Links:

City Council Agendas

Quail Mail

The HUB (Permits & Licenses)

The GEM Magazine - November 2023

The November 2023 GEM Magazine is available online! In this issue:

• Old Town La Quinta Celebrates 20th Anniversary
• City of La Quinta to Host Veterans Day Recognition Event November 11
• KIKI'S: The Latest New Restaurant to Expand La Quinta's Vibrant Dining Scene
• Plus Much More!

The GEM is a local publication about all the great things happening in La Quinta, California. It is produced by the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce (GCVCC) and distributed for free to all residents, Chamber members, and businesses in La Quinta. For previous issues of the GEM, please visit www.playinlaquinta.com/the-gem/.

To advertise in the GEM, please call the GCVCC at (760) 347-0676 or email: info@GCVCC.org.

U.S. Flag Drop-Off Box

Residents and businesses that have worn and tattered U.S. Flags, or recently bought a new one, can drop-off their old flags at City Hall. There is a flag drop-off box located near the City Hall main entrance in the South Parking Lot. The drop box was designed by our local Scouts BSA Troop 451. Since its start in November 2022, the City has collected 397 U.S. Flags so far! For more information about the drop box and U.S. Flag etiquette, please visit https://www.laquintaca.gov/Flag.

Business Assistance Links:

• La Quinta Business Licenses
• La Quinta Economic Development
• Small Business Thrive Programs
• Free Zero-to-Entrepreneur Educational Programs
• Riverside County Business Assistance NOW
• Riverside County Financial Assistance and Relief Funds

Upcoming City Meetings:

City Council Meeting

• Tuesday, November 7, 2023, 4:00 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers

Financial Advisory Commission Meeting

• Wednesday, November 8, 2023, 4:00 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers

Planning Commission Meeting

• Tuesday, November 14, 2023, 5:00 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers

*Meetings are subject to change. Verify the City Calendar links above for agendas or cancellation messages prior to meeting start time.

Short-Term Vacation Rentals

Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) information and the weekly STVR Active & Suspended Permit List is available on the City’s website at: https://www.laquintaca.gov/STVR.

Active STVR permit holders can access their account 24/7 to complete their monthly TOT reporting online, submit and pay for STVR permit renewals, as well as easily manage their account by using the City’s online STVR portal at: http://laquinta.munirevs.com.

City staff is available to answer any STVR questions by email at vacationlq@laquintaca.gov or by phone at (760) 777-7162.

Voter Registration

The November 5, 2024, General Election is a ways away; however, the March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election will sneak up on us in no time. City Hall will be a ballot drop-off location for this election starting Monday, February 5, 2024.

You can register to vote online through the California Secretary of State website or at any of the following locations:

• Post Office
• Library
• City and County Offices
• Department of Motor Vehicles
• Online at voteinfo.net or www.sos.ca.gov/elections

For additional voter registration information, please contact the Riverside County Registrar of Voters at (951) 486-7200 or (800) 773-8683. The City's website also has more information.

Upcoming Events:

Veterans Recognition Ceremony

Please visit www.laquintaca.gov/VETERANS for more information.

The Missing Man Table

Visit the La Quinta Museum starting November 1 through November 30 and view a beautiful display. The Missing Man Table, also known as the fallen comrade table, is steeped in symbolism and is featured in solemn ceremonies for fallen, missing, or imprisoned U.S. Military Service Members. Each item on the Missing Man Table represents the emotions and feelings reserved for those who did not come home.

La Quinta Art Celebration ENCORE

The La Quinta Art Celebration ENCORE returns to Civic Center Park November 16-19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Art enthusiasts can browse a unique selection of world class art from over 200 artists. Enjoy food, live music, and plenty of art at the #1 fine art and fine craft art event in the nation! For more information, please visit www.laquintaartcelebration.org.

Certified Farmers Market

The Certified Farmers Market will be held on Sunday, November 5, from 8:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. in Old Town La Quinta. Bring your reusable grocery bags and your appetite because the Certified Farmers Markets are back, bigger, and better than ever before. You will find fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers, fresh farm-raised meats, line-caught seafood, freshly baked bread, pastries, cookies, handmade hummus, chips and dips, salsa, handcrafted teas, gourmet sauces, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. We also have honey, fresh-squeezed juices, handcrafted leather goods, jewelry, natural health products, handmade clothing, cards, skincare, soaps, candles, handcrafted wood bowls, and cutting boards, all brought to you by local vendors. Admission and parking are free!

For more information, please visit www.playinlaquinta.com.

Love & Love Tennis Foundation Tennis Clinics

Love & Love Tennis Foundation will be offering FREE Tennis Clinics at Fritz Burns Park every Saturday through November 25, from 8:00 – 9:15 A.M. Ages 6 – 15 years old only. This is a great way to introduce your child to this great sport. Register by calling (760) 772-9411 or email sportswomn@aol.com.

Health and Wellness Events

The Wellness Center is hosting a Health & Wellness Day on Wednesday, November 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and a Vaccine Clinic on Wednesday, November 29, from 8 to 11 a.m. Click the image above for more details about each event. The Wellness Center is located at 78450 Avenida La Fonda.

LQ Hikes

In collaboration with our pals at Friends of the Desert Mountains, please find the following hikes for November 2023. Meeting point is at the Top of the Cove Parking Lot at Avenida Bermudas & Calle Tecate.

November 27, from 7 - 10 p.m. - La Quinta Full Moon Hike 

November 27, from 7:30 - 10 p.m. - La Quinta Cove Night Sky Star Observations

**Hikers must register for a FREE ticket to attend each hike. Registration begins 7 days prior to the event. This way they can keep the group sizes under 20 people. For more information, please call (760) 568-9918 or visit www.PlayInLaQuinta.com.

Art in Public Places:

The Couple

Art Piece: The Couple (2001)

Artist: Gudmann & Slaughter Studios

Location: City Hall (North walk-way)

The sculptures by the collaborative duo of Elisabett Gudmann and Kirk H. Slaughter transcend the starker aesthetics of minimalism by combining a clean architectural context with sensual sophistication. Their most recent work revolves around the concept of contrast and materials, juxtaposing both surface textures and colors. This is accomplished utilizing bronze casting, metal fabrication, assembly, and carving techniques.

Recreation:

Fritz Burns Pool

La Quinta's Fritz Burns Pool has plenty to offer visitors of all ages. Activities include Arthritis Water Therapy, Aqua Fit, Adult Water Aerobic, and Open/Lap Swim just to name a few. The pool is located on the corner of Avenida Bermudas and Avenue 52 in La Quinta, CA. Please contact (760) 771-4347 for more information or visit www.laquintaca.gov/FBpool.

Click the images below to view the new Fall 2023 schedule!

Wellness Center

The La Quinta Wellness Center's hours of operation are:

• Monday - Friday: 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday: 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Sunday: Closed

For more information, please call 760-564-0096.

Thanksgiving Luncheon at the Wellness Center on Thursday, November 9, at 11:00 A.M. Fee $4. Enjoy meeting new friends, and a catered lunch. Register before the event day. Limited seating. For more information, please call 760-564-0096.

The La Quinta Art Celebration will be using the Wellness Center facility beginning Monday, November 13 through Monday November 20. The facility will be closed to the public during this time and will re-open on Tuesday, November 21 at 6:00 A.M. Wellness Center Fitness Members are welcome to use the Desert Recreation District La Quinta Fitness Center located at 77-865 Avenida Montezuma. You will need to show your membership card to the front desk staff. 

The La Quinta Wellness Center is offering fitness classes in November. Yoga Flow, Gentle Yoga, Mat Pilates, Tai Chi Yang, Essential Fitness, Mental Muscle Relaxation, Deep Stretch, Beginning Ballroom Dance, and Pickleball 101 are available for online registration now! Please call the Wellness Center for more details (760) 564-0096.

Click the image below to view the weekly classes for November 2023.

Monday Movie Matinee

All movie Mondays begin at 1 p.m. Movies are FREE and seating is available on a first come, first serve basis. Movies are subject to change without notice. For information about movie titles, please call the Wellness Center at (760) 564-0096.

Food Programs

The Wellness Center is a resource for food distribution and general information.  Call (760) 564-0096 Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

In partnership with FIND Food Bank, the City participates in bi-weekly food distribution (food bag/box for each household) to many of our affordable housing properties including:

• Coral Mountain Apartments
• Hadley Villas
• Vista Dunes
• Washington Street Apartments
• Wolff Waters Place Apartments

Interested parties are encouraged to call (760) 564-0096 for more details.

In collaboration with the City, FIND Food Bank continues to distribute food at the following locations and days:

La Quinta Community Park, 77865 Avenida Montezuma, La Quinta, CA 92253

• 1^st Friday of the month, from 8 - 9 a.m. Seniors age 65+ only (proof of age required).

Horizon High School, 43330 Palm Royale Dr., La Quinta, CA 92253

• 1^st Wednesday of every month, from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. All ages welcome.

Contact FIND Food Bank at (760) 775-3663 or visit www.laquintaca.gov/foodresources for more information.

X Park - New Hours!

Beginning November 6, the X Park will be open seven days a week! The hours of operation will be Monday - Friday, 12 to 9 p.m. and Saturday - Sunday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Resident fees are $2 for a daily use pass and $25 for an annual pass. Non-resident fees are $5 for a daily use pass and $50 for an annual pass. Skateboards, bikes, scooters, and rollerblades are welcome! For more information, please call 760-777-7004 or visit www.laquintaxpark.com.

La Quinta Public Library:

The La Quinta Library is committed to encouraging lifelong learning by providing the people of our community with safe, no-cost activities for educational growth and recreational fulfillment. For the full complement of programs and events, check out our Facebook events page.

**Please note: The Library and Creation Station will be closed on Friday, November 10, in observance of Veterans Day.

Library: Anime Zone

Saturday, November 4 at 11:30 A.M. Ages 10-17. Enjoy random anime with friends. Commentary encouraged! 

Library: Love Story Book Club

Love Story Book Club. Ages 18+. Sunday, November 5, at 2:15 P.M. Happily Ever After not guaranteed in this traditional book club featuring romantic titles. October’s pick: Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. See the Adult Reference Desk to register and to ask about available copies. *Registration required*

Library: Pagemasters' Book Club

The Pagemasters’ Book Club. Ages 18+. Thursday, November 9, at 5:30 P.M. Join our newest traditional book club where we’ll read a wide variety of SciFi and Fantasy titles throughout the year. In November, we’ll discuss Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. See the Reference Desk to register, copies are limited.

Creation Station: Maker Craft

Maker Craft: Escape the Pyramids on Thursday, November 9, from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. All ages welcome. Oh no! You’ve been sent back in time to Ancient Egypt and trapped inside one of the great pyramids! To escape, you must decode the 12 riddles of the Sphinx. You will need to make a Hieroglyphic decoder to help you solve the riddles. During the program, you can also construct a pyramid of your own or learn to draw a simple Scarab Beetle.

Creation Station: MakerSpace Camp

MakerSpace Camp: Pokémon Mini Pillows on Saturday, November 25, ages 7-13. $5 fee. Session A: 10:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. Session B: 1:30 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. Our November MakerSpace Camp will focus on hand sewing techniques to create custom Pokémon mini felt pillows. Makers will learn about Blanket Stitch, Backstitch and more! Participants can choose (2) designs from our limited-edition collection: *Snorlax (aka Kabigon) *Jigglypuff (aka Purin) *Pikachu *Poké Ball *Charmander (aka Hitokage) *Rowlet (aka Mokuroh) Gotta Catch Them All!! These designs are only available with this MakerSpace camp. Limited Spots, so RSVP before it's too late! When you RSVP, please include your (2) design choices so the kits are ready for the camp.

La Quinta Museum:

The La Quinta Museum is open Tuesday - Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please check our Facebook page or call (760) 777-7170 for current program information and registration links for FREE programs. Please visit www.facebook.com/LaQuintaMuseum.

**Please note: The Museum will be closed on Friday, November 10, in observance of Veterans Day.

Event: Music at the Museum

Music at the Museum: Las Tías on Thursday, November 2, from 5:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M. Join us in the Courtyard for Music at the Museum with Las Tías! The duo formed by Giselle Woo and Janine Rivera is steeped in Mexican American heritage and deeply rooted in the Coachella Valley.

New Mini Exhibit: Día de Muertos

Día de Muertos Mini Altar Exhibit, October 31 - November 9. Día de Muertos or Day of the Dead is traditionally celebrated on November 1 and 2. It is widely observed in Mexico and is also observed in other places, especially by places of Mexican heritage. Altars are part of the Día de Muertos, honoring family members, friends, and even pets that have passed away. Come to the Museum’s Mural Room and enjoy the beautiful and heartfelt miniature altars created by members of our communities. They will be on display through November 9.

Upcoming Exhibit: Desert Views

Desert Views opens November 7, enjoy work from local artists interpreting the theme “Desert Views”. Experience this collection of over 40 artworks, celebrating both views of the valley and diverse points of view.

Mini Exhibit: Frank Capra

New mini exhibit in our Local History gallery: La Quinta Legends: Frank Capra. Legendary director Frank Capra’s films made the American dream come alive on the silver screen during the 1930s and 40s—and our own La Quinta may have played a part in his success! This exhibit shines the spotlight on the life of one of our city’s most celebrated residents.

The City of La Quinta is excited to announce we have partnered with Tyler Technologies to provide an improved and efficient customer service experience with an advanced online permit software system. The HUB Online Portal provides the City with tools to reduce the need for redundant data input, reduce staff and customer time when assisting the public with permitting and licensing, allow Geographic Information System (GIS) integration. Here is a link to The HUB Online Portal:  http://www.laquintaca.gov/HUBOnlinePortal

Please contact the HUB at 760-777-7000 if you need assistance with the Hub Online Portal or would like to schedule an in-person appointment.

Business Licenses:

Apply or renew your business license by accessing online services at http://www.laquintaca.gov/HUBOnlinePortal

Staff issued 50 business licenses and collected $6,241.00 for the week of October 22^nd through October 28^th.

Permit Center:

The Hub/Permit Services is open to the public Monday thru Friday from 8:00am - 4:00pm. To make an appointment or for any questions call (760) 777-7125 or via email at customercenter@laquintaca.gov.

Staff received 85 permit applications and issued 79 permits for the week of October 22^nd through October 28^th.

Permits include building construction, land use and special events, garage sales, public works encroachment, fire system installations and code compliance inspections.

Building:

Completed 83 Plan Reviews and performed 410 inspections for the week of October 22^nd through October 28^th.

New Development Updates:

The City Council will consider two public hearings at their November 7, 2023 meeting:

Changes to architecture, building height, and site plans for the La Quinta Village Apartments, a 252-unit multifamily apartment complex, which includes 74 moderate-income units, as directed by Council. The proposed project site is located at the northeast corner of Washington Street and Avenue 50.

City-wide zoning code language clean up and changes to game court, flagpole, and accessory dwelling unit regulations.

Code Compliance:

• Code Compliance has inspected 149 properties, opened 29 cases, closed 59 cases, issued 18 courtesy notices, 21 notice of violation, 7 final notices of violation, 6 administrative citations, 3 notice of public nuisance, and 199 other actions and handled 51 phone calls.
• Code Compliance has a full-service voicemail system. The mailbox will be monitored regularly. Callers can leave their messages/requests as follows for:
• Report a Code Compliance Issue - leave a detailed message including the property address or, the specific location, the nature of the complaint, and any pertinent details relating to the reported violation. Code Compliance will investigate the concern and address any observed violations. The reporting party may contact Code Compliance at 760-777-7050 and request an update. 
• Inspection requests for a pool drain, home-occupation, or short-term special inspection, please leave a message with the permit number, address, type of inspection, and requested inspection date and time along with a name and call back number.
• For general code compliance related questions or to report a code issue, please email codecompliancemail@laquintaca.gov
• Complaints at permitted Short-Term Vacation Rentals - for an actively occurring report, please contact the STVR hotline at 760-777-7157. A resident may confirm that a specific address has a STVR permit by visiting the City’s website. 
• For animal control services, please contact Riverside County Department of Animal Services at 760-343-3644.
• For questions or to pay an administrative or parking citation, please call the Citation Processing Center at 1-800-989-2058 or visit citationprocessingcenter.com.
• For non-emergency police services, please contact Riverside County Sheriff at 760-836-3215, option 5.
• Code Compliance welcomes walk-ins but encourages to schedule an appointment. Please call 760-777-7050 to schedule.

Dune Palms Bridge Improvement Project

The Dune Palms Road Bridge Improvement Project will construct an all-weather access bridge across the Coachella Valley Storm Water Channel in La Quinta (see map for project area). The new, 480-foot-long bridge will address flooding and excess debris on the existing roadway during storms. The project began on January 30, 2023. For more information or to receive updates, please visit www.laquintaca.gov/DunePalms.

Dune Palms Bridge Crews continue work on the northbound eastern bridge span support system foundations and storm water channel flow runoff management and will begin work on a cut-off wall that will mitigate water running through the construction zone.

Dune Palms Bridge Update:

** Dune Palms Road remains closed until further notice. **

The Dune Palms Road closure will continue until further notice. Please use Westward Ho Dr. and Jefferson St., or take alternate routes.

For more information, please visit www.laquintaca.gov/DunePalms or call (760) 422-3370.

The Finance Department provides financial management and oversight in support of all city functions while adhering to the principles of leadership, customer service, quality, integrity, and collaboration.

It is our goal to ensure that the City’s priorities and goals remain aligned with citizen input. This input is greatly appreciated and necessary to ensure citizen satisfaction. Most Finance Department information can be found on our City website at: www.laquintaca.gov; however, we continue to encourage phone calls, correspondence, or in-person visits to the Finance Department for any questions or feedback.