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Pancakes With Santa

Join us at The Wellness Center on Saturday, December 16, from 9 to 11 a.m. for festive fun! Kids can write letters to Santa, snap pics with Santa and Mrs. Claus, decorate stockings, and color ornaments. Breakfast features pancakes, eggs, bacon, fruit, juice, and hot cocoa. Limited spots, $7 each. Register at https://tinyurl.com/4rs9ssf8.

FREE Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event

Not sure what to do with your Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) like used batteries, medical sharps, electronics, oil and gasoline, light bulbs, aerosol cans, and more? The City is hosting a Free HHW collection event on Saturday, December 16, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the City Hall South Parking Lot. For more information and what materials will be accepted, please visit www.laquintaca.gov/recycle.

New Dog Park Hours

Please see the above image with the updated hours for all three La Quinta Dog Parks. The dog parks will be temporarily closed for a few hours each week for routine maintenance.

City Website Links:

Waste & Recycling

Calendar

Wellness Center

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, and 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 42 business licenses and collected $9,265.70 for the time period of December 3^rd through December 9^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 73 permit applications and issued 96 permits for the time period of December 3^rd through December 9^th.

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

Building:

Completed 82 Plan Reviews and performed 430 Inspections for the time period of December 3^rd through December 9^th.

New Development Updates:

The Planning Commission held its regular meeting on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, and approved the following items:

A General Plan consistency of a donation of land consisting of mountain rock located north of Highway 111 and west of Washington Street for open space preservation.

Specific Plan Amendment and Site Development Permit for a 125 Room Hotel and associated amenities at the southwest corner of La Quinta Drive and Auto Centre Drive.

Code Compliance:

• Code Compliance has inspected 113 properties, opened 29 cases, closed 34 cases, issued 11 courtesy notices, 21 notice of violation, 10 final notices of violation, 1 notice of public nuisance, 3 administrative citations, and 165 other actions and handled 44 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.

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.

Financial Advisory Commission (FAC) Meeting: The FAC will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, December 20, at 4:00 p.m. For meeting details or more information on the FAC, please visit: https://www.laquintaca.gov/our-city/city-departments/finance/financial-advisory-commission.

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.

Other Projects:

SilverRock Event Park – Staff is installing new benches at the park.

The GEM Magazine - December 2023

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

• Experience the Magic of the Holidays in La Quinta
• Mother/Daughter Team Brings New Boutique to Old Town
• Invigorate Your Imagination at the Creation Station
• 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.

Shop La Quinta Local

2024 American Express PGA Golf Tournament

The American Express PGA Tour event will be held at PGA West and La Quinta Country Club in La Quinta, CA from January 15-21, 2024. The musical headline acts are Keith Urban and Train!

Tickets are on sale now! Select from a variety of ticket options and premium passes. Daily passes start at $60! Daily ticket holders also have access to the FREE concerts on Friday, January 19 (Keith Urban) and Saturday, January 20 (Train) that follow the completion of golf on those days.

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

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, December 19, 2023, 4:00 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers

Financial Advisory Commission Special Meeting

• Wednesday, December 20, 2023, 4:00 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers

Planning Commission Meeting

• Tuesday, January 9, 2024, 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. Residents can drop off their vote-by-mail ballots or cast their vote in-person at any of the locations listed below.

Vote-By-Mail locations for March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election – February 5 – March 2, 2024

• La Quinta City Hall – 78495 Calle Tampico
• Trilogy at La Quinta – 60750 Trilogy Parkway

Vote Center locations for March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election – March 2-5, 2024

• La Quinta City Hall – 78495 Calle Tampico
• The Palms at La Quinta Assisted Living and Memory Care – 45160 Seeley Drive
• Trilogy at La Quina – 60750 Trilogy Parkway

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:

Certified Farmers Market

The Certified Farmers Market will be held on Sunday, December 17, 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.

X Park Christmas Skate Camp

Get ready to take your skateboarding skills to the next level at La Quinta X Park’s Christmas Skate Camp! The camp is the perfect destination for skaters of all levels who want to learn, grow, and have fun in a supportive environment. Experienced instructors will teach campers the basics of skateboarding, as well as more advanced techniques, including park and street skating.

Two different camps are available: Camp 1 is December 26 – 28 (9:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.). Camp 2 is January 2 – 4 (9:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.). The cost to register is $150. For more information and to reserve your spot, please visit: https://actionparkalliance.com/camps/la-quinta-x-park-christmas-skate-camp.

LQ Hikes

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

December 26, from 7 - 10 p.m. - La Quinta Full Moon Hike 

December 26, 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:

La Quinta Night

Art Piece: La Quinta Night (2019)

Artist: Daryl Thetford

Location: La Quinta Library

Thetford’s work has been described as graphic, modern, pop, and contemporary, although what to actually call the process has been a larger source of debate. It has been called photo collage, digital art, and digital mixed media. The process begins with Thetford selecting a single, original photographic image followed by a digital layering and a combining of dozens of additional original photographs. It is a process which takes an average of 40 hours. His resulting images range from culturally familiar individual pieces (bikes, cowboys, guitars, cityscapes) to more esoteric series based on man's inner struggle with modern society or the human sense of isolation in the noise of the modern world. Thetford then creates a mixed-media piece using this printed image to create one-of-a-kind paintings.

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 Winter 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.

The La Quinta Wellness Center is offering fitness classes in December. 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 December 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!

The X Park is open seven days a week! The new hours of operation are 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.

Library: Anti-Bored Games

Anti-Bored Games for (Tweens & Teens) will meet Saturday, December 16, at 11:30 A.M. Challenge friends old and new to a selection of board games or take a turn on our Nintendo Switch. (Game will be chosen day of).

Library: Level Up LQ

Level Up LQ - Join us Saturday, December 16, at 1:30 P.M. Calling all teen gamers! Join us to play a variety of games on different consoles including the PS4, Nintendo Switch and more.

Library: Big Toys 4 Lil' Toys

Big Toys for Little Toys Toy Drive on Sunday, December 17, from 9:00 A.M - 2:00 P.M. Come help support our toys for tots’ event, while enjoying some cars and bikes. The event is free but new unwrapped toy donations are welcome. If you would like to display your car/bike, please register at https://bit.ly/Bigs4LilToyDrive or scan the QR code.

Creation Station: Fiber Arts Bootcamp

FAB: T-Shirt Yarn Crochet Basket - For our final Fiber Arts Bootcamp for the year, we will host one last Crochet project. Using special yarn made from material like a t-shirt, we will crochet mini baskets that are perfect for home decor or for travel. Join us on Sunday, December 17, from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. FREE | All Ages | While Supplies Last.

Creation Station: Maker Craft

Maker Craft: Wright Brothers Day - Join us Thursday, December 21, from 11:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. Celebrate the Wright Brothers Day and the anniversary of the first successful manned flight. Try your best at making paper airplanes to see how far they can fly. Stay to learn about RC plane builds and operations from our resident RC pilot, Mr. Chuck.

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.

Program: S.C.R.A.P. Gallery

Family Fun: S.C.R.A.P. Gallery - Bring the family to create your own masterpiece using recycled and upcycled materials! Join us Saturday, December 30, from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M.

Program: Fridays with Frank

Fridays with Frank - In celebration of our spotlight exhibit, La Quinta Legend: Frank Capra, join us for screenings of his classic films! This month, we’ll watch the holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life (December 22 & 29) at 11:30 A.M.

New Exhibit: Desert Views

Desert Views. 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.