Civil Municipal View Feb2023

103 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 2 DESERT HOT SPR INGS , CAL I FORNI A main corridors. The city has also been awarded funding for 7 new bridges, which will improve access throughout the community. To eliminate flooding in some areas, two large storm drain projects are underway, as well as continued fiber upgrades to improve broadband infrastructure. “All of those projects are a big economic development incentive that we’re currently working on to bring on new and different businesses throughout the city,” acknowledges Porras “We have a lot of areas that currently are vacant and are available for a future project. So, these infrastructure improvements are definitely going to make a big impact.” Sustainability is an ongoing priority for the City of Desert Hot Springs, which has partnered with the Coachella Valley Association of Governments on a traffic syncing project in an effort to reduce emissions. EV chargers are also being installed in key areas throughout the community and at City Hall. Housing developments, including the recently completed 41-home Silver Rock development, and an upcoming project by Lennar Homes are incorporating solar into their plans. These green building code standards are also required in commercial and industrial facilities, as Porras recounts, “The Amazon facility is required to install solar panels throughout the majority portion of its roof, provide electric vehicle charging stations for its employees, and have all-electric vehicles for its use, such as forklifts, and so forth.” Although these green standards start at the state level, Porras says “When it goes through the review process, we have met with the developers to see how we can even increase the requirement and have additional ways to conserve energy and to provide the electric needed for those facilities as well.” As the city with the lowest crime rate in the Coachella Valley, future plans for Desert Hot Springs include a continued focus on this area. “We have worked really hard over the last 10 years to bring those numbers down, and to Photos Credit: Visit Greater Palm Springs Photos Credit: Visit Greater Palm Springs