04/17/2025
Issue 496
Progress as Promised
Measure W Implementation Update

In July 2024 the City Council, after months of study and public input, including a report from the Resident Study Committee of Cathedral City residents, acted to refer a tax question to the voters (Measure W) which was ultimately approved by the voters in November. 74% of Cathedral City voters said yes to improved and more efficient emergency medical service, more funding for paving neighborhood streets and yes to joining the Desert Recreation District so that Cathedral City residents can enjoy the broad array of parks and recreation opportunities offered by the DRD. Since the passage of Measure W, the City Council and staff have been working to deliver on the promises made. Since my last update on the topic on February 20 of this year the following progress has been made toward the implementation of Measure W.

Neighborhood Street Improvements

Measure W will provide an additional $1 million per year dedicated to improving neighborhood streets. As part of the biennial budget review and adoption process, staff presented the City Council with multi-year plans for improvements to Cathedral City streets using funding from three sources:
  1. Measure W funded improvements focusing on neighborhood streets
  2. SB 1 funded improvements using funds provided through Cathedral City’s share of state gas tax funds
  3. Maintenance of Effort funded improvements. To receive state SB1 funds the City must provide a local match, which in our case mostly comes from the city’s general fund.
Here are the projects identified to be addressed using Measure W funds:
  • Year 1 – FY 25-26:
    • Panorama neighborhood streets grinding and slurry seal on Los Gatos, Durango and Panorama roads
    • Corta and Alcita street reconstruction
  • Year 2 – FY 26-27
    • Slurry seal on streets south of 30th and north of Vega- west of Date Palm
    • Slurry seal on streets in the Dream Homes neighborhood
  • Year 3 – FY 27-28
    • Slurry seal on streets in the Cove neighborhood south of Terrace
  • Year 4 – FY 28-29
    • Tortuga and Concepcion street reconstruction
  • Year 5 – FY 29-30
    • Slurry seal on streets in the Cove neighborhood north of Terrace
The City Council will review the Measure W street projects as well as street projects funded from the other identified funding sources during their study session on the Capital Improvement Plan to be held on April 23, 2025.

Desert Recreation District Annexation

Measure W will also provide funding for improved parks maintenance and the introduction of recreation programming which was previously not provided in Cathedral City. Services will be provided to Cathedral City residents by the Desert Recreation District (DRD) and will include maintenance of Esperanza, Ocotillo, Panorama, Century and Dennis Keat soccer parks, recreation programming in Cathedral City parks and other local facilities, operation of the CCHS pool in the summer swim season, parks attendants to monitor and handle issues in the parks and access to DRD events and programs throughout the DRD service area. The City Council and the Desert Recreation District board each approved the services and tax sharing agreements needed to make this all happen during their respective meetings on February 12, 2025. The agreements will allow all these benefits to begin by July 1, 2025. The DRD staff are now preparing the application documents for the public annexation process through the Riverside Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). It is anticipated that the annexation process will be completed over the next six months.

Improved Fire Paramedic and Ambulance Service

Measure W will also fund the acquisition and staffing of a fourth ambulance, maintaining emergency medical response times even as calls for service are increasing. The City Council has approved the purchase of the additional ambulance. Six new firefighter/paramedic positions have been authorized by the City Council to staff the fourth ambulance 24 hours a day seven days a week. Fire department and Human Resources department personnel are currently working on the recruitment, testing and hiring of the personnel required to staff the ambulance with a goal of having them onboard a few weeks prior to July 1 so that they can be trained and in place for the additional ambulance to go into service on that date. Practical exams and interviews were held this week. The police department is also authorized to hire two additional emergency medical dispatchers in support of the emergency services and recruitment for those positions is currently under way. Police handles all dispatch for both the police and fire departments.

Community Recreation Center

Measure W also provides funding for the development of a community recreation center and ultimately its operation. The first step toward development of the recreation center will be the selection of a firm to assist with evaluating possible locations for either a newly constructed facility or an adaptive reuse of an existing building. A competitive request for proposals process is currently under way to select a firm and their study will include community input, review by the DRD and other possible users of the facility. The request for proposals is open with proposals from interested firms due on May 5, 2025.
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Charlie McClendon
City Manager
(760) 770-0387
CMcClendon@cathedralcity.gov

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Employment

CITIZENS ON PATROL (COP)
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