2018 The Year in Review
As we all prepare to begin a new year let me take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. The start of a new year gives us the chance to look back on accomplishments during 2018 as we look ahead to 2019. Here are some of the highlights of the past year:
December saw the installation of a new Mayor, Greg Pettis, a new Mayor Pro Tem, Mark Carnevale and two new Councilmembers. Ernesto Gutierrez was sworn-in as a new Councilmember elected from District 4 and Raymond Gregory was sworn-in as the new Councilmember elected from District 5. Also, in December the City held the Snow Fest event, which offered great fun for children of all ages and we broke ground on the new, grant-funded amphitheater at Cathedral Canyon and Avenida Lalo Guerrero. Construction will begin in early January 2019.
In November the first district elections were held. District Councilmembers were elected from Districts 3, 4 and 5. The City honored outgoing Mayor Stan Henry, Councilmember Shelley Kaplan and City Clerk Gary Howell during a special reception. The fifth annual Cathedral City Balloon Festival was held, and record crowds attended and enjoyed a new feature, the Food Truck Mash-up during which the Town Square was host to 25 food trucks from across Southern California.
During October motorists enjoyed the substantial completion of the new Date Palm bridge which now provides three lanes of traffic in each direction, a center median, sidewalks and bike lanes. Also completed in October were improvements to the intersection of Date Palm and Dinah Shore and a repaving of Dinah Shore from Date Palm west to the Dinah Shore bridge. This project was partially funded by the City share of the new SB1 gas tax revenues. Children donned their Halloween costumes and enjoyed the Spooktacular event, featuring trick or treating and a costume contest where the winners won new bikes.
September saw the second annual Tejano Music Festival where a great line-up of musical performers entertained a large crowd of people who dance throughout the evening in downtown Cathedral City. The Mary Pickford Theater, with a sponsorship from the Public Arts Commission, hosted the Hola Mexico film festival in September and the new median on East Palm Canyon east of Date Palm was constructed.
In August, the City Council approved the purchase of a new piece of public art, Protector, which subsequently became the center piece of a memorial garden honoring Police officers who gave their lives in the line of duty. Council also approved a contract authorizing the Police dispatch center to continue providing dispatch services to the City of Desert Hot Springs. DHS pays approximately $1.3 million annually for those services.
July marked the start of a new fiscal year for the City. The fiscal year that ended on June 30 (FY17-18) saw fund reserves increase by about $800,000 so that the City reserves, or savings account, now equals 50% of the general fund budget. Reserves pay a critical role in making the City financially secure by providing emergency funds and as a hedge against the next economic downturn. The reserves grew because City departments managed their resources effectively, spending less that their budgeted amounts, and revenues performed above anticipated levels.
During June the City Council reviewed plans for the new Fire Station, which will replace the existing Station 411 located at Date Palm and Buddy Rogers and which will be constructed beginning in 2019. The new station is partially funded through the sale of property to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians for their proposed casino project at Date Palm and East Palm Canyon.
May brought Council approval of an ordinance strengthening the penalties for the possession and use of illegal fireworks. This was in response to increasing calls for action from the community. Council also approved an ordinance allowing alternative fencing materials to be used in the City subject to Planning department review.
During April children from across the community enjoyed the Easter Kidapalooza event, featuring 20,000 Easter eggs and four lucky kids won a new bike. Council approved the removal of the red-light camera system during an April Council meeting opting instead to focus on enforcement by Police officers. Council also awarded a design contract for the HAWK pedestrian crossing signals to be installed at two locations on Dinah Shore, one near Cathedral City High School and the other just west of the Food 4 Less center. The signals are being funded through a pedestrian safety grant received from CVAG, which will also fund the construction of in-fill sidewalks on Date Palm Drive. Both projects will be completed early in 2019.
In March Cathedral City hosted the fourth annual LGBT Days event, welcoming record crowds to downtown. Council approved a recommendation from the Arts Commission to fund the installation of a mural honoring local athletes Tim Bradley and Cub Swanson. The mural, paid for using arts fees paid by new development was painted on a wall on East Palm Canyon across from City Hall during the summer and dedicated in the fall of 2018. Council also approved a specific plan amendment for the Rio Vista Village subdivision, now known as Verano, in north Cathedral City, paving the way for new home construction, which will likely begin in January 2019. The grand opening of the first section of the CV Link also occurred in March. The CV Link, when completed, will provide a pedestrian and bike route across much of the Coachella Valley.
February saw the annual Taste of Jalisco event. The event brought huge crowds to the Festival Lawn and surrounding area and featured the food, fashion, arts and music of the region near our sister city of Tequila, Jalisco. The evening brought the headline musical groups and an amazing firework show. Also, in February Council authorized the right of way phase for the Ramon bridge expansion project. This project, which will be managed by the City of Palm Springs, will bring improved traffic flow to the area by expanding the bridge to accommodate three lanes of traffic in each direction. It will also provide bikes lanes and sidewalks improving bike and pedestrian safety. Six new firefighter/paramedics joined the Fire Department in February. The positions received a majority of the necessary funding through a federal SAFER grant and, combined with positions added in 2017, allow the Fire Department to offer improved levels of service to the community.
In January the Council held their annual planning retreat, which resulted in the adoption of goals for the year. The Council adopted goals then serve as the starting point for City departments to develop their departmental work plans and guide staff efforts throughout the year. The goals, including a progress update presented to Council in July, can be found here: http://www.cathedralcity.gov/government/city-council-goals-2018.
