On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, Cathedral City gathered at the DoubleTree by Hilton Golf Resort for the 2026 State of the City — Cathedral City Takes Flight — and the theme could not have been more fitting. A sold-out crowd of business leaders, community partners, elected officials, and residents filled the ballroom for an afternoon that was equal parts celebration and conviction.
Emceed by Emmy Award-winning KESQ Chief Meteorologist and Cathedral City resident Patrick Evans, and produced by Hocker Productions, the event marked one of the most comprehensive and energetic State of the City programs in recent memory.
Mayor’s Award: The Roost Lounge
Mayor Raymond Gregory opened his remarks by presenting this year’s Mayor’s Award to The Roost Lounge — the beloved gathering place on East Palm Canyon Drive that has become the heart of Cathedral City’s LGBTQ+ community. Since purchasing The Roost in 2019, Jeff McDonald and the late Charles Thomas transformed a neighborhood bar into a true community institution. Through The Roost Foundation, they have raised over $90,000 for local charities, awarded a $10,000 scholarship to a Cathedral City High School graduate, and received the Visionary Award from Tools for Tomorrow. Jeff McDonald accepted the award on behalf of The Roost.
Mayor Gregory’s Address
Mayor Gregory delivered a wide-ranging address organized around the city’s Five-Year Strategic Plan, touching on major accomplishments across parks, infrastructure, public safety, economic development, and arts and culture.
Parks & Infrastructure
The Mayor highlighted Esperanza Park — the $8.5 million, 7.5-acre facility in the Dream Homes neighborhood — and the landmark partnership with the Desert Recreation District, which now provides professional management at six city parks and gives residents access to DRD programming at in-district rates. He also reported that since June 2025, Cathedral City has spent $3.6 million on capital improvement projects, with $9 million in awarded contracts currently underway and an additional $3.2 million in projects expected to be awarded before the end of the fiscal year — nearly $16 million in infrastructure investment moving through the city.
Public Safety & Education
Under the leadership of Fire Chief Michael Contreras, Cathedral City Fire and EMS achieved full CFAI accreditation — the only fire department in the Coachella Valley to hold this distinction — and earned a Class 2 ISO rating held by fewer than five percent of departments nationwide. Medic 22, a fourth fully staffed ambulance, launched July 1, 2025. Mayor Gregory also recognized Acting Police Chief Rick Sanchez and highlighted the work of the Police Department’s Homeless Liaison Officers, including a recent community outreach event on Buddy Rogers Avenue where Officer Jose Mendez and partners from more than a dozen organizations helped house a homeless veteran the same day he attended the event. The Mayor gave special recognition to the Code Compliance division and the CityDetect AI-powered camera platform for their innovation in keeping Cathedral City’s neighborhoods clean, safe, and beautiful.
Hospitality & Lifestyle
Mayor Gregory celebrated the opening of the Cathedral City Cove Center, with Chipotle, Starbucks, and Circle K now welcoming customers and Farmer Boys coming soon. He highlighted the IGNITE Business Program and the continued growth of the city’s local business community, including recent openings like Apong’s Philly Steak, Mark’s Burgers, and Retro Disruption Skateshop.
Arts & Entertainment
From a record-breaking 12,000-person LGBT+ Days to the 10th Annual Taste of Jalisco Festival celebrating 30 years of sisterhood with Tequila, Jalisco, the Mayor painted a picture of a city with a vibrant and growing cultural identity. He recognized the Public Arts Commission for a breakout year — including the inaugural Festival of the Arts featuring 38 artists, live jazz, and nearly 750 attendees — and the Parks and Community Events Commission for programs including free yoga at the amphitheater, the Free Summer Kids Movie Series, and more. And after last year’s weather postponement, multi-platinum artist Robin Thicke is set to headline the International Hot Air Balloon Festival on Saturday, November 21, 2026 — one of the most anticipated performances in the festival’s history.
Council Video Spotlights
Each member of the City Council was featured in a pre-produced Video Spotlight, bringing the work happening across the community to life from the places that matter most:
- Mayor Pro Tem Ernesto Gutierrez — Parks & Infrastructure, filmed at Esperanza Park
- Councilmember Rita Lamb — Public Safety & Education, filmed at Fire Station 411
- Councilmember Nancy Ross — Hospitality & Lifestyle, filmed at Mark’s Burgers
- Councilmember Christina Gordon — Arts & Entertainment, filmed at the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater
Awards
The afternoon also featured a full awards program recognizing outstanding contributions to the community:
- Mayor’s Award — The Roost Lounge (Jeff McDonald, accepting)
- Revitalization Award — Koffi (Bruce Strohm, accepting)
- IGNITE Awards — Coachella Valley Women’s Business Center (Liliana Davalos, accepting) and Riverside County Office of Economic Development (Maria Lascano, accepting)
- Community Organization Award — The Perez Art District (Anne Bedrick, accepting)
- HRC Community Leadership Award — Presented by Brian O’Connor to the Cathedral City City Council
The Inaugural Mark Carnevale Legacy Award
One of the most emotional moments of the afternoon came near the program’s close, when Mayor Gregory returned to the podium to present the inaugural Mark Carnevale Legacy Award — named in honor of the late Councilmember who passed away during his term and whose presence is still deeply felt by his colleagues and the community he served.
The recipient was John Aguilar — Cathedral City’s first Latino Mayor, appointed to the Council in 2014, elected in 2016, and a founding Councilmember of Cathedral City LGBT+ Days, which has grown into California’s first Pride celebration of the year.
“Mark Carnevale’s loss is still felt in this room — and in this Council,” Mayor Gregory said. “Naming this award in his honor is our way of carrying his spirit forward through the people who, like him, gave everything to this community.”
Of Aguilar, the Mayor reflected: “His fingerprints are on so much of what Cathedral City is today. He served alongside Greg Pettis, alongside Mark — and for a time, alongside me. And he carried the work forward with steadiness and heart.”
John Aguilar accepted the award to a standing ovation.
Looking Ahead
Mayor Gregory closed his remarks with a call to continued commitment: “The State of Cathedral City is strong. Our trajectory is clear. And our best days — I promise you — are still ahead.”
The 2026 State of the City was produced by Hocker Productions — Jeff Hocker, Executive Producer; Charlie Dyer, Associate Producer; and Julie Montante — and presented by the City of Cathedral City. Council Video Spotlights were produced by the City’s Communications and Engagement division, with special thanks to Ryan Hunt, Director of Communications and Engagement; Adam Chastain, Events and Recreation Coordinator; Erick Becerril, Economic Development Manager; Victor Gomez, Administrative Analyst II, City Manager’s Office/Economic Development; and Parker Gaunt, Code Compliance, for their work bringing the program to life.
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