The City of Cathedral City hosted its annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at Nick’s Bistro on April 24, 2025, during National Volunteer Appreciation Week. The event celebrated the invaluable contributions of the city’s commissioners and committee members who dedicate their time and expertise to serve the community.
Mayor Nancy Ross, members of the City Council, City Manager Charlie McClendon, and department heads were in attendance to personally thank the volunteers for their service and present certificates of appreciation to each commissioner and committee member. The evening featured a special recognition ceremony highlighting the volunteers’ commitment to advancing Cathedral City’s mission of creating a diverse, vibrant community with quality housing, thriving businesses, and well-maintained neighborhoods.
“The backbone of our city’s success is our dedicated volunteers who serve on various commissions and committees,” said City Manager Charlie McClendon. “Their expertise and passion help shape policies that make Cathedral City a better place to live, work, and play. We are deeply grateful for their service.”
The celebration honored members from nine different commissions and committees, including the Planning Commission, Architecture Review Committee, Finance Advisory Committee, Palm Springs International Airport Commission, Historic Preservation Committee, Public Arts Commission, Parks and Community Events Commission, Mobile Home Fair Practices Commission, and Cannabis Task Force.
The honored commissioners and committee members for 2025 include:
Planning Commission:
- Rich Malacoff
- Peter Bedard
- Danielle Mead
- Danny Lee
- Roy MacPhail
Architecture Review Committee:
- Tanner Hoss
- Dean Keefer
- John Rivera
- Stephen Burchard
- Mitchell King
Finance Advisory Committee:
- Rick Saldivar
- Danny Lee
- Terri Hargreaves
- Chip Yarborough
Palm Springs International Airport Commission:
- Christian Samlaska
Historic Preservation Committee:
- Eri Nox
- Charlotte Hunter-Copper
- John Rivera
- Patrick Evans
Public Arts Commission:
- Cristal Mojica
- Gregory Marks
- Don Stouder
- Craig Liebelt
- Leonard “Rick” Travis
Parks and Community Events Commission:
- Richard Martinez
- Erin Hyland
- Mario Jimenez
- Angel Herrera
- Antonio Baciu
Mobile Home Fair Practices Commission:
- Patrick Evans
- Tanner Hoss
- Rick Saldivar
- Sunshine Herrera
Cannabis Task Force:
- Kenneth Churchill
- Armando Perez
- Matthew Goodman
- Danny Lee
- Eric Hughes
- James Lawrence
The event underscored Cathedral City’s ongoing commitment to community engagement and participatory governance. As volunteers enjoyed dinner and conversation, city officials emphasized that their work directly contributes to addressing key community priorities, including affordable housing, business development, homelessness solutions, and neighborhood improvement.
The City of Cathedral City continues to welcome residents interested in serving on commissions and committees. For information about openings and to access the application process, please visit the city’s official website at https://www.cathedralcity.gov/government/city-clerk/commission-committee-application.
