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Community Update
by Tami Scott, Administrative Services Director
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![schedule-2[1]](https://www.discovercathedralcity.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/schedule-21.png)
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What are Facilities Services and Management? The pandemic has made us rethink this very important role….
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As in many businesses, the City’s Facilities Department provides a wealth of services to aid the City of Cathedral City departments in their decision-making, including information on building construction, maintenance, and renovation. The City of Cathedral City Facilities Department is responsible for managing, maintaining, and securing all public facilities and parking structure. This includes some 6 major buildings to include City Hall, Police Station, (3) Fire Stations, Emergency Operations Center, Library, Public Works Building, fountains, stage structures, restrooms, with a total square footage exceeding 345 thousand to include a three-story parking structure, indoor and outdoor lighting systems, and two solar arrays. The department installs new equipment, repairs existing equipment, renovates office space, provides for daily maintenance and repair of HVAC, plumbing, roofing, and electrical systems; installation and monitoring of building security and cameras to name a few. The department is also responsible for project management/oversight of construction of new facilities, such as the most recent completion of the city’s new fire station.
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The management and maintenance of these facilities can include but not limited to carpentry, custodial service, electrical and HVAC work, locksmith services, painting, and plumbing. Facilities Management also provides power, lighting, installs equipment, renovates office space, the coloring of lights on City Hall, chimes on the bell tower, installation and monitoring of building security and cameras as well as provides services to city special events.
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Although Facilities Management has long been integral to the smooth running of organizations, all too often has been seen as a back-room discipline. This attitude had been undergoing something of a change prior to the COVID-19 pandemic with the gradual realization that without the contribution made by Facilities, workers wouldn’t perform to their optimum levels and productivity could suffer. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, when facilities management helped deliver essential services and managed the needs of workers, only accelerated this process. There is now the realization that Facilities Management expertise is crucial. Research has indicated that more than a third (35%) of workers are concerned their offices aren’t COVID secure. This puts a lot of pressure on Facilities Management to make the workplace a safe and comfortable work environment.
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The pandemic has kept us guessing. No one has been able to predict with any certainty the route it would take. Facilities Managers, for all their forward-planning and organization qualities, don’t have a crystal ball, so deciding what the future of the workplace might look like is, arguably, an impossible task. However, evaluation is an important tool in the Facilities Manager’s (“FM”) armory. Taking time to run a full assessment of the organization enables FM’s to pre-empt concerns and prepare best for the return of the workforce. It’s essential to evaluate, in detail, the needs of your facility. Considerations should be employee-centric. Consider testing ideas before implementing change permanently. Tapping into employee behavioral attitudes is vital to your success. Remember that everyone is different and will have varying feelings and reactions. Be sympathetic and avoid applying too much pressure. Take into account the toll the pandemic has had on employees' mental and physical health. Consider introducing strategies that help employees switch-off and readjust back to workplace hours. Prioritize health basics – good hydration, hygiene, and cleanliness protocol.
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To assist in this endeavor, Facilities has strived to adhere to guidelines from the CDC with increased cleaning frequencies and disinfecting of high-touch surfaces in all common areas, public spaces, break rooms, kitchens, and other areas throughout city spaces and plans to sustain enhanced cleaning and disinfecting services and frequencies for all high-use areas as city hall reopens to the public.
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In addition to regular cleaning services, Facilities staff have been:
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- Cleaning and disinfecting these areas/surfaces daily:
- All building common area touch points (e.g., entrance doors and handles, lobby and interior elevator buttons, water fountains, etc.)
- All door handles, light switches, and desktops in conference rooms, computer labs, research labs, study rooms, classrooms, and auditoriums
- All restrooms, including all touch points and fixtures, with many high-use restrooms receiving multiple cleanings and disinfections per day
- All kitchenette doorknobs, light switches, countertops, sinks, faucets, tabletops, and floors
- Monitoring soap supplies in all restrooms, kitchenettes, and other areas with soap dispensers to ensure that people can wash their hands frequently per CDC recommendations.
- Increasing disinfection of stairwell handrails and access doors.
- Performing regular quality assurance inspections to ensure staff understand and are following proper cleaning and disinfection protocols and use proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as required during their daily performance of duties.
- Working with vendors to ensure that we have adequate supplies and equipment to keep city facilities cleaned, sanitized, and well stocked with all essential products.
- Purchased new equipment, such as electric disinfectant sprayers, which has allowed staff to disinfect large areas quickly and efficiently
- Coordinated installation of hand sanitizer dispensers at all building entrances
- Examining cost-effective opportunities to optimize cleaning processes
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In conclusion, take the time to evaluate your facilities’ needs in depth. Listen to individuals' needs before you communicate changes. Mitigate risks by utilizing new technologies – embrace touch-free! Be mindful of and sensitive to the well-being needs of the workforce after what has been a tough time. Sustainability is back on the agenda, but simple environmental strategies are often the most effective. The hybrid working world is fluid by its very nature and only likely to change, so keep an open mind.
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City Council Approves Purchase of New Ambulance for Cathedral City Fire Department
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The City Council voted to approve the Fire Department’s purchase of a new ambulance at the Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, City Council meeting. The Medix MSV 170 ambulance from Republic Emergency Vehicle Services (EVS), will come equipped with Public Safety Enterprise Communication (PSEC) compatible radios that will be installed and programmed locally. The total cost is $323,392. The Cathedral City … Read more
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Information on November Parks and Recreation Improvement Measure for Cathedral City
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At their meeting on August 3, 2022, the City Council of Cathedral City voted to place a local funding measure (Measure K) for parks and recreation on the November 2022 ballot. If approved by voters, this measure would cost property owners 15-cents per building square foot annually on single-family residential units to allow Cathedral City and the Desert Recreation District … Read more
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'Fountain of Life' Outside Cathedral City Civic Center Temporarily Closed for Repairs
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The Mayor Gregory S. Pettis Fountain of Life, located in Downtown outside the Civic Center, will be temporarily closed due to the soft surface being vandalized. The city is unable to run the fountain while repairs are made because water could cause considerably more damage. In addition, this could become a trip hazard and safety issue for our residents. The … Read more
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Business Spotlight - Boomers!
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67-700 E Palm Canyon Dr, Cathedral City
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Dinner With Patsi benefitting the Cathedral City Professional Firefighters Association
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Coachella Valley Battle in the Desert
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Watch the sport of amateur boxing at the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater in Downtown Cathedral City. Doors open at 6:00 pm 1st boxing match starts at approximately 7:00 pm All ringside tables are SOLD OUT! General admission tickets will be available at the door Saturday, October 1st! COVID-19 restrictions: The State of California recommends that all attendees be fully … Read more
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Tejano PowerHouse Entertainment, City of Cathedral City and Diaz Enterprises invites you to the rescheduled 4th annual Tejano Music Fest in Cathedral City featuring the best Tejano music, fiesta food and spirits on Saturday, October 29, 2022 from 5 pm to 10 pm at our new location, the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater, 68526 Avenida Lalo Guerrero, in Cathedral City, California. … Read more
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Cathedral City’s Halloween Spooktacular features trick or treating with over 50,000 pieces of candy! Join friends, neighbors, and family for a Spooktacular time including activities such as Halloween costume contests (two bikes given away each hour), police and fire exhibitions, music, and family games. Halloween Spooktacular provides you with information about the police and fire departments, to view special … Read more
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- FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE $15.54 - $20.34 Hourly
- Department: Fire Department
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- FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE - $16.33 - $21.37 Hourly
- Department: Fire Department
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- FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE - $42.22 - $55.26 Hourly
- Department: ENGINEERING
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- PART-TIME EMPLOYEE - $15.00 Hourly
- Department: Police Department
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- FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE $27.42 - $35.89 Hourly
- Department: Fire Department
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To view current job opportunities, apply for a position, or submit an interest card, please visit joincathedralcity.org
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