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Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 3.A
Meeting Date: January 26, 2022
From: Katherine Fuentes, Assistant City Manager
Title: DRD Annexation Update
RECOMMENDATION:
Desert Recreation District (DRD) Annexation Update is presented for review and discussion only.
BACKGROUND:
The City Council is currently considering annexing into the Desert Recreation District (DRD) to provide park maintenance services and recreational programs to Cathedral City residents. In April 2018, the DRD and City staff sub mitted a preliminary feasibility analysis that included the cost to maintain Ocotillo, Century and Panorama parks. At this meeting, the City Council requested that the DRD incorporate the future dog park and Dream Homes Park into the feasibility analysis.
On April 25, 2018, the City hosted a meeting that included district staff as well as one (1) District Board member and two (2) Council members, Council members Aguilar and Carnevale, to review the revised feasibility analysis that included the cost to ma intain Ocotillo, Century, Panorama and the future dog park and Dream Homes Park.
On May 9, 2018, the DRD provided a detailed presentation to the City Council about the District, its programs, and associated estimated fiscal analysis.
On June 13, 2018, the DRD Board approved the recommendation to move forward with Phase I of the Community Facilities District (CFD) formation process subject to City Council's agreement on July 11, 2018.
On July 11, 2018, City Council agreed to support the DRD conducting a citywide poll, otherwise known as Phase I of a CFD formation process, to determine the residents’ level of interest in becoming part of the DRD.
On January 23, 2019, Council received a presentation on the outcome of public opinion polling related to th e DRD and the level of support for annexation and the necessary CFD assessment. At that time, it appeared there was slightly better support for the proposals among likely voters in a November 2020 election as opposed to other options and general direction from Council was to work toward that election date. On May 22,
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2019, Council confirmed their direction to proceed toward a November 2020 election.
On February 26, 2019, then Mayor Pro Tem Aguilar, along with staff met with DRD officials to map out a plan to move toward an election on annexing into the DRD and forming the necessary CFD to support the assessment. On March 18, 2019, Council members toured DRD facilities to get an understanding of the type of facilities and programs which could be brought to Cathedral City as part of the annexation into the DRD.
On October 26, 2019, Council received a presentation from Kevin Kalman, Director of the Desert Recreation District (DRD) that covered the services Cathedral City residents would receive from the DRD and a tentative timeline on when services would begin. The Parks and Community Events Commission received a similar presentation on October 28, 2019.
On March 4, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency to help Californians prepare for the broader spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID -19) pandemic. This act was followed by a stay-at-home order and a cancellation of all social gatherings. Subsequently, Council decided not to pursue the DRD annexation election in 2020 as originally planned. At their goal -setting session in early 2021 Council developed a goal statement to re -engage with the Desert Recreation District working toward a 2022 annexation vote.
DISCUSSION:
In October 2021, the City began reengaging the DRD with a new election month /year of November 2022. Kevin Kalman, Director of the DRD, will be presenting an update on the annexation and what the City Council can expect with respect to the timeline of events. There will also be an update on the status of the Palm Springs Unified Sc hool District (PSUSD) Pool Agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item. Future costs related to the annexation election, CFD formation costs and other items will be covered through an agreement with the DRD, which will be considered by Council at a future meeting.