Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 2.D
Meeting Date: August 13, 2025
From: Anne V. Ambrose, Assistant City Manager
Title: Strategic Plan Update
RECOMMENDATION:
This report is for information, discussion and direction only.
BACKGROUND:
The purpose of this report is to provide the City Council with an update on staff’s progress in advancing the goals outlined in the Cathedral City Five-Year Strategic Plan since staff’s last update on January 25, 2025. The city’s strategic plan serves as a roadmap for guiding policy decisions, aligning resources, and prioritizing initiatives that support Cathedral City's long- term vision. Since January, staff across all departments have been actively engaged in implementing key strategies and projects identified within the plan. Key accomplishments and specific objectives for the next two fiscal years were included in the adopted FY 2025/26 and FY 2026/27 budget. This report summarizes notable accomplishments and ongoing efforts in support of the Council’s priorities.
DISCUSSION:
The attached updated strategic plan reports on all the individual actions taken in alignment with the city’s goals and objectives. Of note are staff’s achievements implementing the promises of Measure W, the voter-approved tax measure.
Measure W received 74% voter approval with commitments to four objectives: neighborhood street improvements, annexation into the Desert Recreation District, improved emergency medical response and development of a community recreation center.
Neighborhood Street Improvements
The city has developed a comprehensive five-year plan for street improvements, with Measure W providing an additional $1 million annually dedicated specifically to neighborhood streets. The plan works in conjunction with existing funding from SB 1 state gas tax funds and required local matching funds.
Projects scheduled for the first year (FY 2025-26) include grinding and slurry seal on Panorama neighborhood streets (Los Gatos, Durango, and Panorama roads) and complete reconstruction of Corta and Alcita streets.
Future years will address:
Year 2 (FY 2026-27): Slurry seal for streets south of 30th and north of Vega-west of Date Palm, plus Dream Homes neighborhood
Year 3 (FY 2027-28): Slurry seal in the Cove neighborhood south of Terrace Year 4 (FY 2028-29): Tortuga and Concepcion street reconstruction Year 5 (FY 2029-30): Slurry seal in the Cove neighborhood north of Terrace Desert Recreation District Annexation
Measure W enabled Cathedral City to join the Desert Recreation District, providing residents with expanded parks maintenance and recreation programming. On February 12, 2025, both the City Council and DRD board approved the service and tax sharing agreements necessary to make this partnership official.
Starting July 1, 2025, the DRD began maintaining Esperanza, Ocotillo, Panorama, Century, and Dennis Keat soccer parks, while also providing:
recreation programming in Cathedral City parks and local facilities summer swim programs at the Cathedral City High School pool park attendants to monitor facilities and address issues, and access to DRD events and programs throughout their service area at the in-district rate.
The DRD hired Cynthia Morquecho, the Community Services Supervisor, who is responsible for coordinating the programming for Cathedral City. Cynthia is here in Cathedral City, with her office at the Cathedral City Library. She has been diligently working to get staffed up to prepare for a full complement of programming in the fall. One of the first special events DRD completed was the Splash Bash at Dennis Keat Soccer Park which included a water play zone (including some help from the Cathedral City Fire Department), snacks, carnival games, music, and a free movie.
The DRD is currently preparing the application documents for the annexation process through the Riverside Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), expected to be completed within six months. The city’s engineering staff have been working with the DRD and LAFCO on the required legal descriptions, maps, and certifications.
Improved Emergency Medical Response
To maintain emergency response times amid increasing service calls, Measure W funded the acquisition and staffing of a fourth ambulance. The City Council has already approved the purchase, along with authorizing six new firefighter/paramedic positions to provide 24/7 staffing.
The Fire Department has met the challenge and with the assistance of Human Resources, all of the new firefighter/paramedic positions are filled. They were celebrated in a badge pinning ceremony along with the rollback of the new ambulance in a community celebration on July 1, 2025.
Additionally, the Police Department was authorized to hire two additional emergency medical dispatchers to support these expanded services. Due to other vacancies in the department, recruitment is still ongoing to fill these positions. The dispatchers will be funded by the general fund.
Community Recreation Center Development
Measure W also allocates funding for developing and eventually operating a community recreation center. As the first step in this process, the city sought proposals to select a consulting firm to evaluate potential locations for either new construction or adaptive reuse of an existing building. On July 9, 2025, the City Council approved a professional services agreement with Group 4 Architecture, Research + Planning, Inc. to conduct this evaluation.
Group 4 has already sent initial document requests to the city, held a preliminary meeting with the Assistant City Manager and analyst from the city manager’s office, and a kick-off meeting with the whole project team on July 31.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The adopted FY 2025/26 and FY 2026/27 includes budget for approved initiatives.
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
Goal A: Serve the Community with Pride and Dedication
Goal B: Community Investment
Goal C: Fiscal Stability and Sustainability
Goal D: Innovation
Goal E: Safety
Goal F: Embracing, Inclusive Community
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Cathedral City Five-Year Strategic Plan – Updated 8/13/2025