Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 5.E
Meeting Date: March 11, 2026
From: Anne V. Ambrose, Assistant City Manager
Title: Review and Adopt Amendments Made to the 5-Year
Strategic Plan at the February 6, 2026 City Council Goal Setting Workshop
RECOMMENDATION:
To review and adopt the amended 5-Year Strategic Plan
BACKGROUND:
The City Council, city staff and members of the public participated in a day long strategic planning session on Saturday February 7, 2026. During the strategic planning session, the Council reviewed progress made on the original five-year strategic plan developed and adopted in 2023 and revised and re-adopted in 2024 and again in 2025. Staff presented updates on department key priorities currently and over the next year. The Financial Services Director provided a fiscal update through the second quarter of the current fiscal year.
The session included a review of the results of a community-wide survey that was conducted by FM3 Research, an opinion, research, and strategy company. This survey built on a similar survey conducted by FM3 in 2022 when the City was beginning the strategic planning process. The survey asked questions about resident perceptions on where the city is headed, satisfaction with government services and leadership, identified residents’ priority issues, what services are most important, and asked how residents find out information about the city’s services and programs. Staff added in questions this year about housing needs. A copy of the survey findings is included with this report.
In summary:
The top-of-mind concerns identified by Cathedral City residents were:
needed road and infrastructure improvements
public safety, especially crime
economy and cost of living
speeding and unsafe driving
and homelessness.
The leading concerns identified from a list provided in the survey were:
Flooding of local streets
Condition of streets
Homelessness
Cost of living
There is a broad sense that the services offered by the City are considered important, such as public safety, street and storm drain maintenance, trash and recycling pick up. The majority are very satisfied with trash and recycling pick up, as well as fire services; and many are very satisfied with 911 emergency, police protection, and special events. Approximately one-in-two are dissatisfied with street and storm drain maintenance, and the City’s efforts in addressing homelessness.
Several ideas were tested for future strategic planning prioritization and many were considered high priorities. The top priorities were:
Improving equipment to respond during emergencies and natural disasters Enforcing city codes to keep streets and neighborhoods clean Replacing and upgrading fire department trucks/equipment Ensuring and maintaining community partnerships with Neighborhood Watch and Citizens on Patrol
Expanding services and programs for small businesses
Housing Type Needs Assessment:
A majority of respondents indicated there are not enough different types of affordable housing including apartments, condos and/or townhouses. A majority also suggested there is a need for more rental housing at various price points, including affordable rental housing.
Through the discussions with staff and input from the community, the Council has developed some revisions and additions to the plan.
DISCUSSION:
The City Council had a robust discussion with staff about staff’s current progress towards established Council goals and community priorities. Aligning with the top of mind and leading concerns identified by the community, staff provided updates on planned road repairs and stormwater management as well as Tropical Storm Hilary roadway reconstructions; police operations, including the implementation of the Drone First Responder program and the new Community Behavioral Assessment Team (CBAT) technician that just deployed to join the Homeless Liaison unit; updates on new fire department equipment procurement; and updates on the Ignite program, economic development’s small business development program. The current goals and action plans continue to align with community priorities. During the discussion, the City Council provided direction to staff on additional initiatives to align with adopted goals and community feedback.
Goal A – Serve the Community With Pride and Dedication
Implement process for department head recruitments that includes City Council and community input.
Goal B – Community Investment
Continue to prioritize repairs of local roads.
Work with regional water and stormwater agencies to address local road flooding. Contact medical providers who have expressed interest in moving to or expanding in Cathedral City; continue to court locating a PACE healthcare provider in the city. Prioritize funding for Date Palm unfunded roadway segment repairs. Research implementing a street sweeping ordinance.
Assess and provide options to address mailboxes that impact sidewalk ADA accessibility.
Goal C – Fiscal Stability and Sustainability
Provide regular updates to the City Council on revenues and expenditures. Develop organizational standards for common purchases. Contact technology schools to explore interest/opportunities to relocate or expand into Cathedral City.
Goal D – Innovation
Implement copywriting of the City’s brands.
Implement electronic filing for candidate statements and Form 700. Implement strategies for a facilitative, transparent election process, including uploading all existing prior-year candidate filings into Laserfiche Goal E – Safety
Address concentration of unhoused individuals and their impacts on the downtown. Develop communications campaign to address speeding.
Identify and provide specific training on community engagement for field personnel. Review code enforcement staffing and deployment, including identifying opportunities to use volunteers.
Research ordinances banning backyard breeding.
Goal F – Embracing, Inclusive Community
Schedule policy discussions with the City Council to develop and implement strategies for furthering affordable housing production; set milestones. Develop and implement a comprehensive, integrated communications plan. Research costs of creating a mailer to be sent to every household to promote annual city events.
Schedule period updates from CVAG Housing First to provide updates on their services being provided to Cathedral City.
Work with commercial property management companies to address property maintenance issues; target retail centers that are not being properly maintained. Research potential Re-Discover Cathedral City Campaign.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Any fiscal impacts from new action items will be brought to council either through the binennial budget process or as a separate Council agenda item.
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:
Community Survey Results
Updated 5-Year Strategic Plan
Completed Objectives