Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 3.F
Meeting Date: April 22, 2026
From: Dominique Camps, Associate Planner
Title: 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report
RECOMMENDATION:
To review and accept the 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report for submittal to the California Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation.
BACKGROUND:
Government Code Sections 65400 and 65700 require the City to prepare an annual progress report (APR) on the status and implementation of the General Plan for submittal to the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI). The 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report is provided in Attachment 1.
The General Plan is the City’s comprehensive, long-term plan to guide development of the community and preserve its resources. While it has a long-term perspective, it is not a static document. Rather, it is dynamic, evolving, and multifaceted, continuously defining and addressing the changing needs of the community. It is also based on an ongoing assessment and understanding of existing and projected community needs and conditions. The General Plan standards are at the apex of City regulatory documents. As such, zoning, subdivisions public works, specific plans, and other regulatory documents must be consistent with the General Plan and its elements.
The 2040 General Plan was adopted by the City Council on July 28, 2021. The General Plan is comprised of thirteen elements, each of which provides a discussion of the topic and contains goals, policies, and programs. The programs provide implementation measures, including an implementation schedule and identification of the responsible departments needed to carry out the policies and achieve the stated goals.
Last year, staff prepared the City’s first General Plan Annual Progress Report for submittal to LCI. That report included a comprehensive implementation checklist tracking implementation of each of the General Plan policies and programs in calendar years 2023 and 2024.
The 2025 APR includes a checklist highlighting where updates and advancements impacting General Plan implementation occurred over the last calendar year. Additionally, and in accordance with the format recommended by LCI for the APR, a cover letter was added to this year’s report which described priorities for land use decision making (e.g., the passage of moratoria or emergency ordinances), as well as a list of General Plan amendments.
DISCUSSION:
Priorities for Land Use Decision Making
Development Code Update: The Development Code Update kicked off in 2025 after selection of the consulting firm in 2024. This project is targeted for completion in 2026, and will support the implementation of goals, policies, and programs across General Plan elements including Land Use, Housing, and Community Design.
Cannabis Ordinance Update: Ordinance No. 892 was adopted by the City Council on October 22, 2025. This ordinance updated the City’s cannabis regulations in response to concerns about nuisance cannabis odors and after the City Council authorized a moratorium on new cannabis licenses and conditional use permits in January 2025. In addition to amending regulations pertaining to cannabis tax, licensing, and enforcement, Ordinance No. 892 included zoning ordinance amendments to require odor control plans for conditional use permits and changed the provisions for where cannabis businesses can be located.
General Plan Amendments
There were no City-driven general plan amendments in 2025. One applicant-driven general plan amendment, for The Wren, was adopted in 2025, and one application for an applicant- driven general plan amendment, for the Forest Lawn Specific Plan, was submitted.
Implementation
In 2025, new progress in implementation of the General Plan occurred across the thirteen elements, with significant progress related to three initiatives: active transportation program (ATP) projects, projects resulting from the passage of Measure W, and the updated Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and Emergency Operation Plan.
ATP Projects
Several active transportation projects were completed in 2025, including the new bike lanes on Date Palm Drive and East Palm Canyon Drive, the multi-use trail on Cathedral Canyon, and the protected bike lane on Perez Road. Construction of Cathedral City’s portion of CV Link, except the segment east of Date Palm Drive, was also completed in 2025. The ongoing expansion of the City’s active transportation infrastructure supports the implementation of General Plan programs such as:
Arts and Culture Element, Program 2.F: Continue to develop multi-modal circulation plans that maximize access to the downtown area and its arts and cultural venues, including the Festival Lawn and new amphitheater.
Economic and Fiscal Health Element, Program 1.B: Continue to enhance the walkability and identity of Perez Road between Cathedral Canyon Drive and Date Palm Drive, and promote it as a vibrant and cohesive community arts district.
Measure W Projects
As discussed in the 2023/2024 General Plan APR, voters approved Measure W, the Cathedral City Services Measure, in November 2024. The tax measure supported implementation of numerous initiatives in 2025, including improvements to emergency medical services, neighborhood street paving, and recreation services.
This tax measure enabled the acquisition and staffing of a fourth ambulance, which was placed in service in July 2025. The expansion of the City’s emergency medical services supports the implementation of programs such as Public Services and Facilities Element, Fire and Police Sub-Element, Program 3.B:
Evaluate current and potential methods of financing the expansion of fire and police services, including developer impact fees, assessment districts, and fire and police permitting fees for development occurring in high security or fire risk areas.
Measure W also enabled Cathedral City to join the Desert Recreation District (DRD).
Effective July 1, 2025, DRD assumed responsibility for maintaining six city parks and began offering a diverse arrange of recreational opportunities for residents of all ages. DRD assumed operation of the ongoing summer swim program at the Cathedral City High School.
The maintenance and expansion of recreation programs available to Cathedral City residents supports the implementation of programs in the Parks and Recreation Element and Environmental Justice Elements, including:
Parks and Recreation Element, Program 1.A: Maintain and, where appropriate, upgrade existing facilities and diversify activities programming.
Environmental Justice Element, Program 1.A: Maintain a joint use agreement with Palm Springs Unified School District and look for additional opportunities to partner in expanding resident access to shared facilities.
The City’s goal of establishing a community center is also being facilitated by Measure W. In 2025, the City contracted with Group 4 Architecture for a site selection and feasibility study.
This study supports the implementation of programs such as Program 6.B of the Public Services and Facilities Element (Public Facilities Sub-Element):
Continue to investigate the feasibility of constructing a new community center, including potential sites, constraints, and funding opportunities.
Updated LHMP and EOP
In 2025, the Fire Department worked with consultants to update the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP). The updated EOP is complete, and the updated LHMP has been submitted to the OES for review. These updated plans support implementation of Safety Element and Public Services and Facilities Element policies and programs, including:
Safety Element, Emergency Preparedness Sub-Element, Program 1.A: The City shall periodically review and update the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and the Emergency Operations Plan, including but not limited to fire protection, law enforcement, communications, alternative access, public health services, damage assessment and other emergency response parameters of Emergency Operations Plan.
Public Services and Facilities Element, Program 1.A: The Fire and Police Departments shall coordinate with other City Departments and schedule periodic review, access, and update the Strategic Plans and Local Hazards Mitigation Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact.
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
The General Plan policies and programs implemented in 2025 align with Strategic Plan actions including:
Goal B, Action B-10: City Council to support a measure to provide funding for parks and recreation services through the DRD and other resident priorities including streets and enhanced Fire Department services.
Goal E, Action E-4: Strengthen the City's ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters by reviewing and updating the City's Emergency Operations Plans through annual training sessions and tabletop exercises.
Goal F, Action F-1: Develop comprehensive strategy to amend zoning code and update design guidelines, including an identification of what work City staff can accomplish and what work optimally should be contracted out, including:
1) development of objective design standards in response to new state housing laws; 2) overhaul of commercial zoning code; 3) substantial update of design guidelines; 4) streamlining of development review processes; 5) implementation of Cathedral City General Plan and Housing Element goals, policies, and programs; and 6) continued implementation of new state legislation.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: General Plan Annual Progress Report 2025