Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 2.A
Meeting Date: July 22, 2026
From: Anne V. Ambrose, Assistant City Manager
Title: Desert Recreation District Services Update
RECOMMENDATION:
To receive a presentation by staff from the Desert Recreation District on the status of park maintenance and programming.
BACKGROUND:
Desert Recreation District (DRD) is California’s largest park and recreation special district that was established in 1950. It covers over 1,887 square miles and serves over 380,000 residents across the Coachella Valley. DRD manages and maintains more than 49 parks and recreation facilities, offering a wide range of programs, services, and classes designed to enrich the lives of our residents.
Through the passage of Measure W, Cathedral City voters overwhelmingly supported the city joining the DRD to provide parks programming in the city and improved maintenance of the city’s parks.
On February 12, 2025, the City of Cathedral City and DRD entered into a service agreement to provide the residents of Cathedral City with recreational programs and park maintenance services. An additional benefit of joining DRD is that Cathedral City residents could register for any program in any city served by the DRD and receive the in-district discounted rates The services agreement outlined maintenance services to be provided at the following city parks: Dennis Keat Soccer Park, Panorama Park, Ocotillo Park, Century Park, Esperanza Park, and Patriot Park. The services agreement also discussed preliminary community- based programming to be provided by DRD that would be provided at city parks or other available facilities such as the library, including the continuation of the summer swim program at Cathedral City High School.
On February 12, 2025, the City of Cathedral City and DRD entered into a tax exchange agreement to provide payment for DRD’s services. The agreement indicated that DRD would receive fifteen percent (15%) of the City’s basic one percent (1%) property tax levy, or approximately $1 million in FY 2025/26. This would only cover a portion of the full costs of the DRD services, which are anticipated to total $1,798,585.88 in FY 2025/26. The remaining costs of services were budgeted in the FY 2025/26 budget and paid monthly to the DRD.
This arrangement provided the confidence of a regular revenue stream to fund DRD services while allowing the City flexibility should the need arise to modify services due to budgetary constraints in the future. Due to a transition in the DRD’s executive level leadership and overall review of district finances by the incoming leadership team, the annexation process has been delayed, and the tax sharing agreement has not yet been implemented. To date, the City directly contracts for and pays for services through the DRD.
DISCUSSION:
The City Council has asked for quarterly updates from DRD on the status of programming and maintenance services. Desert Recreation District General Manager, Dr. Gabriel Martin, Community Services Coordinator Ana Velasquez and Public Information & Legislative Affairs Officer Scott Sear will provide a presentation on the recreational programs and maintenance services provided during this first full year of contracting with the DRD, along with providing a brief update on the annexation. Dr. Martin will be coming back to the City Council again on August 12, 2026 to provide a more in-depth report on the annexation and district finances.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The costs for parks maintenance and recreation services for FY 2025/26 were budgeted at $1,798,585.88. Total expenditures to date through May 31, 2026 are:
Park Maintenance Amount
Materials & Supplies $ 32,425.35
Maintenance and Ops $ 513,967.90
Utilities (Electric/Water $ 283,715.30
Professional Svcs (DRD Staff) $ 593,567.95
Total through 5/31/26 $ 1,423,676.50
Recreation Programming Amount
Maintenance and Supplies $ 11,049.46
Programs $ 41,239.62
Professional Svcs (DRD Staff) $ 196,173.31
Total through 5/31/26 $ 248,462.39
Grand Total $ 1,672,138.89
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
Goal F: Embracing, Inclusive Community