Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 3.K
Meeting Date: October 14, 2026
From: John A. Corella, Director of Public Works
Title: Yoga Classes in the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater - 2027 funded by the Parks and Community Events Commission Events Budget
RECOMMENDATION:
To approve $3,100 from the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Parks and Community Events Commission Small Events Budget for the 2027 Yoga in the Park program at the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater.
BACKGROUND:
The Parks and Community Events Commission (PACE) continues to engage the community and raise awareness of the City’s park resources. As part of its responsibilities, PACE supports and volunteers at community events and related activities.
The approved Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget allocates $10,000 to PACE to fund all or a portion of the costs associated with events held at City parks. Eligible costs may include services, materials, or a combination of both. PACE reviews each event and the respective funding request and, upon making a favorable recommendation, forwards the funding request to the City Council for final approval.
During each of the past five fiscal years, the City Council has approved funding for free community yoga classes at the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater. The Tuesday classes, offered from January through March, have consistently drawn 50 to more than 100 participants per class.
DISCUSSION:
The 2027 Yoga in the Park program is proposing to offer Tuesday morning classes at the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater from January 26 through March 30, 2027.
Two free classes will be offered each week for 10 weeks, for a total of 20 classes. Gentle Yoga will be offered from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., followed by Power Yoga from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Professional instructors Patti Wexler and Kim Funkey have agreed to return for the 2027 season at the established rate. Volunteers, including PACE Vice Chair Antonio Baciu and other PACE commissioners, will monitor the classes, distribute mats, and assist with cleanup.
The proposed program budget is as follows:
• Instructor fees: $2,900
Twenty classes at $145 per class. (Note: Instructors will be compensated for classes canceled by the city with less than 24 hours’ notice).
• Incidental and outreach materials: $200
Flyers and promotional materials.
• Total funding request: $3,100
The $3,100 request is proposed to be funded from the Fiscal Year 2026-27 PACE Small Events Budget, General Ledger account 100-500-510-511-8300-8301, project M03511- OPS-PARKS-M&O.
During the 2026 season, the program recorded more than 1,500 participant visits over the 10-week period. Previous attendance records were surpassed twice, with a peak combined attendance of 224 participants during the two classes offered on a single day.
The program promotes health and wellness, highlights the Amphitheater as a public space, and provides opportunities to share information about other city programs and events.
The Fiscal Year 2026-27 PACE Small Events Budget also includes approved funding for the Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume event, Feliz Navi-Dog Costume event, and Summer Kids Movies Program.
PACE FY 2026-2027
PACE Small Events Budget $10,000
Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Panorama Park October 2026 $ 500 Feliz Navi-Dog Costume Esperanza Park December 2026 $ 500 Summer Kids Movies Program Mary Pickford Summer 2026 $1,100 Available Budget Before Yoga $7,900
Yoga in the Park 2027 Amphitheater Jan-March 2027 $3,100 Remaining Available Budget $4,800
At its May 5, 2026, meeting, PACE recommended continuing the Yoga in the Park program in 2027, allocating $3,100 from the PACE Small Events Budget, and forwarding the program and funding request to the City Council for final approval. The May 5, 2026, PACE staff report is included as an attachment.
PACE is requesting that the City Council approve $3,100 from the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Parks and Community Events Commission Small Events Budget for the 2027 Yoga in the Park program at the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater
FISCAL IMPACT:
DESCRIPTION GENERAL
LEDGER
ACCOUNT
CODES
PROJECT CODE AMOUNT ONE TIME or
ONGOING
2026-
2027
Parks and Community
Events
100-500-510-
511-8300-8301
M03511-OPSPARKS-M&O $3,100 One Time
2026-
2027 Total $3,100
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
GOAL F: EMBRACING, INCLUSIVE CITY
ATTACHMENTS:
1. May 5, 2026, PACE Staff Report for the 2027 Yoga in the Park Program