April 29, 2005
Hanging in there
Wal*Mart is still in
escrow and the potential buyers from L.A. are interested in adding as much
as 50,000 sq. ft. to the site. If the buyers can successfully attract
replacement tenants, escrow could close by the first of next year, according
to Paul Shillcock, Economic Development Director. Although there was hope
that Burlington Coat Factory would come in, Shillcock said the business deal
points were unrealistic. He said interest from other retailers is high,
because the site is in an ideal location.
Water, water
everywhere
In order to reduce water
run off in the Panorama area, the City Council is asking the Parks and
Recreation Commission to take a look at replacing the turf strip next to the
sidewalk with desert landscaping. This could be done in concert with Public
Works and the Environmental Conservation department.
Still a deficit,
but better
The city is still running
an operating budget deficit, but it’s not as severe as projected. For this
fiscal year, Tami Scott, Director of Finance and Human Resources, reports a
General Fund deficit of $1 million, instead of the estimated $2.4 million.
Jazzing up the
place
The Cathedral City High
School Jazz Band -- you’ll be blown away by the rousing sounds – is coming
to Town Square next Friday night, May 6. The spirited youngsters will
headline the First Friday Night Concert, which will also feature a youth
folklorico group, a rock band and Mariachi Tenampa. Volunteer Richard
Martinez and his non-profit foundation keep these events coming to the
community each month.
Rebuilding the
department
Deputy Building Official
Jeff Blundell has left the city and, apparently, the area. Jeff Audiss, who
most recently was an inspector with San Bernardino and also worked for
Cathedral City several years ago, is coming back. He starts Monday. He will
be contracted through JAS, as are Larry Roach, our mobile home inspector,
and building inspector Tim Holden. Building Official Scott Fazekas has been
conducting interviews for possible deputy or chief building official posts.
More on the outcome later …
Eat ‘n greet
Dennis Britton, business
editor of The Desert Sun, will speak at the upcoming Chamber of Commerce
Power Breakfast. It will be held at 7 a.m. Wednesday, May 4, at the Doral
Desert Princess Hotel.
Dispatchers from
law enforcement /public safety families
The Police Department has
filled two dispatcher positions. Let’s welcome Lori Malone, wife of CC
firefighter Shaun Malone, and Nate Hanley, son of Bill Hanley – you may know
Officer Bill Hanley from the PSPD. …
To paws and
reflect
The County and all cities
participating in the Animal Campus being built in Thousand Palms are trying
to decide on a common ordinance relating to the type, number and keeping of
various animals. However, what’s acceptable in one community may not be in
another. In Rancho Mirage, for example, you cannot even let your children
play with the unleashed family dog on the front lawn. In the County, the
looming question is more along the lines of how large can that pet hog be?
It should be a howling good time coming to consensus.
Just in time
Four days after the City
Council adopted the SHARPS safe needle disposal program, Fire Engineer
Dennis Kinda discovered an apple juice container stuffed with used needles
in the house of a diabetic EMS patient. Kinda and Capt. Jeff Welsh were able
to get the patient enrolled in the SHARPS program so now her needles and
lancets are being disposed of safely. Also, BD Medical donated 12 SHARPS
containers to the Fire Department for the safe and free disposal of needles,
meeting a need that comes up in emergency medical response.
Protecting
against silent enemies
The Cathedral City and
Palm Springs Police Departments will join the County on May 24 for training
on combating chemical and biological warfare. Officers will also receive
kits containing antidotes to nerve gas and other potentially lethal
biological chemicals.
Keep those cards
and letters coming
If you have an item you
want to include in the Weekly Briefs, please just email it to JBaumer@cathedralcity.gov
. by Thursday noon . The Briefs are primarily for city staff, but
are also emailed to The Desert Sun and Chamber of Commerce, as well as
posted on the City’s website. Any help is greatly appreciated!!
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