May 27, 2005
Grace period
You may notice red light cameras at
high-traffic intersections over the next few weeks, but motorists whose
violations are recorded will not be ticketed. At least not yet.
Purpose of these camera
installations, which begin the week of June 6, is to determine if six
intersections selected by the police and traffic engineering departments are
where permanent installations would improve safety. Intersections being
tested are: Date Palm at East Palm Canyon, Date Palm at Dinah Shore, Date
Palm at Ramon, Cathedral Canyon at Ramon, East Palm Canyon at Cathedral
Canyon and Ramon at Landau. Low-resolution cameras used for the test are not
designed for traffic enforcement and the identification of violators.
Police Chief Stan Henry said after
the tests are completed, the data will be analyzed to decide the best
locations. Then there will be an educational program for the community and
a 30-day warning period so that motorists receive adequate advance notice.
He estimated it will be 60 to 90
days before the digital red light cameras are installed and operational in
Cathedral City. The program is designed to pay for itself.
Have ideas for city’s phone system?
Update on the Employee Telephone
Committee (technically, it’s the VoIP, Voice Over Internet Protocol
Committee) … the group is looking at a system that will rely on the city’s
internal network cable, which MIS would maintain. Under the plan being
considered, Verizon would be used only for the out-lines.
If you have ideas, just give them
to any member of the Committee: Capt. John Holcomb, Justin Hilderbrand,
Daryl Betancur, Mike Youngberg, Ronda Guillaume, Carma Giron, Eugenia
Torres, Sandra Hatfield, Mike Young, Shelley Salinas, Melissa Holcomb.
Next meeting is June 9 at 9 a.m.
Not losing pay
Now, about the change in the
payroll cycle for city employees. The bottom line is that the change is
being made so the Finance Department has enough time to process payroll,
given new legal requirements and the number of deductions on each paycheck.
Between now and the end of the year, employees will receive the same pay
they would without the change. They are not losing a half a paycheck, but
will receive three paychecks in December instead of in September. However,
employees who request it can receive a full paycheck advance.
Meetings are scheduled at 9 and 3
p.m. June 7 in the Council Chamber to further explain the change.
Focus on our future
Youth sports advocates, business
owners, students, seniors and neighborhood representatives aired their
feelings and opinions at a series of six focus groups sponsored by the
city’s Park and Recreation Commission.
Creative ideas flowed as people
joined together to tackle how to improve Cathedral City, including parks and
recreational programs, given the city’s financial restraints. Some of the
ideas: provide discounts at recreational facilities for students who
volunteer as tutors, coordinate facilities and programs with other cities
and service providers; get a master plan for parks; be sure these focus
groups stay involved.
A recurring question: How come
other valley cities can provide a pool, soccer parks, ball fields, skate
park and other facilities when Cathedral City can’t? The answer came at one
of focus groups from Tami Scott, finance director: Those cities receive
large amounts of room tax, property tax and utility taxes. Cathedral City’s
General Fund receives no utility taxes, less than $1.5 million in room taxes
and only approximately $13.82 each year in property taxes from the average
Cathedral City household. Some of the groups talked about various ways to
bring in more money.
Facilitator Dr. Craig Kelsey will
present a report to the Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council on
his findings.
Ah, retirement by a lake
Public Works Inspector Don Martin
is getting ready to hang up his tape measure. After almost 20 years with
the city, Don will retire Aug. 31 and move to Clear Lake Oaks, northwest of
Sacramento. He bought a mobile home about a half mile from his brother, who
lives lakeside. Don is commuting from Hemet, where he is temporarily living
with Ross Heffley, who used to be an inspector here.
Meeting the muster
Three probationary firefighters
successfully reached their six-month training milestone in their quest to
become permanent members of the department. They are Zachary Wright, Daniel
Dunn and Craig Sanborn.
Party for Captain Skinner
Mark you calendars … July 9 is the
date of the retirement party at Desert Princess Country Club for Fire Capt.
John Skinner. John is currently at home recovering from recent neck surgery
at Eisenhower Medical Center.
Fountainworks Festival
The City Council gave the green
light to the proposed Fountainworks Festival on Sunday, July 3. The
family-themed event in Town Square will feature three contemporary jazz
bands, the Marine Corps Band and Truth in Action, a group of student mimes
that delivers a powerful performance to patriotic music.
Various games and activities will
be provided for children and vendors will sell food and beverages. Look for
Bill Beck of the Red Tomato with his fabulous strawberry shortcake.
Sponsorships are being sold to help pay for the event.
Consideration given existing businesses
What’s behind the story about “the
city pushing out successful businesses along Ramon Road to make way for an
RV dealer?” Here’s the real deal: Yes, the Redevelopment Agency is
interested in seeing a coordinated higher use of about 40 acres in the Ramon
corridor west of the Whitewater Channel. So the Agency has approved a
120-day memorandum of understanding with Merritt RV to negotiate a
development agreement outlining project specifics and schedule of
performance. Wayne Merritt is proposing RV sales and service and possibly
fuel sales and food service.
As many existing businesses as
possible would be accommodated in any new development, including staying
where they are or relocating somewhere else within the new development, if
it is approved. However, throughout the process, existing businesses
themselves will be provided the opportunity to submit their own proposals
for redevelopment of their property or other property within the project
area.
Purpose of redevelopment is to spur
economic development to generate revenue to pay for basic public
services.
Cimarron Homes landscape district
Ballots are out to 32 property
owners on a proposed landscape and lighting district in the Cimarron Homes
tract in the 30th Avenue-Santoro area. Homeowners are voting on whether to
pay $236 a year for city crews to maintain desert-landscape parkways on the
north side of 30th from Santoro to the east city limits and on the east side
of Santoro Drive from 30th to the north tract limits. The proposal includes
part of the maintenance cost of street lights and graffiti removal.
Members of the Cimarron Homes
Steering Committee are Bob and Peg Coyne, John Pastizzo and Chantel Dacier.
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