June 30, 2005  

Fountainworks Festival …fun fun fun

Topping the local news this week was the Fountainworks Festival held Sunday, July 3, in Town Square. What a line up of entertainment!  The event started early at 5:15  p.m. just to fit in all the acts: First on stage was the 47-piece Marine Corps Band from Twentynine Palms, followed by saxman Grady Nichols, the Truth in Action youth mime group,  Sandro Albert Quintet, and the headliner, saxman Michael Lington. Kids enjoyed playing in the fountain, getting their faces painted and competing in games.  Vendors sold food and there was be wine and beer gardens.   

The First Friday concert  also took place this holiday weekend -- on  Friday, July 1, featuring three bands, vendors and lots of activity.

But operator remains

The Mary Pickford Theatre is being sold.  Palm Canyon Partners, which built and has owned the facility since it opened, is selling it to an investment trust based in Los Angeles.  The “Partners” are Nino Spondello, David Ghiradelli and Bob Selleck (brother of Tom).  There are no plans to change the theatre operator.  North American Cinemas will continue to run the Pickford and Desert IMAX Theatres.  The Northern California theater chain has operated the Mary Pickford since it opened and took over IMAX operations last year.

To pay or not to pay up front?

More than 400 Cove property owners attended a workshop this week at City Hall to determine if they wanted to pay up front or finance their sewer capacity fees over 30 years as part of their sewer and street assessment.  Additional workshops on engineering and technical issues will be held in the future as plans for the Cove Improvement District proceed.

Cove property owners have until 5 p.m. July 11 to include their entire sewer capacity fees in their assessment or pay them directly to the Desert Water Agency at the current rate. Property owners who wish to pay their entire assessment in full can do so at City Hall by 5 p.m. July 11.and receive a rebate. Payment to the City of Cathedral City must be by cashiers check, money order or certified check.   Those who do not pay up front during this cash payment period will pay their assessments annually over time through the tax rolls. Call the Cove help line at 760-250-8673 for more information.    

Another peek

Additional traffic flow at two intersections will be evaluated by red light cameras during an analysis of motorist violations in an effort to improve traffic safety.  Police Chief Stan Henry has asked American Traffic Solutions to put test cameras up for traffic going east and west at Date Palm/Ramon and for traffic traveling north and south at Date Palm/Perez. This is part of an initial study to determine if red light cameras could provide safer intersections in the city and, if so, where they should be located. 

Sidewalks to schools, businesses 

The city has received a $142,000 SB 821 grant (pedestrian/ bicycle pathways) from the Riverside County Transportation Commission.  The funds will be used to install sidewalks along Shifting Sands Trail to link that neighborhood to schools and businesses

along Ramon Road..  Although most cities in the valley competed, Cathedral City was one of only two municipalities in the valley to come out a winner in this competition for

a piece of the $1.6 million available in grant funds.  We were # 7 out of 46 entries. Congratulations to Leslie Grosjean and Bill Bayne in Engineering for making it happen. 

Parks and recreation

Residents who participated in one of the six focus groups conducted in late May on park and recreational needs are invited to a gathering to discuss facilitator Dr. Craig Kelsey’s report.  The event will be held at the Canyon Shores clubhouse at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 6. Dr. Kelsey’s findings and the next steps in the process of meeting the needs for park facilities and recreational services in Cathedral City will be discussed. Canyon Shores is located north of the Whitewater River Wash on the east side of Cathedral Canyon Drive 

Welcome two Dispatchers

Two new Police Dispatchers started work this week.  They are Kristen Kelley and Melina Mojica.

Statue not missing

Missing George?  The bronze statue called Hollywood Hero in the likeness of the late actor George Montgomery is being cleaned and repaired.  It was located in the Montgomery Sculpture Courtyard in Town Square facing the Mary Pickford Theatre until it was removed by Public Works crews to be cleaned and polished. It should be back soon, according to Dale Bolls, facilities manager. Last week was the fifth anniversary of Montgomery’s death at the age of 83.  

Progress on sewers

Owners of property in Phases 2 and 3 of the 35th Avenue Assessment District will be able to connect their properties to the new sewer lines when the Coachella Valley Water District releases the lines for hook up.  The contractor, Yeager Skanska, is finishing remaining street work and then CVWD manhole covers and valve boxes must be finished to grade before the hook ups can be done. Phase 3 completion should be around Labor Day and Phase 2 should be finished around Thanksgiving.

The answer is … Starbucks

Questions keep coming:  “What is going in at the Food for Less Shopping Center?” A Starbucks drive thru will occupy one of four tenant spaces. The other three tenants are unknown at this time.

For a good cause

Be sure to buy safe and sane fireworks to support your favorite charity.  Booths located throughout the city will be selling fireworks through July 4.