Support for second Stater Bros. here

The Planning Commission is recommending to City Council approval of six buildings, including a Stater Bros. market, at the northwest corner of Vista Chino and Landau.  The other buildings tentatively could house a drug store, bank and fast food restaurants.  Developers are Regency Shopping Centers and MDI West.

Look for the project to go before City Council in September.  

Getting connected

Electricity at Mission Plaza is expected to be restored early next week, hopefully by Aug. 1, to five businesses that have been without power since a fire destroyed several others at the center this summer. 

The center’s electrician had to replace and then reroute overhead lines to receive power from another source, the transformer behind the former bank on Date Palm, because the electrical room was burned in the fire. After the electrician finishes his work and it’s approved by the city inspector, SCE crews can make the needed connection to the transformer.  When SCE finishes, the doors can then re-open at ASC Jewelers, the smoke shop, hair salon, Smart Women’s clothing store and Little Hong Kong Restaurant.     

$7 million and growing

A Joint Senate-House Committee has approved a federal bill that includes $500,000 for the Cove sewer and street improvement district.  The funds were requested by Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Congresswoman Mary Bono after they were contacted by the City Council and the Cove Steering Committee to help fund the project. 

Another $137,816 was awarded by the State this week, amounting to $637,816 that could be awarded due to efforts in the past few months.  The state already contributed $5.3 million from Prop. 13 funds and the Redevelopment Agency provided $1.1 million. 

Therefore, if the joint committee request is approved by the full Senate and House and signed by the President, the amount going to the Cove from outside sources totals over $7 million.    

‘rithmetic adds up

School fees charged for residential construction are expected to increase from $2.24 sq. ft. to $3 sq. ft. on Aug. 24.  The Palm Springs Unified School District Board of Education will vote on the matter Aug. 23, and, if approved, the new fees will take effect the next day, according to district staff. 

The building department is expecting a rush on applications for residential building permits prior to the increase.

Walk the walk

A concrete sidewalk leading from the purple pedestrian bridge from Officer David Vasquez Road to Perez Road has been finished.  The bridge and sidewalk link the downtown with the Perez Road business district, offering a wide array of home improvement and design shops.

Déjà vu all over again

As the introductions were going around, Gloria Cohen, engineering assistant, took a second look at the man across the table. When she heard the name she knew.   “Mahmoud, it’s you!”

It turns out the architect for Tri-Millennium Properties is the very Mahmoud Gharachedaghi Gloria worked with 28 years ago.  They both began their careers at  Mutlow Dimster Architects in L.A. Mahmoud is now a principal in another L.A. architectural and planning firm, GA Design. Gloria also became an architect and works in the city’s engineering department reviewing grading plans, checking other engineering plans, enforcing air quality standards and performing a wide variety of duties.

Their “re-meeting” occurred when they were called to a session to go over plans submitted by Tri-Millennium, the downtown master developer.  

She can still spell his last name and, of course, they both still look the same.

Charting the course

The Fire Department is embarking on its own Strategic Plan, following Council adoption last year of a Strategic Plan for the City.

Fire Chief Steve Sowles gave a PowerPoint presentation to all department employees to introduce the concept of a plan and then identified areas to be pursued.  Voluntary committees are being established to deal with various issues, such as specifications for and acquisition of a 100’-ladder Quiller truck; revenue enhancements and long-term funding; call response to the community and relocation of Station 411.

The idea is for the employee committees to develop a 10- to 15-year plan that can tackle challenges now to assure a more secure future.            

From parks to police

Justin Berzon, a former chairman of the Parks and Recreation Commission, will be sworn in by the City Council Aug. 10 as one of two new officers with the Cathedral City Police Department. Berzon, a graduate of Cathedral City High School, received his bachelor’s degree from UC San Diego in political science. He graduated from the Police Academy at College of the Desert last year and also served as a reserve deputy with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. 

The other new officer to be sworn in is Kevin Forderaro, who served with the Beverly Hills Police Department for two and a half years.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and public relations from Cal State Sacramento. He is a graduate of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Academy.

Sgts. Laura Hanlon and Chuck Robinson will also be sworn in, as lieutenants, which was previously announced.

Jesus Gutierrez of Upland, a graduate of the Fullerton Police Academy, will be sworn in as a reserve officer.  He has served as a COPS volunteer with the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department.

Rio Vista ratcheting up again

Residential construction will start again soon in the Rio Vista neighborhood in the northern part of the city.  Stone Pacific is picking up permits for 20 units and World Development will be close behind with applications for 21 units out of a 71-unit tract. World is also preparing and submitting infrastructure plans to the city.