Calls for service up

Mid-way through the calendar year to June, the Police Department is experiencing an increase in total calls for service, thefts and burglaries, with a drop in auto thefts and  robberies and a slight decrease in assaults. There were 1,467 more calls for service for the first six months this year than for the same time period in 2004.     

Karaoke and more

Here’s the line up for the Friday Night concert in Town Square Aug. 5:  two performers  who were winners of last week’s Karaoke contest at Boomer’s, Chetney Marasala of Cathedral City and Suzi Jacobs of Palm Desert. By the way, locals have been vying for prizes at spirited sessions each Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Boomer’s – what a great idea for summer family fun.  Youths 18 years and younger try out for a grand prize of $500 and a demo CD with Have a Dream Records. The grand prize winner will be picked Aug. 31.  

But back to the concert  …  The Cathedral City Dance group, under the leadership of Kim Lewis  will also perform during the Friday Night concert.  They are scheduled to go on at 8 p.m. Kim’s talented youngsters practice at the Community Center.  The program has been so successful that they are running out of room and are having to use the Study Session Room at City Hall several times this month.  

Muni Code online

You can toss that bulky Municipal Code book good bye.  Just check out the city’s website and the entire Municipal Code is at your fingertips.  City Clerk Pat Hammers and Webmaster Kevin Lockwood are thrilled at how easy it is to find everything from animal care to zoning in the “e-book” now.

Barbecue set Aug. 31

Plans are already in the works (public works, that is) for a barbecue commemorating the retirement of Public Works Inspector Don Martin.  The aroma will be wafting throughout the City Yard starting at noon.  Employees will also bring potluck dishes to round out the lunch menu. Call Tommi Jimenez at ext. 390 to sign up.

Keep them in your thoughts

Estela Burt is still on family leave to be home with her husband, Denny, who is battling cancer. Their children have been visiting but recently left for their homes and will not be able to return to the desert until the end of August. 

With sympathy

Condolences to Ben Potter’s family.  Ben’s sister-in-law suffered a fatal heart attack last week after a trip to the supermarket while visiting Ben and his wife.

For a higher and best use

Escrow closed and the Redevelopment Agency is now the proud owner of the Desert Hills Mobile Home Park. This property, plus the old McDonald’s, Nona’s and carpet store to the north, will accommodate an affordable apartment complex to help the city meet its state housing requirements and two O’Brien auto dealerships with East Palm Canyon Drive frontage. There’s talk about the Fire Department using the demolition of McDonald’s, Nona’s and the carpet store in a training exercise, if the developer can wait a awhile until the weather cools off.  

Back in business

The five shops and a restaurant that were out of power for three weeks following a fire in the Mission Plaza Shopping Center were open and back in business last Friday.  Thanks to the Chamber of Commerce, SCE, shopping center management and Paul Shillcock, city economic development director, for making it happen. Without a “can do” approach, this could have been months.

Preparing for audit

The Finance Department is balancing the books and putting together schedules in preparation for three audits, the streets audit in September and the Measure A and annual city audit, both in October.

“View from the Top” 

Access to the outside staircase leading up to the Council Chamber has been closed off during the weekends, as a start. Employees in Finance whose windows face the upper stairway landing this week noticed a youngster who decided to use the area as a restroom. There have also been problems with transients on the weekends. Horst Schnur wants to begin with locking the door to the upper landing at least during the weekends and then go from there. 

Command post with many uses   

The Police Department’s first real Command Post, a 32-foot multi-functional trailer with dispatch capabilities, is being picked up in San Diego.  Lt. Chuck Robinson said it can serve as a tactical command post in disasters, as headquarters for officers assigned to various events throughout the valley, and will provide crime scene support, as well as provide dispatch and communications services if the regular dispatch center goes down.

Thanks to RVs of Merritt in Cathedral City and Thunderworks in San Diego, the command post cost was kept to $85,000, half of what most agencies pay for such a facility.  Further donations were made by Wal*Mart, the Elks Club and Desert Does.             

Most of the funds to pay for it came from a federal Homeland Security grant.

Along with the traffic and DUI trailers, the new facility is being stored at the SCE yard on cathedral Canyon Drive, where officers have 24-hour access to all the trailers.

Assignment changes

In the Fire Department, Capt. Stephen Tamir is the new EMS coordinator, taking over from Capt. Jeff Welsh, who is handling computers/records duties.

Fountain temporarily down

The Fountain of Life was turned off on Thursday after pump problems.  Horst Schnur is trying to get it back in operation ASAP.