March 10, 2005
Opening soon
Building permits are
ready to be issued for tenant improvements at Sprint Express and Sausalito
Silver and Gift Shop in the new downtown Also, plans came in today for
Starbucks.
Not seeing red yet
American Traffic
Solutions made a presentation on infrared cameras for traffic surveillance
at the City Council study session this week. Council was clear that if such
a program were to be put into effect, it should be at no cost to the city.
Even though there were some potential issues of ”Big Brother is watching”,
the prospect of reducing accidents at high-volume intersections seemed to
outweigh the Council’s concerns. Council members wanted time to think about
the proposal and to see any further cost figures. Police Chief Stan Henry
stressed the value of the program as a traffic safety measure and not as a
revenue source. A recent national news story stated that surveillance
cameras at intersections initially increase traffic accidents. However, the
article failed to point out that studies show that after 90 days or so, the
accident rate drops.
But, officer, I was
only ….
In an ironic twist of
fate, our own traffic engineer, Jerry Jack, suffered his first-ever traffic
collision yesterday at a Palm Springs intersection, while looking for the
surveillance camera. He’s unharmed, but his car had to be towed. Jerry
admitted that what caught his eye at the intersection was the “wireless
communications array”; he never found the actual camera.
We’re jammin’
Tuesday night, March 15,
will be jammed packed with meetings all over town. Right here in City Hall,
at 5:30, the Park and recreation Commission will hold its monthly meeting.
Then, at 6 p.m.., the Dream Homes neighborhood will meet at Agua Caliente
School to deal with neighborhood revitalization, traffic issues and an
energy efficiency program. Moving right along … at 6:30, the Council will
hold a neighborhood meeting at Sunny Sands Elementary School. These
meetings are held every other month on the third Tuesday at locations
throughout the community. (This is not to mention Monday night, when some
800+- Cove residents are expected to attend a meeting at the Doral, where
they will learn costs of the proposed Cove Improvement District for sewers
and streets.)
They’re sprouting
like wild flowers
You’ve heard about the
35th Avenue Neighborhood Watch, and the Hermosillo Neighborhood Watch and
maybe the Desert Princess Neighborhood Watch. Well, next month, look for a
La Posada group to form. Not only that, but now Rancho Mirage is getting
into the act, asking Cathedral City volunteers for help in forming six watch
groups there.
Remember Craig
A memorial concert for
Craig Eaton, one of the original members of the Public Arts Commission, will
be held from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 13, at the Doral Desert Princess
Resort. It is open to everyone and will pay tribute to the rock ‘n roll
musician who died recently of a massive heart attack. The event will raise
money for a scholarship program for music students at Cathedral City High
School.
She likes us, she
really really likes us
Assembly member Bonnie
Garcia will be in her suite on the west side of the Civic Center for the
next two years of her term. The Cathedral City Downtown Foundation (that’s
the City Council) has signed an agreement with the Assembly Rules Committee
so Assembly member Garcia can continue renting the 1600 sq. ft. space for
her district office.
East side story
Across the paseo from the
Garcia suite, work is being finalized on the new suite for the Housing
Division. Flooring cannot be laid until the rolling file cabinets are
installed.
What do YOU think?
Council member Paul
Marchand (with Bud England as back up) will work with a city-wide event
committee made up of Lynn Mallotto, Greg Wetmore of the Chamber of Commerce
and Vickie Oltean or a member of the Parks and Recreation Commission.. At
direction of Council, right now, they will focus on a family night and
possible concert on July 3. The committee will explore such issues as
staffing (or contracting out), funding, location, etc. If you have ideas,
let any of them know.
First apartments,
next offices and restaurants
Charlie Knickerbocker,
builder of the apartments now going up around the Mary Pickford Theatre, is
interested in developing a 35,000 sq. ft. two-story office building south of
the theater. He is talking about the possibility of locating two
restaurants on the first floor. This area has been referred to as “Building
J”. .
Quimby Ordinance
A draft Cathedral City
Quimby Ordinance, which would require developers to provide or pay for park
land, is being circulated to interested persons. See Ken Davis or Nancy
Greene in Planning for a copy |
