April 15, 2005
Wake up and smell
… the burgers
Representatives of In ‘n’ Out Burgers have been talking
with Building and Planning to secure information on fees, processes and
codes in preparation for submitting plans for their project at the southeast
corner of Highway 111 and Date Palm Drive. They will also be working with
the lessee and Bureau of Indian Affairs, because the parcel is on Indian
allottee land.
Musical chairs
A new Plans Exam Room is being created downstairs in
City Hall in the Building Official’s office. Deputy Building Official Jeff
Blundell is moving in there and two drafting tables will be set up so
Building, Planning and Engineering personnel can lay
out, review and check plans.
In a related development, Leslie
Grosjean, a former 16-year employee of Sunline
and a former member of the city’s Transportation Commission, is coming
aboard on a temporary part-time basis to help manage engineering projects.
She will be located in Building Inspector/Plans Examiner Marilyn
Overman’s office. Marilyn will move to Jeff’s
office. Thanks to all who are making this possible, changing phones and
computers, rearranging desks.
Business change
Several months ago, Forest Lawn Mortuaries purchased
the Palm Springs Mortuary building on DaVall and
Ramon and this summer will establish their own business in the facility. In
preparation for establishing the new business, they are holding a job fair
at the Doral today. Time slots for interviews are fully booked and Forest
Lawn said this may be one of the most well attended job fairs in the history
of the 99-year-old company.
City Council
commendation
Kevin Lockwood, engineering
technician II, received a certificate of commendation from the City
Council for his dedication to improving Cathedral City’s website by making
it more user friendly. “Your talents as webmaster are recognized,
appreciated and valued,” it said. Serving as webmaster is only one of his
duties, which include preparing and designing engineering plans, drawing
standard plans for building and public works, maintaining the city street
map and all permanent storage files, including grading plans, parcel maps,
etc, reviewing site plans, plan checking single-family developments,
reviewing site plans and serving the public at the counter.
Green light means
go
The Riverside County transportation Department has
issued a notice to proceed to Parsons Brinkerhoff engineering firm to
proceed with plans for the I-10-Date Palm and
1-10/Gene Autry interchanges. The work on Date Palm is still years away,
but the train is at least moving. Now the city just has to find the
matching funds for the project … ah, another challenge!!!
Not for
emergencies, but helpful
You know all about 9-1-1. Come July 1, we’ll also have
2-1-1. That’s the number we can use to call for community services, ranging
from child protection to elder care. This is a County program aimed at
providing easy access to a variety of social and human services throughout
the area.
It’s
coming, it’s coming
Council members are asking when the potholes at Date
Palm and Dinah Shore will be fixed. “Toward the end of next week,” says
Dale Bolls, facilities manager. He is placing an order for concrete, which
is the only material that holds up under the constant flow of water in that
area.
News from the
north
Pulte Homes, builders of Sun City, have taken out an
encroachment permit to look for utility lines in preparation for the
installation of the long-awaited sewer line from Thousand Palms to Desert
Hot Springs, passing through Cathedral City’s northern sphere. This is good
news. Why? Because it opens up the only large area left for development
within the city
Apples well
deserved
Teachers from three school districts throughout the
Valley will be honored Friday night at a Teacher of the Year dinner
sponsored by the Cathedral City Chamber of Commerce. The event will take
place at the Doral Desert Princess Resort Hotel.
Can you help?
At the last Chamber of Commerce breakfast, the audience
heard about the dire plight of children who have no place to stay. Foster
Parents are desperately needed for the Coachella Valley; many of the
children from troubled environments are being sent to other counties because
there are simply nom homes here for them. Soo….
If you or anyone you know might be interested, a Foster Parents meeting is
scheduled at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, at the Cathedral City Elementary
School.
New manager in
Riverside
Brad Hudson, who has been the Riverside County Economic
Development Director, for many years, has been named City Manager of
Riverside.
Safety first
Cathedral City is the first municipality in the nation
to adopt a SHARPS program for free and safe disposal of syringes and
lancets. Everyone in the city will receive a postcard in the mail. Self
injectors can take it to either Rite Aid or Walgreens
to receive a plastic container for needles and a pre-paid package to send
the filled container to a hazardous materials disposal site.
A for effort and
results
Tami Scott, finance director, announced that the city’s
audit showed that all departments are fiscally responsible. There were no
reportable findings in the audit. This will help the city’s bonding
capabilities because it indicates Cathedral City is a safe at risk in the
market place. Also, revenues this past year increased $1.5 million more than
predicted, thanks largely to auto sales; however, the city is still not
breaking even, running from $500,000 to $1 million in the red.
Tribal Council
contributions
The Agua
Caliente Band of Cahuilla
Indians gave $25,000 to the Cathedral City Senior Center and $15,000 to the
Fire department to purchase a thermal imaging camera. The Police Department
also received funds at the Tribal Council’s annual community giving
ceremony.
Recruiting
employees, volunteers
The Human Resources department is recruiting for two
lieutenants in the Police Department and interviews were held this week to
fill one Division Chief post in the Fire
Department.
Recruitment will start early this year to fill a number
of vacant positions on city boards and commissions. Deputy City Clerk Daryl
Betancur has the list, which will be distributed next week.
More money
matters
The Redevelopment Agency (City Council) holds a special
meeting at 4 p.m. Monday (April 18) to consider
a request from the Cove Steering Committee funding sub committee for a
contribution to the Cove Improvement District.
The development Services Committee reviewed plans with
very few changes on a new sales and service facility at
Accura of the Desert. It will be located right next to Saturn on
Perez Road. This will give the city another strong dealership to keep those
economic engines turning.
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