City of Cathedral City
68700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero
Cathedral City, CA 92234
(760) 770-0340

Cathedral City made proud

Two Cathedral City businessmen received awards at the Palm Springs Desert Resorts Convention and Visitors Authority (CVA) annual awards luncheon Thursday.

Bill Beck, owner of the Red Tomato and Original House of Lamb, was named restaurateur of the year, in stiff competition from restaurants throughout the desert. In addition to his successful operation, Beck was lauded for his compassion in raising funds for various local causes and victims of Hurricane Katrina. Elie Zod, of the Doral Desert Princess Hotel, was selected general manager of the year for hotels with 201 rooms and more. Zod serves on the City’s new Marketing Committee and has been active in the valley hospitality industry for a number of years.

The eight cities that belong to the CVA were featured in a video presentation of the CVA’s new slogan, “Give in to The Desert: You’re surrounded,” alluding to the mountains that rim the valley, as well as the various communities.. Key words to be used in the new campaign include “reinvent,” “renew”, “rejuvenate”, “revive” and “relax.”

Here’s a tourism tidbit from the luncheon: The average hotel occupancy rate throughout the valley is 61 percent, leaving plenty of room for tourism growth, Jeff Beckelman, CVA CEO, pointed out.

Batter Up!

Big League Dreams is hosting the NCAA women’s fast pitch tournament this weekend. Hundreds of college coeds from throughout the United States and their families are attending the event. The Fire Department is staffing the tournament with two personnel for each of the three days to handle any medical emergencies that may arise.

Homecoming Parade proposed for fall

Cathedral City High School would like to hold a Homecoming Parade downtown on Oct. 18. School personnel will apply for a special use permit that includes a float route along Date Palm and East Palm Canyon from Date Palm to the Bell Tower, ending up with the pep rally in Town Square.

Soccer park update

A Rancho Mirage couple, Mr. and Mrs. Al Siteman, have sent the City a check for $10,000 for the soccer park that will be built adjacent to James Workman Middle School. The gift is in addition to a donation of the same amount donated by the City of Rancho Mirage. A joint meeting of the City Council and Park and Recreation Commission primarily for neighborhood residents and soccer parents is set for 6 p.m. March 7 at Workman School. This meeting will take the place of the Neighborhood Meeting previously scheduled March 21.

Watch that rolling ‘California stop’

After the first month of operation, red light cameras at the intersection of Ramon Road and Date Palm Drive have photographed 100 motorists committing traffic violations. A tip to save you from a $395 ticket … when driving north on Date Palm, stop before turning right on red.

Off-road riding prohibition?

At the City Council study session this week, Police Chief Stan Henry unveiled the rough draft of a plan to prohibit off-road vehicle riding everywhere in the city. The proposal is being reviewed by City Council for possible formal adoption in the future. Sgt. Paul Herrera has been working with an informal Coachella Valley multi-agency Task Force on problems created by off-road-vehicle use of public and private lands. Herrera has found a 300% increase in riders and an upswing in accidents, large recreational vehicles, burning vegetation, dumping trash, vandalism, trespassing and unsafe vehicle modifications. The Police Department deploys two officers two days a week to the area, primarily north of I-10, depending on need. When available, a reserve officer assists.

2006 Strategic Plan just off press

A summary of the City’s Strategic Plan update for 2006 is now available. A copy is on the bulletin board area by the Community Development copying machine. Employees can read it from there or make copies. Projects on the schedule for this year include a benchmark citizen survey, plan for retention of employees, successful negotiation of employee union contracts, start of construction on the Sheraton Hotel, staff compensation study, market economic study and continuation of neighborhood meetings. The plan also includes a list of accomplishments for the past year.

Customer service talk

The Chamber of Commerce Monthly Power Breakfast will be held Wednesday, March 1, at 7 a.m. at the Doral Resort Hotel. Dr. Wendy Flint, director of professional and continuing education at College of the Desert, will talk about customer service and the Institute for Sales and Service Excellence.

Trying to get to YES

A City Council subcommittee and Interim City Planner Bud Kopp will meet with CVAG and wildlife agencies to try to hammer out an agreement that addresses Cathedral City’s concerns about the Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan. This next step follows the City Council’s opposition to the plan as it now stands, with the caveat that the opposition can be lifted if the plan is modified to the Council’s satisfaction.

All that jazz tonight