General Fund Dollars
Won’t Be Used to Build the Soccer Park
There are two good things about the coming new soccer
park: Cathedral City will have a place for local youth to play soccer, learn
sportsmanship, and burn energy and calories; and none of the cost for
building the park or the first three years of maintaining it will come from
the City’s General Fund.
Funds from the Redevelopment Agency will build the park
and help it get established.
At one point, it looked like the City would be
responsible for over $325,000 in annual maintenance costs. In a generous
spirit of community service and partnership, the AYSO stepped forward to
cover all but an estimated $73,000 a year in maintenance costs.
In short, NO funds will be used to build the soccer park
that would otherwise have gone to support police, fire, paramedics, roads,
parks, street sweeping or any other City services will be used to build the
soccer park.
Redevelopment funds CAN NOT be used to pay for city
services or to maintain roads and facilities. Redevelopment Funds CAN be
used to build and establish certain limited public facilities and projects
that stimulate economic development. A community with a soccer park where
youth can positively channel their energy benefits everyone – it’s a better
place for people to live and put down roots, which, in turn, creates an
attractive environment for business. A soccer park can also act as a hub for
regional tournaments so that local families won’t have to travel as far to
see their children play, and could encourage out-of-town participants to
lodge and dine in Cathedral City.
Calls for Fire Service
Rise with Population
As Cathedral City’s population has grown over the past
ten years so has demand for fire and emergency medical services.
Staffing levels have remained virtually unchanged since
1996 which, combined with the increase in service demand, leaves less time
available for ongoing fire and emergency training.
Demands for service have increased in all categories
except traffic collisions.
Cathedral Towne Villas
Open for Business
The Cathedral Towne Villas, nestled next to the Mary
Pickford Theatre at 36-700 Pickfair Street had their Grand Opening last
week. The units on display were roomy and well laid out. There are studio, 1
beddrom/1 bath, and 2 bedrtoom/3 bath apartments from 750 sq. ft. to 1000
sq. ft. And talk about location! Literally, just steps away from theatres,
Town Square, the shops and restaurants in and around Pickfair Promenade, and
public transportation. Call 1-866-881-7907 for more information.
Community Oriented
Policing Services (COPS) Grant Awarded
In August 2004 the Cathedral City Police Department was
successful in obtaining a U.S. Department of Justice COPS grant under the
Safe Schools Initiative. The grant was for establishing healthy after school
activities fore youth and school age children who might otherwise be at risk
of exposure to delinquent behavior. The grant allows for the funding of
community organizations which offer appropriate after school programs. The
City was awarded $98,000 which can only be used for this purpose.
City Council awarded a grant of $11,800 to Bridges of
Hope; a Cathedral City based non-profit organization that offers a “learning
center” where school aged children can receive assistance with homework,
school projects, reading improvement and other important skills in a safe,
supervised environment. The grant is for a pilot program that would operate
for a nine month period.
New Housing and New
Business Space on the way
City Council approved a planned unit development for a
294 residential condominium units on three lots located on about 29.4 acres
northeast of the intersection of Crossley Road and Sarah Street.
Council also approved the Design review of a 12,971 sq.
ft multi tenant commercial/medical building on the west side of Date Palm
Drive between Adelina Road and Los Gatos
Big Mama’s
The sign is up and Big Mama’s Rib Shack and Soul Food
will be opening soon in the IMAX building.
Building Permits Pulled
for Wal-Mart Building
Building permits were pulled this week for the remodel of
the Wal-Mart building! The space will have multiple retail spaces.
In the Planning
Pipeline
A 4,982 sq. ft. commercial space at the corner of Rancho
Vista and Via Olivera.
A new 15,000 sq. ft Longs Drugstore at the northwest corner of McCallum and
Date Palm Drive.
Uptown Village Shopping Center at McCallum and Rosemont.
Northgate Church at the northeast corner of Rosemont and Date Palm Drive.
Live/Works spaces at the northeast corner of Rancho Vista and Coral Road.
Open House
Gay Associate Youth (G.A.Y.) is having an open house at
its drop-in center Sunday, September 24th from 2 to 4 p.m. There will be
light refreshments and entertainment provided by Cathedral City’s own Canyon
Classics. For those unable to come on Sunday, the drop-in center will be
open Monday, September 25th from 5 to 7 p.m.
Yet Another New
Business in Town
Veggie & Tea House will be opening a new restaurant in
September in the Pickfair Promenade next door to Starbuck’s. The restaurant
will serve healthy cuisine for lunch and dinner. This will be the fourth
Veggie & Tea House. Other sites are Palm Desert, Chino Hills, San Dimas and
La Quinta. You can eat in or take out your meal.
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