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

From: Allen Howe
June 3, 2008

Ban on Novelty Lighters begins June 27th

The Cathedral City Council passed an ordinance at its May 28, 2008 meeting prohibiting the retail sale or distribution of novelty lighters within the City.

Novelty lighters are lighters that are especially attractive to children due to a toy-like design or features such as buttons or devices that create visual effects, flashing lights, or musical sounds that might encourage a child to use the lighter.

Over the next few weeks, code enforcement officers will be visiting Cathedral City convenience stores, grocery stores and other stores likely to carry and sell novelty lighters to give them information on the new ordinance. When the ordinance goes into effect, citations will be given for the sale of novelty lighters ranging from $250 for the first citation within to $1,000 for a fourth or further citations within 12 months of the first citation. In addition to fines, businesses will be subject to the revocation of their business license.

Fires set by children has been identified as the fastest growing fire threat in the United States with more than 300 people killed – 30 being children – and nearly $1 billion in property destroyed.

The new ordinance is Chapter 11.10 of the Cathedral City Municipal Code.

American Youth Soccer Organization, Region 1200 Acknowledged

Our local Region 1200 of the AYSO was acknowledged by the City Council at its meeting. For the second year in a row the national offices of the American Youth Soccer Organization has named Region 1200 – Cathedral City a “Platinum Region” – the highest honor a region can achieve.

“There may be no way to measure the positive impact that the Cathedral City Soccer Park (CCSP) has on the community, but it is tremendous. Because of the park, our program is greatly enhanced and is more accessible to Cathedral City families. In addition to AYSO families, there are innumerable citizens using and benefiting from the park daily. CCSP is one of the jewels of our city. It is the envy of the soccer community in the valley. Please know that Cathedral City AYSO is eternally grateful to the people at city hall who were instrumental in making the park a reality,” Dennis Keats, Commissioner of AYSO Region 1200 stated after receiving the acknowledgement.

Sky Blue Water Trail Sidewalk Improvement Project on Council Agenda

There are gaps in the sidewalks in many places on Sky Blue Water Trail between 33rd Avenue and Ramon Road. The sidewalk gaps area a safety hazard to pedestrians and schoolchildren who have to walk in the streets to avoid the gaps. Pedestrians in the street are a hazard to drivers as well. The Sky Blue Water Trail Sidewalk Improvement Project would build ADA compliant sidewalks on Sky Blue Water Trail and improve pedestrian travel in the neighborhood.

The City went out to bid for the project and nine bids were received. Council will consider approving the lowest qualified bidder at its June 11th meeting. The Sky Blue Water Trail Sidewalk Improvement $158,000 Project is funded by an SB 821 state grant and gas tax funds. Should the Council approve the contracts, work could begin in July. It is projected that the project should take 60 calendar days to complete.

High School Graduates To Be Honored With Street Naming

Three Cathedral City High School area seniors will have streets named in their honor, Thursday, June 5th.

Mount San Jacinto senior, Julio Rivera, will be honored at the corner of Landau Blvd. and McCallum Way, with his street name unveiling at 8am. Rivera, active in ASB Leadership, has worked at IHOP in Cathedral City as a cook, has earned the respect and admiration of his classmates, and will enroll at COD’s culinary program in the fall.

At 9am, Cassandra Duffield of Calvary Christian School, will unveil her street sign at the corner of Dinah Shore Dr. and Wishing Well Trail. Duffield is the 2008 Valedictorian, and attending the University of Kansas in Olathe in the fall. She plans to pursue a career in education. Cassandra is community oriented, both locally and abroad, serving her church and school in children’s ministries, mentoring projects and food programs. Cassandra has spent her summers doing missionary work in Thailand.

Cathedral City High School’s Michael Picasso, named the 2008 Golden Lion Award recipient, will be honored at 10am at the corner of Date Palm Dr. and Sen. Dave Kelly Dr. Picasso is this year’s class Valedictorian with a 4.53 GPA. He will be attending Stanford University in the fall, majoring in neurobiology.

A National Hispanic Merit Scholar, CSF President, Life Member & Seal Bearer, Michael served a 2 year term in the ASB and was Vice President of Finance. He was a 4-year member of the school’s water polo and swim team. He is also the recipient of the Hispanic Heritage Gold Medallion Award, the Jim Battin Scholarship and the Peter Solomon Scholarship awards.

The City of Cathedral City congratulates these three students for their academic, personal, and community service achievements, as well as all graduating seniors for their accomplishments.

Low Income Senior Housing Still Available at Tierra del Sol

Tierra del Sol has approximately 30 one-bedroom apartments still available at very affordable rents. Households of 1 or 2 persons must have one member over 62 and an income of less than $26,650. The complex includes a pool, covered parking and the Cathedral City Senior Center. Tierra del Sol is located at 37101 W. Buddy Rogers Avenue (in front of St. Louis Church). Phone (760) 328-6500 for an application or more information.

Fountainworks Only a Month Away!

Make sure to mark your calendars for this year’s Fountainworks Celebration, July 3rd, 7PM – 10PM, in Town Square. The theme of the event is “An Old-Fashioned Patriotic Celebration.” There will be a patriotic/summer themed band concert performed by the Desert Winds Freedom Band and a special performance by Marilyn & Randy of Rodeo Drive. There will be a pie-eating and watermelon-eating contest, face-painting for the kids and games for the whole family – plus lots of good food and fun. So, bring a chair or blanket and Kick-off the 4th of July Weekend on July 3rd in Cathedral City’s Town Square

2008 Workforce Housing Summit

The 2008 Coachella Valley Workforce Housing Summit will take place at the new Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage on June 19th. The 2008 event follows the largely successful 2007 Workforce Housing Summit with the purpose of unveiling a proposed regional solution which will unite local governments, businesses, lenders, and non-profits, while addressing the impact of the housing market on the Coachella Valley workforce.

The Summit will be a critical event for the Housing-related Industry and local government to attend and the County looks forward to participating with CVAG."

In 2007, with leadership from the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) formed the Workforce Housing Steering Committee which includes representatives from the Building Industry Association (BIA) Desert Chapter, the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership, lenders, non-profits, developers, county and city housing representatives, and CVAG staff. Taking guidance from several models, the subcommittee has created a recommendation that is specific to the needs of the Coachella Valley.

The program will include introductions from 4th District Supervisor Roy Wilson, 5th District Supervisor Marion Ashley, and Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Tribal Chairman Richard Milanovich, with presentations from the region’s leaders in private business, city government, and non-profits; setting a precedent for the entire Coachella Valley to work together to address this issue.

The Summit is open to the public. Admission, which includes lunch, is $60 per person prior to June 13th and $75 per person after June 13th. The event is generously sponsored by the Building Industry Association – Desert Chapter, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, California Desert Association of Realtors, Canyon National Bank, PFF Bank & Trust, Palm Desert Development Company, Riverside County’s Economic Development Agency, Southern California Gas Company, Best, Best and Krieger, Burrtec, Wells Fargo, Shovlin Companies, Sun Country Builders, and Wheeler’s Market Intelligence for the Coachella Valley. For more information, please contact Amanda Keil at CVAG at 760-346-1127 or akeil@cvag.org, or visit www.cvag.org .

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