Measure W - Cathedral City Services Measure

On July 24, 2024, the City Council of Cathedral City,  after months of study and public input, including a report from the Resident Study Committee of Cathedral City residents, adopted Resolution No. 2024-33 to submit the following measure to the voters in the November 2024 Election.  Click here to download the Resolution and proposed Ordinance text in full. 

Measure W was ultimately approved by the voters in November 2024. 74% of Cathedral City voters said yes to improved and more efficient emergency medical service, more funding for paving neighborhood streets and yes to joining the Desert Recreation District (DRD) so that Cathedral City residents can enjoy the broad array of parks and recreation opportunities offered by the DRD. Since the passage of Measure W, the City Council and staff have been working to deliver on the promises made.

Neighborhood Street Improvements

Measure W will provide an additional $1 million per year dedicated to improving neighborhood streets. As part of the upcoming budget review and adoption process, staff will present the City Council with multi-year plans for improvements to neighborhood streets. Staff in the Public Works department are currently working on three sets of street improvement plans:

1. Measure W-funded improvements which will focus on neighborhood streets
2. SB 1-funded improvements using funds provided through Cathedral City’s share of state gas tax funds
3. Maintenance of Effort-funded improvements. To receive state SB1 funds the City must provide a local match, which in our case mostly comes from the city’s general fund

Desert Recreation District Annexation

Measure W will also provide funding of $1 million per year for improved parks maintenance and the introduction of recreation programming which was previously not provided in Cathedral City. These services will be provided by the DRD and Cathedral City will annex into the district meaning that residents of Cathedral City will be able to take advantage of parks and recreation programming through the DRD anywhere DRD serves in the Coachella Valley. The City Council and the Desert Recreation District board each approved the services and tax sharing agreements needed to make this all happen during their respective meetings on February 12, 2025.

Next steps will include the public annexation process through the Riverside Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). Services provided to Cathedral City residents by the DRD will include maintenance of Esperanza, Ocotillo, Panorama, Century and Dennis Keat soccer parks, recreation programming in Cathedral City parks and other local facilities, operation of the CCHS pool in the summer swim season, parks attendants to monitor and handle issues in the parks and access to DRD events and programs throughout the DRD service area. The agreements allowed these benefits to begin on July 1, 2025.

Improved Fire Paramedic and Ambulance Service

Measure W also funded the acquisition and staffing of a fourth ambulance, maintaining emergency medical response times even as calls for service are increasing. Six new firefighter/paramedic positions have been funded to staff the fourth ambulance 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The police department will also be hiring two additional emergency medical dispatchers in support of the emergency services.  Police handles all dispatch for both the police and fire departments.

Community Recreation Center

With support from Measure W, the City of Cathedral City is conducting a feasibility study to determine the most viable sites for the construction of a new community center. This process will blend input from residents, stakeholders, and agency partners to develop a center responsive to the community’s needs and identify the optimal location for the center. The study is projected to be completed in February 2026.