Committee hears update on community-center feasibility study; consultants to brief council Oct. 6
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Summary
Staff and consultants outlined a feasibility study and community outreach plan for a potential new community center, including bilingual surveys, kiosks at the senior center and library, pop-up events, a $99,000 feasibility contract (not funded from Measure W), and an October 6 council study-session presentation.
Cathedral City staff told the Finance Advisory Committee that a community-center feasibility study is underway and that consultants will present preliminary findings to the City Council during a study session on Oct. 6.
Anne (city staff) and the consultant team described the work program: demand assessment, identification of candidate sites, comparison of adaptive reuse versus new construction, high-level construction and renovation cost ranges, operational-cost considerations and options for phasing. Staff said the study timeline began in late July/early August and will extend through December.
The outreach plan includes a bilingual online survey (English and Spanish), paper surveys on request, and mobile kiosks currently at the senior center and library. Staff reported the consultants and city will attend community events — including a Movies in the Park event on Oct. 7 and a spooktacular event — and that consultants will also conduct stakeholder meetings at schools and community locations. At the Hispanic heritage block party staff said in-person boards were used to let participants place dots indicating preferred activities and spaces.
Staff noted the feasibility contract is for about $99,000 and the funds for that contract come from outside Measure W. The study will present ballpark per-square-foot construction and renovation cost ranges, and staff said subsequent council discussion will include realistic sizing and phasing options aligned with available Measure W dollars, potential bond proceeds and outside grants.
The committee discussed facility priorities voiced during outreach so far — multi-generational spaces, adaptable or movable-wall rooms, social/dining areas, athletic courts (pickleball, indoor courts), an indoor walking track, and bilingual signage. Staff also raised resiliency uses such as a cooling/warming center or emergency resource location as potential grant-eligible elements.
Staff invited committee members to the October 6 study session and said the consultant team will return with top scenarios for council and community review; no formal funding decisions were made at the committee meeting.