Commissioners Volunteer for Zoning Code Stakeholder Interviews

Cathedral City planning staff asked the Public Arts Commission on Wednesday to name one or two commissioners to take part in stakeholder interviews being conducted as part of a two‑year update to the city's zoning regulations.

Anne, city staff, introduced Cynthia Schultz, who described the project and the consultant team. Cynthia Schultz, associate planner, told the commission the city is "calling it a development code so that we can help facilitate really good development for this community." She said the consultant team, Mintheer Harnish, will conduct stakeholder interviews without City staff present and that some interviews may be conducted as paired or small‑group sessions to encourage cross‑conversation among boards and commissions.

Schultz said the stakeholder interviews for this phase will generally be a single meeting, about "an hour to an hour and a half long... one shot and you're done," as part of a broader two‑year public outreach schedule that will include multiple public workshops and additional meetings. Commissioners asked about time commitment and the scope of feedback sought; Schultz said she wanted perspectives both from the commissioners' advisory role and from commissioners speaking as community members, particularly on public art, public space and public form.

When asked if the commission needed to signal volunteers that night, Anne called for those willing to participate. Commissioner Travis and Commissioner Mojica volunteered to serve as the commission's representatives in the stakeholder interview process. Anne said staff would provide contact information to the consultant and that other opportunities for involvement will continue throughout the code update.

The commission also opened the agenda item for public comment and then returned to the rest of the meeting. Staff emphasized the interviews are only one part of a multi‑year engagement process and encouraged commissioners and the public to attend future workshops and public meetings.

Ending: Staff said they will coordinate with the consultant and provide commission contacts for the stakeholder interview phase. No formal vote was recorded on the volunteer appointments; the transcript shows the two commissioners volunteered during discussion.