Cathedral City council adopts biennial budget, extends engineering contracts and approves Measure W spending for a fourth ambulance

The Cathedral City City Council voted unanimously on May 14 to adopt the city's proposed biannual budget for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 and approved a set of related operational and capital items, including multiple professional service agreements for on-call engineering support and the allocation of Measure W funds to outfit a fourth paramedic unit.

Key approvals included: - Award of multiple on-call engineering professional service agreements covering city-funded projects, state and federal projects, construction engineering and NPDES (stormwater) consulting; staff recommended a multi-firm roster to maintain project flexibility and comply with state and federal grant requirements. The council approved contracts for firms ranked by staff and set not-to-exceed amounts in the agreements.

- Authorization of Measure W funding to equip a fourth ambulance (a 60/2 deploy medic unit) and to cover early May/June recreation costs associated with the Desert Recreation District (DRD) and swim program operations. Staff said the fourth ambulance accessory/outfitting quotes total about $160,000 and earlier approvals for the vehicle itself and limited early hiring had been incorporated into the Measure W plan. The city projected Measure W receipts of up to $1.25 million to accrue in the current fiscal year; staff said any unused Measure W receipts would be set aside for future priorities such as a community center.

- Renewal and adoption of the annual Lighting and Landscape District (LLD) budget for fiscal year 2025-26, a routine engineers' report-backed levy procedure under the Landscape and Lighting Act of 1972 that sets assessments for benefit zones and funds maintenance and operations. Staff reported no zones are in deficit this year and that two park zones would see a reduction in levy because park maintenance will be provided by the Desert Recreation District.

- An annual update to the city's investment policy, including authorization to consider a California Asset Management Program (CAMP) account as an investment vehicle beginning in the next fiscal year, and modest changes to per-issuer limits for certain short-term instruments. City Treasurer Greg Jackson participated in the presentation.

- Adoption of the proposed biennial budget itself, which staff presented as a structurally cautious plan that uses some one-time fund-balance resources for facility and equipment projects while preserving a multi-month fund balance. Staff forecast a general fund balance target near the city's policy minimum if one-time expenditures are carried, and pledged regular monitoring and periodic updates to council if revenue trends change.

All motions passed on roll-call votes with Councilmembers Rita Lam, Ernesto Gutierrez, Mayor Pro Tem Gregory and Mayor Nancy Ross voting "yes"; Councilmember Mark Carnivale was absent for roll call and had been excused.

Councilmembers and staff emphasized that several of the budgeted items are one-time uses of fund balance and may be reconsidered if revenue trends change. City staff said they will return with updates and task-order approvals to council when project-level expenditures exceed public-works purchasing thresholds.

The meeting included no ordinance adoptions associated with these votes; votes approved contract awards, budget resolutions and spending authorizations.