Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Works Operations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public Works outlines homeless‑camp cleanups, recycling, composting and sand removal efforts
Summary
Public Works presented operational highlights including homeless encampment cleanups, graffiti removal, organics procurement for SB 1383, compost spreading and a utility cart reuse program; staff reported counts and promised continued enforcement and coordination with other agencies.
Cathedral City Public Works presented maintenance and environmental program highlights at the City Council meeting on 2025-10-27, including counts of recent cleanup activity, solid‑waste compliance work required by state law and operational steps to address recurring problems such as blow sand.
Public Works Manager Deanna Pressgrove reported that since July 1 the department has conducted 756 homeless‑camp cleanups and that staff plan twice‑annual vegetation removal in locations that encourage encampments. Pressgrove said the department is “working diligently with code compliance, and the police department” to make property owners more accountable and that staff will use vegetation removal to reduce sheltered sites where feasible.
Pressgrove described several program metrics and initiatives: the city has removed 33 sand accumulations from streets so far this fiscal year (compared with 27 last fiscal year), distributed 389 utility carts in targeted neighborhoods to reduce shopping‑cart litter, and spread about 2,500 tons of compost annually as part of organics management. She said the compost testing has shown the material can create a ground cover and that staff will monitor effects over the next few years.
On solid‑waste law compliance, Pressgrove discussed the city's work under AB 939 (the state's diversion goals) and SB 1383, the state law that requires jurisdictions to document organics collection and procurement. She said SB 1383’s recordkeeping and procurement requirements have increased the workload and reporting demands on staff and that staff are conducting education and compliance work with businesses and residents; she noted the city submitted a 2024 report to CalRecycle and worked with a single noncompliant business to bring it into compliance.
Pressgrove also detailed capital and maintenance tasks that will shift as DRD takes over parks operations in July, freeing city crews for additional street and maintenance projects such as crack sealing, curb repairs and signal/crosswalk upkeep. On fleet and electrification, she said the department has upgraded software and operates an electric forklift; additional EV trucks are expected by May 1 and staff are working on EV charger upgrades at the parking facility.
Pressgrove thanked outreach partners and noted a single comment received for the record from David Koslow asking questions about park maintenance budget allocations. She said staff will continue partnering with code compliance, police and property owners to reduce repeat illegal dumping and encampments and will monitor SB 1383 compliance and compost performance.
