City Council - Study Session - October 14, 2026 3PM

Cathedral City Council study session on October 14, 2026, included discussion of a proposed third amendment to the amended and restated joint powers agreement with Visit Greater Palm Springs. The amendment would clarify that the organization can collaborate with one or more cities on a business or infrastructure improvement district to support an indoor sports complex, with assessments on participating hotels or vacation rentals kept separate and restricted to that purpose. Palm Desert was described as furthest along, with an RFQ out for a site of roughly 160 acres; La Quinta and Indian Wells had also expressed interest. The transcript does not capture a motion or vote on the amendment, and no contract award or specific city expenditure was reported.

Other topics included a CalPERS retirement funding update, with the city reporting funded status of about 95% and referring to previously budgeted pension contributions of $2.3 million in year one and $2.5 million in year two. Staff also previewed fall events, sponsors, and dates; Rancho Mirage was noted as covering public-safety costs and special-use permit fees for the balloon festival up to $10,000, and the council’s investment in film-festival promotion was described as significant without a dollar figure. No new procurement award was identified. In closed session, the council discussed two litigation matters and gave direction to counsel; the city attorney’s performance evaluation was scheduled for a later meeting.