Council Backs Ontario Fire Contract to Meet State Dispatch Mandate

Cathedral City will contract out a state-required emergency medical dispatch function after fire officials said the city cannot staff it in-house. At a Nov. 10, 2026, special meeting, the council gave consensus direction to negotiate with Ontario Fire, approved a $441,150.75 grant-funded armored rescue vehicle, adopted a three-year Fire & EMS strategic plan, and rejected every bid on the East Palm Canyon Drive widening.

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• Ontario Fire contract pursued for state-mandated pre-arrival medical instructions, targeting a July 1, 2027 start
• $441,150.75 armored rescue vehicle approved with Prop 64 grant money, ending reliance on Palm Springs
• Fire & EMS 2027-2029 Strategic Plan adopted with six initiatives and a public dashboard
• Street sweeping stays voluntary after staff priced signs and enforcement at more than $600,000 in year one
• All six East Palm Canyon bids rejected after the lowest came in 31% over estimate

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Dispatch Mandate: Outsourcing Under Protest

The basics: Assembly Bills 645 and 2041 require dispatchers to give callers pre-arrival medical instructions, meaning guidance before responders arrive. The instructions cover six call types: choking, AED/CPR, childbirth, bleeding control, epinephrine and overdose. Cathedral City handles about 1,300 such calls a year.

Why it matters: The mandate carries a Jan. 1 deadline. Staff estimated an in-house build at about $1.5M. Contracting would cost an estimated $400,000 to $500,000 in year one.

Where things stand: Fire Chief Contreras said the city has 12 allotted dispatchers, but only two or three work each shift in practice. That leaves no realistic way to keep a dispatcher on the line coaching a caller. Ontario Fire would take transferred calls at about $40 per call, plus roughly $150,000 in startup costs. Corona and Palm Springs already use this model. Staff said REMSA expects no penalties while the city moves toward compliance and projected a July 1, 2027, start.

City Manager Andrew "Andy" Firestine framed the recommendation as a reluctant one. "We would like to be in any other position other than recommending to the council to spend $400,000 to $500,000 on an unfunded state mandate," he said.

The other side: Mayor Raymond Gregory was the sharpest critic. He questioned the 7-second transfer time and how a local dispatcher would stay on the line. He also faulted past staffing plans as unrealistic. "The disappointing part is that this is not really new," he said.

He also challenged the cost estimate. "If you're talking about 1,300 calls at $40 a call, that's $52,000. That's not $400,000 to $500,000," Mayor Gregory said. The gap between that per-call math and the staff estimate was not resolved during the meeting.

The mayor pushed for a long-term exit strategy, such as a joint powers authority, which is a shared agency formed by multiple governments. "That's a really bad idea to have one source forever that you rely on," he said.

Councilmember Christina Gordon asked about dropped calls, data sharing, training and grant funding.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: This was a receive-and-file study session item, so the council took no formal vote. Members gave consensus direction to pursue the Ontario Fire contract. Residents calling 911 for medical emergencies would get coaching from another agency's dispatchers. City dispatchers avoid a staffing build-out the department says it cannot fill. The general fund absorbs the cost of a state mandate that comes with no state money.

What's next: Staff will return with a contract, expected in 2027. A meet-and-confer with the union is also expected.

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Armored Vehicle: Grant Covers the Sticker

Why it matters: Cathedral City will own its own armored rescue vehicle instead of borrowing one. Prop 64 cannabis grant funds cover the purchase, leaving the city responsible only for maintenance.

Where things stand: Police Commander Nate Hanley said the city received a $4.5M Prop 64 grant in June 2026. The Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) approved the purchase on Oct. 26, 2026. This year, three incidents required borrowed armor, and one involved a 45-minute delay. The vehicle would serve warrant service, barricade situations and flood rescues.

Staff chose a Sentinel over a Lenco Bearcat. The Bearcat cost about $20,000 more and carried an 18- to 24-month wait. "This is an opportunity unlike any other," Commander Hanley said.

The item was pulled from the consent calendar for discussion. Members asked about non-cannabis uses, the vehicle's lifespan and deployment priorities.

The other side: Councilmember Nancy Ross called the cost a "horrendous amount of money" but supported using the grant.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Mayor Pro Tem Ernesto Gutierrez moved approval and Councilmember Rita Lamb seconded. The motion passed by voice vote, with "all ayes" announced and no tally recorded. The vehicle will appear in the city's annual military equipment report. Watch commander approval will be required for deployment.

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Fire Strategic Plan: Unanimous Praise

Why it matters: The 2027-2029 plan will frame future budget requests for capital, personnel and operations. It also supports the department's accreditation work and its goal of an ISO Class 1 rating.

Where things stand: Chief Contreras outlined the department's recent growth:

• Ambulance revenue rose from $1.8M to about $5.4M.
• The department budget grew from $13M to $17M, while general fund impact stayed roughly flat.
• The department added 17 positions.
• It won nearly $2.5M in grants.

The plan rests on six initiatives: workforce development, operational readiness, risk reduction, financial stability, organizational culture, and technology and data innovation. A Management Implementation Guide assigns accountability for each initiative, and a public dashboard will track progress. "I'm focused on outcomes," Chief Contreras said.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Councilmember Lamb moved adoption and Councilmember Ross seconded. It passed by voice vote with "all ayes" announced. Every member praised the plan and the chief. The dashboard gives residents a public tool for holding the department to its targets.

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Street Sweeping: Outreach Over Tickets

Why it matters: Residents face no new street-sweeping parking rules. The voluntary approach, backed by CodeRED alerts, continues.

Where things stand: John Carella, city staff, reviewed the current program. Sweeping Corporation of America and the Vertex franchise handle local streets, while CVAG sweeps regional arterials. Carella compared Cathedral City with Coachella, Palm Springs, Indio, La Quinta, Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage.

Enforcement would require:

• Nearly 1,000 signs, at about $500,000
• A part-time enforcement employee, at about $75,000 a year
• A vehicle, at about $40,000

That totals more than $600,000 in the first year and about $100,000 annually after that. Complaints fell from seven to 10 a year to one or two after CodeRED alerts launched in 2024. Staff recommended the city "maintain the existing street sweeping program."

The other side: Mayor Pro Tem Gutierrez said sweepers weave around parked cars. He pressed for low-cost sign trials. "Now, just because people don't complain, it doesn't mean the problem does not exist," he said.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Councilmembers Gordon and Lamb favored the current approach. "This isn't like an urgent pressing need," Councilmember Gordon said. Councilmember Ross suggested more prominent coverage in the city magazine.

The report was received and filed. Staff also described the abandoned-vehicle (AVA) program and CityDetect's camera system for spotting abandoned vehicles.

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Roads: One Repair Funded, One Reset

Vista Chino: The council awarded the Tropical Storm Hilary pavement reconstruction project (C08685) to LCR Earthwork & Engineering. The contract is $245,495, and a 20% contingency brings the total budget to about $294,594. Federal emergency relief covers about 88.53% of the cost. About $40,000 in CalRecycle funds supports rubberized asphalt.

The city received seven bids on Oct. 13, 2026. Staff and the city attorney judged a clerical error in the lowest bid immaterial. Mayor Pro Tem Gutierrez noted the three-year wait for repairs. Councilmember Lamb moved approval and Councilmember Gordon seconded. It passed by voice vote with "all ayes" announced.

East Palm Canyon Drive: The council rejected all six bids for the widening, Master Underground Plan and Cree Road traffic signal project (C08874). The lowest bid came in 31% over a roughly $2.4M estimate, and the four lowest bids were within about 10% of each other. City Engineer Armando Baldassarre cited large item-price differences, higher Southern California Edison undergrounding costs and an estimated $307,000 shortfall. "We need to reassess the project, review the bid documents, estimates, and funding," he said.

Mayor Gregory and Councilmember Lamb called the outcome unusual and disappointing but sensible. The rejection passed by voice vote with "all ayes" announced. Staff will return in about three months and still aim to start construction in fiscal year 2026-27.

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Minor Items

• Consent calendar approved: Items included an updated conflict-of-interest code, 2027 city office holidays and a Willdan Engineering fire marshal and inspection contract.
• Closed session: Counsel received direction in City of Cathedral City v. Fantasy Balloon Flights; no action was reported.
• Cannabis odor: Public commenter Janet said odor remains a near-daily problem. She urged enforcement of last year's ordinance once a current allowance expires in March.
• Code enforcement: Public commenter Edward Holzhauer alleged selective trash-can enforcement against his household and asked for consistent standards.
• Historic preservation: Public commenters Peter Palladino and Stella Evans pressed council over the Agnes Pelton house's omission from a historic walking tour.

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Looking Ahead

The council meets next on Dec. 9 at 3 p.m., when the new council, mayor and mayor pro tem are expected to be seated. Several current members, including Mayor Gregory, are leaving.