City of Cathedral City

Measure HH - Majority Approval Required

Cathedral City has struggled over the years with over-reach by Sacramento politicians. Voting YES on HH gives our community a greater voice in their local government and the opportunity to reform how it works.

Some cities in California are organized under State “general laws,” while others are governed by a Charter adopted by local voters. Cities organized under general law have less independence, while cities such as Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs and Indian Wells adopt their own procedures for local affairs. Give Cathedral City more Local Control — vote YES on HH!

Currently Cathedral City operates from a Constitution dependent on State law. As a Charter City, a locally drafted Charter approved by a City’s voters becomes its Constitution. Cathedral City’s voters — not Sacramento politicians — better understand OUR needs. Any changes to our local Charter could then only be made by Cathedral City’s voters, providing more accountability to our community and its taxpayers — vote YES on HH!

YES on HH means NO future City Council can EVER raise taxes without asking our voters first.

YES on HH tells developers that they must hire local workers first, NOT import people from Los Angeles or Phoenix.

YES on HH allows Cathedral City to hire the most qualified contractors, empowering city staff to make the reforms that eliminate waste.

YES on HH locks in City Council salaries so future councils cannot give themselves a raise without asking the voters.

YES on HH allows our City’s voters to have local control over local laws, ensuring the City can avoid costly regulations written by state government bureaucrats. Keep our money and decisions LOCAL! Join a unanimous Mayor and City Council --vote YES on HH!

BY:

Stanley E. Henry, Mayor

Shelley Kaplan, Council Member

Josie F. Diaz

John Aguilar

Robert Hargreaves

The Cathedral City Charter states that it will improve the quality of life for the people of Cathedral City. However, it does not indicate how it will improve life for the residents.

Cathedral City spent $35,000. to conduct a survey which found that 69% of those polled want to directly elect the Mayor rather than rotate the position. The City Council is denying you the right to vote for your Mayor if this passes.

The proposed City Charter contains an automatic yearly pay raise for the City Council

Currently, Cathedral City cannot add a property transfer fee, nor can it increase fines and penalties for code violations. If this measure passes however, a new property transfer fee can be instituted as well as unlimited code violation fines and penalties without your approval.

Approximately 75% of all California cities are NOT charter cities.

Once a Charter City is formed, it is extremely difficult and very expensive to change or revoke by either the City or the Community.

Do you understand all seven pages of this Charter completely?

If not, VOTE “NO”.

VOTE NO ON MEASURE HH.

By:

Randy Winbigler

Dale Jagodzinski AKA: Dale Jag, Neighborhood Watch Leader/Police Advisory Board

Kathleen Patterson

Donald D. Cross, Retired, Agua Caliente Gaming Commission Manager

Denise Cross

Whether you fully understand the concept of a charter city or not, this particular Cathedral City charter is flawed and favors the council, notthe voters. Vote No on Measure HH.

Council has padded this charter with perks for themselves such as automatic yearly pay raises. They will never have to ask for a raise again because it’s automatic. Vote No on Measure HH.

The Charter gives no voice to voters except at election time. Nothing in the Charter makes the City accountable. Example: despite overwhelming community support from voters saying they want to continue to vote for the Mayor directly, council ignored that. Instead they want to appoint the mayor amongst themselves. The Mayor should be chosen by the people, not the council. Vote No on HH.

Currently council can NEVER raise taxes without a vote of the people. Vote No on HH. 
There is no protection in the charter from new ordinances, regulations, codes or from soaring penalties and fines. Vote No on HH.

The large majority of California cities are NOT charter. The California Legislature has made charter cities a mute point by closing loopholes. This charter will only benefit the locally elected to do as they please by potentially increasing fees, etc. Vote No on HH.

The city does not need a charter to require developers to use local workers first. It can be built into all city contracts. They should always hire the most qualified contractors for jobs anyway. Vote No on Measure HH.

For more information: www.citizensagainstmeasureHH.com

By:

Randy Winbigler

Dale Jagodzinski AKA: Dale Jag, Neighborhood Watch Leader/ Police Advisory Board

Kathleen Patterson

Donald D. Cross, Retired Agua Caliente Gaming Commission

Denise Cross

Don’t be fooled by negative rhetoric and scare tactics. Expand Cathedral City’s self-governance and local control- Vote YES on HH!

FACT- a Charter can ONLY be changed by the voters of Cathedral City, NEVER a City Council. The control rests where it should- with LOCAL voters.

FACT- Local cities such as La Quinta, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Desert Hot Springs and Indian Wells are also Charter cities — giving their residents, not Sacramento politicians, the greater voice in their local affairs.

FACT- YES on HH guarantees that NO future City Council can EVER raise taxes without getting permission from voters first.

YES on HH gives Local Control over Local needs to LOCAL residents, avoiding costly regulations written by state government bureaucrats.

YES on HH provides better control over public works projects, the contracting process and local economic development, with more transparent and efficient elections and NO increased taxing authority.

YES on HH has strict accountability controls, ensuring our elected officials are more accountable and responsive to us.

YES on HH means voters will continue to DIRECTLY ELECT all 5 Cathedral City Council members.

YES on HH locks in City Council salaries to the current level, caps future increases AND requires a reduction in Council members’ salaries if city employees receive a pay cut.

Join a Unanimous Mayor and City Council and take control of Cathedral City! Vote YES on HH! For factual information, visit:
www.cathedralcity.gov/charter

BY:

Stanley E. Henry, Mayor

Shelley Kaplan, Council Member

John Aguilar, Council Member