After 11 years of dedicated service to the City of Cathedral City, City Manager Charles McClendon has announced his retirement, with his final day set for September 19, 2025. Known throughout the community as Charlie, McClendon has been a transformative leader during his tenure.
McClendon’s tenure, which began on March 3, 2014 , represents the culmination of an impressive 47-year career in local government. Prior to joining Cathedral City, he served communities in Lexington, Kentucky, Glendale, Arizona, and Avondale, Arizona, bringing a wealth of experience and proven leadership to the desert city.
“It has been the honor and privilege of my life to serve as the City Manager of Cathedral City for the past eleven years,” said McClendon. He added, “Now, however, I am at an age where it is time for me to pass the torch to the next generation of leaders”.
Under McClendon’s leadership, Cathedral City has experienced significant growth and improvement across multiple areas. His tenure has been marked by major infrastructure developments, enhanced public safety services, and community programs that have transformed the quality of life for residents. McClendon’s fiscal stewardship has been particularly noteworthy, as the City has achieved balanced budgets and grown its fund balance to navigate uncertain economic times. He also successfully oversaw the implementation of the City’s Five-Year Strategic Plan, which provides a long-term perspective for service delivery and budgeting.
Key accomplishments during McClendon’s tenure include:
- Development of the Festival Lawn and Cathedral City Community Amphitheater.
- Construction of Ocotillo and Esperanza Parks.
- Construction of the new Fire Station 1 at Date Palm and Buddy Rogers.
- Fully staffing police and fire departments to provide improved public safety.
- Automating development services functions to facilitate quality growth and development.
- Bringing quality community events, arts, and cultural programming with regional recognition.
- Improving neighborhoods through effective code compliance.
- Successfully supporting Measure W, enabling the city to provide enhanced parks and recreation services, improve emergency medical response, and repair neighborhood streets.
“I believe I am leaving Cathedral City in a better place than I found it,” McClendon reflected. “I am especially proud of what we did together to improve the lives of the people of Cathedral City”. Throughout his career, McClendon has demonstrated a commitment to collaborative leadership, working closely with the City Council and departmental management teams to achieve shared goals for the community.
As the city moves forward with the leadership transition, McClendon expressed confidence in the city’s future. “Much remains to be done. I am confident that with the City Council’s leadership and the highly professional departmental management team that is in place, even greater things can be accomplished,” he stated. The City Council will begin the process of selecting McClendon’s successor in the coming weeks, ensuring a smooth transition that maintains the momentum of progress he has established.