Cathedral City Conducts City Manager Interviews

City Manager Interviews Underway in Cathedral City

CATHEDRAL CITY —Hiring a new city manager is on the horizon as the City Council as it begins today, Wednesday, Jan. 7, to interview candidates.

Councilors will meet today in a special closed session to review candidate applications, Communications & Events Manager Ryan Hunt told Uken Report. The number of applicants has not been released.

Interviews with the finalists will then be scheduled for late January, Hunt said.

The new city manager will lead the city which has the second largest population, after Indio, of the nine cities in the Coachella Valley Its population was 51,493 at the 2020 census, a slight increase from 51,200 at the 2010 census.

A new city manager is sought to fill the vacancy created when Charlie McClendon retired in September.  Anne Ambrose, who has served as the city’s Assistant City Manager since January 2023, was appointed interim city manager effective Sept. 20. Ambrose has said she will not apply for the permanent position.

It will be busy day for City Councilors as they will also be interviewing applicants who have applied for the vacant seat in District 5, which was created with the death of Councilmember Mark Carnevale. 

Twelve (12) individuals submitted the required letter of interest prior to the deadline of December 29, 2025, at 5 p.m. and meet the requirements as outlined,