Charlie McClendon Announces Retirement

Cathedral City City Manager Charlie McClendon Plans to Retire in September

CATHEDRAL CITY — When Charlie McClendon was hired in 2014, he said he intended to stay to stay in Cathedral City for the rest of my career, assuming the Council wants him for that long. McClendon made good on that promise —and the City Council held on to him with a firm grasp.

But on Sept. 19, the two will formally part ways.

In a news release issued Thursday morning, the words blurred for a moment or two as misty eyes tried to make sense of it all. Where did 11 years go?

“Though we will miss our City Manager, Charlie McClendon, and the relationships he has built for both Council, staff and our city as a whole, I wish nothing more than the time he now will be afforded to live life to its fullest, travel and spend time with family,” Mayor Nancy Ross told Uken Report.

As Chris Parman, former communications and events manager, said, “Charlie—you’ve left an extraordinary legacy.”

Charlie was the driving force behind transforming Cathedral City from a pass-through town into a true destination, Parman said. McClendon hired Parman.

“Over the past 11 years, his leadership has strengthened the city’s finances, which in turn enhanced vital services like police, fire, and ambulance response. Thanks to his leadership, Cathedral City now boasts beautiful new parks, the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater, and the first completed segment of the CV Link.

“Charlie led the development of the Downtown Arts & Entertainment District, which revitalized our urban core with the refurbished Mary Pickford Theatre, CV Rep, the Agua Caliente Casino, and a host of new restaurants, lounges, and shops. His influence extended citywide—with new housing developments, shopping centers, hotels, and creative reuse of vacant properties.

“He also supported the launch of signature events that brought energy and pride to our community, including the Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival, Taste of Jalisco Festival, and Cathedral City LGBT+ Days. He championed community favorites like the Halloween Spooktacular, Snow Fest, Yoga in the Park, and Taste & Sounds of Cathedral City.

“Above all, Charlie led with professionalism, confidence, honesty, and unwavering integrity,” Parman said. “I know this firsthand, as I had the privilege of working under him for eight years.”

McClendon, who is known throughout the community as Charlie, 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, Communications and Events Manager wrote in the news release. Prior to joining the City of Cathedral City, he served the communities of 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. “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, the City of 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. During his 11-year tenure, the City has been able to stabilize and achieve not only balanced budgets but has also grown fund balance over the years to provide ample savings to navigate through uncertain economic times. Additionally, he successfully oversaw the implementation of the City’s Five-Year Strategic Plan in 2023. The plan provides a longer-term perspective for service delivery and budgeting as well as operationally addressing current needs and priorities.

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 in Downtown
• 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 said. “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 of Cathedral 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.”

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.