Andrew Firestine was sworn in as Cathedral City’s new City Manager Wednesday, and Thursday will be his first day in the role.
“Cathedral City is a remarkable community with a confluence of people and cultures that make it welcoming, inclusive and diverse community that it is,” Firestine said.
“Cathedral City stands out in the Coachella Valley. It is a hardworking community that helps support and sustain the regional economy while supporting multitudes of small businesses locally. It was for all these reasons that I was elated to join Cathedral City in 2023 and why I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead the organization.”
Firestine was selected to replace Charlie McCelndon, who retired in September 2025 after a nationwide search guided by a recruitment firm.
“The council conducted an extensive and deliberate search to find the right leader for Cathedral City,” Mayor Raymond Gregory said in a statement. “After evaluating candidates from across the country, it became clear that the best person for the job was already part of our team. Andy’s experience, vision and deep understanding of our community made him the clear choice.”
Before becoming city manager, he served as the city’s director of Community and Economic Development, and had worked 16 years in various planning and management roles before moving to the Coachella Valley in 2019.
Firestine will serve for a term of five years in his new position and will receive a base salary of $280,000, according to the employment agreement documents.
During the city council meeting held at City Hall on Wednesday, he addressed numerous priorities for the year ahead, including implementation of Measure W, which supports road improvements, additional ambulance service, recreational programs and park maintenance through the Desert Recreation District, funding for a future community center, the city’s fiscal standing and housing, city officials said.
“There are many focal areas for the city — executing capital improvement plans to improve streets and build bicycle and pedestrian improvements, continuing to focus on economic development, enhancing communications and promoting public participation and community engagement and sustaining public safety,” Firestine said.