Cathedral City Council swears in temporary 4th member

Cathedral City Council has a new member: planning commissioner John Aguilar.

“He is the perfect candidate to fill out this term,” said Mayor Kathy DeRosa.

A term that will only last a few weeks. Just three meetings are scheduled before the newly elected council members are sworn in December 2, filling seats vacated by former Mayor Pro Tem Chuck Vasquez and Sam Toles.

But at issue was how the city would conduct business with just three members until then, especially if a member couldn’t attend a meeting.

In the coming weeks the council is set to vote on important issues, including the food truck ordinance, which requires four votes.

“I think as a contingency item for a short period of time, it’s the prudent thing to do,” said Aguilar, who holds a Master’s in Public Policy and has served in government for more than three decades.

Aguilar was nominated by council member Stan Henry and unanimously appointed.

Although Mayor Kathy DeRosa offered her support to Aguilar, she made it clear she didn’t think appointing a temporary fourth member was crucial.

“It would not have been my wish to see the seat filled. As has been stated a number of times we have functioned very well as three,” DeRosa said.

Aguilar is not one of the seven candidates vying for the two council seats this November, but DeRosa says she hopes this brief stint won’t be Aguilar’s last.

“Hopefully in the future when he has an opportunity to retire he would make an excellent council member,” she said.

“I have no plans to run for council, my plan is how can i help in this short term,” Aguilar said.