Mayor's Message: Rancho Mirage Breaks Ground On The Valley's First Observatory

From the City of Rancho Mirage: Greetings friends! The morning of Wednesday December 7, 2016 marked an extraordinary moment in Rancho Mirage history. On this day, our city broke ground on the Rancho Mirage Observatory at the Rancho Mirage Public Library.

I proudly joined my fellow Council members and dignitaries to turn the first shovel of dirt on what will undoubtedly be another fantastic amenity for our grand city. When complete, it will be the Coachella Valley's first observatory.

Pictured here (LtoR): Sea West Enterprises, Inc. Project Manager Travis Simison, Vice-President Jason Simison & CEO Eric Simison, Architect Charlie Martin, Library Director David Bryant, Director of Public Works Mark Sambito, City Manager Randal Bynder, Councilmembers Dana Hobart, Iris Smotrich and Richard Kite, Mayor Pro Tem Charles Townsend and Mayor Ted Weill

Building an observatory is not something most communities would think of pursuing. The idea was initially brought forth by Rancho Mirage resident Marilyn Bauer during a discussion of the Tourism Advisory Committee. The suggestion caught the attention of Councilmember Dana Hobart who soon after launched the effort to assess the feasibility of such a project. It was quickly determined that an observatory would complement the programming at the Library very nicely. Additionally, as luck would have it, a light study showed the land where the Rancho Mirage Public Library sits to be extremely conducive for stellar viewing.

As with any City initiated project, identifying adequate funding for both construction and ongoing operations and maintenance was first and foremost. After concluding that an observatory was financially possible, the focus moved toward design and construction. Local architect Charlie Martin was tasked with designing a facility that would be both aesthetically pleasing and meet the needs for operating a sophisticated telescope. A Request for Proposals (RFP) process to construct the observatory led to Sea West Enterprises, Inc., a firm with an impressive history of successfully completing similar projects.

The Rancho Mirage Observatory will be a research level facility that will allow visitors from all ages to explore the universe in ways most have never experienced. Professors in the field of astronomy and novice stargazers are both sure to be amazed at the level of exploration that will be available.

We are fortunate, indeed, to live in such a community. There are many factors that make Rancho Mirage special; and we will soon have another. Completion of the Rancho Mirage Observatory is expected in the summer of 2017. We all look forward to the first glimpse of our vast universe right here in the zip code of choice: 92270.

This being the last Mayor's Message of the year, I want to wish you and your family a Happy New Year filled with good health, much joy and peace throughout the world.

Thank you for your time. Please share your ideas, suggestions, or comments by emailing me at Tedw@RanchoMirageCA.gov.

My very best wishes,

Mayor Ted Weill

Photos courtesy of City of Rancho Mirage