Scott Matas, Mayor

smatas@cityofdhs.org

(760) 200-7428

Current Term: December 2020

Serving since March 2007

Welcome to the City of Desert Hot Springs website and thank you for wanting to learn about our city. I am a life time resident of Desert Hot Springs -- born and raised, I attended school here and am now proudly raising my own family here in our town. I have two sons; my oldest graduated from Desert Hot Springs High School and is now involved doing missionary work and pursuing his dream of music and ministry for his church.  He works for Calvary Chapel in Cathedral City and is an EMT for an ambulance company, and was recently married to the love of his life, Nancy Matas. My youngest son also graduated Desert Hot Springs High School and is now a junior at University of California Riverside (UCR) majoring in English.  I married my wife Victoria Matas in 2017.  We raise our three daughters, 14, 12 and 8, all attending Desert Hot Springs Schools.

I was a local small business owner for nearly 10 years and belong to the Desert Hot Springs Rotary Club. I volunteered for 20 years with the Desert Hot Springs Volunteer Fire Company, spent 2 years as president of Food Now almost 20 coaching and umpiring for Desert Hot Springs Little League. I  support the following charities: Food Now, God’s Kitchen, Desert Hot Springs Little League and AYSO, Jr. All American Football, Desert Hot Springs Woman’s Club, and Desert Hot Springs High School football and baseball programs. It has been my passion to involve the youth of our city into city government; in 2009 I began and still advise the Youth Council, which consist of a group of high school students who look at the issues facing our community from the youth perspective. While being involved in several local charities and programs I have come to realize that we are fortunate to have some of the hardest working volunteers in this community.

My vision is straightforward; I am currently working to bridge the concerns of our small business owners, parks and youth programs, public safety needs, and our tourist industry. We have a great downtown and with the current rebound of the economy I believe will become the perfect dining, shopping, and small business experience. Our youth is a vital part of this community and our schools have the largest student population in our school district.

Our parks are transitioning to becoming more modernized and community oriented, with the additions of renovated parks, a health & wellness center , the new Desert Hot Springs Rec Club, and the aquatics center we can promote, protect and encourage our youth to achieve their dreams. Public safety is a concern as it is in all cities across America and the need for more police officers, firefighters and code enforcement is a priority. Our police department has a great vision and is on track with our current city council to provide the highest level of public safety needs to our community. The tourist industry is one of the most important industries to our community; bringing in the tax dollars and tourist revenue to fund all of the issues mentioned above. We undoubtedly have the best views in the Coachella Valley, award winning and therapeutic mineral waters, the cleanest air and some of the best known health and wellness spas in the country. Our tourists can relax in our spas for a day, a week or the entire winter! While visiting our city a “must see” is our own California Historical Site – Cabot’s Pueblo Museum. Cabot’s Pueblo Museum will soon have trails leading into the Joshua Tree National Monument as the Sands to Snow Monument with views you will not be able to find anywhere else in the Coachella Valley.  Our city has lead the way in the state with Marijuana Cultivation, with over 75 projects approved between cultivators and dispensaries. 25% of the tax revenue goes straight into our reserves.  The industry is bringing over 200 good paying jobs to our community.

Our community is approximately 28,000 but still holds that small town feeling. Please feel free to contact me and thank you again for taking the time to get to know me and the city I truly love. Please come visit Desert Hot Springs and see the beauty we have to offer.

Scott Matas
Mayor for the City of Desert Hot Springs