Dear Neighbors,
Last month I covered our very ambitious Fiscal Year 2019/20 Workplan, which includes a tremendous amount of investment in the City’s local infrastructure, in public safety facilities, and in public amenities. We are already out paving streets and activating the programs funded in this year’s new budget. I also mentioned that we are on the verge of adopting our new City General Plan (updating policies relating to land use, transportation, economic development, conservation, open space, health & equity, infrastructure and more). And our new Indio Downtown Specific Plan is on track to be adopted in September. I hope you might take a few minutes to look at the material available online on these two important plans that define the Indio we aspire to be in the future.
This month I thought I would do a change of pace and say a few words about the great team of paid City officials the City Council and I get to work with here at City Hall. We have a very loyal, engaged staff of roughly 270 employees in Indio. About 124 are in the Police Department, and another 47 work in the Indio Water Authority Department. The rest of the employees work in a variety of relatively small departments, directed by the following Department Directors:
Rob Rockwell, Assistant City Manager/Finance Director
– Rob has been with the City now for 9 years. Prior to that, he served in the Budget and Finance functions for Riverside County. Rob has done a remarkable job now for many years steering Indio thru tough economic times, and is now helping us turn the corner into a more robust economy. Rob is also entrusted with the role of covering for the City Manager in my absence. Our financial statements win accounting awards every year. He is a real pro and his quarterly financial reports are a good read. They will make you feel good about the financial oversight we enjoy under Rob’s leadership.
Mike Washburn, Police Chief
– Chief Washburn was hired about a 3 years ago, so I do not get to claim credit for his hiring. But I am constantly grateful that we have such an accomplished Police professional in charge of this City’s Police operations. Chief Washburn came to us following 30 years of increasingly responsible service in the City of Seattle. He has worked in virtually every aspect of Police management and has done a great job assembling one of the best Police management teams I have ever seen. He cares deeply about his staff and, as you know, our Police Department does an extraordinary job in fostering trust and safety in this community. We have a top caliber department from the top to the bottom.
Tim Wassil, Public Works Director
– Tim gets credit for the monumental capital improvement plan that has been carried out the last few years. He has been Public Works Director for 4 years, having previously worked in the same capacity in Indian Wells. Our Public Works/Engineering function is very lightly staffed, but this is a small team that gets big things done! Tim and his team are tireless in their pursuit of these projects – streets, parks, median landscaping, street lights, government buildings, vehicle maintenance, storm water, traffic signals, and on and on. We handle 33 square miles of City with this small team. Tim and his team are exceptional.
Kevin Snyder, Community Development Director
– Kevin joined us this year, having moved here from Washington State (Auburn) and Fairfield, California. He is a very experienced Director with certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). He leads another small team consisting of highly talented and dedicated Planners, Building Inspectors, and Managers. He has not only brought our General Plan to fruition, but he and his team are busy working to process new development, expand our cultural arts programs, enhance housing programs, and much more. In less than a year, we have made great progress under Kevin’s guidance of a motivated, creative staff.
Terry Deeringer , Human Resources Director
– Terry came to the City from the City of LaQuinta 3 years ago. Her focus is on recruiting and retaining quality employees. She is our Talent Director! As indicated above, this is a small but mighty cast of co-workers who truly care about Indio. Many live here, went to school here, or just love the community. It is Terry and my obligation to make sure these caring people know how much we appreciate them. Your statements of appreciation, which we often receive, a big reward for our team. By the same token, when you see improvement needed, Terry and all of our Department Directors are eager to hear from you.
Trish Rhay, Indio Water Authority General Manager
– As you know, we benefit in Indio to have such a solid, well-managed Water Department. These IWA employees serve us 24/7 and operate a very reliable system of clean water. We were thrilled to have Trish join us a couple months ago, having gained years of high level experience in Seattle, Washington and in Beverly Hills and San Bernardino. She and her managers, supervisors, technical and administrative staff operate at a state-of-the-art level. Service to customers is the overriding goal of this dedicated crew.
Carl Morgan, Economic Development Director
– Just as Terry supports our employee population, Carl’s mission is to support our business community and, in doing so, seek to provide residents with jobs, shopping opportunity, and revenue growth. The revenue, of course, pays for our streets, Police, Fire, parks and other services. Carl’s role, therefore, is key to our city’s strategic goals. Indio has many new opportunities right now, as those who do business investment are increasingly interested in what the Indio market has to offer. The entire East Coachella Valley has opportunity. Carl and his small team make sure we put Indio into a position to succeed in competing for businesses and business investment. Carl came to Indio after years of work in his field in Long Beach and San Diego County.
Ian Cozens, Information Technology Director
– Ian was recently promoted into this position. He has served us for 6 years, following great experience in the private sector. Ian manages a team of staff with a variety of impressive IT skills. In all candor, our City had not kept up with technological upgrades thru the years of the downturn. Ian and team are diligently implementing software systems that will improve our financial, personnel, public safety communications, development planning & permitting and public record-keeping capabilities. These upgrades will significantly improve our efficiency in serving the public.
Sabdi Sanchez, City Clerk Administrator
– Sabdi worked previously for the City of Colton. We were blessed when she came to the Desert 18 months ago to take over the day-to-day workload associated with our important City Clerk function. Cynthia Hernandez is our elected City Clerk and retains certain oversight responsibilities, but retired from the day-to-day role a few years ago. Professionally, Sabdi is a Certified City Clerk and does a great job with our formal record-keeping, agenda preparation and elections processes.
Scott Trujillo, Deputy City Manager
– Despite his youthful exterior(!), Scott Trujillo is one of our most experienced Indio staff. And most caring. He has worked in several City departments, and was a natural internal candidate for promotion to the Deputy City Manager role when the position was created a year ago. Scott not only provides daily administrative support to the City Manager, he also oversees (along with the extraordinary Jim Curtis) the City’s Community Services program, and our technology and marketing functions. He also administers the Animal Services contract with Riverside County. With Rob Rockwell and Scott Trujillo, I would match the quality of my City Manager’s Office staff with any city!
Robert Fish, Division Fire Chief
– Our City contracts with Riverside County and CalFire for fire and emergency medical service. We receive superior quality from these hard-working, highly-skilled men and women. They may be contract employees (not included in the 270 employee count I mentioned above), but they are in every way an important part of our Indio team. I am honored to be associated with Chief Fish and his dedicated team. Chief Fish was promoted into his current role only a few months ago. We were delighted, as he is an excellent leader and promoter of our excellent Indio-based Fire contingent.
Roxanne Diaz, City Attorney
– Roxanne is appointed by the City Council. We contract with the firm of Richards, Watson & Gershon. I was fortunate to have worked with Roxanne and her RWG colleagues when I was City Manager in Beverly Hills many years ago (when she was very young!). One of my inducements to come to Indio was knowing what a quality firm RWG is, and what a pro Roxanne is. They handle our day-to-day legal work and most of our litigation and claims management with precision and wisdom. The City Attorney is a very key advisor to a City Council and staff. The public does not see this every day, but we do!
So, having explained how good this team of managers is, you may understand better what a simple job I have! I am very fortunate to have inherited or assembled this group. I do not mean to focus only on the department heads. In the future, I will make it a point to highlight the other very special people on our team, at all levels, who spend their careers – their adult lives really – in service to this community. It has always been my source of energy that I get to go to work every day and benefit by association with these appropriately proud public officials. For all the superlatives that I have lavished in this column, we all know we are not perfect. We all know that there are improvements we need, and there are opportunities we do not want to miss. Please know that Indio is our mission and we think that is very important work!
Sincerely,
Mark Scott
City Manager
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Indio Working With Community on New Organic Waste Disposal Law
In September 2016, Senate Bill (SB) 1383 was signed into law requiring Californians to reduce organic waste disposal by 50% by 2020 and 75% by 2025. Restaurants and residents must dispose of food waste separately from regular trash so it can be recycled as organic waste. Cities like Indio will need to approve an ordinance making organic waste recycling a requirement throughout the City. The regulations take effect in 2022. The City has been working to support the business community by meeting with restaurants to learn about the steps and barriers to food waste diversion. This understanding will help the City better assist businesses with compliance and minimize the need for enforcement.
The City of Indio held its first restaurant focus group meeting, in coordination with the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce, on June 6, 2019. The next restaurant focus group meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 16, 2019, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Indio City Hall, 100 Civic Center Mall, Indio, CA 92201. To RSVP for the meeting or if you have questions, please contact Sara Toyoda, Environmental Programs Coordinator, at (760) 625-1815 or
[email protected]
. For more information on SB 1383, go to
www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Climate/SLCP/
.
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Riverside County Professional Firefighters Benevolent Fund Recognized by City Council
On June 5, 2019, the Indio City Council recognized the Riverside County Professional Firefighters Benevolent Fund (RCPFBF) with a Certificate of Appreciation for their tireless efforts in supporting firefighters and organizations associated with the fire service. RCPFBF helps firefighters with cancer support, toxin and bio hazard awareness, employee assistance programs, peer support groups, and financial and retirement planning services. They also participate in community service activities such as "Shop with a Firefighter" where they provide gifts to children from the county's child protective services program. To learn more about RCPFBF and how to support firefighters, go to
www.rcpfbf.com/
. Watch their informational video on YouTube at
www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=135&v=V9KPv1Cl9Hs
.
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IWA Bringing Demonstration Garden to the Coachella Valley History Museum
Indio Water Authority has a history of working with community partners to fund projects that promote water conservation and help educate the public on effective approaches to desert landscaping. The Indio City Council has approved the demonstration garden which will be designed to showcase the wide variety of beautiful and unique plants that thrive in a desert climate with only a limited amount of irrigation and other outdoor water efficiency best practices. The Garden will consist of twelve smaller themed gardens or landscapes where Indio residents can visit throughout the seasons to get ideas for their own yards and enjoy the beauty of water-efficient desert landscapes. Such gardens provide learning opportunities for students, home gardeners and landscape professionals on design, planting and maintenance procedures.
The approved plan consists of 12 different gardens/lawns showcasing different types of gardens and addressing different landscape needs – two xeriscape gardens with a mix of plants, an agave garden, a cactus garden, a butterfly garden, a succulent garden, a hummingbird garden, two Colorado Desert gardens, an ethno-botanical garden, and two Southwest gardens. Having a Demonstration Garden which showcases the beauty of drought-tolerant landscaping in Downtown Indio is a good symbol of that commitment.
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Coachella Valley Rescue Mission 2019 Backpack Drive
The Coachella Valley Rescue Mission’s Annual Backpack Bonanza Giveaway this year is scheduled to take place in the CVRM Multi-purpose Room on Saturday, August 22. The backpack giveaway starts at 8:00 a.m. and will continue until supplies last.
They are expecting over 2500 children this year. Children who attend with their parents will be able to receive a backpack containing school supplies for the new year. Volunteer professionals will also be present, donating their time to provide haircuts for the children, helping them to look their best.
Contour Dermatology is delighted to support this fundraiser financially and also serve as a convenient drop-off location for the community to bring new backpacks and school supplies at either Contour Dermatology office. The community is asked to drop off donations by Tuesday, August 18th. For more information, call 760-423-4000.
The Coachella Valley Rescue Mission is located at 47470 Van Buren St. in Indio, California.
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Modernization Continues at Indio Schools
Funding from the $225 million Measure KK, passed in November 2014, continues to support modernization efforts at Desert Sands schools.
This year, work is taking place on the campuses of Indio Middle School, John Kennedy Elementary School, and James Madison Elementary School. Completion is expected by the end of the 2019-2020 school year.
At Indio Middle School, modernization of the existing campus facilities includes the upgrade of technology. The existing classrooms, library, and support spaces will receive new finishes and fire and life-safety code improvements. James Madison Elementary School will have a modernization of the existing campus facilities including classrooms, library, and educational support spaces. The project at John Kennedy Elementary School includes the demolition of the original administration building and classroom buildings. These facilities will be replaced with new state-of-the-art classrooms and offices.
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The desert heat can be dangerous at times – particularly for those who are more vulnerable, including seniors and the disabled. The County of Riverside Community Action Partnership coordinates Cool Centers to serve as drop-in sites for those in need of temporary relief from the heat. The following locations have been identified as Cool Centers in Indio:
Coachella Valley Rescue Mission
84110 Manila Street
(760) 851-2160
Hours: Monday-Sunday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Cross Streets: Manila & Luzon
First African Methodist Episcopal Church
43601 Saguaro Street
(760) 342-9077
Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Cross Streets: Monroe and Avenue 44
Indio Senior Center *Seniors only
45-700 Aladdin Street
(760) 391-4170
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Cross Streets: Aladdin at Shadow Palm
Martha’s Village & Kitchen
83791 Date Avenue
(760) 347-4741
Hours: Monday-Sunday 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Cross Streets: Date & Calhoun
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City Council Funds Teen Vocational Training, and Park and Public Facility Improvements
On June 5, 2019, the Indio City Council approved using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for teen vocational training, and improvements to parks and public facilities for fiscal year 2018-19. The Indio Teen Center will receive $42,000 to support its Vocational Training Program that offers youth training in culinary arts, photography/video, and music. Dr. Carreon Park will receive $200,000 for new turf, landscaping, trees, irrigation, and benches. The Indio Teen and Senior Centers, which are operated by the City, will also receive $75,000 for facility improvements, including new video surveillance systems, roof and paint repairs, and new audio/visual equipment. Over a million dollars of CDBG funds in total are allocated for various programs and activities in Indio. The City became an Entitlement Community in 2009 and qualifies to receive federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to specifically address the needs of low and moderate-income individuals.
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As temperatures rise this summer, Coachella Valley residents will look for places to cool off. Some will visit local pools, while others will wade into the dangerous, swift-moving Whitewater River, ignoring the “no trespassing” signs on the way to the water's edge. Residents are reminded to "Stay out, stay safe!" Check out this reminder
video
.
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The City of Indio, in keeping with its ongoing efforts to serve all members of the community, is updating its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) transition plan and self-evaluation. The accessibility plan provides a comprehensive plan for access for individuals with disabilities to City facilities, parks, programs, services, activities and events, and helps to address and prioritize current and future needs. Complete the online survey
here
. Deadline to submit your survey is September 30, 2019. If you have questions or comments or would like to request a survey in an alternate format, please contact Juan Raya, ADA Coordinator, at
[email protected]
or (760) 541-4225.
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Water Quality and Summer Savings
Each year, Indio Water Authority (“IWA”) publishes an annual Water Quality Report – also known as the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). The latest report provides details about our 2018 water quality results and is now available on our website at
www.indiowater.org/ccr2018
. This edition also has information on rebates and incentives offered by IWA to help you save water during the summer and throughout the year.
The State Water Resources Control Board requires that IWA customers receive an annual copy of this report. The guidelines for distributing this report allow for electronic delivery instead of a paper copy. By delivering these reports electronically, we reduce costs and eliminate paper waste associated with printing and mailing the full report to our more than 23,000 accounts. Hard copies in English and Spanish are available at the Indio City Hall, Corporate Yard, Senior Center, and Teen Center. We will be happy to mail you a paper copy of this report upon request through our Customer Service line at (760) 391-4038.
We strongly encourage you to read this report and get the latest news and information from IWA through our website at
www.indiowater.org
. If you have not taken advantage of our conservation rebates and incentives, we encourage you to do so.
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The City of Indio is the largest and fastest growing city in the Coachella Valley with more than
with more than 89,000 residents. Nearly 1.4 million people visit Indio every year to attend its world famous arts, food, and music festivals. With nationally recognized public safety services, exceptional schools, great parks and senior and teen centers, no wonder more than 2,700 new housing units are in construction or being planned throughout the city in addition to new hotels, restaurants and retailers. Indio was the first city incorporated in the Coachella Valley on May 16, 1930, and is governed by an elected City Council that employs a City Manager. The City of Indio embraces its diversity and provides outstanding municipal services to enhance the quality of life for its residents, visitors and business community.
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City of Indio |100 Civic Center Drive | (760) 391-4000
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