Dear Indio Neighbors,
First, I want to thank those of you who take the time to read our City newsletter. It is assembled by my very caring City Hall co-workers with whom I am blessed to work.
I know that our residents like to hear about our City’s progress and about new businesses that trust in our future by investing here. And recent months have not disappointed! El Super grocery store opened to rave reviews this month at the former KMart site on Highway 111. I am sure they must be enjoying the recently completed Highway 111 roadway improvements made possible by State, Federal and local funds.
The new Fairfield Inn & Suites opened north of the I-10, a new Hampton Inn broke ground near the I-10 WalMart, and the 12-screen Maya Cinemas has submitted construction plans for the City’s final review. Closer to Jackson, in the Indio Town Center, construction is well underway for the new Marshall’s and Burlington, a Loco Charlie’s Mexican Grill Restaurant has opened, and other new tenants are on the way. Across the street in the former Target building - Tractor Supply Company is beginning construction of tenant improvements, and we are excited that Buzz Box is working on moving their corporate offices and packaging operations to Indio. Buzz Box is a very highly regarded new company that packages small boxed cocktails for consumption at home or at entertainment events all over the country and now into Europe.
Changing sectors for a moment, our “new housing” market has also picked up noticeably. At least a half dozen home builders are moving forward with previously approved plans that had been on hold. And, we recently approved one of the first market-rate multi-family projects largely motivated by anticipated new jobs in and around the County Justice Center projects on Highway 111 that are nearing completion. And right down the block, the Haagen Company continues to make progress on their Indio Grand Marketplace project — to replace the Fashion Mall. In the meantime, while they pursue larger plans, please notice how nicely they have cleaned up the old mall property and even added some new tenants.
Meanwhile COD continues to bring thousands of students Downtown and to work on new plans to more than double their campus capacity! We continue to have interest from other developers to do Downtown development. This is a tougher economic nut to crack, but interest right now is very serious. Not only does COD inspire new confidence, but the City is experiencing a strong interest from arts & culture groups, like the Coachella Valley History Museum, the Desert TheaterWorks at IPAC, the AMP music program, and the Coachella Valley Arts Center. Starting shortly, Indio will be a host city for exhibits associated with the great Desert X program, showing off the best of Southwest creativity. Helping us to shepherd our City arts programs, we recently welcomed new Management Analyst for Public Arts Debra Alleyne. Debra hails from Trinidad & Tobago, but moved here most recently from Dubuque, Iowa.
We are very excited about our growing reputation as a place to do business. And also events! My wife and I attended our first Southwest Art Festival last week at Empire Polo. We are already working on next year’s Tamale Festival and looking forward to the upcoming International Date Festival and the Coachella and Stagecoach Music Festivals.
Local government, of course, is much more than new businesses and events. I am proud to say our excellent Police Department continues to get even better. Chief Mike Washburn leads an A+ department and their efforts to recruit the next generation of community-based Police Officers is progressing well. Meanwhile we are starting our effort to replace their dramatically inadequate Police Station with new facilities — to be paid for with Measure X funding.
I am also happy to report that we have been informed that our Fire Department will be led by new Division Chief Robert Fish. He joins a team that has served Indio loyally and effectively for years. We are also beginning analysis of their headquarters Station 86 on Jackson with intent to either replace or rehab that aging facility.
I am proud of all of our staff departments. And we have announced that the City’s new Community Development Director Kevin Snyder will join us on February 19. Kevin comes to us with years of experience, mostly in Washington. (See the announcement in this newsletter.) The small staff in our Community Development Department has been extraordinary while we worked short-staffed the last 4 months. I can’t thank them enough for their commitment.
We are also currently in the process of hiring a new Indio Water Authority General Manager to join our very solid team of water utility professionals. And we just recently announced the promotions of Scott Trujillo to the new position of Deputy City Manager and Ian Cozens as our Information Technology Director. Both men have worked for the City for several years and through hard work, earned these noteworthy promotions.
I did not mean for this column to get so long – but things are happening in Indio. We hope you like them. Please share with us your ideas.
Sincerely,
Mark Scott
City Manager
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History of the Riverside County Fair and Date Festival
The Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival started as a festival to celebrate the end of the annual date harvest in the Coachella Valley, the major commercial date-producing area in the western hemisphere.
Dates were an unknown commodity in the valley until 1903 when date palms were transplanted here from Algeria. With the popularity of the date gardens, the idea was planted for a date festival to be held in Indio City Park in 1921. The heavily publicized International Festival of Dates was promoted with an Arabian theme, a reference to the ancestral homeland of the date.
In 1937, the idea for an annual date festival came forth again and the Riverside County Board of Supervisors contracted the Indio Civic Club to organize and promote a third date festival. The newly re-named Riverside County Fair and the Coachella Valley Date Festival opened in 1938 and in 1940, the County invested $10,000 on 40 acres for the establishment of permanent fairgrounds. The grounds were expanded with the purchase of an additional 40 acres--including the date grove--eventually reaching its present-day size of 120 acres.
Today, the Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival remains an integral part of the greater Coachella Valley community and a major tourist attraction. It continues the legacy of decades-old desert traditions while celebrating our history and community, and of course, providing fun and excitement for everyone. For more information and schedule of events for the 2019 fair, visit
www.datefest.org
.
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City of Indio Requesting Public Input on Community Needs and Fair Housing
The City of Indio is requesting the public to complete an online survey to assess community needs to help prepare its 5-year Consolidated Plan to receive Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The survey will help the City set future goals and programs to better serve the community. Please
click this link
to complete the survey.
The City of Indio is also requesting the public to complete an online survey on fair housing to determine any challenges to housing opportunities in the community. The survey will give the City a more effective means to affirmatively further the purposes of the Federal Fair Housing Act. All answers will be kept confidential. Please
click this link
to complete the survey.
The deadline to complete both surveys is February 28, 2019. For more information,
click here
.
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Road Improvement Projects for 2019/2020
As a courtesy to notify residents and businesses as early as possible, below is a tentative schedule of Indio road improvement projects to expect in 2019 and 2020. These projects are funded by Measure X, which was a voter-approved 1% sales tax increase measure passed by Indio voters in 2016, unless otherwise noted. The work includes street resurfacing, and pavement rehabilitation or construction. The schedules are subject to change so please check the Indio website or follow us on social media for updates.
Spring 2019
- Highway 111 - Between Jefferson Street and Madison Street.
- Industrial Place/Wheel Road - Area East of Monroe Street.
- Tamarisk Avenue/Date Avenue - Martha’s Village & Kitchen area.
- Galindo Court/Sabrina Court/Primrose Lane/Rancho los Cerritos - Various dirt roads in North Indio.
Winter 2019/2020
- Highway 111 - Between Arabia Street and Smurr Street (Riverside County funded project).
- Indio Springs Parkway - From Golf Center Parkway to Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.
Spring 2020
- Spectrum Street/Caspian Street/Showcase Parkway - Area South of Avenue 42 and West of Jackson Street.
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City to Add Security Services for Parks, Downtown and City Facilities
On November 7, 2018, the Indio City Council approved an agreement with Serna & Associates for unarmed, uniformed security guard services. The patrols will include downtown, city facilities, and city parks, totaling 46 locations, and operate daily from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. for 365 days a year. Security patrols will help reduce theft, vandalism and misuse of city properties as well as mitigate park issues after hours. The use of private security patrols in conjunction with community outreach efforts and code and law enforcement have proven to be an effective strategy according to the Indio Police Department. The private security patrols began in January 2019.
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Indio Hires New Community
Development Director
The City of Indio announced the hiring of Kevin Snyder as its new Director of Community Development. Snyder will oversee planning, building and safety, and housing activities for the largest and fastest growing city in the Coachella Valley. Among the priorities for Snyder will be completing the General Plan and Downtown Specific Plan to manage Indio’s future growth and development. Snyder’s official start date is February 19, 2019.
“I’m proud to join the City of Festivals and I plan to bring my passion and experience to help it become the most livable city in the nation,” Snyder said. “The amount of commercial, retail and housing activity in Indio is incredible, and I look forward to working with the Indio City Council, staff and community.”
Snyder brings 25 years of experience in the urban planning field, in both the public and private sectors. He previously served as Community Development Director for the cities of Fairfield; Auburn and Ridgefield, Washington; and Sedona, Arizona.
“Kevin brings an impressive track record of working in various capacities throughout California, Washington and Arizona,” City Manager Mark Scott said. “His experience and leadership will be valuable assets in achieving the long-term development goals set by the City Council.”
Snyder earned a master’s degree in urban & regional planning from Portland State University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Linfield College in Oregon.
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Business Profile: Arriola's Tortilleria
If you want a taste of history and authentic Indio, look no further than Arriola's Tortilleria - the oldest restaurant in Indio and the Coachella Valley. Established in 1927, the family-owned business located at 82721 Wilson Avenue in downtown Indio is known for its fresh, homemade tortillas, salsa and tamales. Ray Arriola's parents founded the business and have since passed it down to their kids and grandchildren. It was named the 2018 Small Business of the Year in the 56th Assembly District by California State Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia. Keep in mind the food is take-out only so swing by to pick up a tamale boat and enjoy the best chips and salsa in the Coachella Valley!
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On the Job Market? The Workforce Development Center Is Here to Help
Are you searching for a new job, changing careers, or looking to learn new skills to become more marketable? The Riverside County Workforce Development Center is brimming with resources to help you along the way.
Navigate to the center's website to discover online workshops like Resume Building and Essential Computer Skills. Read articles that cover everything from how to write a cover letter to what questions to expect during an interview. Explore resources for funding new job training or education.
Prefer an in-person experience? Visit the
Indio Workforce Development Center
for a full range of employment services. Computers, phones and Internet are available free of charge. You can even make an appointment to meet with an employee representative. This One-Stop Career Center is sure to meet all of your job seeker needs.
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Living History Festival at Coachella Valley History Musem
Take a step back in time at the Living History Festival, Saturday, March 16th, 2019 at the Coachella Valley History Museum. This annual event celebrates Indio’s pioneers and highlights the history of the Coachella Valley that started in Indio. Families gather to enjoy live entertainment, quilt making, woodcarving and much more!
The Festival provides a unique opportunity to learn about the significant cultures that led to the settlement of the entire Coachella Valley. The Festival showcases the personal histories of Cahuilla, Mexican, Anglo, Black, Japanese and Armenian families by means of entertainment and exhibits. In addition, foods representing these cultures are featured throughout the day.
The museum boasts many vintage exhibits and buildings. The center of the grounds has the 1927 Dr. Smiley-Tyler adobe home, surrounded by a complete blacksmith shop, farm equipment, the 1909 Indio Public Schoolhouse and the Date Museum. The grounds also feature a memorial Japanese garden, Dr. Carreon Desert Garden, Memorial Rose Garden, a Working Date Garden and a Cahuilla Ethnobotanical Garden.
This family–oriented event is free to the community. For more information, please visit
www.cvhm.org
.
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Free Citizenship Workshop
College of the Desert and TODEC Legal Center will be holding a Citizenship Workshop for free application assistance for citizenship and fee waiver and DACA renewal assistance on Saturday, February 9, 2019 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the COD Indio campus located at 45-5524 Oasis Street, Indio in room #203. For more information or to register for this event, please call the TODEC Legal Center at 760-698-8787 or visiti
www.TODEC.org
.
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Indio 101: Public Arts and Historic Preservation Commission
Indio 101 is a new article series highlighting information about Indio city government to increase awareness and engagement in the community. Chapter 32 of the Indio Municipal Code establishes several citizen commissions.
This month we review the Public Arts and Historic Preservation Commission. Its purpose is to provide technical and aesthetic recommendations for all public and private public art projects; determine if artwork meets the goals of the Art in Public Places program; create and recommend policy in conformity with the Indio General Plan for the visual arts and historic preservation; and oversee historical landmarks and programs. The Public Arts and Historic Preservation Commission meets on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 5:30 p.m. at the Indio City Council Chambers, 150 Civic Center Mall. The commissioners are Deborah Schwartz Glickman, Ed “E.J.” Neumeyer, Bill Schinsky, Thomas Buck, and Venessa Becerra.
Click here
for more information.
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February at the Indio
Performing Arts Center with
Desert Theatreworks
Desert Theatreworks begins February with
Some Enchanted Evening: The Music of Rodgers and Hammerstein
, which runs February 8–17. This revue of the 20th century’s Broadway icons’ greatest hits is sure to have you singing along.
Following
Some Enchanted Evening,
Desert Theatreworks invites theatergoers to
Murder: Southern Style
, a murder mystery dinner with a down-home country theme. This mystery dinner runs Saturday, February 23 at 6pm and Sunday, February 24 at 12pm. This is an interactive show, and audience members will have to guess ‘whodunnit’ when murder strikes after country music stars Dixie Diver and the Downhome Dealers arrive to Mossy Bottom. This buffet style dinner will offer barbeque ribs, corn, mac & cheese, vegetarian lasagna, and other southwestern style cuisine.
In conjunction with their 50th production, Desert Theatreworks is offering the opportunity for one lucky person to win a walk-on role in the March 2019 production of Hairspray. Proceeds will benefit purchasing new lighting and sound equipment for the theater. The winning ticket will be drawn February 8th. There is no limit to the amount an individual may purchase.
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The City of Indio is the 30th Fastest Growing City in America 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 3,000 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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