Dear residents!
The local Indio Special Election is fast approaching. Measure E is the only item you’ll find on the Nov. 2 ballot, and if approved, would extend an existing voter-approved 1¢ sales tax until it is ended by voters. This would not raise the tax rate that residents and out-of-town shoppers currently pay.
The revenues raised by Measure E would accomplish some critical infrastructure improvements, such as roadway and park improvements. In addition, it would allow for public safety needs identified by residents as priorities, such as updating Indio’s 9-1-1 emergency dispatch center, neighborhood fire stations, and emergency operations centers, which are all outdated, deteriorating, and do not comply with today’s state earthquake safety standards.
Since originally approved by Indio voters in 2017, more than 60 percent of the funds raised from this sales tax have addressed street and bridge maintenance, allowing for citywide street improvements, traffic signal installation, and work ahead of the planned interchange projects at Monroe and Jackson Streets.
There are a number of ways to participate in this election. Mail or drop off your ballot. As long as your ballot is postmarked by Election Day (Nov. 2), and received by the County by Nov. 9, it will be counted. Indio City Hall will serve as a ballot drop-off location during regular business hours, and will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8 p.m. (for ballot drop-off only) on Election Day, You can also vote or receive assistance at additional polling locations in Indio: the Indio Community Center, Indio Public Library, Andrew Jackson Elementary School, Shadow Hills High School, and at the Riverside Co. Office of Education Center in Indio.
Thank you for participating in this election, and for your commitment to the City of Indio. To learn more about Measure E, please visit www.indio.org/MeasureE.
Sincerely,
Bryan H. Montgomery, City Manager
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WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD
For the fourth year in a row, the City of Indio was recognized for environmentally conscious roadwork choices that bring new meaning to the phrase 'where the rubber meets the road.'
PMI (Petrochem Materials Innovation) presented the City of Indio and Street Maintenance Supervisor Terry Cechin with a certificate of environmental stewardship recognizing the repurposing of more than 6,500 waste tires into the slurry seal the City uses on asphalt pavements.
Evidence of this 'upcycling' of materials that would otherwise end up in California landfills can be spotted in the city's most recent road rehabilitation project.
Beginning Oct. 19, the City of Indio started parking lot maintenance at the Lights at Indio Golf Course on Jackson Street and Avenue 42, which will be used to host the Indio BBQ Festival on Nov. 6. This project incorporates recycled, rubberized tires ground into a slurry seal used for asphalt pavement. Not only does this process preserve the life span of our city roads, it also keeps them environmentally friendly.
The project at Lights at Indio Golf Course is part of a city-wide road slurry maintenance currently underway in the City of Indio. The project will include several local neighborhoods throughout the month of November and the remainder of the year, as well as incorporating some city-owned parking lots.
On the day the golf course parking lot got its makeover, Cechin joined the crews to explain the process. “Right now we’re putting down a road slurry onto the asphalt. This method is used as a maintenance method for the protection and preservation of the existing asphalt so that we see a better life out of it,” Cechin said, while the crew poured the slurry onto the parking lot. “The city implements these techniques to contribute to the longevity of the road asphalt, while also avoiding expensive road repairs in the future.”
Asphalt pavement provides a smoother surface for vehicles to run on and also resists harsh weather conditions. This smooth surface reduces damage to the pavement, which means less maintenance in the future. It also improves fuel efficiency and reduces wear and tear on vehicles, providing cost savings in other ways.
"Since the slurry is made of recycled tires, residents can feel safe to know that the roads in the City of Indio are not only safe to drive, but also add to our mission of sustainability," added Cechin.
The city started working with the road slurry called REAS (Rubberized Emulsion Aggregate Slurry) in 2016. Cechin said he'd like to continue laying down slurry that contains ground-up tires into the future, following California mandates to incorporate more environmentally friendly materials down on the ground. “Whether that’s modifying the equipment for it to meet certain emissions standards or repurpose certain materials, that would be good for the environment.”
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CITY OF INDIO FIBER PLAN
The City of Indio has partnered with Magellan Advisors to develop a Fiber Master Plan to guide the development of reliable and cost-effective next-generation broadband. The Plan will develop strategies for enhancing broadband to realize a net positive economic and social impact on the economy and quality of life through expanded innovation opportunities, workforce development training, the narrowing of the digital and/or economic divide, and improved organizational operation efficiencies.
Magellan Advisors and the City of Indio will perform outreach to the community to better understand the need for additional broadband options and develop recommendations for a broadband program including financial, governance, and regulatory analyses. Workshops for businesses and anchor institutions including healthcare facilities, schools, large employers, and other key stakeholders will be conducted in the coming months.
The Fiber Master Plan will be completed in April 2022 and will provide the framework for Indio to invest in and support enhanced next-generation broadband services for years to come.
“A Fiber Master Plan is a vital investment for our business community, and will also help meet the demand for high-speed connectivity across the City for everyone,” said City Manager Bryan Montgomery.
The City of Indio is conducting a study of internet availability as a part of the City's Fiber Master Plan project outreach, seeking information about internet access and use by households and organizations to create a plan for meeting the needs of our community.
Please complete this survey if you choose and/or pay for services for your home or work location. If that is not you, please ask the person who does these things to complete this survey. Provide information about your primary residence or organization's main location in the area. If you work from home, please complete the survey only for your household.
If the location for which you are completing this survey has broadband, use a computer directly wired to your internet connection rather than a wi-fi connection.
If the location does not have broadband you may complete this survey from any internet-connected device, or you can request a printed survey form by contacting us at surveys@magellan-advisors.com.
Answer all questions to the best of your knowledge, but don't worry about getting answers exactly right. If you're unsure about an answer just make an estimate. A good guess is better than a blank answer.
The survey takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. Information will not be used for any other purpose except the City of Indio's Fiber Master Plan project.
Thank you for your time!
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DESERT ARC HELPS KEEP OUR PARKS CLEAN
Part of the team! You may not realize it, but Desert Arc, a local non-profit organization that provides services to adults with developmental disabilities, is the group to thank for keeping our parks free of debris since 2007.
Paul Stalma, City of Indio’s Park and Landscape Supervisor, takes pride in the relationship the City has with Desert Arc and the specific tasks their teams provide. “Under supervision, Desert Arc’s clients rotate through our parks system Monday through Friday emptying trash receptacles; picking up litter, broken glass, dead plant material and debris; cleaning curbs and parking areas; cleaning sports courts and pour-in-place playground surfaces; and raking the play sand and safety chip of the playgrounds,” explained Stalma.
The City of Indio has 18 parks, and in addition to regular maintenance, Desert Arc clients move through them to make sure the parks are clean and fresh for use before and after a busy weekend or scheduled public events.
The Desert Arc teams, or enclaves, are made up of 3 to 5 individuals who also report vandalism, hazardous concerns and suspicious activities to Indio’s Public Works Department.
Came Corrales, a supervisor for Desert Arc, explained how Desert Arc “helps prepare our clients for employment in the workforce by teaching them important skills they will need. We show them how to communicate and work alongside coworkers, handle special equipment, properly dispose of hazardous material, maintain self-cleanliness, and much more.”
In sustaining the quality and sanitation of our parks, the individuals who work with Desert Arc ensure that whenever we visit the park for fun activities such as walking, bike-riding, basketball, various on-field sports, picnics or BBQs, we are guaranteed to spend our day without worrying about trash or other hazards.
“The organization is a valued partner to our safe and clean park maintenance efforts,” Stalma added.
Desert Arc was established in 1959 with the objective of teaching adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities workforce skills to allow them to have better opportunities when looking for jobs to aid in improving their quality of life. Desert Arc has been a champion for the rights of people with disabilities since it was founded, and continues to be one in the Coachella Valley.
Visit www.desertarc.org to learn more about Desert Arc, including opportunities to become involved as a donor, volunteer, or enroll as a client.
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DIA DE LOS MUERTOS AT ISC
The City of Indio is remembering and honoring the living and the dead, with a Día De Los Muertos celebration at the Indio Senior Center (ISC) Community room, on Tuesday, Nov. 2 starting at 1:30 p.m.
Festivities include food, culture, and activities for ISC members that highlight the unique traditions of Mexico, where mourning is exchanged for celebration.
The living will have the opportunity to create beautiful altars to remember and honor those who have departed. These altars will be decorated with bright yellow marigold flowers, photos of those who have passed on, and the favorite foods and drinks of the one being honored. The offerings are believed to encourage visits from the land of the dead, as the departed souls hear their prayers, smell their foods, and join in the celebrations!
“We are very proud of our diverse senior population,” said Indio Senior Center Community Program Administrator Argelia Jimenez. “With so many stories to tell, the ISC strives to provide a place where individuals can share their knowledge, skills, traditions, and immense love with the community.”
The altars will be displayed in the Indio Senior Center Community Room beginning Oct. 25 through Nov. 5. Members are welcome to bring pictures and objects that remind them of their departed to be included on the altar. On Nov. 2, the ISC will provide tamales, Mexican bread, and champurrado for all member attendees. Those who come with their faces painted can also enter a contest for prizes.
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CITY CLOSURES IN NOVEMBER
Take note of the following days marked for closure that could impact your business with DSUSD, City of Indio, and the Indio Library.
- DSUSD schools will be closed for Veterans Day (Nov. 11) and Thanksgiving (Nov. 22-26)
- DSUSD district offices will be closed on Nov. 25 & 26
- City Hall & the Indio Senior Center will be closed on Veterans Day (Nov. 11) and Thanksgiving (Nov. 25 & 26)
- The Indio Teen Center will be closed on Nov. 11, 19 and 23-26
- The Indio Library will be closed for Veterans Day (Nov. 11) and Thanksgiving (Nov. 25-26)
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FINAL FALL SUSTAINABILITY EVENT
The City of Indio will host its final Sustainability Collection event of the calendar year on Saturday, Nov. 6 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Indio Corporate Yard/Indio Water Authority (83101 Avenue 45).
The City's Sept. 11 Sustainability event was a success, with more than 200 participants collectively diverting over 200 gallons of oil, 1.5 40-yard bins of used tires (5.19 tons), and 32 gallons of food waste!
"To help illustrate just how much oil did not end up in our groundwater or landfills, the average bathtub holds 80 gallons of water," said Sara Toyoda, City of Indio Environmental Programs Coordinator. "That means we collected enough used oil to fill up about two and a half bathtubs!"
November’s Sustainability Event will include:
· old tire collection
· used oil and oil filter collection
· electronic waste (e-waste) disposal
· paper shredding (four boxes free for Indio residents)
· compost exchange
Indio residents can drop off up to nine passenger car and truck tires at a time. Tires must be removed from the rim, and trailer or tractor tires will not be accepted.
A paper shredding truck will also be on site. Up to four boxes of shredding are free for Indio residents. Residents of other cities can drop off shredding for a small fee. E-waste, including televisions, desktop monitors, and LCD screens, will also be collected. Other household hazardous waste, such as products used for cleaning, painting, beautifying, lubricating and disinfecting the house, yard, workshop and garage chemicals will not be accepted at this event.
Residents who bring small amounts of food waste to the event in a container that can be emptied and returned, will be given a 3.5 gallon reusable bucket of compost in return. Food waste will be taken to a local compost facility where it can be processed into a healthy soil.
For more information about accepted items and a schedule of future Sustainability events, visit www.indio.org/sustainability.
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INDIO BBQ EVENT
Join the City of Indio, Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Indio Chamber for the 6th Annual Indio California BBQ State Championship and Festival. This KCBS sanctioned BBQ championship draws pit masters from across the nation to compete for a $10,000 purse. As part of the festivities, BBQ competitors will be offering their championship style delights for sale to the public. Come out and sample some of the best contest quality BBQ in the nation!
This year's event will include live entertainment, craft beer garden, kids' zone, music and more. Admission to the event is FREE! The Festival will be held on Saturday, Nov. 6 at the Lights at Indio Golf Course (83-040 Avenue 42) from10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There is a $10 charge for parking.
Presented by the City of Indio and Title Sponsor Coachella Valley Buick GMC. For more information on this event call the Indio Visitors Bureau at (760) 347-0676, or visit www.indiobbqfestival.com
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HAPPY 109TH BIRTHDAY WOMEN'S CLUB OF INDIO
The GFWC Woman’s Club of Indio celebrated its 109th birthday on Oct. 12, 2021, commemorating its place as the oldest non-profit service club in the Coachella Valley!
The Woman's Club began in 1912 when Estella Hall and Sara Drummond of Indio decided to follow a national movement and begin a woman’s literary social club. They were soon joined by eight other women to form the Altrurian Literary Club, which changed its name to the Woman’s Club of Indio a few years later. Within a short time, what started as a little social club became a committed community service organization. The Women's Club of Indio started Indio’s first library, was instrumental in forming the Gnat Abatement District, and worked hard for legislative change. As the Women's Club of Indio became federated with the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, they changed their name to the GFWC Woman’s Club of Indio. Over the years, the GFWC Woman's Club of Indio has ranged in members from the original ten, to over 250 in the club’s heyday of the 1960’s, and currently has 125 members.
"I am so proud to be the 77th President of GFWC Woman's Club of Indio," said GFWC Woman's Club of Indio President Mickie Reed. "We are happily inducting 36 new members at our next meeting on November 3rd, and our membership is trending toward younger professionals. These younger members will start the journey to our next 109 years."
The GFWC Women's Club of Indio supports a number of local charities and has helped hundreds of students to go to college. What has never changed is the GFWC Women of Indio's commitment to the community in the City of Indio and how relevant this organization stays.
Visit https://www.wcindio.org to become a member or learn more about the GFWC Woman's Club of Indio, including events, scholarship opportunities, sponsorships, FUNdraisers, and more!
Happy 109th Birthday to the Woman’s Club of Indio!
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DTW PRESENTS MURDER AT THE HOWARD JOHNSON'S
Is all REALLY fair in love…and murder? Find out this November at the Indio Performing Arts Center. Desert Theatreworks presents Murder at the Howard Johnson’s, a laugh-out-loud riot featuring a complicated triangle - a woman, her husband, and her lover - hatching hilarious murder schemes…unsuccessfully. Set in a Howard Johnson’s hotel room in the 1970s, this comedic misadventure is filled with plot twists and surprises that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It is one ridiculous situation and extravagant sight gag after another in this rapid-fire comedy.
PERFORMANCES:
Indio Performing Arts Center
45175 Fargo Street
Indio, CA 92201
SHOWTIMES:
November 5-21, 2021
Thursdays-Saturdays: 7:30 p.m.
Sundays: 2:00 p.m.
BOX OFFICE:
Monday-Wednesday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday-Saturday 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
(760) 980-1455
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CV HISTORY MUSEUM OPENS NEWEST EXHIBIT
NEW EXHIBIT: SALTON SEA STORIES
Coachella Valley History Museum’s newest exhibit, "Salton Sea Stories featuring the story of Helen Burns: Queen of the Salton Sea," is now open to the public. An eclectic mix of photos and artifacts tells the story of the Salton Sea’s illustrious heyday as a popular riviera in the desert.
DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS OFRENDAS & ARTWORK: NOV. 1 - 14
Día De Los Muertos Ofrendas (Altars) & Artwork are on display for public viewing from Nov. 1 through Nov. 14. Featured local artists include Manny Doudlin, Frank Lemus, Angel Prudencio, Princess Ramirez, Zach Fleming, Susan Gresto, Liz Barnwell & Susan Francis with the JFK Foundation with students from the Ophelia Project, Ya Ya Ortiz & Keila Cupil representing Cultura Music and Arts, Requita Grant & Bernard Hoyes with students from Desert Hot Springs High School, Norma Guitron honoring Mexican American Pioneers, Susan Chapa honoring family member Charlie Shibata, and Ray Torres honoring family members.
BECOME A MUSEUM MEMBER TODAY
Memberships to the CV History Museum come with perks and start at just $50 a year.
Coachella Valley History Museum is located at 82-616 Miles Avenue in downtown Indio.
Museum Hours are Friday, Saturday & Monday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The first weekend is free!
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SENIOR CENTER PIE GIVEAWAY
The Indio Senior Center (ISC) will give away 500 pumpkin pies to adults 55 and over on Monday, Nov. 22 as part of the Indio Senior Center’s Annual Thanksgiving Pie Giveaway. The drive-thru giveaway will occur from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
In our effort to reach our goal of providing 500 pumpkin pies, we are asking all organizations, businesses, and community members in the Coachella Valley to help by donating pies, or making a monetary donation to the Friends of the Indio Senior Center. All proceeds go directly toward the purchase of pies. The last day to make a monetary donation is Thursday, Nov. 18 at noon. Contributions can also be made by raising awareness through social media platforms and encouraging others to donate!
In order to keep the pies as consistent and as fresh as possible, this year the ISC is asking for financial donations instead of pie drop-offs. The goal is to distribute 500 pies. To sponsor pies, please make checks out to the “Friends of the Indio Senior Center” and drop-off or mail to the Indio Senior Center at 45700 Aladdin Street, Indio CA 92201 no later than Thursday, Nov. 18.
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'ROLE MODELS' AT JACKSON ELEMENTARY
Neighbors around Jackson Elementary School on Kenner Avenue got the chance to see Keith Blum's newest mural for DSUSD schools as it was going up over the winter. However, the big green ribbons came out on Friday, Oct. 22 for the official dedication. Children at the school's Playworks Junior Coaches got to meet the muralist himself, as well as City of Indio officials, and of course, the school administrators they see every day as "role models." Fitting, therefore, that the mural is titled, Role Model!
The mural is one in a long list of artworks created by Blum for local schools, which include several in Indio. This particular mural, viewable to the public as they drive south on Jackson Street, features the images of children interacting with President John F. Kennedy, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and civil rights activists Cesar Chavez and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The blank wall at the school called to Assistant Principal Diane Tijerina. She remembered other murals painted by artist Keith Blum, and the two of them met with Principal José Montaño, Ed.D. The three envisioned American heroes speaking with children, and narrowed the list to the featured four. "I like to imagine that the leaders are encouraging the children to pursue their dreams or giving them advice on how they can be our future leaders," added Tijerina. She then reached out to the Anderson Children’s Foundation, an organization that had funded two previous murals on the campus.
Principal Montaño invited the students to “make a difference.” His word was echoed by Brianna Ulhorn of Anderson Children’s Foundation, who asked the children to be inspired to be leaders. Indio Mayor Elaine Holmes also noted, “You can be whatever you want to be – dream big.” Interviewed by media present at the event, student Mira Smith, celebrating her 11th birthday, chose to stand before the image of her hero, Justice Ginsberg. Mira is part of the Playworks Junior Coaches, a group that assists in the playground during recess, leading games and playing with students.
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TIME FOR TAMALES!
The City of Indio, in partnership with CUSP Agency, is pleased to announce the 29th Annual Indio International Tamale Festival in Downtown Indio. Over the first weekend of December, the reimagined festival, set for 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, will bring in tens of thousands of food lovers, and hundreds of vendors.
New for 2021, the City of Indio has partnered with experiential agency, CUSP, to elevate and enhance Tamale Festival through 2023. This partnership and joint investment into the community experience will bring the festival a fresh creative vision spanning: branding, décor, musical bookings, food and beverage curation, attractions, and more. These booking and production efforts draw on CUSP Agency’s tenured experience producing and contributing to music festivals locally and nationally for over fifteen years including: Coachella, Stagecoach, Tachevah, Splash House, and more.
The refreshed Indio International Tamale Festival will continue to feature old favorites such as handmade tamales, competitions for best tamale and tamale eating, carnival rides, and a car show. Fans can also expect new festivities including curated food areas featuring Tamales, Signature Cocktails and Micheladas. Musical bookings will span English and Spanish language performers, featuring both touring favorites and local features. A new Mercado will bring handcrafts, merchandise, art, and a farmers market to the event. Family-friendly attractions will expand to include luchador wrestlers and “The World's Biggest Bounce House” by Big Bounce America. The Tamale Festival will continue to provide a rich multicultural and multi-generational experience complemented by holiday shopping for a wonderful day spent amongst family and friends.
All local and regional vendors, returning and new, are encouraged to participate by submitting their applications on the festival website. Applications to participate are due by Friday, Nov. 5 at 5 p.m.
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SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE GRANTS
Thanks to unanimous approval from the Indio City Council, a second round of funding was distributed to Indio businesses as part of its Small Business Emergency Assistance Program (SBEAP). This latest cycle of $425,000 was approved on Sept. 15, and eligible businesses and daycare providers received their checks in October.
In total, the City of Indio SBEAP awarded $995,000 to 109 small businesses impacted by COVID-19, including 19 daycare providers. The second cycle was intended to fund the remaining eligible storefront businesses and daycare providers from the initial spring application period.
“We realize this outreach may not help all those who suffered significant setbacks during the pandemic,” said Indio Mayor Elaine Holmes, “but the additional funding does further our efforts to support our small business community. We are glad to be able to fully fund all those who applied to the program.”
Storefront businesses received checks for $10,000, and eligible daycare providers received checks for $5,000.
McKneely’s Beauty Supply opened in Indio months before COVID hit. “Thank you very much. This makes me very happy. I appreciate it,” Mark McKneely said while picking up his check at Indio City Hall. “When COVID came, it was really, really bad. We were hurt. Really hurt, so this will help us out.” McKneely said he would use the money to buy supplies and merchandise he could not previously afford.
José Lua also received a check for the family-owned restaurant Soul of Mexico. "When we heard that we were getting a grant from the City of Indio, it was like, 'yes!' Little by little, everything helps."
Applications were considered on a first-come, first-served basis and business owners had to meet eligibility criteria such as being located in Indio, having a current business license, and proof of financial impact due to COVID-19. The additional funding was made available from Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds sourced through the American Rescue Plan Act.
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The City of Indio is the largest and fastest growing city in the Coachella Valley with more than 90,000 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
information@indio.org | www.indio.org
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