Dear Resident,
Our community has an election this November! You may already have a ballot at your home. The sole item on your ballot is local Measure E.
If approved by Indio voters, Measure E (the City of Indio No Tax Increase Safety/ Essential City Services Protection Measure), would extend the current voter-approved 1- cent local sales tax until ended by voters, providing a continued and stable source of locally controlled funds to address City services and community priorities – inclusive of significant fire, emergency response, drinking water and bridge/overpass needs.
By law, no Measure E funds would be taken by the county or state, and the accountability provisions of current local funding, including annual independent audits and online expenditure reports available for public review, and citizens’ oversight, will remain in place.
The State is continuing its all-mail ballot election format. All active registered voters should receive a ballot in the mail, and additional ways to participate in person are also available.
Please participate in your LOCAL Special Election.
Sincerely,
Bryan Montgomery
bmontgomery@indio.org
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WHAT'S NEW INDIO?
From new housing, to new retail, restaurants and office buildings, the City of Indio is busier than ever. Driving around town, as ground gets graded and walls go up, you might be curious about what is opening In(dio):
- Varner Road and Fifties Way (Fiesta Kia: construction underway)
- Jackson Street in the Indio Towne Center (Ono Hawaiian BBQ: construction underway)
- Avenue 52 between Monroe & Jackson Streets (Polo Club at Trilogy: additional new home inspections and construction underway)
- Varner Road (Unicars Honda Certified Pre-owned dealership: entitlement applications submitted)
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NATIONAL NIGHT OUT INDIO
The community is invited to join the Indio Police Department on Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. for an in-person National Night Out (NNO). The event will be held at 100 Civic Center Mall in Downtown Indio and will feature food trucks, frozen lemonade, and many community partner booths!
National Night Out is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), and is supported locally by Home Depot, Imperial Irrigation District, California Highway Patrol, and many more! NNO involves over 17,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities, and military bases around the world. This event will be the opportunity to reconnect with the community in a safe and fun way.
National Night Out is designed to:
- Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness
- Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime efforts
- Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships
“This is a night for America to stand together to promote awareness, safety, and neighborhood unity. National Night Out showcases the vital importance of police-community partnerships and citizen involvement in our fight to build a safer nation,” said National Project Coordinator Matt Peskin.
For more information, call the the Indio Police Office of Community Safety at (760) 391-4037.
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SEE YOU AT INDIO'S STREETS ARE TREATS!
Join the City for Indio’s Streets are Treats on Saturday, October 30, 2021, a fun and interactive event that showcases pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure elements, public art, and fun activities for members of all ages. The event will occur from 4 to 8 p.m. along Miles Avenue and Smurr Street near the Indio Food Park.
The event is a great way for the Indio community to experience how streets are treats through a transformed Downtown Indio for the evening. It will showcase pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure elements such as parklets, buffered bicycle lanes, artistic crosswalks, and curb extensions:
· Parklets provide curbside seating by extending the sidewalk to create more space to eat, relax, and hang out.
· Buffered Bicycle Lanes or Separated Bike Lanes create more space between motorists and people on bikes, providing a safer and more comfortable environment for roadway users.
· Artistic Crosswalks help create a unique sense of place and city identity.
· Bulb-outs or Curb Extensions make crossing the street shorter and easier.
Other event highlights will include interactive activities such as a scavenger hunt and art installations from community organizations such as Alianza Coachella Valley, Raices Cultura, and Desert Sands Unified School District, who are lending their artistic talents to the event.
The event is a collaboration between the City of Indio and the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) through the 'Go Human' program, which seeks to reduce traffic collisions and encourage more walking and biking throughout Southern California.
Join the City of Indio for this fun and interactive event!
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AUTUMN EVENTS AT THE CV HISTORY MUSEUM
Check out CV History Museum’s newest exhibit: "Salton Sea Stories featuring the story of Helen Burns: Queen of the Salton Sea"
Opening Saturday, October 16 at 10:00 a.m. with coffee and conversation in the Medjool Auditorium featuring guest speaker Donna Burns Kennedy, Helen's daughter, will share her experiences growing up at Helen's Beach House during the heyday of the Salton Sea. Book signing and exhibit viewing to follow. RSVP by contacting Mayra Garcia at mayra@cvhm.org or (760) 342-6651. Masks required.
Día De Los Muertos Ofrendas (Altars) & Artwork by Featured Artists will be on display for public viewing from November 1 through November 14. Among those creating ofrendas are six local artists: 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.
The Junior Historians Program is back! From October 4 to November 17, this dynamic after school program helps 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders learn while having fun in a safe and encouraging environment. Junior Historians meet Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Registration is $50. For details and enrollment, visit www.cvhm.org or email jr.historians@cvhm.org.
Coachella Valley History Museum is located at 82-616 Miles Avenue in 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. First weekend of each month is free!
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ADAPTIVE PROGRAMS AT DRD
Desert Recreation Foundation, the fundraising arm of Desert Recreation District, is holding its 2nd annual CHASE THE ACE MOTORCYCLE POKER RUN on Saturday, October 9. This event raises funds to support Adaptive Sports/Recreation programs for those with physical or cognitive special needs.
While individuals with special needs or disabilities are welcome to join any Desert Recreation District program, the adaptive programs provide exclusive access to programs with smaller class sizes, instructors trained in best practices/methods to work with individuals with special needs or disabilities, and include subsidized program fees. A parent/guardian/therapist providing assistance is welcome to attend if the participant requires additional support during a class. Instructors benefit from learning key details to help participants succeed within an activity.
The CHASE THE ACE MOTORCYCLE POKER RUN ride will begin and end at the Indio Community Center & Park, 45-871 Clinton Street in Indio with registration from 9 to 11 a.m., and 'Kickstands up' by 11 a.m. Beat the crowds by registering ahead of time online at DesertRecreationFoundation.org.
What is a Motorcycle Poker Run? It involves riding your motorcycle to various designated locations, and at each stop (including the starting point) you get another playing card to round out your poker hand! The ride will be approximately 120 scenic miles and include locations such as Paradise Café in Mountain Center (Hwy 74) and going out to Banning. Prizes will be given for Best Hand ($500), and for Worst Hand ($250). There will also be a food truck, beer garden, online auction, and merchandise for sale – learn more at DesertRecreationFoundation.org or by calling (760) 347-3484.
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CITIZENSHIP PREPARATION CLASSES
The Riverside County Library System (RCLS) Literacy Services is offering a FREE Citizenship Preparation Class for adults at the Indio Library (200 Civic Center Mall). This class is held every Monday from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Enrollments are open throughout the session. No registration is necessary!
The full schedule of in-person and virtual small group sessions (all free!) for adults is available here: https://bit.ly/FALL2021LitClasses. The library also offers free tutoring for adults both in-person and virtual. Contact the RCLS Literacy Services for more information at (951) 685-6901 or Literacy@rivlib.net.
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ROADWORK AHEAD!
The City of Indio will apply new slurry and striping on roads throughout the City from October 18 to November 19, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Residents and motorists should expect travel delays, are urged to use alternate routes, and should observe all construction signs and obey road crews. Access for emergency vehicles will be unaffected.
This project is part of the City’s street maintenance program to restore the appearance of the street pavement while extending its service life and minimizing further deterioration. The work involves a slurry seal application to the asphalt surface as well as striping the new asphalt surface. The current project includes the Circle, Arcus, Green, Showcase, Aquarius, El Cid, Swingle, Lido Palms and East Jewel neighborhoods.
Watch for notices with detailed instructions from the City at least 72 hours ahead of scheduled work, which may include limited street parking.
$3 million is budgeted for this project, which is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
We appreciate your patience and cooperation during the construction of the improvements.
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INDIO MOVIES IN THE PARK!
Movie nights are back in the City of Indio!
Grab a picnic blanket, some comfy lawn chairs, and your friends and family, and join the the GCV Indio Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the City of Indio and the Desert Recreation District for the Indio Movies in the Park series. Indio Movies in the Park is presented on a giant 35-foot outdoor screen. All showings are free and open to the public, bring your family and enjoy the fun!
The October showing is Cruella and will begin at 7:00 p.m. (with set up at 6:00 p.m.) on Friday, October 22.
Indio Movies in the Park is held in the park behind the Indio Community Center on Clinton Street. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs, blankets, snacks, and refreshments.
Showings will be announced in advance on Facebook and other media outlets, or you can contact the chamber at 760.347.0676 for information on the next showing.
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REINTRODUCING CVCT COLLABORATIVE
Once known as the Indio Youth Task Force, the CVCT Collaborative has served the greater Indio community since 1994, building community spirit, preventing gang activity and giving kids greater confidence in their futures.
Today, CVCT works with the Desert Recreation District (DRD) and Hope for Housing to run a non-stop after school program called The Kids Club. Thanks to funding from the City of Indio, the Kids Club at Desert Meadows apartment complex is now open and accepting applications for the after school program. The Desert Meadows complex currently houses over 40 families, with a total of 116 elementary and middle school youth.
Program activities include providing help with schoolwork, recreational activities, creative arts, and afterschool supervision. The funding CVCT received from the City of Indio will be used to seed the program over the next two years.
Earlier in the summer, DRD hosted an open house for all the families in the complex, which provided a great way for the families to meet DRD staff. All students received a free backpack filled with school supplies. The backpacks and supplies were funded by an in-kind contribution from a local area Walmart.
"CVCT is excited about this new Kids Club and the difference it will make for the youth at the Desert Meadows apartment complex in Indio," said Jaime Bikis, CVCT Collaborative President. Bikis added that CVCT is also looking at other locations in Indio where an afterschool Kids Club would benefit the youth population.
To learn more about CVCT Collaborative and how to donate or volunteer for their programs, visit https://www.cvct.info/
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HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION
Desert Recreation District is hosting its annual Halloween Carnival at the Indio Community Center at 45-871 Clinton Street in Indio. Festivities will include carnival games, EXTREME inflatables, a petting zoo, face painting, candy and snacks, and of course, a COSTUME CONTEST with prizes! All ages are welcome! The event is just $5 per person and will take place from 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 30. Be sure to bring a bag for candy and get there in time for the costume contest that starts at 4 p.m.
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READING INTO YOUR WATER METER
Indio Water Authority (IWA) has always been committed to providing safe and reliable drinking water to the Indio Community. For the past decade or so, many California water purveyors continue to be impacted by drought and water shortages. Finding sustainable sources of water has become a challenge for many water agencies, and IWA is no exception.
IWA continues to implement many preventative and proactive measures to ensure the conservation of this precious resource, from community outreach and education, to leak repairs and system upgrades. However, accurate water metering is possibly the best way to account for proper water management, from source to end user.
Throughout the years, water metering has advanced from a simple instrument of measurement to a highly valuable tool we can use as part of a network of devices that provides a larger picture of IWA’s overall water system. Additionally, advance-metering infrastructure allows customers to access a user-friendly web-portal with real-time metrics of their individual use, as well as alert notifications, and data collection.
In the past, meter reading was a monthly event, if a water meter failed and stopped registering consumption, the troubleshooting process could take weeks before identifying the metering problem. Today, the Indio Water Authority operates and maintains a radio frequency based network that relies on 25 data collectors/gateways strategically located throughout the City. These 25 gateways have the capability to collect information from over 24,000 water meters. Information that has proven invaluable in leak detection, backflow events, and of course, monthly consumption.
Positive displacement (PD) meters have been the most common for residential applications. PD meters contain small mechanical parts, such as a nutating disc, within its chamber that rotates as water flows through the meter body. Recently though, IWA has begun to move into the next generation of meters. Ultrasonic meters will potentially become the water industry standard. The ultrasonic meters require no moving internal parts because they use a small sensor that measures flow to calculate water consumption. Ultrasonic meters allow for a higher level of sustained accuracy even in low flow applications, ensuring we are accountable for every drop of this scarce resource. Please visit the City of Indio/IWA website for useful water conservation tips.
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MAJOR MILESTONE FOR THE CV LINK
A major milestone was reached in September on the CV Link project as the concrete was poured for a bridge that links the Cities of Indio and La Quinta at Promontory Point. The bridge will pave the way for bicyclists, pedestrians and low-speed electric vehicles to safely travel between the two cities and connect to points throughout the Coachella Valley.
Construction of the Indio & La Quinta bridge began in late March of this year and is expected to be completed in early 2022. The bridge links the cities of Indio and La Quinta, allowing users to cross over the stormwater channel to Promontory Point, a signature access point to the CV Link that provides shade, seating and a lawn area.
Ultimately, Promontory Point will also be where people can connect with the planned Arts & Music line, another active transportation project that connects people to Avenue 48 and destinations such as the Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals at Empire Polo Grounds.
CV Link has been in the works for years, but this phase of construction is the largest to date. The multi-modal transportation corridor will provide significant environmental, public health, and economic benefits to generations of current and future residents and visitors to our Valley.
The 40-plus mile, multi-modal pathway can accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists and low-speed electric vehicles such as golf carts across much of the Coachella Valley. About 3.5 miles of the project have been previously constructed in the cities of Cathedral City and Palm Springs. In October 2020, CVAG authorized contracts worth almost $53 million to fund the current stage of construction, which includes work in Indio as well as the cities of Palm Springs, Palm Desert, La Quinta and Coachella, as well as unincorporated Riverside County.
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MILES AVE PIPELINE PROJECT RESCHEDULED
In June 2021, the Indio Water Authority (IWA) awarded the construction of the Miles Avenue pipeline project consisting of 3,700 linear feet of 18-inch pipeline to be built along Miles Avenue from Monticello Avenue to Sedona Drive. IWA originally scheduled construction to begin in October 2021. Due to the IRONMAN event in December, together with delays in receiving large diameter ductile iron pipe, construction is now slated to start in January 2022, with completion before the end of March 2022.
The revised schedule will allow IWA to complete the project outside of the IRONMAN event dates, and well before the April 2022 festivals. The new schedule will also minimize traffic impacts during festivals. Visit www.indio.org/milespipeline for the latest project information.
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$4 MILLION GRANT FOR INDIO DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
The California Natural Resources Agency has notified the City of Indio of a grant awarded in the amount of $4,114,572, for the City’s Civic Center Storm Drain Project. This funding was provided under the Urban Flood Protection (UFP) Grant Program for 26 projects across the state that offered a mix of traditional and green infrastructure solutions to prevent flooding and flood damage.
The City of Indio’s project area currently has no existing storm drain. The project proposes building a storm drain mainline on Requa Avenue from Oasis Street to Jackson Street, which will interconnect storm drain laterals from Downtown streets. This will connect to an underground retention system within the green belt area between Jackson Street and Marshall Street (Marshall Parkway).
The project will also convert Marshall Parkway to a “Green Streets design” with a drainage swale, and will include plants and nearly 90 new trees. An additional 100 trees will be planted throughout the project site with rain gardens along Oasis Street, Smurr Street, and Requa Avenue. This landscaping will help capture stormwater and allow for natural filtration processes to improve stormwater quality before entering the City’s drainage and groundwater recharge system.
“In addition to the significant improvement in flood prevention, this project will support the City’s efforts to make Downtown a more vibrant and pedestrian friendly place for people to gather,” said Mayor Elaine Holmes. “I am grateful to City staff for their hard work in obtaining this generous funding from the state.”
19 of the projects chosen by UFP, and funded by Proposition 68, were in areas identified as disadvantaged communities. Indio’s project is one of only two funded in Riverside County, and one of very few chosen for full funding.
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DTW BACK AT THE IPAC WITH 'THE PRODUCERS'
After a long absence, Desert TheatreWorks in downtown Indio is back with Mel Brooks' "The Producers!" the smash comedy musical based on his classic 60's romp!
Desert TheatreWorks is proud of the work they have done on the IPAC complex during the COVID-19 shutdown. They took this time to plan, organize and deliver on necessary and important improvements to enhance the enjoyment of your Desert TheatreWorks performance experience and are excited to show off their work, both onstage and off! Buy your tickets online at dtworks.org.
Performances October 8 to 31 on the NEW DTW Mainstage!
Evening performances at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday Matinees at 2:00 p.m.
Ticket office: (760) 980-1455
Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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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
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