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Indio, The Place to Be!
All about the City of Indio

City of Indio

The City of Indio (incorporated May 16, 1930) is the oldest and most populated city in the valley. Indio is a general law city and follows the council/manager form of local government. The council/manager plan of government combines the strong political leadership of elected officials in the form of the city council with the strong managerial experience of the city manager. The city council has the power to govern the community and the city manager has the authority to carry out the council’s programs. The city celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2005.

The council is the community’s legislative body and is similar to the board of directors of a private/public corporation. It provides direction on business matters, sets policy and adopts the annual budget. The council has five members: mayor, mayor pro tempore and three council members.

The mayor represents the city at community functions, serves as the city’s liaison with other governmental agencies and serves as the presiding officer at council meetings. The positions of mayor/mayor pro tempore are rotated every year among the council members.

population

The council retains the sole power of being the policy making and legislative body for the city. The manager supplies the council with policy-option analysis and makes recommendations on any matters that require council action. The council may or may not adopt the recommendations and may change or modify them. The manager is bound by whatever action the council takes and is responsible for implementation of council-approved policy.

Population

• Indio’s population is approximately 77,000.

• The permanent population has increased by nearly 25 percent over the last decade. At its current rate of population growth, Indio is projected to grow to more than 110,000 by 2010.

• In addition to its permanent population, Indio has a seasonal population estimated at between 9,000 and 10,000.

• Median age is 27.3.

Public Safety Departments

Among Indio’s proudest attainments are its public safety services. The city has its own police department, and fire services (including paramedic and ambulance service) are contracted to the Riverside County Fire Department, part of the California Department of Forestry.

Both departments are well-equipped and highly trained. These professional agencies have bolstered city pride and enhanced the image of Indio as a leader among cities in the Coachella Valley. Because of Indio’s strategic location within the Coachella Valley, both the CHP and Riverside County Sheriff’s Department have established stations within the city. A CHP helicopter and airplane operate from Coachella Valley airports to augment public safety capabilities.

Public Works Departments

Maintaining the quality of life at a high standard is the mission of Indio’s Public Works Departments. The city maintains its own water system, and it is responsible for the full scope of landscaping, street cleaning, and repair and parks maintenance within the city.

Community Economic Development Department

With the responsibility of overseeing Indio’s current explosive growth, attracting new business, maintaining statistical information, assisting existing businesses and more, this department is working diligently to keep up with the activity.

Demographics Indio’s
Five-Mile Trade Area
Average Household Income (2006): — $81,546 Median Value of Housing (2006): — $377,287
Population (2006): — 77,000
Population at Build-Out: — 422,408

Explosive Growth
• Single-Family Housing: 583 housing permits in 2001; 1,101 permits in 2002; 1,636 permits in 2003; 2,557 in 2004; 2,375 in 2005; and 2,429 in 2006.
• Population Trend: 49,116 in 2000; 131,000 in 2010; 208,739 in 2020.
• Total Permit Valuation: $55 million in 1999; $112 million in 2001; $171 million in 2002; $268 million in 2003; $487,835,878 in 2004; 463,189,877 in 2005; and 498,493,030 in 2006.

Ideal Location
 • On Hwy. I-10, between Los Angeles, California, and Phoenix, Arizona
• On the NAFTA Highway, offering a direct link to Mexico

Affordability
• Affordable and well-located land
• Low utility rates for both power and water

Added Benefits and Incentives
• The Coachella Valley Enterprise Zone offers state tax credits
• The Coachella Valley Empowerment Zone offers federal tax credits
• The city’s Merged Redevelopment Project Area can provide further assistance

Valuation
The city’s explosive growth is reflected in the continuing increase of construction permit valuation totals. These represent the total dollar value of all projects.

Sales Tax
For each $100 of retail sales, the city receives $1 in sales tax that is applied to the General Fund to finance city services. The I-10 Auto Mall, for example, generated $2.7 million in sales tax in 2006.

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