Indio moves to tighten rules for vacant commercial buildings

Indio officials are taking steps to prevent shuttered commercial properties from becoming neighborhood eyesores. At Wednesday’s meeting, the City Council directed staff to look into a new ordinance requiring owners of vacant buildings to maintain their properties or face enforcement action.

Councilmember Glenn Miller raised the issue, citing concerns about empty drugstores, downtown buildings, and auto parts stores that are deteriorating and being stripped of materials.

“A lot of these buildings are viable,” Miller said, “We need to make sure that they don’t become blighted areas in our city.

“Miller said recent closures are almost reminiscent of the foreclosure crisis post-2008, when banks repossessed homes and let them deteriorate. “They didn’t do the yards, they shut off the power…and they just ruined the property values for everything else,” Miller said.

The ordinance would hold property owners to the same standards as vacant lots. “Just because it’s a building doesn’t mean it should be any different,” Miller said. “It should not be a burden on the residents of the city of Indio. It should be on the burden of the property owners.”

Councilmember Ben Guitron expanded on the concept, describing it as a team effort involving code enforcement, building and safety, and business licensing. “If we’re going to maintain the quiet life and put so much investment into our downtown and all these areas in our city, then look, if you can’t maintain it, then you shouldn’t have it,” Guitron said.

The city attorney said this type of ordinance has been implemented in many other jurisdictions and the city has excellent templates. Staff said they can return to council with options quickly.

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