Aug. 28 Weekly Briefing: Gas station debate, urgent call for food, DEZRT CON returns, and more

Happy Thursday! Have you ever tried to use the city’s website and gotten lost in the menus or found it impossible to find the form you needed or the email of someone at City Hall? Now’s your chance to tell the city how they can improve their online presence. The city opened up a survey that asks about how often you interact with the city’s website and how easy it is to do things like pay bills or fill out forms for things like events or licenses. The survey is open until Wednesday, Sept. 3, fill it out online here.

🎶 Setting the mood: “Purple Rain” by Prince

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LEADING OFF

‘Nobody’s waiting for gas stations’: Commission approves Walmart project despite opposition

The Indio Planning Commission voted 2-1 Wednesday to approve a conditional use permit for a new Walmart gas station north of Interstate 10. The decision came despite opposition from residents who argued the city already has too many fueling stations.

Driving the news: The approved development calls for 10 fuel pumps providing 20 fueling positions and a 1,600-square-foot convenience store at the existing Walmart Supercenter site on Avenue 42.

This issue: Several residents submitted written comments and one spoke during the public hearing, citing environmental and health concerns about adding another gas station in an oversaturated area.

• One resident pointed to multiple nearby stations, including a Circle K about 1,000 feet from the proposed site and an Arco “just exactly one mile away.”

Here’s why: Walmart representatives said the location near the freeway is ideal because of high traffic volume, with about 83,500 daily trips westbound and 77,000 daily trips eastbound on that stretch of Interstate 10.

By the numbers: According to city data, Indio currently has 29 gas stations serving a population of 95,548 people, equaling 3.04 gas stations per 1,000 residents. The U.S. average is 4.50 gas stations per 1,000 people.

• The city’s economic development director said there is an $18 million unmet demand for gas stations.

Yes but: Chairperson Christian Rodriguez-Ceja said that may be the case, but he never sees lines of people waiting for gas in the city.

• “Nobody’s waiting for gas stations,” he said. “However, there’s like seven EVs waiting for those two small [Electrify America] charging stations. There is a gigantic line of people waiting there for that. …So I do think we need to acknowledge the reality of the community.”

What’s next: City staff is conducting more research on gas station density as directed by the City Council and will present findings to the Planning Commission next month.

• The research will examine potential restrictions on gas stations and may include limited community outreach.

Dive deeper with our complete story

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BRIEFLY

🍎 CVRM faces critical shortage as number of families seeking help triples

The Coachella Valley Rescue Mission (CVRM) reported last night that it’s facing a critical shortage as food insecurity rises and the number of families seeking help has tripled in the last month. The organization said its shelves are nearly empty of essential items.

• The pantry urgently needs pasta and spaghetti sauce, canned meat, mac and cheese, Top Ramen, canned vegetables and fruit, rice and beans, cookies, crackers, granola bars and snack packs, and Hamburger Helper. CVRM also needs diapers in sizes 4-6.
  
• Local food banks can become overwhelmed during summer months when the snow birds who would usually volunteer or donate food return home. In addition, need increases when children are at home over the summer instead of getting meals at school.
  
• Details: Donations can be dropped off at 47-470 Van Buren St, Indio.

🚔 Indio approves $100,000 contract for downtown ambassador program

The Indio City Council approved a $100,000 annual contract to continue the Downtown Ambassador Program, which city officials say has reduced the burden on the police department by limiting calls to one or two times per weekend when the ambassador is deployed.

• Tony Romero, the downtown ambassador, works Thursday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to midnight, wearing a white polo shirt and brown khakis while patrolling in a city-provided golf cart at a rate of $37 per hour.
  
• The program launched two years ago as part of efforts to establish Downtown Indio as a destination. Councilman Benjamin Guitron helped develop the concept after noticing police needed additional support when the city began investing in the downtown area.
  
• What they’re saying: Romero covers the area from Highway 111 to Indio Boulevard to Oasis Street to Jackson and community parks. “Just having a person there, it does alleviate the stress from our police department,” Councilmember Waymond Fermon said.

Dive deeper with our complete story

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YOUR WEEKEND

Indio American Legion Blood Drive
Friday | 11 a.m.| Indio American Legion
If you’ve got O negative blood type (or any blood type) here’s an event for you. The Indio American Legion is holding a blood drive and they’re calling it “a call to arms” to help save lives. The blood drive runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Indio American Legion.

The Place grand opening party
Friday | 11 a.m. | The Place
The Place is holding a grand opening party tomorrow with tons of goodies, including a coffee pop-up held by Saguaro coffee where the first 20 customers get a free coffee. For the first 50 customers, get a free mini treat from Con Amor, Nina y León bakery, spicy margs from the Palm Springs Bottle Shop and Pilsners from Las Palmas brewing. 

Noches Ilegales
Friday | 6 p.m. | Rosemary HiFi
Join DJ Costa (Noches Ilegales) who will be spinning some funk and hip hop and enjoy food from Citlali Tamales.

Nonprofit Fair
Friday | 3 p.m. | The Shops in Palm Desert
Indio’s own Academy of Musical Performance (AMP) band will be performing from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at The Shops in Palm Desert where more than 30 local non profits will be showcasing their causes.

Check out more events in our community calendar

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AND FINALLY …

Indio is famously the home of some of the world’s biggest music festivals, but it also has plenty of homegrown creatives and artists who have found inspiration in the city year-round. This fall, the city will be host to a new event meant to connect creators from across the valley. 

Driving the news: DEZRT CON, the evolution of 2024’s Desert Connect event, returns Nov. 8 as a “focused platform where creators, artists, makers, and cultural innovators gather to collaborate and shape what’s next.”

Dive deeper: Organizers say the new name is intentionally designed to “invite curiosity and leave room for expanding ideas.”

The details: The event found the perfect home at The Place, a brand new department store hosting off-beat and eclectic crafts, clothing, and more.

Why it matters: In a region known for its creative energy, DEZRT CON provides a structured networking opportunity for the desert’s diverse community of makers and innovators to connect beyond the typical social media scroll.

How to attend: The event is free, and you can register for tickets online here.