Monday Gazette: June 23, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Monday! We’re officially in the final countdown—just one week from tonight, we’ll be gathering at Bar Ni Modo to raise a glass and celebrate reaching 10,000 subscribers! 🎉 Whether you’ve been reading since day one or just joined us, we’d love to see you there.
Let us know you're coming and RSVP for your free drink ticket.
GOVERNMENT
Riverside Adopts Cautious $382 Million Budget Amid Economic Uncertainty
City defers spending and cuts revenue projections while preserving reserves to weather inflation and federal policy changes.
The Riverside City Council unanimously approved a $382.2 million general fund budget for fiscal year 2025-26, reflecting a cautious approach to spending amid economic challenges.
Driving the news: The budget represents a $10.4 million increase from the originally adopted budget, with significant revenue challenges and spending deferrals.
- Sales tax projections dropped by 2.6% in the general fund and 3.4% in Measure Z compared to adopted budget projections.
Why it matters: The city faces economic uncertainty due to federal policy changes and inflation, prompting a prudent fiscal strategy.
- City Manager Mike Futrell emphasized Riverside's strong fiscal position with record-level reserves.
By the numbers: The city will defer $16.3 million in spending on various programs to address revenue shortfalls and increased costs.
- The largest reduction affects forestry and landscaping equipment, cut by $950,000.
What's next: The city will pace discretionary spending strategically during the first two quarters of fiscal year 2025-26 and monitor revenue performance to adjust for any deviations from projections.
- The budget takes effect July 1, 2025, when the new fiscal year begins.
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GOVERNMENT
This Week in City Hall: June 23, 2025
Richard Roth will receive the 2024 City Spirit Award; Council will consider updates to the Senior Rental Assistance Program and updates to speed up the review of new project development plans.
Welcome to our weekly digest on public meetings and agenda items worth your attention in the coming week. This guide is part of our mission to provide everyday Riversiders like you with the information to speak up on the issues you care about.
City Council
The City Council will meet in closed and open sessions on Tuesday, June 24, at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 6:15 p.m. (agenda). The agenda includes:
- Presenting the 2024 City Spirit Award to former state Sen. Richard Roth.
- Considering modifications to the Supplemental Senior Rental Assistance Program to expand eligibility beyond Section 8 waitlisted seniors and reallocating $100,000 from homeless outreach funds for Access Center improvements.
- Reviewing amendments to the city's official list of service costs and fees that would add two new parking violation fees to protect designated carshare spaces and one deposit-based fee allowing developers to access expedited plan review services through third-party consultants.
- Considering amendments to the city's business sign regulations that would tighten design standards, establish a creative sign permit process, and require updating of nonconforming signs during business changes.
- Revisiting the La Sierra/Victoria orange grove development proposal that was pulled from the April 22 meeting at the developer's request and now returns with modifications that preserve a portion of citrus trees along Victoria Avenue and add screening for neighboring properties.
Board of Public Utilities
The Board of Public Utilities meets on Monday, June 23, at 6:30 p.m. (agenda) for a review of the Trujillo Water Company's annual meeting, the annual report on RPU's use of greenhouse gas allowance proceeds, and the recommendation of a $1.74 million purchase of 10 electric trucks to support both the city's sustainability goals and its economic partnership with Voltu Motor's new Riverside headquarters.
Community Police Review Commission
The Community Police Review Commission meets on Wednesday, June 25, at 5:30 p.m. (agenda) for regular business.
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Noteworthy
Los Angeles City Council declared June 20 as Cheech Marin Day, honoring the actor whose expansive Chicano art collection and museum have revolutionized Riverside's art scene and transformed Ward 1 into a cultural destination.
UCR and Riverside celebrate groundbreaking today for the $68 million SoCal OASIS™ Park, an 8-acre green tech hub featuring specialized labs and incubator space to advance sustainability innovation in the Inland region.
Riverside County voters can still cast ballots for the Assembly District 63 special election through multiple voting options including mail, drop-off locations, and vote centers before polls close at 8 p.m. on June 24.
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What's Happening in Riverside
Today
- Volunteer Interest Hour at Riverside Meals on Wheels, Inc
- Notre Dame Summer Camp: Soccer at Notre Dame High School ($100)
- Board of Public Utilities at Riverside City Hall
- Academic Boot Camps - Kinder to 5th Grade at My Learning Studio ($472- $547)
- Adult Ballet Classes all levels at Riverside Ballet Arts L.L.C. ($25- $144)
- Beginners Round Dance Class Two Step at Cowtown Square Dance Center (Free- $10)
- Future Vets, Helping Pets! Summer Animal Kids Camp, Week 3 at Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center ($200- $240)
- Mosquitoes Don't Deserve a Drop - Orkin Blood Drive at Orkin Riverside Call Center
- Neon in the Gutters: Cyberpunk Visions of the Future at University of California, Riverside
- RCTC Programs and Projects at County Admin. Center 4080 Lemon St. 1st
- STEAM Discovery Program at UCR University Extension ($375)
Tomorrow
- Riverside Magnolia Farmers Market at Riverside Magnolia Farmers Market
- Study Skills & Test Taking at My Learning Studio (Free- $75)
- Reading Assistance Program at My Learning Studio ($79- $85)
- Riverside County Board of Supervisors Meeting at County Administrative Center
- Inland Empire Chorus Rehearsal at Temple Beth El Synagogue
- Tuesday Karaoke at The Hideaway
Save The Date
- June 27: Museum of Riverside Groundbreaking at Museum of Riverside
- June 30: Raise a Glass with The Raincross Gazette: Celebrating 10,000 Subscribers at Bar Ni Modo at The Farmhouse Collective
- July 1: Aaron Norris Creative Fund Annual Grants & Scholarships Awards at Riverside County Office of Education
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