Monday Gazette: March 10, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Monday!
It's been a while since I've hosted 'Office Hours,' where I hang out at a local coffee shop in the morning for fun and interesting conversations with our readers. If that's something you think I should schedule again, please reply to this email and let me know.
GOVERNMENT
This Week in City Hall: March 10, 2025
City Council will consider an ordinance to an ordinance to deter copper wire theft, review progress on State-mandated housing goals, and consider increasing construction fees to reduce so they are paid for by users of the services.
Welcome to our weekly digest on public meetings and agenda items worthy of your attention in the next 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
City Council will meet in closed and open sessions on Tuesday, Mar. 11, in afternoon sessions at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. (agenda). The agenda includes:
- Establishing new regulations for junk dealers and scrap metal recyclers that restrict operating hours, mandate transaction reporting, and create penalties to reduce copper wire theft.
- Formally reviewing the annual progress report that measures the City's success in implementing its General Plan goals for State-mandated housing development targets and city improvement projects before the legally required submission to state agencies.
- Reviewing proposed increases to construction and building permit fees would ensure developers who use these special services pay for them directly rather than having all taxpayers subsidize building projects.
Land Use Committee
The Land Use Committee (Councilmembers Mill, Falcone, and Cervantes) meets on Monday, Mar. 10, at 9:00 a.m. (agenda) to consider options for creating a retail sign design handbook with the goal of improving the quality of commercial signage throughout the City.
Board of Library Trustees
The Board of Library Trustees meets on Monday, Mar. 10, at 5:00 p.m. (agenda) for regular business.
Mayor's Nominating and Screening Committee
The Mayor's Nominating and Screening Committee (Councilmembers Falcone, Perry, and Conder) meets on Tuesday, Mar. 11, at 11:30 a.m. (agenda) to select a nominee for Riverside's 2024 City Spirit Award, an annual recognition established in 1995 to honor community members who demonstrate extraordinary citizenship and enhance the City's quality of life.
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee (Councilmembers Hemenway, Robillard, and Falcone) meets on Wednesday, Mar. 12, at 3:00 p.m. (agenda) to review proposed 3-year commercial waste rate increases and Fiscal Year 2023-2024 external independent audit reports.
Commission of the Deaf
The Commission of the Deaf meets on Wednesday, Mar. 12, at 5:30 p.m. (agenda) for regular business.
Mobility and Infrastructure Committee
The Mobility and Infrastructure Committee (Councilmembers Conder, Hemenway, and Perry) meets on Thursday, Mar. 13, at 1:00 p.m. (agenda) to review the Airport's 2025 Work Plan, RPU's recycled water resources, and a proposed resolution establishing "Vision Zero Policy" to work towards the reduction of "preventable traffic deaths and severe injuries" by 2040.
Airport Commission
The Airport Commission (Councilmembers Conder, Hemenway, and Perry) meets on Thursday, Mar. 13, at 3:00 p.m.(agenda) for regular business.
Budget Engagement Commission
The Budget Engagement Commission meets on Thursday, Mar. 13, at 5:00 p.m. (agenda) to discuss a recommendation reducing the membership of the Commission so that meetings don't have to be canceled when less than nine volunteer commissioners are in attendance.
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COMMUNITY
Riverside School's Veteran Project Grows From Single Classroom to Community Pillar
King High's annual event, started by a single teacher, honors veterans and bridges generations.
A classroom assignment at Martin Luther King High School in Riverside has grown into one of the nation's largest veteran tribute programs. The annual event, now in its 22nd year, brings together 200 veterans, 600 students, and the entire community to preserve veterans' stories and foster intergenerational understanding.
Driving the news: The program challenges stereotypes about young people's readiness to inherit the world, as students demonstrate their commitment to learning from veterans' experiences.
- Korean War veteran Walter Parks praised the students, saying, "Those kids are sharp. They are going to do great things."
Why it matters: The project provides a platform for veterans to share their pride in and love for the country, while students gain firsthand knowledge about history, sacrifice, and service.
- Junior James Jacops said, "It means the world to me to hear all of their stories... I feel it lets me learn from their life, and I can almost build myself from it."
The big picture: King Remembers has evolved into a community institution, growing each year and continuing to build bridges between generations.
What's next: As the program expands, it reinforces trust that the next generation will be ready to carry the torch of remembrance and service.
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What's Happening in Riverside
Today
- Board of Library Trustees at Riverside City Hall
- Board of Public Utilities at Riverside City Hall
- Land Use Committee at Riverside City Hall
- Flowers in a Tin Can- Paint and Sip at The Old Spaghetti Factory
- REEF's Best. Event. Ever! Take 8 at Fox Performing Arts Center ($10 - $60)
- Monday Carillon Recitals at UCR Bell Tower
- Taize Interfaith Worship at All Saints Episcopal Church
Tomorrow
- Volunteer Interest Hour at Riverside Meals on Wheels, Inc
- Mayor's Nominating and Screening Committee at Riverside City Hall
- Lunchtime Jazz at RCCD Center for Social Justice and Civil Liberties
- Inland Empire Chorus Rehearsal at Temple Beth El Synagogue
- Tuesday Karaoke at The Hideaway
- UCR Taiko Ensemble Recital at Barn, Outdoor Stage
Save The Date
- March 12: Celebrate Riverside County Arts and Culture Month at Participating Locations throughout Riverside County (Free - $35)
- March 14: Annie Jr at The Box ($18 - $20)
- March 14: MoR Exhibition - "First Comes Love: Courtship in the Victorian Era" at Heritage House
- March 22: "The Science of Scent" - Bath Bomb Workshop at Heritage House ($10)
- March 28: Goeske Spring Festival at Janet Goeske Center
- April 5: 4th Annual Downtown Riverside Tweed Ride begins at Riverside Historic Courthouse
- April 4: World Premier Melodrama by Westmont Village Masquers Theatre Club at Westmont Village
- April 5: Alzheimer's & Dementia Support Group at Discovery Commons Raincross
- April 5: In/VISIBLE, Un/HEARD: Riverside’s Civil Rights Stories at Multiple locations
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