🍊 Monday Gazette: May 19, 2025

Monday Gazette: May 19, 2025

Hello Riverside, and Happy Monday! I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for all your support and inquiries about the rebuilding of my house after the fire. We are eager to be back home—and it can’t come soon enough—but I'm thrilled to share that we've finally reached a significant milestone: the roof materials arrived on a flatbed truck last weekend, and installation begins this week! "A roof over our head" is taking on new meaning for my family as a symbol of progress in what has been a long process.

As we head into summer and things quiet down a bit, it’s the perfect time to hear from you. Do you have ideas for interesting community stories? Know of an unsung local hero or a neighborhood project worth highlighting? Please email us at newsroom@raincrossgazette.com with your suggestions. We'd love to tell these stories during the quieter summer months, and your input is invaluable to keeping the stories flowing.

GOVERNMENT

This Week in City Hall: May 19, 2025

Council will consider the potential conversion of a hotel into permanent supportive housing for homeless individuals, an $8.1 million contract for a Patterson Park renovation, and updates to industrial development standards that address community concerns about warehouse proliferation.

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, May 30, at 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., and 6:15 p.m. (agenda). The agenda includes:

• A final review of the City's updated rates for hundreds of city services, from building permits to recreation programs, before a public hearing scheduled for June 17, 2025, for final adoption of the new fees.
• Considering applying for $35 million in state funds to convert the Quality Inn motel on University Avenue into 114 affordable housing units that would provide permanent supportive housing for homeless individuals with mental health or substance use disorders.
• Reviewing a five-year housing and spending plan that directs $8.6 million in federal grants toward affordable housing, homelessness prevention, and community programs for low-income residents.
• Considering plan amendments and rezoning for a new 593-space parking structure at Riverside Community Hospital.
• Considering an $8.1 million contract for a Patterson Park renovation that would add a splash pad, soccer field, fitness equipment, and an updated playground.
• Reviewing proposed updates to industrial development standards that would create larger buffer zones around schools and neighborhoods, limit warehouse sizes, and increase notification requirements to address community concerns about warehouse proliferation.

Commission on Aging

The Commission on Aging meets on Monday, May 19, at 4:00 p.m. (agenda) to hear the Inland Coalition on Aging's "The Inland Empire Master Plan for Aging" presentation.

Park and Recreation

The Park and Recreation Commission meets on Monday, May 19, at 6:30 p.m. (agenda) to preview the City's 2025 summer aquatics program that will operate at seven City pools from June 9 to August 14.

Finance Committee

The Safety, Wellness, and Youth Committee (Councilmembers Perry, Conder, and Mill) meets on Wednesday, May 21, at 1:00 p.m. (agenda) to discuss amendments to recreational vehicle parking rules that would allow RVs in city parks during operational hours, while prohibiting overnight parking, and reviewing the proposed design for a new downtown police headquarters building at an estimated total cost of $62 million, funded primarily through Measure Z.

Cultural Heritage Board

The Cultural Heritage Board meets on Wednesday, May 21, at 3:30 p.m. (agenda) to:

• Discuss designation of the Boyd Residence at 4649 Ninth Street as a City Landmark due to its rare Hollywood Regency architectural style, association with Philip and Dorothy Boyd, who were instrumental in establishing UC Riverside, and its design by notable architect Charles Matcham and builder Harry Marsh.
• Discuss the potential removal of a declining eucalyptus tree from the Hawthorne House City Landmark designation, located on the CBU campus.
• Consider the proposed expansion of Pacific Grove Hospital (5900 Brockton Ave.) with a 29,300-square-foot building behind the existing historic structure with Mid-century Modern architectural character.

Economic Development Committee

The Economic Development Committee (Councilmembers Robillard, Cervantes, and Hemenway) meets on Thursday, May 22, at 3:00 p.m. (agenda) to review the City's July-December sponsorship plans to provide $140,537 in funding and services to non-profit organizations hosting community events, updates to the Streamline Riverside initiativeto improve the development permitting process, and a rebrand for the City's Econmomic Development department.

Human Relations Commission

The Human Relations Commission meets on Thursday, May 22, at 6:00 p.m. (agenda) for an annual review of the City's Code of Ethics and Conduct.

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HEALTH

Mental Health Steps Into the Sunlight at Fairmount Park

RUHS fair brings resources out of the shadows, into public view.

Riverside University Health System brought mental health resources to the public eye with its "Art of Wellness" fair at Fairmount Park. The event aimed to connect residents with behavioral health services in a visible, community-oriented setting.

Driving the news: Nearly 58 million American adults experienced mental illness in 2024, but only 43% received treatment, according to RUHS data.

• The fair's location in a popular park serves as a statement that mental health should not be hidden away.

Why it matters: Holding the resource fair in a public space helps normalize mental health as a community concern, bringing typically inconspicuous services into plain view.

• The event showcased county behavioral health services, nonprofit support organizations, and community wellness programs.

What they're saying: "We are creating spaces where individuals feel connected and empowered to prioritize their health," Riverside County Board Chair V. Manuel Perez said.

• Dr. Matthew Chang, RUHS Behavioral Health director, described the event as "breaking down barriers" and "providing tangible tools for self-care."

The bottom line: Residents can access RUHS Behavioral Health services year-round by calling the 24/7 helpline at 951-686-HELP (4357) or visiting ruhealth.org.

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GARDNER GAUGE

Opinion: Reservoirs Are Full, but California Still Needs New Water Infrastructure

With state reservoirs well stocked for the third year in a row, water leaders urge investment in projects like the Delta Conveyance and Sites Reservoir to ensure supply keeps pace with future droughts and environmental demands.

For the third year in a row, California has significantly more than average amounts of water stored in reservoirs across the state. This is enough water to carry us through about three years of major drought — which we all know is coming. Local and regional water providers continue to develop new projects to capture and store excess water when it is available, and the governor and the state Department of Water Resources are now actively supporting two key projects.

On the positive side, the Department of Water Resources recently announced an increase in State Water Project allocation from 40% of users’ total requests to 50%. This is important locally because the Metropolitan Water District has water beyond immediate customer demand at about 40% allocation, and that extra water can be available for purchase and storage for dry years.

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Noteworthy

Riverside's pioneering autonomous shuttle program was spotlighted in a front-page LA Times feature by Anthony Solorzano, our newest regular contributor to The Raincross Gazette, documenting the nation's first fully self-driving public transit deployment as Mayor Lock Dawson advances her vision to transform the city into "the new Detroit for vehicle manufacturing."

Award-winning pizzeria Slice House by Tony Gemignani celebrated its grand opening at Canyon Crest Towne Centre on Saturday, where the 13-time world pizza champion's newest location welcomed Riverside residents with giveaways and specialty Italian classics.

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What's Happening in Riverside

Today

• Monday Carillon Recitals at UCR Bell Tower
• Beginners Round Dance Class Two Step at Cowtown Square Dance Center (free- $10)

Tomorrow

• Riverside Magnolia Farmers Market at Riverside Magnolia Farmers Market
• Volunteer Interest Hour at Riverside Meals on Wheels, Inc
• Inland Empire Chorus Rehearsal at Temple Beth El Synagogue
• Riverside County Board of Supervisors Meeting at County Administrative Center
• Trivia Night at The Barn
• Tuesday Karaoke at The Hideaway

Save The Date

• May 28: National Senior Health & Fitness Day at Janet Goeske Center
• June 27: Museum of Riverside Groundbreaking at 3580 Mission Inn Avenue

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🏆 Nominate a remarkable Riversider as Neighbor of the Week.