Fog blankets Downtown as Riverside awakens below Mount Rubidoux, its city lights creating a golden glow through the early morning mist. (Luke LĂłpez) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!
Monday Gazette: October 13, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Monday!
Fall has arrived and we want to see how you're celebrating! Share photos of your autumn decor - from porch pumpkins to spooky skeletons to cozy corners.
Share photos by using our online form or simply reply to this email. Let's inspire our community with the creative (and maybe even creepy!) ways Riverside welcomes this beautiful season!
Your Neighbors Are Shaping Riverside's Future—And There's Room for You
From park planning to police oversight, volunteer commissioners help make key decisions. Current members share what it's like to serve, and why Ward 6 has unusual openings right now.
When Natasha Ferguson wanted to continue serving Riverside after two terms on the Cultural Heritage Board, she saw an opening on one of the city's most demanding volunteer positions: the Community Police Review Commission.
The City of Riverside is accepting applications through November 14 for openings on 13 different boards and commissions. Ward 6 faces a particular shortage of applicants, with vacancies on 10 of the 13 boards.
Driving the news: The city is looking to fill positions on advisory bodies that guide City Council decisions on various issues, from building design to police oversight.
Volunteers like Natasha Ferguson, who serves on the Community Police Review Commission, and Miles Ward, who serves on the Budget Engagement Commission, play crucial roles in shaping city policies.
Why it matters: These boards and commissions have real impact. Recent recommendations from several bodies, including the Budget Engagement Commission, have led to concrete changes in city policies and budgets.
The Budget Engagement Commission successfully recommended a $500,000 line item to support seniors and individuals with disabilities.
The big picture: Time commitments vary widely, from 2 to 20 hours per month, depending on the specific role. Most boards meet monthly, with some convening more frequently.
All appointees receive training and are assigned a City staff liaison for support.
What's next: Interested residents can apply online or contact the City Clerk's Office for more information. Applications are accepted year-round for unscheduled vacancies.
Councilmember Cervantes will propose a resolution directing police to monitor federal immigration enforcement where legally permitted, establishing data privacy protections, and exploring a $100,000 Legal Justice Fund.
(File photo)
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
City Council will gather in closed and open sessions for a special meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 5 p.m. (agenda).
Councilmember Cervantes is bringing forward a resolution that responds to community concerns about recent federal immigration enforcement operations in Riverside. The resolution affirms the City's commitment to transparency in federal immigration enforcement activities, condemning the use of unmarked vehicles and masked or plainclothes agents. It reaffirms the City's commitment to 2017’s California Values Act, which essentially bars California police from aiding in any way federal efforts to identify and deport undocumented immigrants, and directs the Riverside Police Department to monitor federal enforcement activity where legally permitted and document such interactions.
The resolution establishes data privacy protections including not retaining immigration status information or sharing license plate reader data with federal agencies without a warrant. It directs staff to develop a public education campaign providing Know Your Rights information and to explore establishing a $100,000 Legal Justice Fund in partnership with nonprofit organizations.
Mayor Lock Dawson will also present a proclamation to Latino Network and Spanish Town Heritage Foundation, recognizing Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, 2025, as Hispanic Heritage Month.
Safety, Wellness, and Youth Committee
The Safety, Wellness, and Youth Committee (Councilmembers Perry, Conder, and Mill) meets on Wed, Oct. 15, at 1 p.m. (agenda).
The committee will review the Police Department's military equipment policy, as required by state law, covering specialized law enforcement equipment that the department reports was used without complaints or policy violations during the past year.
The committee will also consider an ordinance increasing fines from $100 to $1,000 for commercial trucks using restricted city routes, a tenfold increase that police say is needed to deter violations in areas where vehicles over 6,000 pounds are prohibited.
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