Monday Gazette: April 27, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Monday! Last Thursday, the Raincross Gazette hosted its first-ever candidate forum, and it was a great night. Four Ward 2 candidates squared off on some of the issues that matter most to Riverside residents: homelessness, housing, public safety, and the future of University Avenue. You can read the recap right here.
The forum series continues this week. The Ward 4 forum is this Wednesday, and Ward 6 follows on Thursday. Ward 4 still has a handful of spots left, and Ward 6 has room as well. Both forums are free and open to every Riverside resident. Reserve your seat today.
See you tomorrow!
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GOVERNMENT
This Week in City Hall: April 27, 2026
Riverside boards take up homelessness housing updates, utility contracts, EV infrastructure, a park land purchase, and the future name of the Cesar Chavez Community Center.
Welcome to our weekly digest of public meetings and agenda items worth your attention for this 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.
Housing and Homelessness Committee
The Housing and Homelessness Committee meets on Monday, April 27, at 3:30 p.m. (agenda) to receive updates on the city's Homelessness Action Plan and Housing Authority pipeline projects, including a proposal to remove two Garden Street properties from the list of potential supportive housing sites.
Board of Public Utilities
The Board of Public Utilities meets on Monday, April 27, at 6:30 p.m. (agenda) to review several utility infrastructure items, including a proposed $3 million allocation for EV charger installations at city facilities and a contract amendmentwith Southern California Edison that would reduce project costs by roughly $1.7 million.
Park and Recreation Committee
The Park and Recreation Committee has a special meeting on Wednesday, April 29, at 6:30 p.m. (agenda) to consider the proposed purchase of a vacant parcel adjacent to Fairmount Park and to discuss a proposed community engagement process to gather resident input on the name of the Cesar Chavez Community Center following the mayor's call for a review of city facilities bearing that name.
Read and share the complete story...
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MUSEUM MONDAYS
How Bill Wilkman Found Riverside's Butterfly Man
A rare specimen, finally cataloged.
An interview follows with Bill Wilkman of Wilkman Historical Services about Charles Montagu Dammers, known as Riverside’s Butterfly Man. Charles Dammers was a British sailor who eventually made Riverside his home in the 1920s. He became an accomplished scientist, naturalist, author, and scientific illustrator, particularly of butterflies. He has fourteen species named in his honor and has greatly influenced butterfly science throughout the decades into modern times.
Please introduce yourself. What is Wilkman Historical Services?
I have a master's degree in urban planning from Michigan State University with an emphasis on urban history. I worked as a city planner for the City of East Lansing, Michigan, and later for the City of Riverside, where I spent my last six years managing the Historic Preservation Section. That work gave me a strong interest in historic preservation. After my retirement in 2003, I founded Wilkman Historical Services, a consulting firm specializing in historic resources research and evaluations. Since then, I've completed over 50 commissions, including 14 years as the City of Norco's Cultural Resources Consultant.
How did you stumble upon Dammers' story?
In October 2011, the City of Riverside approached me about researching the history of Charles Montagu Dammers, the former owner of 6893 Victoria Avenue. Very little was known about him beyond his work with butterflies. The City was planning to demolish his residence to accommodate a Stater Bros. expansion — one that required taking a portion of Washington Park and expanding it to Victoria Avenue. It was my job to fully research Dammers and write a report on his history and accomplishments.
Read and share the complete interview...
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This Week in Riverside
Today
- Volunteer Interest Hour at Riverside Meals on Wheels
- Board of Public Utilities at Riverside City Hall
- Housing and Homelessness Committee at Riverside City Hall
- Goeske Bingo at Janet Goeske Center ($20- $100)
- Monday Carillon Recitals at UCR Bell Tower
- Sip with a Scientist at Bar Ni Modo
Tomorrow
- Special Seminar: Avocado, Cherimoya, and Mango Flowering Basics at LandUse Learning Center
- MSRPAC's Monthly Community Cat Spay/Neuter Day at Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center's Spay-Neuter Clinic ($45)
- Karaoke Tuesday Competition at The Hideaway
Save the Date
- April 27: Sip with a Scientist at Bar Ni Modo
- April 29: Raincross Gazette: Ward 4 Community Forum at Riverside Citrus State Park - Sunkist Center
- April 30: Raincross Gazette: Ward 6 Community Forum at Altura Credit Union (10725 Magnolia Ave.)
- April 30: INVITE: Green Secretary of State candidate Michael Feinstein at Tio Tacos
- May 1: Riverside Sunrise Rotary Club Meeting at Zacatecas Café
- May 3: "The Sound of Riverside" - The 2026 Riverside Arts Academy Gala at UCR University Theatre ($150- $325)
- May 6: Senior Conference at Janet Goeske Center
- May 13: Level Up Your Network: The Pick Group 2026 Membership Summit at Killer Queens Social House
- May 16: Vintage Home Tour “Age is a Work of Art” at Peter J Weber House ($30)
- May 17: Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Social at Riverside's Heritage House
- June 1: REEF's 27th Annual Golf Tournament at Canyon Crest Country Club ($140- $175)
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