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.
A vibrant daylily catches the morning light at The Grove Community Church. (Becky Turnage) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!
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.
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.
A boulder monument at Washington Park commemorates Charles Montagu Dammers, Riverside's Butterfly Man. The marker was designed by historian Bill Wilkman and installed through the efforts of Victoria Avenue Forever. (Courtesy of the Museum of Riverside)
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.
See something? Say something. Your tips and ideas are what fuel The Raincross Gazette. If you know of something newsworthy happening in our city, please share it with us.
