City Council will review representation on mutual water company boards, the Transportation Board considers parking restrictions, turn limits, and speed management measures.
Mayor Lock Dawson reflects on new outreach series connecting seniors with resources and support as part of effort to ensure no Riversider navigates challenges alone.
The Festival of Lights returns to Downtown, transforming it into a glowing spectacle with thousands of lights, decorations, holiday treats and creative vendors, as crowds gather to celebrate the season. It's that time of year again—welcome to December, Riverside! (Bob Sirotnik) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!
Monday Gazette: December 1, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Monday! It's National Christmas Lights Day, perfect timing to settle a friendly Riverside debate. Are you an opening night person, braving the crowds for that first magical moment? Or do you prefer a quieter Tuesday evening stroll through Mission Inn's glowing displays and Main St. offerings?
We ask every Neighbor of the Week about their Festival tradition, and the answers always surprise us. Share yours at newsroom@raincrossgazette.com, we'd love to hear how you experience this Riverside treasure.
City Council will review representation on mutual water company boards, the Transportation Board considers parking restrictions, turn limits, and speed management measures.
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 meet in closed and open sessions on Tuesday, Dec. 2, in an afternoon session at 3 p.m. and an evening session at 6:15 p.m. (agenda).
In the evening session, City Council will review its representation on five mutual water company boards, including confirming proxy voting authority for designated staff positions and approving an eligibility list of council members and staff who may serve as board representatives.
The City owns 61% of the Gage Canal Company and holds three board seats—the company operates 19 of Riverside's groundwater wells and provides about a quarter of the city's water. The City also holds shares in Meeks and Daley Water Company, Trujillo Water Company, Riverside Highland Water Company, and Jurupa Ditch Water Company.
The City acquired most of these water company interests in 1959 when it purchased the Riverside Water Company. The Gage Canal Company has faced recent legal disputes over whether the City's majority ownership makes it subject to public transparency laws, with a judge denying the company's restraining order against a would-be shareholder who sought to attend meetings in September 2025.
Human Resources Board
The Human Resources Board meets on Monday, Dec. 1, at 5 p.m. (agenda) for updates from the Public Utilities and Human Resources Departments.
The Board of Ethics meets on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m. (agenda) Reviewing an ethics complaint filed by Eric Magnafici alleging Councilmember Steve Hemenway violated conflict-of-interest laws by recusing himself from a cannabis business fee vote on August 19, 2025 without disclosing the specific reason for his recusal .
Mayor Lock Dawson reflects on new outreach series connecting seniors with resources and support as part of effort to ensure no Riversider navigates challenges alone.
As we approach the end of the year and gather with friends and family to celebrate the holidays, I find myself reflecting on how much I love our city and our community. Riverside is often referred to as a "big city with a small-town feel" or (my favorite) the Midwest of California because of how friendly we are and how much we support each other. I love that about Riversiders: we are compassionate, we look out for each other and through our various roles, work to make the city a great place to live and work. Despite this, many Riversiders struggle with loneliness and a desire to connect. And this struggle becomes even more challenging the older we get.
That's why this year my office has been focusing on seniors with a series of outreach events. Since 2020, I've prioritized connecting with residents through the Big Tent Tour, Coffee with the Mayor, Crafty Conversations, and other neighborhood-based events. Building on these, we launched the Mayor's Senior Forum series, an initiative that brings City Hall into the community, creates spaces for residents to raise concerns, and ensures that seniors do not navigate issues on their own.
California's new guidelines encouraging stricter cell phone policies have prompted districts statewide to adopt near-total classroom bans. But at Martin Luther King High School, teachers, students, and administrators question whether such a policy would actually improve learning — or create new problems.
On Sep. 23rd, 2024, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 3216 — the Phone-Free School Act — which required school districts to create policies restricting student cell phone use during the school day. In response, several districts, including Los Angeles Unified School District and San Francisco Unified School District, have already implemented stricter phone rules this year. Their policies often require students to keep devices stored throughout the day, with disciplinary action for repeated violations.
While the general trend seems to be that districts statewide are rushing to comply, Riverside Unified School District has remained cautious about this nuanced policy.
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