Monday Gazette: July 13, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Monday! We're back in the newsroom today, rested up and ready to cover what matters most. Thanks for the grace and the space while we took a little time away. It means a lot, and we're glad to be back.
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GOVERNMENT
This Week in City Hall: July 13, 2026
City Council weighs a Downtown Terminal housing deal, an office-to-housing conversion ordinance and more shelter beds, while other boards take up historic preservation, water rates and new subdivisions across the city.
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.
City Council
City Council will meet in closed and open sessions on Tuesday, July 14, in afternoon sessions at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. (agenda). The agenda includes:
- Reviewing an amendment to the 2024 agreement selling City-owned land at the former Downtown Terminal Property for $200 to developers planning a mixed-use student housing project, which extends project deadlines by more than two years and formally transfers the agreement to a new development partnership, Overland Pelican Riverside, LLC. (item 13)
- Adopting an ordinance that would allow developers to convert older vacant office, retail, and industrial buildings into housing without a rezoning process, using incentives such as waived parking requirements and additional building height, as part of the City's plan to meet state-mandated housing goals. (item 15)
- Considering a one-year extension and $362,900 increase to the City's contract with Path of Life Ministries, raising the nightly rate the City pays per shelter bed to $120 to keep 53 shelter beds open for homeless single adults and youth through June 2027. (item 27)
- Awarding a $4.3 million construction contract to build a two-mile paved recreational trail along the Gage Canal from Box Springs Mountain Reserve to UC Riverside, funded primarily through state grants. (item 31)
- Considering a permit-only overnight parking restriction on Larkin Court, requested by residents citing overflow parking from a nearby apartment complex, paired with a 12-month pilot project converting part of Monroe Street to one-way traffic to add five parking spaces nearby. (item 36)
- Reviewing an update on the City's ability to bill property owners for costly, repeated emergency responses to their properties — with staff reporting that distinguishing nuisance properties from legitimate high-need locations such as hospitals and schools remains a key implementation challenge. (item 41)
- Considering zoning and general plan changes to allow a 300-unit apartment and live/work development on a former scrap metal yard near Mission Inn Avenue, including rehabilitation of the historic Barley Mills Building, following unanimous recommendations for approval from the Planning Commission and Cultural Heritage Board. (item 46)
- Introducing new zoning rules that would require smoke shops to relocate away from schools, parks, and other sensitive locations within two years. (item 47)
- Reallocating $1.265 million in unused federal housing grant funds to four park and senior center improvement projects — including skatepark upgrades, senior center flooring, pool room rehabilitation, and park lighting — in lower-income neighborhoods across three city wards. (item 48)
Board of Public Utilities
The Board of Public Utilities meets on Monday, July 13, at 6:30 p.m. (agenda) to review a resolution to close the WA-12 Agricultural Service Water Rate Schedule to new customers, retroactive to September 2025 (item 2), consider a recommendation to City Council for a five-year $1.7 million agreement for emissions testing and environmental consulting services at three city power plants (item 8).
Cultural Heritage Board
The Cultural Heritage Board meets on Wednesday, July 15, at 3:30 p.m. (agenda) to review a second-quarter report on the city's historic preservation activity (item 3), and to discuss a proposed Point of Cultural Interest program that would create a designation and signage system for sites of cultural significance in Riverside (item 7).
Planning Commission
The Planning Commission meets on Thursday, July 16, at 9 a.m. (agenda) to review a proposal to subdivide a 2-acre Mary Street property into 10 single-family lots as part of a planned residential development in Ward 4 (item 3) and to review a proposal to subdivide a 9.88-acre site near Alhambra Avenue and La Sierra Avenue into 56 single-family lots in Ward 7 (item 4).
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GOVERNMENT
Council Swears in Hernandez to Represent Ward 6, Appoints Interim City Manager
Hernandez won his seat outright in June, while two other ward races head to a November runoff.
Ward 6 has its first elected councilmember, and Riverside has a new interim city manager.
Why it matters: Ward 6 residents now have a voice on the dais, while City Hall gains settled leadership after Mike Futrell's June resignation.
Driving the news: Council certified Luis Hernandez's outright win — he cleared 50% in the June 2 election — then state Sen. Sabrina Cervantes swore him in July 7.
- Hernandez was the only council candidate to win outright; other contested wards head to a November runoff.
By the numbers: Two council seats remain unsettled until November.
- Ward 2: Gracie Torres (37.99%) faces Aram Ayra (35.72%).
- Ward 4: incumbent Chuck Conder (45.63%) faces Rich Vandenberg (28.34%).
What they're saying: Hernandez called his win more than a campaign win.
- "This turned into a movement," he said, thanking volunteers, family and endorsers including Supervisor Jose Medina and Councilmember Clarissa Cervantes.
What's next: Council also promoted Edward Enriquez from acting to interim city manager, effective immediately, following Futrell's June 16 resignation.
- The Ward 2 and Ward 4 runoffs are decided Nov. 3.
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This Week in Riverside
This is just a sample of what's happening around town — visit our full community calendar for more.
Save the Date
- July 20: Camp Riverside with IE Kids Outdoors at California State Citrus Heritage Park ($200)
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