In late additions to Tuesday's agenda, the Council will consider "public employee discipline" of the City Manager, whose wife has filed a claim against the city, and appoint a new City Attorney.
MAGIC UNDERGROUND, a new monthly Magic series featuring world-class magicians in Downtown, returns on June 20th featuring Adam Wylie (The Magic Castle, The CW’s Masters of Illusion). Special for Riverside Gazette subscribers, receive 10% off tickets with Discount Code: GAZETTE10. (June 20th show only). Two performances only, 6:30pm & 8:30pm. Experience up close magic in an intimate environment with only 50 seats per performance!
Monday Gazette: June 15, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Monday! There's something about the start of a new week that feels like a clean slate. Whatever last week looked like, today is a fresh start: new stories, new possibilities, and plenty happening around the city to keep things interesting. It's a toasty one out there, so stay cool and stay hydrated as you dive in.
We're glad you're starting your week with us. Let's get into it.
In late additions to Tuesday's agenda, the Council will consider "public employee discipline" of the City Manager, whose wife has filed a claim against the city, and appoint a new City Attorney.
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, June 16, in afternoon sessions at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and an evening session at 6:15 p.m. (agenda).
The agenda was revised Friday afternoon, with additions that touch all three of the city's charter officers, the City Manager, City Attorney, and City Clerk, the positions the City Council appoints directly.
In closed session, the Council will weigh possible discipline of City Manager Mike Futrell and consider its response to a claim his wife, Susan Freeman, filed against the city two days before the agenda was revised. Freeman's claim alleges defamation and First Amendment retaliation, the latest turn in a dispute between her and the city that dates to December.
The Council will also waive the Sunshine Ordinance, which requires that items be posted for public review before a vote, to appoint James Johnson as City Attorney at an annual salary of $372,624 before its June 23 meeting. Johnson, currently general counsel for the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, fills a post that interim attorneys have held for roughly a year and a half, since the previous City Attorney was placed on leave in October 2024. He starts July 17.
The last of the three positions added to the agenda is City Clerk, listed for a closed-session "public employee performance evaluation." Donesia Gause has held the post since 2021.
The rest of the agenda includes:
Considering extending the existing ban on new or expanded wooden pallet storage yards by approximately 10 months to allow time for permanent zoning rules to be developed (item 8).
Considering authorizing a state grant application seeking $8.4 million to fund homeless encampment resolution efforts along the Magnolia Corridor (item 20).
Considering authorizing a state grant application for approximately $56,300 to fund a summer youth meal program at City libraries (item 22).
Considering allocating $3 million to install public electric vehicle chargers at City facilities as part of the Electrify Riverside program (item 29).
Considering approving a $1.96 million purchase of 45 electric vehicle chargers through a waived competitive bidding process, to be reimbursed through utility program funds (item 32).
Commission on Aging
The Commission on Aging meets on Monday, June 15, at 4 p.m. (agenda) to receive Brown Act training (item 2), review annual updates to the commission's Code of Ethics and Conduct (item 5), and receive updates from its ad hoc committees on Senior Health, Environment, Housing, Events and Mobility (item 6).
The Safety, Wellness, and Youth Committee (Councilmembers Perry, Conder, and Mill) meets on Wednesday, June 17, at 1 p.m. (agenda). A scheduled update on the Fire Department's Master Plan for expansion was removed from the agenda this week, leaving the committee to take up a police tow fee of $70 charged to contracted tow companies.
Cultural Heritage Board
The Cultural Heritage Board meets on Wednesday, June 17, at 3:30 p.m. (agenda) to consider recommending City Landmark historic designation for three Riverside residences — Lionhead on Rumsey Drive, the Havens Residence on Archdale Street, and Edie on Edith Avenue — at the request of the properties' owners (items 5, 6, 7), and discussing a potential ordinance that would prohibit chain link fencing on City-designated historic properties before any formal rule is drafted (item 8).
Economic Development Committee
The Economic Development Committee (Councilmembers Robillard, Cervantes, and Hemenway) meets on Thursday, June 18, at 3 p.m. (agenda) to consider a workforce training partnership with two technology-focused organizations (item 2), discussing retail implementation of the City's Cannabis Grant Program (item 3), and approving a partnership to launch a revolving loan fund for green technology businesses (item 4).
Susan Freeman Files Claim Against City Alleging Defamation, Retaliation
Freeman, wife of City Manager Mike Futrell, alleges the city defamed her without investigation or due process and attempted to silence her protected speech and civic engagement.
Susan Freeman is shown alongside documents related to her government claim against the city, filed Wednesday. (Susan Freeman/ susfree.substack.com)
Susan Freeman, entrepreneur and consultant married to City Manager Mike Futrell, filed a government claim against Riverside Wednesday alleging defamation, reputational harm, and First Amendment retaliation.
Why it matters: The dispute between Freeman and city officials now involves a formal legal action — and Futrell, the city's top executive, is directly named in the conflict.
Driving the news: Freeman's claim stems from a Dec. 11 city letter accusing her of "unwanted and harassing" contacts with city employees and implying she presented herself as "part of the city's decision-making team." Freeman calls the allegations "absolutely false, unsupported and defamatory."
"I was not interviewed. I was not given an opportunity to respond," Freeman said.
The backstory: Futrell applied for the Pasadena city manager role in April — a move Freeman publicly encouraged — then reversed course 10 days later. At a May 5 council meeting, he said judgment "should be reserved until the full factual record is available."
Yes, but: A government claim is a required legal step before suing a public agency in California. Filing one does not mean a lawsuit has been filed or that any allegations have been proven.
What's next: The claim lists $1 million in damages, described as a placeholder. Freeman said she is seeking "accuracy, fairness," not only financial compensation.
Opinion: Improved Weather Forecasting May Allow More Storm Water Capture While Protecting Flood Control Operations
From Prado Dam to Seven Oaks, improved weather forecasting is opening a new era of water capture in Southern California
New weather forecasting technologies are being explored as a way to allow flood control dams and reservoirs to also take on a water storage function in addition to their primary flood control mission. From a flood control perspective dam operators release water as quickly as they can to ensure there is room to hold future flood waters. These rapid releases are often much more water than downstream water providers can capture and move to storage for later use. This extra water flows downstream and eventually into the ocean.
The Scripps Institution of Oceanography is using improved weather monitoring and forecasting technologies in a new program called Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations, or FIRO. This program provides data to flood control facility operators to allow them to confidently hold and release storm runoff more slowly while still fulfilling their primary mission of providing protection against downstream flooding. FIRO was pioneered at Lake Mendocino on the Russian River in Northern California and has allowed a 19% increase in capture of stormwater over flood control only operations of the facility.
Riverside Plaza's Father's Day Giveaway ends TONIGHT at midnight, with a $300 gift card bundle from Chipotle, Cold Stone, and GameStop up for grabs — enter on Instagram by following, liking, and commenting a favorite memory.
Eric Bishop has been named permanent RCC president, ending a nationwide search after he served as interim since August 2025, with the Board of Trustees approving the hire June 9 and his official start set for July 1.
Councilmember Falcone and Mayor Lock Dawson are hosting the final Senior Forum of the series on Wednesday, June 24, from 10–11 a.m. at the Dales Senior Center, with Spanish and ASL interpretation available; RSVP to 2Mayor@riversideCA.gov or 951-826-5551.
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