City Council will establish the voter-approved Office of the Inspector General with expanded oversight authority, consider meeting rule changes including Mayor scheduling authority, and review extending the tobacco retail permit moratorium through 2026.
This home on Potomac near Washington Street transforms into a haunted spectacle as dusk settles over the Magnolia Center neighborhood. Glowing windows reveal eerie silhouettes while witches stir up trouble in the front yard. (Brenda Flowers) We're still on the hunt for more spectacularly decorated Halloween houses throughout Riverside! Have you noticed a home that captures the spirit of our community this fall? Share it with us and help celebrate the spooky creativity of our neighborhoods!
Monday Gazette: October 20, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Monday! Last week we quietly made a change that breaks tradition held since we published our very first editing in January 2021. Sharp-eyed Carolyn already spotted it (way to go!), but we're curious: Did you notice what's different? If you did, we'd love to hear your thoughts! Reply to this email or reach out to newsroom@raincrossgazette.com.
City Council will establish the voter-approved Office of the Inspector General with expanded oversight authority, consider meeting rule changes including Mayor scheduling authority, and review extending the tobacco retail permit moratorium through 2026.
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, Sept. 21, with afternoon sessions at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. (agenda). The agenda includes:
Establishing an independent Office of the Inspector General following voter approval that will replace the City's Internal Audit Division with expanded oversight responsibilities, including ethics complaint management and authority to request outside legal counsel if approved by City Council.
Considering proposed revisions to City Council meeting rules that adjust the summer meeting schedule to eliminate September meetings, grant the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem authority to change meeting times, require explanations when consent calendar items are pulled for discussion, expand presiding officer discretion to limit public comment duration based on agenda length or speaker numbers, and more.
Amending City zoning rules to comply with state housing laws by removing local restrictions on two-unit developments and lot splits that don't apply to other single-family homes, while maintaining exemptions for all historic properties and cultural resources.
Reviewing zoning code corrections that implement state-mandated hydrogen fuel station rules, restrict scrap metal recyclers to address copper theft, and reduce permit requirements for various business types.
Establishing a Building Plan Check Self-Certification Program that allows licensed architects and engineers to certify their own plans meet code requirements, reducing permit issuance from 10-25 days to 1-3 days for eligible projects.
Commission on Aging
The Commission on Aging meets on Monday, Oct. 20, at 4:00 p.m. (agenda) for regular business.
The Museum of Riverside Board meets on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 3 p.m. (agenda) to formally accept a few new items into its collection.
Community Police Review Commission
The Community Police Review Commission meets on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 5:30 p.m. (agenda) for the continued review of an Officer-Involved Death case and to review RPD's 2025 Racial Identity Profiling Data.
Economic Development Committee
The Economic Development Committee (Councilmembers Robillard, Cervantes, and Hemenway) meets on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 3 p.m. (agenda) to review three economic development initiatives including the City's recent foreign investment trade mission to Japan and South Korea to recruit international businesses and the launch of the RISE business retention program that provides on-site support to local companies.
The collaboration between Councilmember Philip Falcone and metal artist Rico Alderette replicates the midcentury symbol stamped throughout City Hall.
Ward 1 Councilmember Philip Falcone (left) and metal artist Rico Alderette stand with the 12-foot Raincross sculpture installed behind City Hall. (Justin Pardee)
A towering 12-foot Raincross sculpture now stands behind Riverside City Hall, completing a vision from the building's original 1975 design. The orange metal artwork, commissioned by Ward 1 Councilmember Philip Falcone, replicates the midcentury Raincross design found throughout City Hall.
Driving the news: The sculpture, created by local artist Rico Alderette, honors the building's 50th anniversary and replaces the "Tripod" sculpture relocated in 2010.
Why it matters: The artwork symbolizes local democracy and reflects a renewed focus on civic beautification in Riverside.
It stands near the original intended location for the "Tripod" sculpture.
The backstory: Falcone's research for his book "City Hall 50: Building a City Beautiful" inspired the project, revealing the original intent for monumental metal artwork at the site.
Go deeper: Alderette incorporated compound angles in the design, paying homage to the original "Tripod" sculpture and adding technical complexity to the fabrication process.
The sculpture required special transportation permits due to its size.
What's next: The Raincross monument now serves as a prominent symbol of Riverside's civic identity and architectural heritage.
As fall slides toward winter, our sports calendar mirrors the rest of life: busier by the day.
UC Riverside's Alan Barcenas (#15) in action. (Courtesy of UCR Athletics)
We’re in that compressed stretch where fall sports are wrapping up while winter sports wait in the wings. High school girls volleyball and flag football brackets are out, with water polo brackets coming in the next couple of weeks. CIF football winds down its regular season and ramps up for the playoffs. NCAA soccer nears the finish line just as CIF soccer gets ready to begin. NCAA basketball tips off in a couple of weeks, with CIF basketball following shortly after.
It’s the time of year when the stands are full and the stakes are high. Ten Riverside schools earned spots in CIF-SS playoffs this week, with five teams each qualifying in girls flag football and girls volleyball. In flag football, MLK and Poly made Division 4, Ramona also qualified for D4, Norte Vista earned a Division 5 berth, and Hillcrest made Division 6. For volleyball, Poly leads the way in Division 3, Norte Vista and Woodcrest Christian compete in Division 6, while North and CSDR represent Division 9. Congratulations to all ten programs on their playoff qualification, and good luck in the postseason.
To help you keep up, the Raincross Gazette is moving our Games of the Week feature to Sundays. We think it makes more sense to give you a full look at the week ahead rather than just the weekend. Here’s what’s happening in Riverside over the next seven days.
Opinion: California Begins New Water Year with Robust Storage Levels
Legislative victories, major infrastructure projects and Colorado River negotiations shape state's water future
California's water year runs from Oct. 1 through the end of September. California ended the 2023-24 water year with almost every major storage reservoir above historical average for the date, and we began the 2024-25 water year with the biggest October storm in many years. The State Water Resources Control Board raised the allocation of water from the State Water Project to 50% of maximum earlier this year. Anything above 40% usually allows state water contractors like the Metropolitan Water District to make water available for storage. Our local water providers took advantage of the extra water to help recharge regional aquifers. With robust surface and underground storage levels California is in a good position to withstand several back-to-back dry years when they happen. If this is a wet winter, additional water can be placed in storage for use in future dry years.
An estimated 4,000 people marched through Downtown Saturday in a "No Kings Day of Action" protesting President Trump's policies, organized by Indivisible Riverside as part of nationwide demonstrations.
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