Government
City Council Approves $100,000 Emergency Food Program Amid Federal Shutdown
Council fast-tracks funding to Salvation Army within days of SNAP benefits lapsing, targeting 500-700 households with immediate food assistance.
This Week in City Hall: November 3, 2025
City Council will consider reallocating $100,000 for emergency food assistance due to federal shutdown impacts, review a Downtown valet parking pilot, and consider partnership with a South Korean EV company seeking to open in Riverside.
PFAS Settlement Buys RPU Ratepayers One-Year Reprieve on Water Treatment Surcharge
First payment from $39 million settlement will help offset $97 million in treatment costs required by 2031 federal PFAS regulations.
Riverside's Plan to Reconnect Residents With Their River
Council reviewed feasibility study for River District transformation Tuesday, but questions remain about how the ambitious vision will be funded.
This Week in City Hall: October 27, 2025
City Council will review a River District feasibility study for Santa Ana River improvements and PFAS water treatment upgrades requiring customer surcharges starting at $1-4 monthly in 2026.
Inside Riverside's Immigration Enforcement Transparency Debate
Councilmembers explain their votes on immigration enforcement transparency—including why some who supported banning protest masks now object to masked federal agents.
Smoke Shop Permit Freeze Extended as City Tackles Illegal Sales
Unanimous vote allows 10-month study period after police seized nearly 80,000 illegal tobacco products from 13 smoke shops this year.
Council Adopts Stricter Meeting Rules Despite Public Concern on Comment Limits
Procedures updated for first time in two years give presiding officer broader discretion to curtail speaker time, with six-month review added after residents raise concerns about reduced public access.
Inspector General Approval Delayed Nearly Year After Voter Mandate, Council Cites Independence Language
Four council members vote to push decision to mid-November, citing need to strengthen language about independent legal counsel.
This Week in City Hall: October 20, 2025
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.
City Proposes Tenfold Increase in Fines for Trucks Using Restricted Streets
Police say $100 penalties fail to deter commercial vehicles from residential areas; new $1,000 fines would target drivers who view current citations as 'cost of doing business'.
City Council Passes Resolution on Immigration Enforcement Transparency
Resolution calling for clear identification of federal agents passes 4-3 despite concerns about jurisdictional limits and symbolic nature.