Here are this week’s notable city meetings and some background on their importance.
City Council
During their 1 p.m. discussion session, the council will hear a presentation on the Finance Department’s preliminary, annual city budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021–2022. The council is being asked to provide input on the proposed budget as well as set a public hearing date for its adoption on June 22.
Even though the city adopted a biennial budget and five-year planning process in 2016, there are circumstances that prompted the adoption of a one-year budget for FY 2021–2022.
The pandemic has left an unprecedented impact on the city’s finances. A legal challenge to the city’s General Fund Transfer (GFT) is still pending and holds a potential threat to $40 million of the city’s revenue. Also, the long-planned implementation of the city’s Priority Based Budget (PBB) in FY 2022–2024 is still being produced.
In their 6:15 p.m. discussion, Mayor Pro Tem Jim Perry, on behalf of the council, is requesting council’s discussion regarding Councilmember Chuck Conder’s possible disclosure of confidential, closed-session information relating to formal litigation filed against the City of Riverside. Upon discussion, the council is being asked to consider next-step actions, if any are needed.
Councilmember Perry did not respond to a request for comment.
Charter Review Committee
In their 5 p.m. meeting, the City Charter Review Committee will discuss three issues and the language used for their potential charter amendment proposals. One at the top of the committee’s priorities is the city’s GFT.
The annual transfer of $40 million from utility revenues to the city’s general fund is currently under review and city officials are seeking voter approval for the third time since the 1960s. The committee has an early June deadline for the proposed language that would be used on this November’s ballot.
As of the May 11 city council meeting, the committee was granted six extra months to deliberate language for a potential amendment to the city charter which could change the Riverside mayor’s powers– either granting a mayoral vote or extending mayoral veto power. They also have more time to consider language for a potential amendment to the city charter, adding a position for an internal city auditor role.
