At 70 years old, Pete Staylor continues his mission to raise funds and awareness for arthritis research, proving that age is no barrier to making a difference.
The City Council doesn't meet this week. Committee will review results to combat homelessness, and RPU Board will hold a public hearing on proposed rate increases.
Welcome to our weekly digest on public meetings and agenda items worthy of your attention in the next 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.
Housing and Homelessness Committee
The Housing and Homelessness Committee meets on Monday, August 28, at 3:30 p.m. (agenda). The only item for discussion is a 30-minute presentation from Michelle Davis, the City's Housing Authority Manager, giving an update on Riverside's Homelessness Action Plan in a continuation of last month's meeting.
Here are a few highlights from the report, which covers July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023:
Increased households assisted through rental programs by 150% (from 20 to 30 households).
Did not meet the goal of referring 75 households to employment assistance programs
Opened 23 new shelter beds, a 10% increase, but did not decrease unsheltered homelessness, which increased by 18% this year.
311 calls related to homelessness increased by 59%, with a decrease of 63% in 911 homelessness-related calls.
Board of Public Utilities
The RPU Board meets on Monday, August 14, at 6:30 p.m.(agenda) for a Public Hearing on the proposed utility rate increases.
The current 5-year rate plan for water expired on June 30, 2023, and electricity expires on December 31, 2023. RPU management says existing rates do not sufficiently fund the utility's increasing operational and capital costs.
An increased 5-year rate plan for water is proposed to fund $184M in capital projects and $148M in bonds, leading to a $4.07 monthly or $0.15 daily increase in year 1 for residential customers using 21 CCF.
A 5-year rate plan for electricity with average increases of 5% is proposed to fund $316M in capital projects and $276M in bonds, resulting in a $7.97 monthly or $0.21 daily increase in year 1 for residential customers using 600 kWh.
Planning Commission
The Planning Commission meeting is canceled this week.
City Council will consider approving $7.1 million for new fire and service trucks, approving a $6.525 million CalTrans-funded sidewalk project in La Sierra, and designating the home of Miné Okubo an official City Landmark.
Agendas are light and several meetings are cancelled this week due to the Fourth of July holiday. Council will consider updating pension contracts for Police leadership retirement cost sharing, and the Transportation Board will consider eliminating two permit-required street parking zones.
