Council will consider a local shopping rewards program and review modifying subdivision restrictions to permit state-required lot splits; the Land Use Committee will review tobacco regulations that could phase out existing shops.
Council considering local shopping rewards program, City Hall "50 for 50 Challenge"...
Councilmember Falcone's "50 for 50 Challenge" brings students behind the scenes to spark interest in local government.
Council will consider a local shopping rewards program and review modifying subdivision restrictions to permit state-required lot splits; the Land Use Committee will review tobacco regulations that could phase out existing shops.
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 will meet in closed and open sessions on Tuesday, Dec. 9, in afternoon sessions at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and an evening session at 6:15 p.m. (agenda).
The agenda includes:
The Land Use Committee (Councilmembers Mill, Falcone, and Cervantes) meets on Monday, Dec. 8, at 9 a.m. (agenda) to review tobacco retail regulations that could maintain the status quo, establish distance requirements from youth-serving locations like schools and parks, require discretionary permits for case-by-case review, or prohibit new tobacco retail permits while phasing out existing businesses over 18 months.
The committee review follows a September moratorium after police documented illegal drug sales at smoke shops, including seized contraband from 13 locations. Of 226 tobacco retail locations citywide, 20 operate without valid permits—13 of which are smoke shops—with the moratorium extended through August 2026 to allow the committee to develop comprehensive regulations addressing public health and safety concerns.
The committee will also review progress on developing the "Repurpose Riverside" adaptive reuse ordinance that would streamline conversion of vacant commercial buildings into housing by reducing parking requirements, waiving density limits, and providing building code flexibility, modeled after Los Angeles' 1999 program that created over 12,000 downtown housing units, with Planning Commission review expected in early 2026 and City Council review targeted for spring.
The Board of Public Utilities meets on Monday, Dec. 8, at 6:30 p.m. (agenda) review the annual electric and water utility rate plan results showing both utilities met revenue targets with scheduled increases while addressing approximately $28.6 million in infrastructure maintenance projects (including rehabilitating two groundwater wells for $2.1 million, [replacing water pipelines on Golden Avenue for $2.8 million, maintaining gas turbines at the power plant for $14.7 million over five years, and [grading work for a new electrical substation for $10.6 million) and seeking up to $25 million in state grants plus low-interest loans to help construct a $43.7 million water treatment plant that removes PFAS "forever chemicals" from drinking water, with remaining costs covered by settlement money from polluters.
The Park and Recreation Commission has a special meeting on Monday, Dec. 8, at 6:30 p.m. (agenda) to review development goals for a new Deaf Cultural Community Center that would expand services from 4 hours monthly to a full-time facility in Ward 5, receive updates on the Bourns Family Youth Innovation Center, and approve 2026 meeting schedule changes that combine holiday-period meetings to address quorum challenges.
The Finance Committee (Councilmembers Hemenway, Robillard, and Falcone) meets on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 3 p.m. (agenda) to review the City's annual risk management report which shows insurance costs increased 7% this year to $9.3 million—part of a 164% surge over five years—as insurers nationwide raise rates due to multimillion-dollar jury awards and climate risks.
The Community Police Review Commission meets on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 5:30 p.m. (agenda) to receive training on California's Brown Act open meeting requirements and the Riverside Police Department's Internal Affairs investigative procedures.
The Airport Commission meets on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 3 p.m. (agenda) to review the airport's operational and financial status for December 2025, which reports a 6.4% decline in aircraft operations compared to last year, completion of major taxiway repairs, and progress on rebranding the facility to "Riverside Airport" through federal name change processes and a comprehensive master planning effort.
Councilmember Falcone's "50 for 50 Challenge" brings students behind the scenes to spark interest in local government.
Move delegates voting power to Public Utilities staff for five mutual water companies.
City Council will review representation on mutual water company boards, the Transportation Board considers parking restrictions, turn limits, and speed management measures.
Three-year contract with Riverside County includes community programs aimed at reducing shelter intake.
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