City Council does not meet this week. The Safety Committee will consider restrictions on nitrous oxide and kratom products after police found extensive sales and health officials linked them to fatal overdoses.
City Council does not meet this week. The Safety Committee will consider restrictions on nitrous oxide and kratom products after police found extensive sales and health officials linked them to fatal overdoses.
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.
Safety, Wellness, and Youth Committee
The Safety, Wellness, and Youth Committee (Councilmembers Perry, Conder, and Mill) meets on Wed, Feb 18, at 1:00 p.m. (agenda) to:
Considering code amendments establishing standardized background checks for specialized business like cannabis dispensaries, massage parlors, pawn shops, and tobacco shops.
Reviewing proposed bans or restrictions on nitrous oxide and kratom products after police inspections found over 600 nitrous oxide tanks and extensive kratom sales at retailers throughout the city, with health officials linking synthetic kratom to fatal overdoses and nitrous oxide misuse to nerve damage, cognitive impairments, and increased DUI incidents.
Park and Recreation Commission
The Park and Recreation Commission meets on Wed, Feb 18, at 6:30 p.m. (agenda) to develop its 2026 Work Plan outlining the advisory board's priorities and activities for the year in areas including parks budget review, program planning with community partners, and policies for park improvements and tree management.
Economic Development Committee
The Economic Development Committee (Councilmembers Robillard, Cervantes, and Hemenway) meets on Thu, Feb 19, at 3:00 p.m. (agenda) to consider authorizing two non-binding partnership agreements - one with a Finnish regional development agency and one with clean energy manufacturer Stored Power Technology - that would formalize the City's role in helping potential green technology businesses navigate permitting and site selection without creating financial obligations or committing to specific projects.
City Council will discuss two potential lawsuits related to the rejected University Terrace homeless housing project and review the 2026 Book of Work outlining major city priorities.
