This Week in City Hall: January 15, 2024

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.

City Council

City Council will meet in closed and open sessions on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, in two afternoon sessions at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. and an evening session at 6:15 p.m. (agenda). The agenda includes:

Accepting $14,500,000 of grant money for building the new SPC Jesus S. Duran Eastside Library.
Releasing $1,000,000+ from the City's Infrastructure Reserve fund for building repairs at the Riverside Airport.
An update on the City's Sidewalk Vending and Food Truck Ordinance. Currently, 31 permitted sidewalk vendors and 22 permitted food trucks operate in the city; 219 sidewalk vendors and three food trucks have received citations in the last year.
A public hearing on the proposed development of four homes on a 5.74-acre site in the Alessandro Heights neighborhood.
Acceptance of $1,740,075 from the CaliforniansForAll program for the continued operation of the Youth Workforce Program in Riverside.

Safety, Wellness, and Youth Committee

The Safety, Wellness, and Youth Committee meets on Wednesday, January 17, at 1:00 p.m. (agenda) for a presentation on a proposed $0.25 increase to the fare for the Riverside Connect ride service for seniors over the age of 60 and the disabled community and a review of the City's program to return abandoned shopping carts to retailers.

Cultural Heritage Board

The Cultural Heritage Board meets on Wednesday, January 17, at 3:30 p.m. (agenda) for a workshop on a proposed 338-unit apartment complex with a grocery store on the site of the old Sear Building at the corner of Arlington and Streeter Avenues. The design plan proposal includes using the old Sears font for signage and repurposing parts of the Sears building facade if possible.

Park and Recreation Commission

The Park and Recreation Commission meets on Wednesday, January 17, at 6:30 p.m. (agenda) for a presentation on the City's pedestrian transportation plan and development projects.