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
City Council will meet in closed and open sessions on Tuesday, Jan. 5, in afternoon sessions at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and an evening session at 6:15 p.m. (agenda).
The agenda includes:
- Awarding a $5.56 million Measure Z-funded contract for street resurfacing and sidewalk repairs at locations across five wards, with work including major roads like Chicago Avenue and Canyon Crest Drive.
- Considering a ceremonial renaming of Lime Street between 3rd and 14th Streets to "Captain Tim Strack Parkway" to honor the late fire captain who served 28 years with the Riverside Fire Department.
- Considering eminent domain proceedings to acquire approximately 243 square feet of property needed for a quiet zone project that would stop routine train horn blasts—currently sounded 31 times daily—at the Brockton and Palm Avenue railroad crossings.
- Considering a lease with Thompson Brewing Co. to convert the Armory at Fairmount Park into a restaurant and beer garden, with the City investing $2.5 million in building renovations and the tenant receiving two years of rent credits before beginning payments.
- Considering two appeals challenging certification of an environmental impact report for the Riverside Alive Project, a potential convention center expansion and mixed-use development downtown.
Human Resources Board
The Human Resources Board meets on Mon, Jan. 5, at 5 p.m. (agenda) to consider updates to three City personnel policies that clarify merit raise timing for City Attorney staff, align military leave rules with current federal and state law for the first time since 2011, and add a new health savings account option for city employees starting in 2026.
Governmental Processes Committee
The Governmental Processes Committee (Councilmembers Falcone, Perry, and Conder) meets on Wed, Jan. 7, at 9 a.m. (agenda) to review revisions to a proposed policy governing City-funded ward events that would clarify staff and councilmember roles, restrict events near elections, and require post-event cost and attendance reporting.
Airport Commission
The Airport Commission meets on Thu, Jan. 8, at 3 p.m. (agenda) to receive the Airport Manager's Operations and Activity Report.
Budget Engagement Commission
The Budget Engagement Commission meets on Thu, Jan. 8, at 5 p.m. (agenda) to hear regional economic data showing the Riverside metro area ranks 36th nationally in exports with $5.8 billion in goods trade and review the City's FY 2024/25 year-end financial performance with requests to approve $44.88 million in carryovers.
