This Week in City Hall: March 24, 2025

Neighbor of the Week-Father's Day Edition: Justin Pardee & Ken Crawford

This week, we’re spotlighting two of the dads behind The Raincross Gazette—celebrating the father figures who lead with love, show up without fanfare, and shape lives in quiet, powerful ways. These aren’t celebrities—just regular Riversiders doing the most important job there is.

From Desert Jewel to Hidden Gem: The Story of Riverside’s White Park Cactus Garden

Once hailed as a world-class botanical marvel, the White Park cactus garden has faded from view—but new plans aim to restore this historic Riverside treasure to its former glory.

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, Mar. 25, in 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:

Approving a contract amendment that increases pension contributions for police management positions by an additional 0.5%, saving taxpayers approximately $5,200 in the current fiscal year while helping address the City's long-term pension obligations.
Awarding the $32.8 million construction contract for the renovation and expansion of the Museum of Riverside's historic 1912 building on Mission Inn Ave.
Holding public hearings for two separate tax-exempt bonds funding campus improvements at California Baptist University and a 150-unit affordable housing development, with no financial obligations placed on the City.
Authorizing the use of eminent domain to acquire property needed for the construction of a railroad underpass on Third St.
Waiving attorney-client privilege to publicly discuss a second legal opinion on the City's policy that exempts certain water and electric utility infrastructure projects from competitive bidding requirements, allowing in-house crews to complete system reliability and emergency response projects.
Considering amendments to previously authorized Cannabis Business Permit Guidelines that would reduce the maximum number of cannabis business permits from 14 to 7, limit locations to one per ward, and require minimum distances between cannabis retail locations from one another and public parks.

Housing and Homelessness Committee

The Housing and Homelessness Committee (Councilmembers Cervantes, Mill, and Robillard) meets on Monday, Mar. 24, at 3:30 p.m. (agenda) for a presentation from Claire Jefferson-Gilpa, Executive Director of Family Promise of Riverside, which helps families at risk of or experiencing homelessness, and a project update from the Housing Authority.

Board of Public Utilities

The Board of Public Utilities meets on Monday, Mar. 24, at 6:30 p.m. (agenda) for regular business.

Museum of Riverside Board

The Museum of Riverside Board meets on Wednesday, Mar. 26, at 3:00 p.m. (agenda) for regular business.

Community Police Review Commission

The Community Police Review Commission meets on Wednesday, Mar. 26, at 5:30 p.m. (agenda) to continue reviewing an Officer-Involved Death case and discuss three separate employee matters in closed session.