City Council set to establish the Inspector General office after concerns about protecting its independence delayed approval, consider a $16.8 million animal services agreement, and establish a $7,511 cannabis testing laboratory permit fee.
City Council set to establish the Inspector General office after concerns about protecting its independence delayed approval, consider a $16.8 million animal services agreement, and establish a $7,511 cannabis testing laboratory permit fee.
Welcome to our weekly digest on public meetings and agenda items worth your attention in the 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, Nov. 18, in an afternoon session at at 3 p.m. and an evening session at 6:15 p.m. (agenda). The agenda includes:
Approving a three-year animal services agreement with Riverside County for $16.8 million that includes significant shelter cost increases due to the City's high animal intake, while authorizing $865,000 for community programs aimed at reducing shelter admissions through spay/neuter clinics and adoption events.
Commission on Aging
The Commission on Aging meets on Monday, Nov. 17, at 4 p.m. (agenda) to review the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department's plan to create a Senior Strategic Plan that will guide programming decisions for Riverside's older residents.
The Governmental Processes Committee (Councilmembers Falcone, Perry, and Conder) has a special meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 11 a.m. (agenda) to continue work that would create uniform operating standards for 16 advisory boards and commissions while facing opposition from four boards, consider recommendations from the Board of Ethicsto extend the ethics complaint filing deadlines and add digital conduct rules for elected and appointed officials, and review the City’s community engagement procedures that require public input on major city decisions including budgets and citywide plans.
Planning Commission
The Planning Commission meets on Thursday, Nov. 20, at 9 a.m. (agenda) to consider approval for a Galaxy Oil gas station on a vacant 1.35-acre industrial-zoned lot on Jurupa Avenue between Columbia Avenue and Dales Street that would operate continuously with camera monitoring but no permanent staff.
Economic Development Committee
The Economic Development Committee (Councilmembers Robillard, Cervantes, and Hemenway) meets on Thursday, Nov. 20, at 3 p.m. (agenda) to review City efforts to support local businesses through a rewards program for Small Business Saturday, workforce development strategies to connect education with employment needs, and streamlined processes for businesses renovating commercial spaces.
The City Council's Land Use Committee failed to achieve quorum Monday, extending the wait for regulatory changes aimed at smoke shops linked to illegal drug activity.
City Council does not meet this week. Other agendas include a review of smoke shop regulations after police seized illegal products at 13 locations and a pilot program connecting Deaf residents to sign language interpreters via QR codes.
