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:
- Conducting a public hearing before final approval of ordinances adopting California's mandatory 2025 building code updates with local amendments justified by Riverside's susceptibility to earthquakes, wildfires, and flooding.
- Establishing a $7,511 application fee for cannabis testing laboratory business permits that City staff describes as covering regulatory costs for site review, background checks, and safety compliance verification.
- Revisiting the establishment of the voter-approved Inspector General office following a 4-3 vote in October to delay approval over concerns about protecting the office's independence when retaining outside legal counsel.
- 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.
Board of Public Utilities
The Board of Public Utilities meets on Monday, Nov. 17, at 6:30 p.m. (agenda) to consider approving $5.8 million in water main replacements, setting new energy efficiency targets, reviewing how low-income customers qualify for utility assistance, and updating Board policies.
Governmental Processes Committee
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.
