A potential new police station at the Magnolia Ave. and Van Buren Blvd. intersection and a 126-acre adventure sports complex and mixed-use project on the former Riverside Golf Course site in the Northside is on this week's agenda.
Early blooms reach for the light as sunbeams break through the clouds over Riverside. (Amy López)
Monday Gazette: February 24, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Monday!
It's a good thing we're out of "Dry January" since Saturday was National Margarita Day, and today is World Bartender Day. If you have a favorite bartender from your preferred neighborhood watering hole, please nominate them as Neighbor of the Week so we can honor them for doing the good work!
GOVERNMENT
This Week in City Hall: February 24, 2025
A potential new police station at the Magnolia Ave. and Van Buren Blvd. intersection and a 126-acre adventure sports complex and mixed-use project on the former Riverside Golf Course site in the Northside is on this week's agenda.
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, Feb. 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:
Considering the $1.895 million purchase of a vacant building at the intersection of Magnolia Ave and Van Buren Blvd for a new police substation supporting the Arlington Village area with "neighborhood safety and accessibility."
Considering authorizing up to $40 million in revenue bonds to rehabilitate a 197-unit affordable housing complex (3941 Polk St), extending existing affordability requirements with no cost to taxpayers.
Considering Riverside Unified School District's request for street closures and traffic modifications near Victoria Ave and 13th Street to accommodate construction of the new Eastside elementary school.
The Museum of Riverside Board meets on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 3:30 p.m. (agenda) for regular business.
Community Police Review Commission
The Community Police Review Commission meets on Wednesday, Feb. 265, at 5:30 p.m. (agenda) and will begin the review of an Officer Involved Death case from the January 2022 arrest of a suspected drug dealer, which ended in a fatal shooting after the suspect fled.
Planning Commission
The Planning Commission meets on Thursday, Feb. 27, at 9:00 a.m. (agenda) to review proposed updates to the City's sign regulations for local businesses.
Human Relations Commission
The Human Relations Commission meets on Thursday, Feb. 27, at 6:00 p.m. (agenda) for regular business.
2025 Grow Conference: Cultivating Knowledge, Building Resilience
The 2025 Grow Conference Returns with Insightful Sessions, Farm Tours, and a Rooftop Feast.
Local students volunteer at Overflow Farms on Jurupa Ave.(Courtesy of Overflow Farms)
The Grow Conference is set to bring farmers, food advocates, and agricultural experts together on February 27-28, 2025, in Riverside. The event will explore innovations and challenges in sustainable farming, featuring keynote speakers and diverse sessions on topics ranging from regenerative agriculture to community well-being.
Driving the news: The conference offers a mix of free sessions, a farm-to-fork dinner, and local farm tours, highlighting the Inland Empire's agricultural community.
• Keynote speakers include Christine Birdsong, Under Secretary for the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and Gary Nabhan, agricultural ecologist and author.
Why it matters: The event provides a platform for knowledge sharing and networking in sustainable agriculture, crucial for addressing future food system challenges.
• Day 1 features five tracks and fifteen sessions covering topics like funding opportunities for farmers and pollinator-friendly hedgerows.
The big picture: The conference extends beyond discussions, offering hands-on experiences and local connections.
• A hyper-local farm-to-fork dinner prepared by culinary students showcases the region's fresh ingredients.
What's next: Day 2 includes tours of local farms, including the Ecological Agriculture Training Farm's Beginning Farmer Apprenticeship Program in Norco.
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