Proposed budgets for 2022 through 2024 get reviewed by the Board of Public Utilities and the Board of Library Trustees, and The City Council to consider adding an initiative onto the November ballot.
Item 10: Proposed budget for fiscal years 2022/2023 and 2023/2024
On Monday, the board reviewed its proposed budget for the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 fiscal years. The budget includes revenue and expense estimates for the electric and water funds. According to the documents for fiscal year 2022/2023, the electric fund is expected to bring in $455 million in revenue and have $486 million in expenses. The water fund is expected to bring in $111 million and have $115 million in expenses for that same fiscal year.
Board of Library Trustees
Item 6: Fiscal year 2022-2024 preliminary budget overview
On Monday, the Board of Library Trustees also reviewed their proposed budget for fiscal years of 2022/2023 and 2023/2024. According to its presentation, Riverside Public Library currently has an $11 million proposed budget for the 2022/2023 fiscal year. RPL has $2.7 million in debt obligations for the new Main Library in Downtown Riverside for that same year. Listed under Critical Unfunded Needs, RPL says each year it will need $510,000 for the security guards and $25,000 for window cleaning services for the Main Library.
City Council
Item 16: Adding Inspector General position to November ballot
On Tuesday evening, City Council will receive a presentation and consider whether to place on the November 8 ballot an initiative for residents to decide the fate of imposing an elected position of Inspector General.
The current draft of the initiative reads: “Shall the City Charter be amended to create an elected office of Inspector General, with the first election on June 6, 2023, with four-year terms, with the powers and duties to independently investigate fraud, waste, abuse, and illegal acts within city government and to provide annual reports on their findings and recommendations on an annual basis, with an appropriate budget, a salary commensurate with the mayor’s salary, and subpoena power?”
Mobility and Infrastructure Committee
Item 2: Development agreement for citywide fiber-optic network
On Thursday, the committee will review a proposed development agreement between the City of Riverside and SiFi Networks Riverside LLC for a citywide fiber-optic network, a high-speed broadband connection. According to the city’s presentation, SiFi approached Riverside in late 2021 with an offer to build the fiber-optic network at no cost.
The network would include all city buildings, homes and businesses within Riverside to provide up to 10-gigabits of broadband to residential buildings and up to 100-gigabits for businesses. The installation across the city is expected to cost over $300 million.
Planning Commission
Item 4: Proposal review of 115,000-square-foot warehouse
On Thursday, the Planning Commission will review project plans for a proposed 115,000-square-foot warehouse off Alessandro Boulevard and Frontage Road. The warehouse would neighbor the 215 Freeway and be situated on the city border next to unincorporated Riverside County.
Jonathan Linden is a freelance reporter covering politics for The Raincross Gazette. Jonathan graduated from Biola University with a B.A in journalism and also reports for 91.9 KVCR in San Bernardino.
City Council set to consider a 23-unit affordable housing project in La Sierra, a 24-station electric vehicle charging hub at the Riverside Airport, and the $2.4 million purchase of electric trucks for its fleet.
City Council does not meet this week. Potentially stricter rules for industrial development near neighborhoods and a review of the City’s homelessness outreach and cleanup spending are on committee and commission agendas this week.
