Multiple affordable housing projects to be reviewed, City Council inches forward with new city code for street food vendors and multiple roads to soon see new speed limits.
On Thursday, the commission will host a special meeting to provide input on the Fiscal Year 2022-2024 Budget Development, which includes a preliminary general fund budget. According to the document, the city expects to take in $310 million in revenue or transfers and spend $305 million for 2022.
Additionally, the development report includes information on items listed as critically underfunded. The areas identified include the Office of Homeless Solutions and increased funding for arts, culture, and artists programming.
Housing and Homelessness Committee
Item 2: Riverside Affordable Housing Projects
On Monday, the committee received an update on affordable housing projects in Riverside. There are currently 15 projects in the works across the city, which would offer 534 units when complete. The city has contributed or set aside over $19 million for those projects.
On Tuesday, City Council will receive a progress update on the Riverside Transmission Reliability Project by Southern California Edison. The group will construct a high voltage transmission power line from and through Jurupa Valley to the new Wildlife Substation which soon will be located near Wilderness Avenue and Jurupa Avenue in Riverside. The transmission lines will mostly run near the Santa Ana River and through the Hidden Valley Nature Center, then cross over into Jurupa Valley at the Goose Creek Golf Club.
According to the city’s document, the project will provide the city “with a critical second interconnection to the state electric transmission grid since the city’s electric customer demands exceed the current capacity of its only state grid interconnection.”
Item 22: Adopting municipal code for mobile food cart vendors
The council will look to officially adopt an ordinance that would change city regulations for mobile food cart vendors. The new regulations would allow mobile food merchants to operate in residential areas from sunrise to sunset and from sunrise to midnight in all other areas across Riverside.
The new rules, however, would prohibit mobile food merchants from vending in city parks, from having more than two vending vehicles on most types of private lots, and from placing any items in the public right of way, like chairs and tables, that would obstruct vehicles or pedestrians.
Item 31: Adopting new speed limits for four Riverside roads
The council will look to officially adopt an ordinance to change the speed limit for four streets in Riverside. If adopted, these streets would have the following speed limits: 45 mph on Acorn Street from Jurupa Avenue to Central Avenue, 35 mph on Cactus Avenue from Crystal View Terrace to Dauchy Avenue, 35 mph on Fremont Street from Central Avenue to Mountain View Avenue, and 20 mph on University Drive (not University Avenue) from Canyon Crest Drive to Sycamore Canyon Boulevard.
Item 32: Funding agreement with Riverside County for sewer installation project
City Council will consider approval for the Van Buren Sewer Project Interagency Funding Agreement with the Riverside County Office of Economic Development. If approved, $6.4 million will be used toward the project. More than half of the sewer line will run in the City of Riverside, with the remaining 46% in Riverside County. The line will run on Van Buren Boulevard from King Avenue to Wood Avenue. A line will also run on Washington Street between Van Buren Boulevard and Krameria Avenue to the proposed sewer pump station.
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.
