After a three-day weekend, things will be a little less busy at City Hall this week. The city council will consider increasing the police department's vehicle purchase fund, retiring the city's police service dog, and revising city regulations concerning firearm dealer licenses.
Item 15: Increasing police vehicle purchase fund by $1.7 million
On Tuesday, the council will look to approve the spending authority of the Riverside Police Department to purchase vehicles. If approved, the amount would go from $1.3 million to $3 million and be designated for the purchase of new and used vehicles for the department. The grant would be supported through Measure Z funding.
Item 16: Approving the purchase of five pick-up trucks for Police Department
The council will consider approving the purchase of five new Ford Maverick trucks for the Riverside Police Department and the Park and Neighborhood Specialist Teams. Members of the specialist teams will serve as the “public stewards of parks, public spaces, buildings, and neighborhoods.” The vehicles would be purchased by the city through Fritz Ford of Riverside for $116,717.
Item 17: Retirement of police service dog ‘Link’
The council will retire police service dog ‘Link” and donate him to his current handler Detective Levesque at no cost. Link has served with the Riverside Police Department for over 10 years, but the department says he can no longer complete needed tasks. The council will also consider allocating $20,000 in donated funds for the purchase of a new police service dog.
Item 18:Establishing regulations for firearm dealer licenses
The City Council will consider adding Chapter 5.95 to the Riverside Municipal Code, which would establish regulations related to firearm dealer licenses. The draft chapter is eight pages long and includes instructions on the required licenses, liability insurance, security requirements, and guidelines on the suspension or revocation of a firearm dealer license.
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.
