Work continues on the general fund and biennial budgets, a grant can help pay for a new RPD service dog, and the Board of Ethics considers amending its current code.
Things are a bit slower around City Hall this week. The City Council will continue its work on budget development for fiscal years 2022-2024, and consider accepting a grant to provide the RPD with a new K-9 service dog
Item 9: Fiscal Year 2022-2024 Budget Development
On Tuesday, the City Council will again provide input on the general fund preliminary budget, the city’s five-year plan, uses for Measure Z funding, as well as considering “critical unfunded needs” for the fiscal year 2022-2024 proposed biennial budget.
Items under consideration include hiring a Public Safety Communications Manager, a position with a salary starting at $149,965 a year, and approving the budget for the Public Safety and Engagement Team, estimated at $3 million for fiscal year 2022-2023.
Item 15: Grants funds for new RPD K-9
The City Council will consider accepting a $7,500 grant from AKC Reunite’s Adopt a K-9 Cop Matching Grant Program. The funds would be applied toward replacing service dog “Link,”  who retired in February.
Board of Ethics
Item 5: Board of Ethics Code of Ethics and Conduct
On Thursday, the Board of Ethics will review its current Code of Ethics and Conduct. The board will consider the recommendations of an ad hoc committee which proposed several additions to the current code of ethics, and also compared Riverside’s Board of Ethics procedures to those of Los Angeles, Sacramento, Sunnyvale, Oakland, and Irvine. Compared to those cities, Riverside is the only one in which the City Council makes the final judgment on Board of Ethics issues instead of the Board itself. Additionally, Riverside is the only city of the six that does not have an internal examiner or investigator. This chart shows the differences in ethics procedures between the cities.
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.
The 4th Annual Can Tree Wonderland brought together over 40 groups to create festive tree-inspired displays made of canned goods, raising vital support for hunger relief in the Riverside and San Bernardino communities this holiday season.
