This Week in City Hall: October 2, 2023

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, October 10, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. (agenda).

During the afternoon session:

• The City Attorney's office will lead a workshop on "private and public ownership of trees and sidewalks related to claims and/or lawsuits," which concludes that the "burden of proof rests on the plaintiff to establish that the City owns or controls trees or sidewalks involved in litigation."
• Council will consider a pilot program to increase security for local businesses. Focused on the Galleria, Auto Mall, Plaza, and Downtown areas at an estimated cost of $269,755.22. The program pitch includes:
  • a messaging system for businesses, security services, and police to communicate in coordination with one another,
  • homeless outreach services expanded to seven days a week, and
  • increased security guard services patrolling Downtown and along Magnolia Ave.

During the evening session Council will consider several significant expenses, including: 

• Reallocating $3,000,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act Expenditure Plan to the Citywide Park Improvement Program and $2,193,244 to General Fund revenue replacement,
• Approving $2,534,063.54 from American Rescue Plan Act Citywide Park Improvement Plan Account for playground equipment at nine park sites, and 
• Approving $2,372,958 for the purchases of heavy-duty equipment for the Public Works Department Street Maintenance Division.

Financial Performance and Budget Committee

The Financial Performance and Budget Committee meets Wednesday, October 11, at 3:00 p.m. (agenda) to review a $340,000 annual agreement with a company providing business tax services.

Commission of the Deaf

The Commission of the Deaf meets on Wednesday, October 11, at 5:30 p.m. (agenda) to discuss their outreach plan and efforts.

Planning Commission

The Planning Commission meets on Thursday, October 12, at 9:00 a.m. (agenda) to review an application for constructing a 16,202 sqft on Spencer Ct off of Overlook Pkwy.

Mobility and Infrastructure Committee

The Mobility and Infrastructure Committee meets on Thursday, October 12, at 1:00 p.m. (agenda) to review the City's plan to purchase energy from the Sunzia Wind Project, projected to begin operation in New Mexico in March 2026.

Budget Engagement Commission

The Budget Engagement Commission meets on Thursday, October 12, at 5:00 p.m. (agenda) to discuss the commission's membership and recruitment status.