This Week in City Hall: September 16, 2024

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, September 17, in afternoon sessions at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. and an evening session at 6:00 p.m. (agenda). The agenda includes:

• A recommendation from Councilmember Conder to reverse 2023's commemorative flag policy and return to displaying only the United States, State of California, and City of Riverside flags on all city-owned flag poles.
• Reviewing the City's plans to resurface nearly 21 miles of roads in the coming fiscal year and associated costs.
• Approving the purchase of five new trash trucks for $3.3 million.
• Presenting the 2023 City Spirit Award to Beth Schwandt, a Alvord Unified School District music teacher.
• A public hearing to authorize the redevelopment of the old Sears building property at the corner of Arlington and Streeter into a new 388-unit apartment complex with an ALDI grocery store. 

Commission on Aging

The Commission on Aging meets on Monday, September 16, at 4:00 p.m. (agenda) for a presentation on nutrition for older adults from the Riverside County Office on Aging.

Park and Recreation Commission

The Park and Recreation Commission meets on Monday, September 16, at 6:30 p.m. (agenda) to review "summer hightlights" from the program.

Safety, Wellness, and Youth Committee

The Safety, Wellness, and Youth Committee, comprised of Councilmembers Perry, Conder, and Mill, meets on Wednesday, September 18, at 1:00 p.m. (agenda) and will review:

• A proposed ordinance to prohibit unauthorized camping on public property in Riverside in response to a 2024 Supreme Court decision allowing stricter enforcement of anti-camping laws.
• A proposed ordinance to prohibit the "unlawful possession of catalytic converters," in response to rising thefts and difficulties in prosecuting offenders due to lack of identifying information on these parts.
• Evaluating a proposal to transition shopping cart retrieval from an outsourced service to an in-house operation operated by the Public Works Department.

Cultural Heritage Board

The Cultural Heritage Board meets on Wednesday, September 18, at 3:30 p.m. (agenda) for a presentation on the Mission Inn Foundation and to consider issuing a Certificate of Appropriateness request from Riverside Hyundai to remove the canopy on the backside of their facility, the former Helgeson Buick building, which is eligible as a city landmark.

Economic Development Committee

The Economic Development Committee of Councilmembers Robillard, Cervantes, and Hemenway meets on Thursday, September 19, at 3:00 p.m. (agenda) to review the City's $15,200 annual sponsorship agreement with the Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce.

Commission on Disabilities

The Commission on Disabilities meets on Thursday, September 19, at 5:30 p.m. (agenda) for presentations from the Aquamotion Ability Foundation and about a new Autism Certified City Initiative.