Archive for category Public Policy
Charter Review Community Meetings
Posted by admin in City Of Our Dreams, Ethics, Public Policy, Social Capital on September 8, 2011
Unprecedented Low Pet Adoption Fees
Posted by admin in Pets, Public Policy, Uncategorized on September 5, 2011
The City/County Department of Animal Services is competing for a national grant and as a component is trying to increase adoptions of cats and dogs.
Subsequently they have reduced adoption fees to amazingly low amounts, all cats and kittens are only $5.00 and all dogs and puppies are only $40.00 and these prices include spay/neuter, microchips and first vaccinations.
Thirty Miles Of Corruption Presses Forensic Audit of City Books
Posted by admin in Economy, Public Policy, Resoration Economy on September 5, 2011
With the search on for a new city manager, it seems like a very sensible public request to have a full forensic audit of exactly where we stand. And by we, I mean the taxpayers who are on the hook and a city council accountable for how deep that hook goes.
The limited scope of the audit requested by former city manager Brad Hudson brings up all sorts of scary thoughts. The City of Bell comes to mind.
Moving forward with a search for a new city manager without knowing exactly where we stand is unfair to resident taxpayers and sets the stage for failure no matter who takes the job.
The city is very good at paying for expertise. There is a lot of agreement that this is one of those times. It would be money well spent.
If we’re going to have a Renaissance or Seize Our Destiny, we’re going to have to make it happen.
County Board of Supervisors Meetings On City Government Channel
Posted by admin in Public Policy, Uncategorized on September 5, 2011
Riverside County Board of Supervisors meetings are now on the
City’s Government TV channel.
Previously available exclusively on Channel 32, the City’s public access channel, the move consolidates both the County Board of Supervisors and the Riverside City Council onto the same channel for the first time.
Public Invited To Meeting Recommending Ethics Ammendments
Posted by admin in Ethics, Public Policy on September 5, 2011
The public is invited to a meeting to recommend amendments to the Code Ethics and Conduct next month at City Hall.
On Sept. 7 at 4 p.m. in the Mayor’s Ceremonial Room (7th Floor), the City Council Governmental Affairs Committee is holding an annual meeting to formulate recommendations to the City Council.
The City Council will hear those recommendations at 7 p.m., Sept. 20, in the Art Pick Council Chamber. The public is invited to attend.
For more information, visit the following link on the City’s Web site athttp://www.riversideca.gov/city_clerk/pdf/2010ethicsagendadclr.pdf or call the City Clerk’s Office at(951) 826-5557 for a brochure and a copy of the code.
Send us an e-mail with your answers to the 13 questions. You may e-mail directly to city_clerk@riversideca.gov
New Ways To Access City Hall
Posted by admin in Public Policy on September 5, 2011
City announces new e Comment Tool. Read more.
This is a step in the right direction of more participation and greater transparency.
Waterwise By Design
Posted by admin in Environment, Gardening, Public Policy on September 5, 2011
Native plants will showcase the renovation of planters in front Redlands City Hall. Not only will they save water, but residents are going to have new gardening possibilities to consider.
In a collaboration betweenRamie Allard, a Redlands landscape designer and the 
City of Redlands and Home Depot, it looks like Redlands is going to get what Emeril Lagasse would call “kicking it up a notch”. Can’t wait to see.
Friends Of Riverside’s Hills Files Perris Valley Line Lawsuit
Posted by admin in Public Policy, Resoration Economy, Transportation on September 5, 2011
The American Planning Association Daily Planning News offered a concise statement of the issues as you might expect from a professional organization.
When the impacts of economic growth threaten the health of the community and our environment, then economic and environmental justice demand a high return on taxpayer dollars. Professional planners all know this. They also know that politics always plays a role and that’s where the public interest gets left behind. That’s when professionals loose sight of who their professional expertise is supposed to serve. That would be the public.
The RCTC stands ready to defend what will soon become indefensible. They recently settled a lawsuit by the Riverside Unified School District. The District had to sue in order to get obvious mitigation measures.
If our public agencies are forced to sue each other over a project’s mitigation measures, there is likely something more serious being perpetrated on the public than meets the eye. Barney Barnett has given us a behind the scenes look at this boon doggle project.
That leaves the University Neighborhood, Sycamore Highlands and parts of Orange Crest to fend for ourselves. The City signed an M.O.U. with the RCTC to get quiet zones for the rest of the City if they agreed not to support any opposition to the Perris Valley Line.
It seems a bit inconsistent for a City proclaiming and celebrating very real achievements in many areas of environmental excellence to remain silent as city residents are forced to sue to have their environmental rights and quality of life protected. Read the complaint and suit at: 2011.08.23 Petition for Writ of Mandate
Good public transportation policy is generally agreed to add value to the ridership. Cost, convenience and comfort are the ridership drivers that keep public transportation operational and profitable.
The Perris Valley line will be comfortable. But cost and convenience are simply not there. That makes it poor public policy. The environmental impacts are being challenged in the Friend’s lawsuit.
The rest of Riverside will soon be enjoying quiet nights and restful sleep. Our wishes for sweet dreams aside, we will be organizing, fund raising and generally having a grand old time celebrating University Neighborhood Values — even if it’s before a judge.
Pass this around to your friends and neighbors. Urge them to sign up to get updates and opportunities for some mirth and fund raising parities – UNA style.
Other Links:
Are We Being Railroaded By The Perris Valley Line?
Search Perris Valley Line for related stories.
Are We Being Railroaded By The Perris Valley Line?
Posted by admin in Health, Public Policy, Transportation on September 5, 2011
The first of two public comment meetings on the Environmental Impact Report for the Perris Valley Line is April 14th and on the 22nd.
The EIR is supposed to be available at the public libraries. Recent reports to the contrary indicate they are missing in action at Riverside’s main library and they are certainly absent from the Highgrove Library.
You may recall Barney Barnett’s ongoing campaing – eight years now – to include the Highgrove location as part of the Metrolink plan.
The EIR doesn’t seem to adequately address the fact that the Highgrove location serves two rail lines, provides greater access and opens the project to an even larger ridership. The criteria scores for the alternatives seem pretty weak.
Stopping to reverse direction seems like a small price to pay for securing a regionally beneficial, future option. And since we’re using scarce federal dollars, I suggest we all ask if this is really the best use of taxpayer funds. Is it really the best option for what’s urgently wanted and needed for our transportation needs? You be the judge.
Does it offer access to the largest possible audience of taxpayers and riders?
It it the most highly leveraged solution for a regional rather than local transportation program?
How much more will it cost us in the future to secure the same result we should be considering right now?
Take a look at the mitigation measures.
BNSF City Quiet Zone Update
Posted by admin in Public Policy, Transportation on July 29, 2011
BNSF Quiet Zone update week ending July 15th
· The construction contract for the Jane Street closure was advertised for bids and will close July 19th. Construction will tentatively start in late August.
· Bids for the Jackson Street improvements (sidewalks and medians) have been opened City Council approved contract award on June 21, 2011. Construction is expected to begin in late-July.
· Remaining crossings:
- For the remaining crossings the City received an additional agreement for crossing surface agreements from the BNSF.
The agreements continue to be in review by Public Works and the City Attorney’s Office.
- A meeting occurred with BNSF on July 13th to discuss the construction and maintenance agreement for signals. BNSF will revise and agreement and send to the City for review.
- Strategy for the crossing improvements is for the Railroad to begin panel installation at 14 crossings this summer and complete after fourth quarter shut down. (During the fourth quarter work is not permitted in the railroad right-of-way.)
Beginning January 2012, the BNSF will complete the concrete panel installation and the City will begin construction of the curb, gutter, & sidewalk improvements. The anticipated date to complete installation of the railroad signal equipment is the end of 2012.
If you know of anyone else that would like to receive these updates, please forward their information, or have them give me a call.
Jenna Combs
Sr. Administrative Analyst
(951) 826-5847 (office)
(951) 313-4039 (cell)
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