Category Archives: Democarcy

Public Policy, Transportation

BNSF City Quiet Zone Update

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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)

Environment, Health, Parks, Public Policy

Syamore Canyon Wilderness Park To Have Interpretive Center

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The city is planning to build a 1,000-square-foot nature center off Central Avenue near Lochmoor Drive using a $780,000 state grant. City officials have not yet set a date for completion of the center. The city parks department plans to partner with the Riverside Metropolitan Museum to offer science and nature programs at the facility.

That’s a great next step and will serve as an educational resource for Sycamore Canyon Park.

But what’s really wanted and urgently needed is a plan to develop access to Sycamore Canyon Park  from Alessandro Blvd., Canyon Crest Drive and Cottonwood Ave. That would give convenient access to trails with parking. That would also open the park to greater exploration and enjoyment.

If other communities with well cared for and accessible natural amenities areany guide, surrounding property values will rise and property crime will decline.

Ethics, Public Policy

Whatever Happened To Video Recordings Of Committee Meetings?

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With an ethics panel, charter review and mayoral election ahead and a new city manager, it’s never been a better time to put some transparency in our civic affairs.

That means at the minimum, video recordings of committee meetings, made available withing 24 hours and for a Smart City, that would  look like live streaming video with interactive public participation and input.

This is not complicated technology. We can do this right now. It’s another reason to upgrade the city’s Wi-Fi network.  Bandwidth is weak. We can do better.

Without a meaningful or rewarding user experience,  our achievement – Citywide Wi-Fi – will become meaningless. The Smart City initiative as proposed in  Seizing Our Destiny should not become a joke. Transparency of civic affairs is reason enough to leverage technology for greater participation.

Anyone looking to be mayor or city manager would be wise to develop a platform for turning this into a reality within 90 days of taking office.  We’re going to need more participation not less if Riverside is to be the City of Our Dreams Now.

The upside to a transparent civic process, easy citywide access to that process and feedback from citizens and taxpayers would be:

  • A focus on what’s urgently wanted and needed most, right now for all of us
  • A way to solicit the broadest range of ideas and  workable solutions
  • A fast way to rank relevance
  • A way to utilize social networking for a greater quality of life
  • A way to make connections city wide around cooperative interests

I don’t see a downside to more of us being connected around Riverside being the City Of Our Dreams Now. Do You?

Environment, Public Policy, Transportation

Perris Valley Line Up For RCTC Certification

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The Perris Valley Line Metrolink Project will be presented at the Riverside County Transportation Commission meeting on July 13, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. in the Board Room, Riverside County Administrative Center, 4080 Lemon Street, First Floor, Riverside, CA.

Now that’s what I call a public notice.  For those who have been following this saga and can attend, it will no doubt provide an opportunity to strategize on next steps.

Economic Development, Public Policy

City of Riverside’s Down Payment Assistance Program and Neighborhood Stabilization Program

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The City of Riverside’s Down Payment Assistance Program and Neighborhood Stabilization Program are only available to first-time home buyers (have not owned any real property in the last three years) and must income qualify.

Please feel free to share these flyers with individuals within your community and anyone looking to purchase a home in the City of Riverside.

Down Payment Assistance Flyer 2010

2011 Neighborhood Stabilization Program and TOO Flyer

 

Ethics, Public Policy

Thrity Miles Of Corruption

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http://thirtymilesofcorruption.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/citycouncilbot2.jpg?w=286&h=384

There is another news source in town called Thirty Miles Of Corruption.  They ask some of the hard questions that are often obvious to us but don’t show up in the paper.  Maybe knowing there are a lot of us asking these questions will give City Hall something to consider as they go about the business of making Riverside the City of Our Dreams Now.