Category Archives: Public Policy

Health, Public Policy, Resoration Economy, Safety

Quality Inn Conversion Gets $100 Million If Council Agrees To Accept It

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Quality Inn Conversion The Quality Inn Motel Conversion Project, also known as University Terrace Homes has been awarded a $100 Million Grant. Next week the City Council votes to accept the award or refuse it.

Please show your support in one of the ways below.

We don’t need a reminder of the millions of dollars the City has spent building the housing and homeless team, studying the problem but building far too few stable housing units. This project does exactly that. It’s time we see some of the innovation we claim for ourselves.

As a reminder, Riverside Housing Development Corporation has been awarded the grant, and we are now preparing for the upcoming City Council vote to approve acceptance of the funds. Letters of support from community partners like you play an important role in demonstrating broad support for the project.

If you’re able, we would be grateful for your submission of a letter of support ahead of the City Council meeting on January 13th, 2026. I’ve reattached the template for convenience, and please feel free to personalize it as you see fit.

Letters should be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office at City_Clerk@RiversideCA.Gov on or before the meeting scheduled for January 13th, 2026. Please feel free to copy our team (Councilmember: CCervantes@RiversideCA.Gov, Bill: WKester@RiversideCA.Gov, Mel: MBruns@RiversideCA.Gov) on that email.

If you would like to submit an e-comment for the item, please use the following link:

  1. Fiscal Year 2024-2025 United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Annual Action Plan Amendment to allocate $965,617.75 in Community Development Block Grant – Standard Agreement with California Department of Housing and Community Development and Riverside Housing Development Corporation for award of up to $21,074,820 of Homekey+ grant funds – Implementation and Cooperation Agreement with Riverside Housing Development Corporation for Homekey+ grant funds – Loan agreements with Riverside Housing Development Corporation to allocate Community Development Block Grant of $965,617.75, HOME Investment Partnerships Program of $1,000,000, and Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Round 3 and 4 of $7,569,272.25 for University Terrace Homes project – 1590 University Avenue (Housing and Human Services) (Ward 2) (15-minute presentation) – The City of Riverside, CA

Thank you again for your continued support and advocacy. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need additional information. Spread the word.

For additional information contact:

Melanie (Bruns) Lahay
she/her/hers
Legislative Field Representative
Council Member Clarissa Cervantes, Ward 2
Direct: 951-850-4962
Office: 951-826-5419
3900 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92522
MBruns@RiversideCA.Gov

Book time with Bruns, Melanie

Open Government, Public Policy, Social Capital, UCR

UNA July 2025 Meeting Agenda

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Every 2nd Thursday  6:30 – 8:30

Map and Directions To Crest Community Church
3431 Mt Vernon Ave, Riverside, CA 92507

1. Welcome – Introductions                                           5 min.

2.  UCR Update    RPD Update                                     15 min.

3. Council Updates                                                              10 min.

4. Announcements  –

On Monday July 14th the Riverside Board of Public Utilities will host a hearing on the City of Riverside’s water quality for the 2025 Public Health Goal Report as part of the regularly scheduled RPU Board Meeting.  The general meeting will start at 6:30 pm and the hearing is item number 3. For more information see attachment.  Please forward to all of interest.

Pete Wohlgemuth  Board of Public Utilities    Public Notice

GOT ANTS? 

UCR has some help. The UCR Entomology Department is looking for houses with ants. Give Kathleen Campbell at call at the lab
951-827-5729

City Hall Insider: Engage, Speak, and Participate!

Have you ever wanted to speak at a city council meeting but felt uncertain about the process? Or perhaps you’ve wondered what it’s really like behind the scenes at a City Council Meeting? We have the perfect opportunity for you!

The First-Ever Behind-the-Scenes Tour of the Riverside City Council

We’re excited to invite you to an exclusive, interactive experience designed specifically for community members who want to get more involved in local government. Whether you’re nervous about public speaking or simply curious about how our city operates, this tour is your chance to explore, learn, and practice in a completely pressure-free environment.

What You’ll Experience:

Interactive Tour & Behind-the-Scenes Access

  • Guided tour of the council chambers, where all the action happens
  • Demonstration of our translation booth and state-of-the-art AV equipment
  • Hands-on experience at the podium, where you can see the timer and get the council member’s perspective

Practical Public Speaking Guidance

  • Step-by-step walkthrough of speaker cards: we’ll show you what information is required versus what’s optional
  • Clear explanation of appropriate topics and language for public comment
  • Important insights about the process, including why council members cannot respond to questions during public comment periods

Technology & Process Demonstrations

  • Live demonstration of the voting board and what council members see before making decisions
  • Explanation of our queuing system designed to streamline meetings
  • Overview of the Zoom queue for virtual participants who can’t attend in person
  • Tutorial on finding and submitting electronic comments on agenda items

This is more than just a tour – it’s your opportunity to demystify the process, ask all your questions, and gain the confidence to make your voice heard in our community. We will be there every step of the way to ensure you feel comfortable and informed.

Who Should Attend:

  • First-time attendees who want to understand the process
  • Anyone who’s felt nervous about speaking at public meetings
  • Community members curious about how local government works
  • Residents who want to be more engaged in civic life
  • Everyone!

Space is limited to ensure everyone gets personalized attention and plenty of opportunities to ask questions.

To Reserve Your Spot:

Tuesday, July 22nd – 5:30 PM – Riverside City Council Chambers – RSVP LINK

P.S. Feel free to bring a friend – civic engagement is always better when shared with others who care about our community! Let’s make this the largest turnout for civic training our city has ever seen.

Brian Kerr – Vice Chair

Mission Grove Neighborhood Alliance

951-394-2526

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City Of Our Dreams, Public Policy, Safety

UNA June 2025 Meeting Agenda

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Every 2nd Thursday  6:30 – 8:30

Map and Directions To Crest Community Church
3431 Mt Vernon Ave, Riverside, CA 92507

1. Welcome – Introductions                                           5 min.

2.  UCR Update    RPD Update                                     15 min.

3. Announcements  – Council Updates                   10 min.

4. Q&A With Brian Siana RPU Board W2             45 min.

5. New Business/Old Business                                     10 min.

 

City Of Our Dreams, Economic Development, Public Policy, Safety, Social Capital

City Manager Joins UNA Feb 2025 Meeting

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We Are Just Getting Started Sign

Join City Manager Mike Futrell and Deputy Public Works Director Nathan Mustafa for a discussion about creating the neighborhood of our dreams. Add your input to the topic list:

University Neighborhood Feb 2025 Meeting Discussion Topics

Public Safety

  • Fire Protection
  • Wildfire maps
  • Homeowners Insurance is problematic in our neighborhood.
  • Status of the fire departments grant to expand awareness of fireproofing residences.
  • Mt. Vernon properties illegally clearing vegetation
  • Consider a city-wide ban on discing. Each time it generates more fuel after spring rains.
  • RTRP – Reconsideration to underground
  • Freshen the reflective paint stripes along Watkins Dr from the Freeway to Mt. Vernon.

UCR Lawsuits

  • Status of the City’s
  • UNA lost their suit over some of the same issues as the City.

Environmental

  • Donkeys as a public safety issue.
    • Who in the City is accountable for this? Not a normal job posting.
    • What is the status of regional collaboration to address the issue
    • Where do the 311 calls get routed?
    • How many donkey calls for service in the past five years?
  • Traffic Watkins Dr – 215 to Spruce
    • Compare traffic data from UCR’s study showing the need for a lighted intersection at Watkins Dr and Big Springs Rd., to current trends based on camera data from Watkins Big Springs intersection since the lights were hooked up to traffic system.
    • What is the quantity of cars per hour/day/week since camera data available. Some graphs would be helpful.
    • How many days has the camera feed been live?
    • How many big rigs are on camera since camera feed went live?
  • Watkins Dr parking hazard West side Watkins, Blaine to Valencia Hills Dr
    • How often is Watkins Dr from Blane to Valencia hills drive maintained?
    • How many times since parking was removed from the East Side of Watkins, has this stretch been maintained.
  • Street maintenance: how often is Watkins Dr South of Piccacho Drive to the 215-freeway scheduled for maintenance?
    • When was the last time a work order was issued for anything along that section of Watkins Dr.
    • How many over the past 5 years?
  • How many public works service calls for water or sewer line issues in our neighborhood?
    • How many on Watkins Dr?

Placemaking Opportunities

  • Trails
    • Possibility of paving terminus of Two Trees Rd for enhanced parking Two Trees Trailhead
    • Parking along Marlborough for trail access behind Nordstrom warehouse
    • Access to Sugar Loaf trail along Gage Canal South of Citrus
    • Remove parking on Watkins Dr from Blane to Valencia Hills Dr and the neighborhood specific plan can take shape. This provides for dedicated bike lanes in both directions, plus trail connectivity options to the Gage Canal trail, Islander Park and campus. These could be class A lanes with barriers given the traffic volumes we have.
    • Trail signage needed.
    • Bridge, tunnel to reopen access to the Box Springs Reserve and trails.
      • This is an opportunity to attract State or County funding. The entire Metrolink line has a trail easement for the asking. This is alternative transportation funding and can be applied for. Especially since our trail plan includes Moreno Valley. The line goes to Perris and in plans beyond.
  • Blaine & Watkins train crossing medians add planters with succulents, natives
  • Islander Pool is underutilized. What is the annual operational budget for Islander Park?
    • What has been the trend for the past five years?
  • Watkins Dr is the Gateway to the UNA. It leads to campus and points north. It deserves to be treated as such which means a budget to keep it looking attractive, and managed for fire along Coyote Hill, and beautified from Blaine to Spruce along a half mile of chain link fence. Surely we can do better as city of arts and innovation.

 

City Of Our Dreams, Environment, Open Government, Public Policy, Resoration Economy, Safety, Social Capital

Don’t Let Riverside Burn

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BURY RTRP
Time To ACT.   Show up at City Hall
Feb 4 2025 6:15 Public Comment
Don't Let Riverside Burn

Let your voice be heard at City Council this coming Tuesday February 4th in the City Council Chamber next to City Hall.  It is NOT on the agenda, but — come and speak out during public comment at 6:15 pm.  Fill out a speaker card when you arrive.  Just showing up will flex our civic muscle.

You DO NOT NEED TO SPEAK to support those who will speak!  Wear a white or teal shirt and let the City know that residents want to be protected!

Email all councilmembers NOW and include the mayor and clerk, asking the Clerk to make your comment Public Record; emails are below.

This project began over 18 years ago and our Council has refused to consider today’s current conditions. We need a new connection into our city, but if it is with transmission lines, they need to be buried underground. These transmission lines will be placed in a high-fire/high-wind corridor where SCE frequently shuts our power off.

Australia, Paradise, Maui, now the Eaton and Palisades fires. It’s not if, but when. This is an area where we have had many fires this past season…overhead lines are a DISASTER waiting to happen to Riverside!

Insure our future resiliency and maybe get affordable insurance for our homes. Bury the RTRP. Tell everyone. Spread the word. We deserve better from our public servants. Let them know. See you Tuesday.

Councilmembers emails:

Ward 1              pfalcone@riversideca.gov

Ward 2              ccervantes@riversideca.gov Supports Underground

Ward 3              srobillard@riversideca.gov

Ward 4              cconder@riversideca.gov                   Supports Underground

Ward 5              smill@riversideca.gov

Ward 6              jperry@riversideca.gov

Ward 7              shemenway@riversideca.gov              Supports Underground

 

Mayor                2Mayor@Riversideca.gov                    Has not stated a position

Clerk                 City_clerk@riversideca.gov

City Of Our Dreams, Environment, Open Government, Public Policy, Safety, Social Capital

General Plan Update – An Opportunity To Weigh In

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General Plan Advisory Committee Interest Form

Click the link above to sign up. Read below to review the questions.

Question Title

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The City of Riverside is forming a General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) to help craft a comprehensive update of the City’s General Plan and a new Climate Action Adaptation Plan (CAAP). The GPAC will consist of a diverse group of Riversiders convened to provide input, feedback, and recommendations to City staff, the technical consultant team, the Planning Commission, and ultimately the City Council on key components of the General Plan.
The GPAC will help inform and articulate the community’s vision for future growth in the City including identifying opportunity areas, refining the City’s land use plans and circulation networks, and developing objectives the City will pursue related to conservation, infrastructure, parks, education, economic development and so much more. Another primary responsibility of the GPAC is to develop the draft goals and policies to implement the vision which will guide the City’s decision-making process up to 2050.
The core function of the GPAC is to represent the interests and values of Riverside community members. The GPAC is tasked with acting as a conduit for community concerns, opinions, attitudes, values, interests, and expectations. GPAC members will be selected to represent a broad range of sectors, interests, institutions and geographies of the City; however, irrespective of their individual viewpoints or preferences, GPAC members seek the benefit of the entire community in their recommendations and work to build consensus between divergent viewpoints for the betterment of Riverside.
Throughout the process the GPAC may be asked to review public input and amplify voices of the community through collaborative discussion. In this role, they will serve as project ambassadors to the community, creating greater community trust and ownership of the General Plan. GPAC ambassadors will help educate the public on the project, create awareness about upcoming events, and obtain additional community input to be shared during GPAC meetings.
To express interest in joining the GPAC, please complete this interest form no later than Friday, September 20th, 2024 at 5 PM. All interested parties will be notified of the committee selections in October. Interested parties who are not selected to serve on the GPAC are encouraged to participate by attending community events, contributing feedback, and sharing the word about opportunities to engage.
If you are experiencing any technical issues completing the form, please contact the Project Team at Info@Riverside2050.com or text 844-289-8614.

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* 1. What is your full name?

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* 2. What is your address? (Business or Residential)

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* 3. What is your phone number?

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* 4. What is your email address?

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* 5. How many years have you lived in the City of Riverside?

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* 6. Do you currently hold any paid office or employment with the City of Riverside, including but not limited to contracted services?

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* 7. GPAC members will be asked to liaise with and represent the priorities, concerns and interests of the broader community, industry or non-profit groups with which they are connected. Please select any of the following General Plan Update areas of interest below that best relates to your subject matter expertise. Multiple selections are allowed.

– Academic or Professional Research and Instruction related to best practices, industry trends, and policy developments.

– Professional Experience as a consultant, agency employee, or non-profit organization, with direct experience related to General Plan subject matter and/or matters specific to the City of Riverside and its stakeholders.

– Experience Serving in an Advisory Role on a committee, commission, board, or forms of advisory groups, especially those that advised government agencies.

Please use this example as guidance on the level of detail to include in your responses:

From 2018-2021 I served on an advisory committee that was tasked with advising the City of Imagination on best practices for community outreach and environmental justice. In my role, I reviewed presentations related to potential environmental justice programs and provided recommendations that helped the City to develop a policy avoiding housing displacement resulting from park expansion. I also served as an outreach ambassador by leading a phone outreach campaign, sending newsletters, and social media content to promote public engagement opportunities.

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* 8. Please rank the preferences of the following stakeholder groups you want to serve from the top group as your highest preference and the bottom group as your lowest preference.

 

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* 9. Do you have prior experience serving on a General Plan Advisory Committee or similar appointed committee, commission task force or other ad-hoc body? (Not required to serve on the Committee)

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* 10. Please briefly describe why you wish to serve the City of Riverside as a member of the GPAC. Include any special qualifications, community relationships and insights that you think will add value to the GPAC and General Plan update process.

The following questions are all optional and are not required qualifications to serve on the GPAC.

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11. If you have current or prior civic experience in the City of Riverside, please describe the experience in the text box below. Please include the organization name, your role, and years of membership. Multiple experiences can be included.

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12. If you have any educational background relevant to the General Plan Update areas of interest, please describe your background in the text box below. Please include the institution name, your area of study, and degree earned. Multiple educational backgrounds can be included.

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13. If you have owned or currently own a business in Riverside, please describe your business in the text box below. Please include the business name, nature of the business, and the years of operation. Multiple businesses can be included.

By pressing Done, I certify that all statements made on this application are true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I also certify that I commit to fulfill my obligations as member of the GPAC including, but not limited to:

 

  • Represent the broad concerns and priorities of the sector or Ward they represent
  • Act as an ambassador between the project team and their networks
  • Promote the long-term success of the plan and the City
  • Commit to attending all meetings
  • Commit to obtain feedback from networks/sectors and convey to Committee

 

 

Economic Development, Open Government, Public Policy, Social Capital

UNA September 2024 Meeting Agenda

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Every 2nd Thursday  6:30 – 8:30

Map and Directions To Crest Community Church
3431 Mt Vernon Ave, Riverside, CA 92507

1. Welcome – Introductions                                         5 min.

2. City Clerk Donesia Gause, MMC   Q&A        40 min.

3. City Innovation & Technology

Chief  Q&A                                                              40 min.

4. Council Updates

5.Announcements Updates:                                      5 min

General Plan Advisory Committee Interest Form

Neighbors Better Together Ballot Rebuttal

Sign the Change.org Petition to

RTRP Underground or Above Ground Survey .

Neighborhood  Resources

Neighbors Better Together

Do It Yourself Wildfire Protection

Follow Our Courts

US Covid Atlas

 

City Of Our Dreams, Democarcy, Ethics, Living Among Giants, Open Government, Public Policy, Social Capital

NBT Inspector General Ballot Rebuttal Denied

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Neighbors Better Together Group LogoThe united voices of neighborhood groups across the city NBT, Neighbors Better Together wrote a rebuttal to the current ballot language.

The reason this is even on a ballot is because several Charter Review committees have advocated for this over the years. Council adopted the Review Committee’s recommendation, but not as they recommended.

The Charter Review Committee recommended the position be an elected one instead of appointed. The reasons for that are obvious.

Here is what you won’t see on the ballot:

Vote “No” on Measure L.

We Are Just Getting Started Sign

After years of discussing and researching the subject, and at the demands of longtime City watchdogs for greater accountability and transparency, in 2022 Riverside’s appointed Charter Review Committee recommended the creation of an elected (by the public) Inspector General position, with almost exactly the same powers to investigate fraud, waste and abuse as the appointed (by our City Council) position before you today.

Sadly the 2022 City Council, who had made the appointments to the Committee, instead chose to bring before the electorate an appointed position; not unlike Measure E in 2012, which was to create an appointed City Auditor position with once again, almost identical powers.  Measure E was soundly defeated by voters then, like Measure L should be now.

Why?  An appointed Inspector General is not as independent nor directly accountable to the people, rendering their function not just useless, but dangerous in our opinion.  It would provide the illusion of legitimacy, scarcely more effective than the current, and often criticized, practice of having internal auditors that work for our City Manager.  The temptation to whitewash embarrassing, and potentially politically damaging audit findings, would be overwhelming.  Current personalities aside, the fox would be in essence guarding the henhouse.  We deserve better.

Voting “No” on Measure L will allow time for the advocates of an elected Inspector General position to work with the new Council members, installed this year (Falcone, Robillard, Mill), who we think better understand the importance of independent investigation, to bring you a much better ballot measure in early 2026.  We believe they are not afraid of oversight, see the benefits of the public’s ongoing faith in efficient and honest City government, and know that an elected position will ultimately provide a better return on investment for taxpayers.

Please vote “No”.

City Of Our Dreams, Economic Development, Environment, Ethics, Green Energy, Health, Public Policy, Safety, Social Capital

Add Your Name To Riverside Neighbors Demanding Underground RTRP Transmission Lines

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RTRP Route Map

At June’s UNA meeting, we will take a vote to submit the following letter on behalf of our neighborhood group, and joining groups from across the city who are demanding a safer, transmission line project.

Thousands of Riverside residents will be affected by higher insurance rates, lower property values, viewshed  destruction, enhanced wildfire risk, other public safety risks, plus the theft of generational equity from some of our most disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Dear City Council Members,  I am writing to you on behalf of the University Neighborhood Association with a request to reconsider the  vote to stop the working group from obtaining the  information needed to proceed with a request to  underground the power lines in our city.

As a concerned citizen,  who has witnessed both past and  present  Councils echoing the Community’s voice,  saying that we do  not have enough information or cost data regarding this project, I remain dismayed at the refusal to get that information.

Yet we persist in a course of action we all know is fraught with peril and foreseeable public health and safety risks. The very risks you swore an oath to put foremost in your elected stewardship duties. This is a risk to current and future residents as well as a dire risk to our regional neighbors who expect more from a city always eager to take leadership for innovation.

It is especially dismaying that we are proceeding in spite of State requirements that all new transmission line projects shall be underground. Did we not get the memo?

This is information we do have. We also know the easement needed to proceed is not forthcoming unless this project is underground. We know the longer we delay the greater the fire danger and the costs.

I am wondering if any of you have considered the possibility of having a shovel-ready project in three years and built in five?

What is needed is the political will to request a new EIR or Supplemental EIR to include current conditions. I know that if there was political will, time frames can be shortened.

We also have a mayor who is an expert in this arena and I am urging you Mayor Dawson, to bring the best of your considerable talents, experience, and demonstrated love for Riverside to show up on this.  Your legacy is at risk. Have you considered the optics of having an environmental expert as mayor and proceeding with this monstrosity of a project? Even Edison is telling us to underground everywhere except for the City of Riverside apparently.

Political will  gives us all the information we need and the project ready to submit in less than a year – if we require it. And if this project is as critical to our future as Staff, Edison, SEIU, the Chamber and a host of paid performers, shilling during Council deliberations, have said it is, then it is equally critical to listen to your community.

One of you needs to step up and request a reconsideration to get this rolling. If we are serious about need and the speed, then the shortest time frame starts with a new EIR process. One or all of you newly elected has an opportunity to step up and demonstrate the kind of leadership we have seen from Councilmen Conder, Hemenway and Councilwoman Cervantes.

We expect you to do your jobs and due diligence on this or risk the likely result of being a one term councilman.

Gurumantra Khalsa
Co Chair, University Neighborhood Assn.
951-640-3868

 

 

 

Environment, Parks, Public Policy, Safety, Social Capital

UNA June 2024 Meeting Agenda

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Every 2nd Thursday  6:30 – 8:30

Map and Directions To Crest Community Church
3431 Mt Vernon Ave, Riverside, CA 92507

1. Welcome – Introductions                                         5 min.

2. City Parks Director Pamela Galera   Q&A   40 min.

3. Fire Chief Micheal Moore or                               40 min.

Deputy Fire Chief Steve McKinster      Q&A

4. Announcements Updates:                                      5 min

Take the  RTRP Underground or Above Ground Survey .

Neighborhood  Resources

Follow Our Courts

US Covid Atlas