Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Riverside public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
50 issues in taxes budget
City Sponsorship Program funding for nonprofit community events
The city gives out $158,214 to nonprofits for community events each half-year cycle, but that pot hasn't grown in roughly six years even as event costs rise. The committee recommended approval of this cycle's awards and wants staff to look at a funding increase next budget cycle.
Proposed Charter amendments
An Ad Hoc Committee has drafted proposed Charter amendment recommendations for a future Charter Review Commission. Changes to the City Charter can reshape how Riverside's government works, from ethics oversight to council procedures.
2027-2028 Legislative Platform Working Group
A legislative update affecting the city was scheduled to be provided to the committee.
Auto Center Business Improvement District Assessment
The council was scheduled to confirm annual assessments on auto center dealers and raise the city's own contribution from $100,000 to $150,000 a year. Dealers would pay assessments; the city would spend an extra $50,000.
San Onofre decommissioning reserve funding cut in half
Riverside Public Utilities is closing in on fully funding its share of San Onofre nuclear plant decommissioning, so the annual contribution drops from $1 million to $500,000 starting fiscal 2026-27. That frees up utility funds for other needs, though estimates could change when new decommissioning figures come out.
Citywide Artificial Intelligence Strategy
Councilmember Robillard proposed a three-member working group to develop the city's AI policy over 13 months, addressing how the city governs and uses AI tools.
New Inspector General's office takes shape
Riverside finally filled the watchdog position voters approved in 2024. Lori K.M. Cox will audit city spending and investigate fraud and waste starting October 19 — and residents immediately lined up asking her to look at city purchase cards and contracts.
Making the Board of Ethics independent via City Charter
The board is floating a charter change that would write the ethics board into the City Charter — like the Community Police Review Commission — so a future council can't dissolve it, and would let the Inspector General, not council members, appoint its members. Complaint findings and penalties could also shift from City Council to the Inspector General. The ideas are early-stage and head to the Charter Review Committee, which convenes in 2027, with possible voter approval in March 2028.
Executive Board membership changes
Two board resignations (Julie Nemes and Hilda Kennedy of AmPac Business Capital) were up for acceptance, with Brian Kennedy, Jr. of AmPac Business Capital set to fill an office immediately.
City manager recruitment input
The museum director encouraged Board members and the public to fill out a survey — in English or Spanish — on what qualities Riverside should seek in its next city manager.
Permanent collection growth
The board recommended adding dozens of archival lots and bird specimens to the permanent collection and removing old laundry equipment and taxidermy specimens, with final approval resting with the City Council.
Winter holiday meeting schedule
The Board cancelled its November 25 and December 23 meetings and skipped a proposed January 6 special meeting, meaning no Board action can occur until January 27, 2027. Staff said no urgent votes, including NAGPRA-related deaccessions, are anticipated before then.
Legislation affecting utility affordability and PFAS
The board met privately to get legal advice on the city's federal lawsuit against 3M and other manufacturers (MDL No. 2873), likely related to PFAS contamination; no reportable action resulted.
Citywide computer purchasing overhaul through Lenovo
The city is ditching its 790-orders-a-year, Dell-based computer buying in favor of two bulk Lenovo orders per year, cutting per-unit costs 25-61% and eliminating pricey warranties. The utility board authorized its share and sent the recommendation to the City Council.
Police-related $70 tow fee to contracted tow companies
Riverside takes $70 from every tow and pays tow companies less than neighboring cities do, even as their insurance and diesel costs soar. The committee wants to stop the city's cut and raise storage pay without raising fees on residents.
Mills Act program growth
Staff reported 17 Mills Act contracts were approved this year, and the next application window opens January 1 — good news for owners of historic homes looking to lower property taxes in exchange for preservation.
Arts and Culture Grants Program Oversight
A resident questioned who authorized roughly $1 million in arts and culture grants to nonprofits and suggested the new Inspector General look into it.
City Employee Spending and Credit Card Concerns
Two residents raised questions about city employee pay data and dozens of city-issued credit card statements they obtained through public records requests.
Inspector General recruitment and Measure L oversight
Two years after Riverside voters passed Measure L with 65% support, the city is still working on standing up independent oversight — now via an Inspector General position the council itself is recruiting in closed session. Critics say an employee who answers to the council isn't truly independent oversight, and they're frustrated it's being handled through a special meeting with e-comments turned off.
Public Benefits Energy Surcharge Fund spending plan
A community working group spent several meetings developing recommendations for spending the Public Benefits Energy Surcharge Fund reserves. The Board was scheduled to weigh options and potentially forward a preferred plan to the City Council.
Proposition 1 housing bond endorsement
Riverside formally backed Prop 1, the $11.25 billion veterans and affordable housing bond on the November ballot.
Inspector General Appointment
Instead of council members appointing ethics board members, the Inspector General would do it, reducing perceived bias since most complaints target council members. Members debated whether the board would then be beholden to the IG.
Mobile home parks rent stabilization annual review
The annual review capped 2027 mobile home rent increases at 2.56%. Additional changes on capital improvement charges and sale-related rent increases go to the Housing and Homelessness Committee next week.
Customer Refunds and City Charter Section 1204
Board members questioned whether the city charter blocks returning cap-and-trade money directly to customers, as SoCal Gas and Edison are already doing. The city attorney's office was asked for an analysis, and a charter review committee could take up the issue.
Utility Bond Rating Reaffirmed
Fitch reaffirmed the water utility's AA+ bond rating, which means cheaper financing for capital projects and helps keep future rate increases lower.
Commission's charter role in advising City Council
Commissioners disagree about whether the commission is a watchdog or an advisor. Schaefer wants a charter discussion so the commission doesn't hold up grants or ordinances; Dawson insists projects should come to the commission first.
Mounting outside counsel legal fees
Mill blasted $336,483.61 spent on the airport hangar litigation chain, arguing the money should go to potholes and trees; residents demanded mediation instead of litigation.
Proposed Library Budget FY 2026/28
The library's proposed budget for fiscal years 2026/28 was scheduled for presentation. It shapes what services, materials, and staffing residents can expect from Riverside libraries over the coming years.
2027 Open Enrollment and New Voluntary Benefits
The city is rolling out three new voluntary insurance plans — accident, hospital indemnity, and short-term disability — with info sessions this month ahead of fall open enrollment.
Library Trust Fund Spending and Gift Donations
Reports showed $8,709.99 in trust fund spending on books and materials in March and $12,500 in gift fund donations received between late February and early April.
Budget Engagement Commission downsizing
Commissioners kept drifting into questions — crime stats, DUI tracking, revenue generation — that the city attorney says fall outside the commission's charter role of advising the council on spending priorities. The commission plans to discuss its own scope in a future meeting, and any expansion of its authority would require council action.
Fiscal Year 2026-2028 Biennial Budget
Riverside is staring down a $27 million deficit in year one and $34 million in year two. The adopted budget freezes 38 positions, trims services modestly, uses reserves, and relies on a 5.7% fee increase — no layoffs, but staff admit the real pain is internal workload. If revenues don't rebound, year-two cuts to police and fire budgets could follow.
Airport financial health and enterprise fund status
The airport finished the fiscal year 11.6% above budget on revenue and doesn't cost the city anything — it's self-funded and its surpluses legally stay at the airport. It's a win for taxpayers, but the airport still struggles to fund big capital projects like a $4–5 million parking lot repaving.
Purchasing authority and government transparency
Staff proposed letting the city manager approve bigger purchases without a council vote — up to $200,000 informal for most purchases — to cut red tape. Residents warned it reduces transparency and competition, and the council sent the threshold question to the Finance Committee.
Custodial services contract for city facilities
A nearly $3.9 million agreement with UNISERVE would cover cleaning services at city buildings through June 2029.
State legislative changes affecting housing
Thirty-nine new California laws took effect, including rules that could allow up to six units on single-family lots and streamline environmental review. Members worried about losing local discretion and wanted the community better informed before adopting changes.
Commission budget cut to $2,500
The commission's 2026-27 budget is $2,500 — roughly half of last year — and it only covers TV filming costs. No money for brochures, flyers, or outreach swag, which limits the commission's ability to do community education.
State legislation affecting RPU rates and programs
Housekeeping changes with real effects: the city will stop offering master metering to new apartment buildings and mobile home parks (tenants will be billed directly by RPU and eligible for customer programs), plus clearer rules for ADU service connections and utility access to equipment.
Next electric rate study gets underway
The board recommended a $148,800 study that will set the framework for electric rates after the current five-year rate plan expires in 2028 — using new smart-meter data to see exactly how different customer groups would be hit by any future rate changes.
Pepsi pouring rights agreement
The city could sign its first-ever exclusive beverage deal, making Pepsi the primary vendor at city facilities and events. Revenue starts conservatively around $35,000 a year plus commissions, but members flagged health-policy concerns about vending machines in parks and protecting existing sponsorships.
New park capital projects vs. budget constraints
Commissioner Dawson flagged that major projects like the La Sierra Pool and Mission Ranch park were announced without commission review, even after the city asked parks to cut its budget and Measure Z funds are spoken for. He wants the issue agendized.
Measure Z drawdown and softening revenues
Residents continue to spar over Measure Z, the quarter-cent sales tax going to the general fund, with complaints that 'small businesses support' signage is misleading and community meetings drawing big crowds.
Citywide workforce vacancies and recruitment
HR reported busy recruitment — nearly 50 lifeguards onboarded for summer, 25 youth interns, and a successful career fair — plus new exit surveys targeting why employees leave in their first two years.
FY 2025/26 Third Quarter Financial Update
How is the city's budget actually holding up three quarters into the fiscal year? This report covers the numbers, proposed adjustments, and how Measure Z sales tax dollars are being spent — the stuff that shapes what services Riverside can afford.
Updated Investment Policy for City funds
The city's rulebook for how the City Treasurer invests public money was due for an update, replacing the policy set by Resolution No. 23566. How city funds are invested affects returns, safety of reserves, and ultimately the city's bottom line.
Financial Health Indicators report
An annual-style financial checkup showing how Riverside is doing on the measures used to track fiscal health and fiscal responsibility. The results help signal whether the city can keep funding services without fiscal stress.
Bridle Ridge special tax bond issuance
The council was scheduled to consider issuing up to $5 million in special tax bonds for Community Facilities District No. 2021-3 (Bridle Ridge), which funds services and improvements in that Ward 4 area.
Utility legal budget increase
The outside legal budget for Thompson Coburn would grow by up to $80,000 to a total of $977,000 for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, covering power supply litigation and related work.
Parking changes for board and commission members
The city is disabling the convenient parking lot after 5 p.m., pushing commissioners to Garage 6 — which several commissioners said feels unsafe at night, particularly for women leaving alone. The public works director is aware and a response is pending.
Commission budget and discretionary funding
Commissioners learned this commission's budget only covers staffing, meetings and AV — and that it used to be the only commission with extra discretionary funds, now apparently cut. They want a budget briefing and possibly a budget commission presentation.