Report to City Council
ID: 26-0029 Page 1
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Brian Mohan, City Manager
AGENDA DATE: January 20, 2026
TITLE: EXPLORE ADDING A LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AT
THE BEGINNING OF THE AGENDA FOR FUTURE
COUNCIL MEETINGS (REPORT OF: CITY MANAGER)
(DISTRICT: NOT APPLICABLE)
TITLE SUMMARY: Explore adding a land acknowledgement at the beginning of the Agenda for future Council meetings
DISTRICT: Not Applicable
Recommendation(s)
That the City Council:
1. Explore adding a land acknowledgement at the beginning of the Agenda for future Council meetings; and
2. Provide directions to staff to implement a land acknowledgement based on a motion, second and vote of Council to do so.
SUMMARY
At the January 6, 2026 Council meeting, Councilmember Baca-Santa Cruz motioned for Council to explore “adding a land acknowledgement at the beg inning of the Agenda for future Council meetings the way the school districts and college districts do ”, which was seconded by Mayor Cabrera and approved with a vote of 5-0 vote.
ID: 26-0029 Page 2
DISCUSSION
At the January 6, 2026 Council meeting, Councilmember Baca-Santa Cruz motioned for Council to explore “adding a land acknowledgement at the beginning of the Agenda for future Council meetings the way the school districts and college districts do ”, which was seconded by Mayor Cabrera and approved with a vote of 5-0 vote.
Background information for each of the entities mentioned in the motion is below for reference:
MVUSD Land Acknowledgement (Section E. Open Session Item 2. Land Acknowledgement)
The Moreno Valley Unified School District acknowl edges that our schools and district sites are situated on the ancestral homelands and traditional territories of Indigenous peoples, including the Cahuilla, the Gabrielino-Tongva, the Luiseño, and the Serrano. We honor their connection to this region and sincerely appreciate the opportunity to educate our students on their traditional homeland. Their continued presence, resilience, and vital contributions remind us of our responsibility to honor and care for this land and its people.
VVUSD Land Acknowledgement (Section C. Reconvene into Open Session Item 4.
Reading of Land Acknowledgement)
Val Verde Unified School District would like to respectfully acknowledge and recognize our responsibility to the original and current caretakers of this land, water, an d air: the Cahuilla, Payómkawichum peoples and all of their ancestors and descendants, past, present, and future. We are honored and grateful to be here today on their ancestral lands and have the opportunity to live and work on their homelands.
Riverside Community College District (Order of Business after the Pledge of Allegiance)
Board members, the Chancellor, faculty, management and classified professionals offer gratitude and respect to the land's Indigenous caretakers and affirm the District's intentions of maintaining the land's integrity and the Tongva (Gabrieleno), Cahuilla, Payómkawichum (Luiseño), Serrano and Cupeño tribes' legacy. We promise to honor the continued guardianship of the land, water and air — all of which are inseparable. We are indebted to the caretakers of yesteryears and the stewards of our institutions will honor the opportunity to live and educate upon these homelands.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve and authorize the recommended actions as presented in this staff report.
2. Do not approve and authorize the recommended actions as presented in this staff report.
ID: 26-0029 Page 3
FISCAL IMPACT
Dependent on the direction provided to staff.
NOTIFICATION
Publication of the Agenda.
PREPARATION OF STAFF REPORT
Prepared By: Department Head Approval:
Brian Mohan Brian Mohan
City Manager City Manager
CITY COUNCIL GOALS
Advocacy: Develop cooperative intergovernmental relationships and be a forceful advocate of City policies, objectives, and goals to appropriate external governments, agencies and corporations.
Community Image, Neighborhood Pride and Cleanliness: Promote a sense of community pride and foster an excellent image about our City by developing and executing programs which will result in quality development, enhanced neighborhood preservation efforts, including home rehabilitation and neighborhood restoration.
Positive Environment: Create a positive environment for the development of Moreno Valley's future.
CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
1. Economic Development
2. Public Safety
3. Library
4. Infrastructure
5. Beautification, Community Engagement, and Quality of Life
6. Youth Programs
ID: 26-0029 Page 4
Report Approval Details
Document
Title:
STAFFREPORT_CM_LAND_ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.docx
Attachments:
Final Approval
Date:
Jan 14, 2026
This report and all of its attachments were approved and signed as outlined below:
Patty Rodriguez
Natalia Lopez
Launa Jimenez
Patty Rodriguez