Report to City Council
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TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Brian Mohan, City Manager
AGENDA DATE: February 3, 2026
TITLE: APPROVE RESOLUTION REVISING POLICY 1.01
RULES OF PROCEDURES FOR CITY COUNCIL
MEETINGS, SECTION 1.1.2.1 ORDER OF BUSINESS -
ADDING A LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE AGENDA (REPORT OF: CITY
MANAGER) (DISTRICT: NOT APPLICABLE)
TITLE SUMMARY: Approve resolution revision Policy 1.01 Rules of Procedures for City Council Meetings, Section 1.1.2.1 Order of Business – adding a land acknowledgement at the beginning of the agenda
DISTRICT: Not Applicable
Recommendation(s)
That the City Council:
1. Approve Resolution 2026 -____ Revising Policy 1.01 Rules of Procedures for City Council Meetings, Section 1.1.2.1 Order of Business – Adding a Land Acknowledgement at the Beginning of the Agenda.
SUMMARY
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 5-0 vote.
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At the January 20, 2026 Council meeting, Councilmember Baca-Santa Cruz motioned “to bring back recommended actions as presented in the staff report” , which was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Gonzalez and approved with a 4-0 vote, with the Mayor away for the vote.
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 5-0 vote.
At the January 20, 2026 Council meeting, Councilmember Baca-Santa Cruz motioned “to bring back recommended actions as presented in the staff report” , which was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Gonzalez and approved with a 4-0 vote, with the Mayor away for the vote.
In an effort to provide the council with additional options beyond those presented at the January 20, 2026 council meeting, staff reviewed the 2024 State of the City land acknowledgement. In 2024, this land acknowledgement was provided by Joseph Ontiveros, Tribal Histori c Preservation Officer, and the following verbiage was used at that event, as it was specifically written for the City of Moreno Valley:
We wish to acknowledge that we are on the unceded lands of the Cahuilla and Páyomkawichum or Luiseño, who as original inhabitants, and now as Sovereign Tribal Nations, have continued to live and thrive upon these lands since time immemorial.
On January 26, 2026, s taff contacted Mr. Ontiveros to ensure that the verbiage above would be acceptable to use as a land acknowled gement at the beginning of our city agenda, and he advised yes , as this language came directly from the Tribal Council .
Therefore, the staff recommends using this verbiage.
The other entities' verbiage discussed during the January 20, 2026 council meeting is listed below for reference only:
MVUSD Land Acknowledgement (Section E. Open Session Item 2. Land Acknowledgement)
The Moreno Valley Unified School District acknowledges 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.
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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, and 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 hono r the opportunity to live and educate upon these homelands.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve and authorize the recommended actions as presented in this staff report.
Staff recommend this alternative.
2. Do not approve and authorize the recommended actions as presented in this staff report. Staff does not recommend this alternative.
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
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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
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Report Approval Details
Document
Title:
STAFFREPORT_CM_LAND_ACKNOWLEDGEMENT_02.03.26.docx
Attachments: - STAFFREPORT_CM_LAND_ACKNOWLEDGEMENT_02.03.26- RESOLUTION.pdf
Final
Approval
Date:
Jan 29, 2026
This report and all of its attachments were approved and signed as outlined below:
Patty Rodriguez
Natalia Lopez
Felicia London, MPA
Launa Jimenez
Patty Rodriguez