ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PLACEMAKING,
AND BRANDING/MARKETING COMMITTEE
MINUTES
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022, 3 P.M.
PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON/TELEPHONE
ART PICK COUNCIL CHAMBER
3900 MAIN STREET
EDC-40
PRESENT: Chair Fierro, Vice Chair Edwards, Member Hemenway
ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Carmen Soto, Brandon Mercer, Frank Assum ma, Aaron Chandler, Donesia Gause, Mary Kopaskie- Brown, Mitchell Mason, Paloma Montes, Kristie Thomas, Kevin Townsend, Rafael Guzman, Brandon Mercer, Joyce Jong, Matthew Taylor, Judy Eguez, Veronica Hernandez, Michelle Davis
ALSO PRESENT: David McPherson, Ajay Kolluri, and Richard Hamm
Chair Fierro convened the meeting at 3:01 p.m.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
Jason Hunter spoke on land use and warehouse development.
NORTHSIDE AGRICULTURE INNOVATION CENTER UPDATE - CONSIDER MEMORANDUMS
OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE RIVERSIDE FOOD SYSTEMS ALLIANCE AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE AND LAMPLIGHTER ENERGY, INC.
Following discussion, it was moved by Vice Chair Edwards and seconded by Hemenway to (1) receive an update on the Northside Agriculture Innovation Center; (2) direct staff to finalize a Master Lea se Holder Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding with the Riverside Food Systems Alliance to serve as the master lease holder and overall site manager to work with local and regional sub-tenant partners to deliver a variety of community and workforce pr ograms at the Northside Agriculture Innovation Center ; and (a) recommend the City Council approve a Master Lease Holder Agreement and the Memorandum of Understanding with the Riverside Food Systems Alliance; (3) recommend to the City Council approval of a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Riverside, University of California Riverside and Lamplighter Energy, Inc. to formalize a collaboration to develop and implement sustainable agriculture, controlled environment and high- tech agriculture workforce development programs and supportive facilities; (4) d irect staff to finalize a Lease/Lease-Back Agreement with Lamplighter Energy to develop and construct solar facilities at the Northside Agriculture Innovation Center and recommend the City Council approve the agreement; (5) direct staff to research, explore, and pursue a variety of funding sources to support various community and workforce programs at
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PLACEMAKING,
AND BRANDING/MARKETING COMMITTEE
MINUTES
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022, 3 P.M.
PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON/TELEPHONE
ART PICK COUNCIL CHAMBER
3900 MAIN STREET
EDC-41
the Northside Agriculture Innovation Center; and (6) direct staff to research, explor e, and pursue a variety of funding sources to construct the project site and bring back to the Economic Development, Placemaking and Branding/Marketing Committee options to complete the project build out. The motion carried unanimously.
RIVERSIDE STREETCAR FEASIBILITY STUDY UPDATE
Following discussion, it was moved by Member Hemenway and seconded by Vice Chair Edwards to (1) receive update on the Riverside Streetcar Feasibility Study; and (2) direct staff to seek grant funding to integrate the findings of the TIG/m report into an expanded federally compliant zero -emission transportation feasibility study which includes bus rapid transit amongst other alternatives. The motion carried unanimously.
REVIEW AND PROVIDE DIRECTION FOR THE PROPOSED RIVERSIDE MUNIC IPAL CODE AMENDMENTS RELATED TO LEGALIZING CANNABIS USES: TITLE 5 – BUSINESS TAXES, LICENSES AND REGULATIONS; TITLE 9 – PEACE, SAFETY AND MORALS; AND TITLE 19 – ZONING
Following discussion, it was moved by Chair Fierro and seconded by Vice Chair Edwards to direct staff to include the decision points in the Riverside Municipal Code (RMC) draft amendment listed on the staff report as follows: (1) Ownership Definition:
Staff is directed to follow the State definition and include a percentage of 20% in the definition of “owner” ; (2) Criminal Background Checks: Staff is directed to follow the Riverside Police Department ’s current practice and conduct similar background checks for violent felo ny crimes for employees of other businesses requiring special operating permits ; (3) Number of Various Uses Allowed and Storefront Delivery :
Commercial Cannabis Businesses to include both storefront and non- storefront retail, we do not want delivery only (b) Should Manufacturing, Distribution, and Testing Laboratories not be limited? No (c) Should storefront retailers be allowed to deliver? Yes; (4) Labor Peace Agreement : Committee recommends 5 employees or more based on recent policy direction from the City Council; (5) Appeal Officer: Committee recommends Hearing Officer to hear appeals related to denial of permit applications and other appeals of citations and violations ; (6) Distance from Sensitive Receptors – Committee recommends 600 feet per State requirement, 1000 feet for schools with (b) an option that extends to colleges and universities and (c) a map that shows the colleges and universities within the buffers ; (7) Equity Application and License Standards: Staff is directed to pursue a Cannabis Equity Study; and (8) Public Outreach:
Staff is directed to continue commu nity outreach whenever requested and directs
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PLACEMAKING,
AND BRANDING/MARKETING COMMITTEE
MINUTES
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022, 3 P.M.
PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON/TELEPHONE
ART PICK COUNCIL CHAMBER
3900 MAIN STREET
EDC-42
staff to develop outreach program for the ballot measure. The motion carried unanimously.
UPDATE FROM OVERLAND PELICAN RIVERSIDE FOR MIXED -USE STUDENT HOUSING
PROJECT ON CITY-OWNED VACANT LAND
Following discussion, it was moved by Vice Chair Edwards and seconded by member Hemenway to (1) Receive and file an update on the City-owned land located at 3911 University Avenue and 3775 Fairmount Boulevard, identified as Assessor Parcel Numbers 214-252-016 & 213-261-027 (former downtown Terminal) for the development of a mixed-use student housing project; and (2) Recommend the City Council discuss the request from Overland Pelican Riverside.
ITEMS FOR FUTURE COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
No items for future consideration were requested.
The meeting adjourned at 3:21 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
____________________________________
CARMEN SOTO
Deputy City Clerk