CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2023, 3 P.M.
PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON/TELEPHONE
ART PICK COUNCIL CHAMBER
3900 MAIN STREET
108-267
PRESENT: Mayor Lock Dawson, Coun cilmembers Edwards, Cervantes, Fierro, Conder, Perry, and Hemenway and Councilwoman
Plascencia
ABSENT: None
Mayor Lock Dawson called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.
Vanessa Williams Lewis gave the Invocation.
Councilmember Hemenway led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE
Errol Koschewitz spoke regarding Public Records Request Act, March Air Force Base and City Council salary. Angela Meluski and Nicholas Adcock spoke regarding the cannabis ordinance and the buffer zone.
COMMUNICATIONS
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
The City Council received an update on intergovernmental relations and legislation.
HOMELESS SOLUTIONS UPDATE
There was no update on homeless solutions.
SUSTAINABILITY UPDATE
There was no update on sustainability.
LEGAL UPDATE
City Attorney Norton announced that the closed session regarding the purchase of property commonly known as Lot 33/Convention Center is continued to the City Council meeting on March 21, 2023.
COUNCILMEMBERS DECLARATION OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
There was no conflict of interest declared at this time.
CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2023, 3 P.M.
PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON/TELEPHONE
ART PICK COUNCIL CHAMBER
3900 MAIN STREET
108-268
MAYOR/COUNCILMEMBER COMMUNICATIONS
Councilmember Edwards reported on Neighbors of the Wood Streets meeting, University of California, Riverside Women and Law networking event, Northside Improvement Association meeting, opening day of Little Le ague at Reed Park, and office hours and thanked Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department Director Pam Galera for attending a meeting at Fairmount Park golf course. Councilmember Conder reported on King High Remembers event, Orangecrest Little League opening day, and Association of Defense Communities National Summit. Counc ilwoman Plascencia reported on Police Department luncheon, office hours, Monte Vista home development, youth office hours, Ward 5 beautification with Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful meet up at California Baptist University, and National League of Cities Housing Community and Economic Development committee meeting. Councilmember Perry reported on Police Foundation luncheon, memorial for Norco Councilmembe r Ted Hoffman, Downtown truck exhibits, and KCAL 9 City Spotlight. Councilmember Hemenway thanked Cynthia Wright and Fox Foundation for live tech demonstration and reported on community meeting at the La Sierra Senior Center. Mayor Lock Dawson thanked members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for cleanup event, Ontario Airport for the tour, and announced Most Remarkable Teen nomination deadline, Rivers ide Youth Council annual mock meeting, and Beautify Riverside event.
CLOSED SESSIONS
The Mayor and City Council adjourned to cl osed sessions at 3:40 p.m. pursuant to Government Code (1) §54956.9(d)(1) to confer with and/or receive advice from legal counsel concerning SEIU Local 721 v. City of Riverside, Public Employees Relations Board, Case No. LA-CE-1577-M; (2)§54957(a) for consultation with Chief of Police Larry Gonzalez and Chief Information Officer George Khalil regarding threat to public services or facilities; (3)§54956.9(d)(2) to confer with and/or receive advice from legal counsel concerning anticipated litigation regarding one case; (4) §54956.9(d)(4) to confer with and/or receive advice from legal counsel concerning the City Council deciding whether to initiate litigation regarding one case; and (5) §54957.6 to review the City Council's position and instruct designated representativ es regarding salaries, salary schedules, or compensation paid in the form of fringe benefits of all Executive Management employees except the City Manager, City Attorney, and City Clerk, all Management and Confidential employees as defined by PERS , Fire Management Unit, Riverside City Firefighters Association, Riverside Polic e Officers Association (Police and Police
CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2023, 3 P.M.
PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON/TELEPHONE
ART PICK COUNCIL CHAMBER
3900 MAIN STREET
108-269
Supervisory Units), Service Employees International Union #721, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers #47, and Riverside Police Administrators Association.
The Mayor and City Council returned to op en session at 6:15 p.m. with Mayor Lock Dawson presiding and all Councilmembers present.
PUBLIC HEARINGS/PLANNING REFERRALS AND APPEALS
RESHAPE RIVERSIDE REDISTRICTING PROCESS
Hearing was called to review and discuss a presentation from staff and the City’s consulting demographer, Redistricting Pa rtners, regarding the Reshape Riverside Redistricting process and criteria for establishing new ward boundaries. Eighteen people spoke on the matter. The public hearing was officially closed.
Following discussion, it was moved by Councilmember Fierro and seconded by Councilmember Cervantes to (1) consider Co mmunity of Interest Testimony and Draft Ward Maps submitted by community member s; (2) approve Draft Map A4 for final selection for the new ward boundaries; and (3 ) direct the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance establishing the Ward Boundaries Plan.
Following further discussion, a substitute motion was made by Councilmember Conder and seconded by Councilwoman Plascencia to modify Draft Map A4 considering Community of Interest for La Sierra South and Presidential tract neighborhood. The motion carried with Councilmembers Conder, Perry, and Hemenway and Councilwoman Plascencia voting aye, and Councilmembers Edwards, Cervantes, and Fierro voting no.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE
Antoine spoke regarding homelessness. One caller spoke regarding technical difficulties on Channel 3.
CONSENT CALENDAR
It was moved by Councilmember Hemenway and seconded by Councilmember Perry to approve the Consent Calendar as presented affirming the actions appropriate to each item with the (1) Agreement Amendment for Property Management Services at Mission Square Office Building, 3750 University Avenue removed from the agenda; and
CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2023, 3 P.M.
PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON/TELEPHONE
ART PICK COUNCIL CHAMBER
3900 MAIN STREET
108-270
(2) the ordinances regarding the Cannabis Business Permit Program removed from the Consent Calendar for separate discussion. The motion carried with Councilmember Perry voting no on the ordinances for the Mayor and City Council compensation salary and fringe benefits.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of February 28, 2023, were approved as presented.
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL COMPENSATION - SALARY AND FRINGE BENEFITS -
ORDINANCES ADOPTED
The City Council adopted Ordinances establis hing the level of compensation (1) of the Mayor and providing certain fringe benefits, and repealing Ordinance No. 7278 in its entirety; and (2) for members of the City Co uncil and providing certain fringe benefits, and repealing Ordinance No. 7279 in its entirety; whereupon, the titles having been read and further readings waived, Ordinance No. 7626
of the City of Riverside, California,
Establishing the Level of Compensation of the Mayor and Providing Certain Fringe Benefits, and Repealing Ordinance No. 7278 in its Entirety and Ordinance No. 7627 of the City of Riverside, California, Establishing the Level of Compensation for Members of the City Council and Providing Certain Fringe Benefits, and Repealing Ordinance No. 7279 in its Entirety, were presented and adopted.
FISCAL YEAR 2021-22 ANNUAL AUDIT REPORTS
The City Council (1) received and ordere d filed the annual audit reports from independent external auditor, Lance, Soll & Lunghard, LLP on the City of Riverside financial results for Fiscal Year 2021-22 as re quired by the Riverside City Charter; and (2) reappointed Lance, Soll & Lunghard, LLP, to serve as the City’s independent auditor to conduct the annual audit for Fiscal Year 2022-23.
2022 JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT (JAG) PR OGRAM APPLICATION - SUPPLEMENTAL
APPROPRIATION
The City Council (1) authorized the Polic e Department to apply to the 2022 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program through the County of Riverside for $124,303 less 10 percent to be reallocated to the County as fiscal agent; (2) approved an Interlocal Agreement Concerning Distribution of t he 2022 Justice Assistance Grant Award; (3) approved the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Certified Standard Assurances;
CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2023, 3 P.M.
PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON/TELEPHONE
ART PICK COUNCIL CHAMBER
3900 MAIN STREET
108-271
(4) authorized the Chief Financial Officer, or his designee, to record an increase in revenues and appropriate expenditures in the amount of $111,872, or an amount equal to the grant award, to the Grants and Restrictive Programs Fund, Police Department JAG 22 Grant Program following receipt of the gr ant award; and (5) authorized the City Manager, or designee, to execute any and all grant documents associated with the 2022 Justice Assistance Grant Program, including making minor and non-substantive changes as necessary.
GRID RESILIENCE AND INNOVATION PARTNERSHIP (GRIP) GRANT APPLICATION - CITYWIDE
ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE FULL DEPLOYMENT - SUPPLEMENTAL
APPROPRIATION
The City Council (1) authorized the Public Utilities Department to submit a Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnership (GRIP) grant application to the U.S. Department of Energy for an amount up to $11.5 million for Citywide Advanced Metering Infrastructure Full Deployment; (2) with five affirmative votes, and upon grant award, authorized the Chief Financial Officer or designee, to record an increase in revenues and an appropriation in expenditures in the estimated grant award am ount of up to $11.5 million, or the actual award amount, in the Electric Fund, GRIP Grant Project accounts; and (3) authorized the City Manager, or designee, to sign an y-and-all necessary documents related to applications for grant funding as discussed in this report, making minor corrections as necessary.
AGREEMENT AMENDMENT - PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICES - MISSION SQUARE OFFICE BUILDING - 3750 UNIVERSITY
This item was removed from the agenda.
DISCUSSION CALENDAR
CASE PR-2022-001453 - CANNABIS BUSINESS PERMIT PROGRAM - ORDINANCES ADOPTED Following discussion, it was moved by Councilmember Fierro and seconded by Councilmember Cervantes to approve adopting Ordinances (1) amending and replacing Chapter 5.77 of the Riverside Municipal Code in its entirety related to licensing of cannabis business uses; (2) amending Chapters 9.04 and 9.07 and deleting Chapter 9.65 of the Riverside Municipal Code to clean up and provide consistency in cannabis regulations and terminology; and (3) amending various Chapters and Tables in
CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2023, 3 P.M.
PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON/TELEPHONE
ART PICK COUNCIL CHAMBER
3900 MAIN STREET
108-272
Title 19 of the Riverside Municipal Code re lated to land use regulations for cannabis related uses and microbusinesses.
Following further discussion, a substitute motion was made by Councilmember Conder and seconded by Councilmember Perry to add hospitals and universities to the 1000-foot buffer zone from sensitive areas related to licensing of cannabis business uses. The motion failed with Councilmembers Conder and Perry voting aye, and Councilmembers Edwards, Cervantes, Fierro, Hemenway and Councilwoman Plascencia voting no.
Subsequently, the original motion carried with Councilmembers Edwards, Cervantes, Fierro, Hemenway and Councilwoman Plasce ncia voting aye, and Councilmembers Conder and Perry voting no.
Whereupon, the titles having been read and further readings waived, Ordinance No. 7628 of the City Council of the City of Riverside, California, Amending and Replacing Chapter 5.77 of the Riverside Municipal Code in its Entirety; Ordinance No. 7629 of the City Council of the City of Riverside, Ca lifornia, Amending Chapte rs 9.04 and 9.07, and Deleting Chapter 9.65 of the Riverside Mu nicipal Code; and Ordinance No. 7630 of the City Council of the City of Riverside, Calif ornia, Amending Various Chapters and Tables in Title 19 of the Riverside Municipal Code, were presented and adopted.
COMMUNICATIONS
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT ON CLOSED SESSIONS
City Attorney Norton announced there were no reportable action taken during closed session.
ITEMS FOR FUTURE CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
Councilmember Perry requested a report on evening public comment to the City Council. Councilmember Cervantes requested an update on the emergency communication system.
The City Council adjourned at 7:58 p.m.