City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: APRIL 23, 2024 FROM: COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WARDS: ALL DEPARTMENT SUBJECT: COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW AND EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION ISSUE:
Receive an overview of the Community & Economic Development Department and recognize the Department’s employees.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council receive an overview of the Community & Economic Development Department and recognize the Department’s employees.
BACKGROUND:
The Community & Economic Development Department (Department) is committed to delivering the highest standard of customer care and attracting investment and elevating the quality of life in the community focusing on expanding the arts, fostering innovation, ensuring health and safety, and stimulating development and economic growth throughout the City of Riverside.
The Department oversees a diverse portfolio of programs and services to bolster our economic vitality while meeting the community's expectations for progress and development. Our department's ongoing efforts are aligned with and contribute significantly to the Envision Riverside 2025 Strategic Plan, General Plan 2025, and other critical programs and initiatives essential to the well-being of the City of Riverside.
The Department includes a total of eight divisions supported by 118.5 budgeted employees, which include Administration, Fiscal Services, Arts & Cultural Affairs, Building & Safety, Code Enforcement, Economic Development, Planning, Real Property Services, and the Successor Agency. These divisions support a wide range of partners in the City including Housing and Human Services, Public Utilities, Parks and Recreation, Public Works, and General Services.
DISCUSSION:
The attached presentation provides a comprehensive overview of the Department's activities and accomplishments over the past year and serves to acknowledge and celebrate the outstanding contributions of our dedicated employees.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
The Community & Economic Development Department contributes to all strategic priorities.
The Department also aligns with each of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – The Community & Economic Development Department is transparent and makes decisions based on sound policy, inclusive community engagement, involvement of City Boards & Commissions, and by providing timely and reliable information.
Equity – The Community & Economic Development Department is supportive of the City’s racial, ethnic, religious, sexual orientation, identity, geographic, and other attributes of diversity, and is committed to advancing the fairness of treatment, recognition of rights, and equitable distribution of services, to ensure every member of the community has equal access to share the benefits of community progress.
Fiscal Responsibility – The Community & Economic Development Department is a prudent steward of public funds and ensures responsible management of the City’s financial resources, while providing quality public services to all.
Innovation – The Community & Economic Development Department is inventive and timely in meeting the community’s changing needs and prepares for the future.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The Community & Economic Development Department is committed to meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future, and ensuring the City’s capacity to persevere, adapt and grow during good and difficult times alike.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
Prepared by: Chris Christopoulos, Community & Economic Development Deputy Director Approved by: Jennifer A. Lilley, Community & Economic Development Director
Approved by: Rafael Guzman, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
Presentation
CEDD Overview and Recognition