CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2025, 12:00 P.M.
ART PICK COUNCIL CHAMBER
3900 MAIN STREET
110-315
PRESENT: Mayor Pro Tem Mill, and Councilmembers Falcone, Cervantes, Conder, Perry, and Hemenway
ABSENT: Mayor Lock Dawson and Councilmember Robillard
Luncheon and tour hosted by Riverside Live Steamers at Hunter Hobby Park.
The meeting scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at Hunter Hobby Park, 1401 Iowa Avenue was cancelled due to lack of quorum.
Mayor Pro Tem Mill called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.
Councilmember Conder gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENTS IN PERSON/TELEPHONE
Errol Koshewitz spoke regarding Public Records request related to CalPERS expenditures.
MAYOR/COUNCILMEMBER COMMUNICATIONS
Councilmember Falcone thanked Public Works team for preparing for City Hall 50th Anniversary and reported on Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful (KRCB) event, Unity Basketball game, Vintage Home Tour, and Downtown Neighborhood Alliance meeting.
Councilmember Cervantes reported on the Safety Security Business meeting, Build Our Park Advisory Group meeting, Sycamore Canyon Neighborhood meeting, Box Springs Mountain Park 50th Anniversary event, Slice House Pizza grand opening and Blue Zones Kickoff event. Councilmember Conder reported on Associated General Contractors (AGC) Apprenticeship event, Ward 4 constituent services, KRCB event, Riverside Live Steamers Luncheon, and three fire alarms in Ward 4 during the 25 Most Remarkable Teens award presentation. Mayor Pro Tem Mill reported on KRCB events throughout the city, congratulated Councilmember Falcone for his Riverside Clean and Beautiful (KRCB) recognition and announced the Annual Heritage House Ice Cream Social and the Chili Kickoff and Car Show.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF COMMITTEE MEETING
Finance Committee at 3 p.m., on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, Art Pick Council Chamber.
CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2025, 12:00 P.M.
ART PICK COUNCIL CHAMBER
3900 MAIN STREET
110-316
COMMUNICATIONS
CITY MANAGER UPDATE
The City Council received updates from the City Manager regarding (1) Mayor Lock Dawson, Councilmember Robillard, and Community and Economic Development Director Jennifer Lilley in Washington, DC attracting new business to the City of Riverside and lobbying efforts in Washinton, DC; (2) meetings with EPA to discuss water utility issues and with FAA to discuss our regional airport; and (3) a Riverside Cohort consisting of City Manager, Mayor Lock Dawson, Fire Chief McKinster and Advisor to the Mayor Zoe Ridgway, chosen by Harvard Kennedy School of Business and sponsored by Bloomberg Foundation, will be traveling to Boston for training focused on community engagement regarding wild fire prevention and what to do after a fire.
COUNCILMEMBERS DECLARATION OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND EX PARTE There were no conflicts of interest nor ex-parte communications declared.
PRESENTATION
NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK
The City Council received a presentation on Public Works Department overview and employee recognition. Mayor Pro Tem Mill presented a proclamation to Public Works Director Gilbert Hernandez recognizing May 18 through 24, 2025, as National Public Works Week.
DISCUSSION CALENDAR
AMENDMENT - PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 - FISCAL YEAR 2024-2026 BIENNIAL BUDGET
Following discussion, it was moved by Councilmember Cervantes and seconded by Councilmember Perry to (1) receive and file the proposed amendment of Fiscal Year 2025/26 of the previously adopted Fiscal Year 2024-2026 Biennial Budget; and (2) set a public hearing for the adoption of the Amended Fiscal Year 2025/26 Budget on June 17, 2025. The motion carried unanimously.
CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2025, 12:00 P.M.
ART PICK COUNCIL CHAMBER
3900 MAIN STREET
110-317
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. The motion carried unanimously.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of April 29, 2025, were approved as presented.
GRANT AGREEMENT - ARMORY BUILDING AT FAIRMOUNT PARK - SUPPLEMENTAL
APPROPRIATION
The City Council (1) authorized the acceptance of two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) from a federal subcommittee appropriation to support the substantial renovation of the Armory Building at Fairmount Park; (2) approved a draft Grant Agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as the administering document for the federal subcommittee appropriation related to this Project; (3) authorized the City Manager or designee to execute any and all funding documents associated with receipt and usage of this funding appropriation, making minor corrections as necessary; and (4) upon execution of a final Grant Agreement with HUD, authorized an increase in revenue to the Grants and Restricted Programs fund, Armory Renovations project account and corresponding appropriation to an expenditure account in the amount of $2,500,000 or the actual grant award to be established by the Finance Department.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 2439 AGREEMENT - 2022 REGIONAL EARLY ACTION PLANNING (REAP 2) GRANT HOUSING INFILL ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANDS (HIPP) PILOT PROJECT The City Council (1) approved a Professional Consultant Services Agreement with RADAR Inc., Los Angeles, for Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 2439, for the Missing Middle Prototype Plans for Infill Housing Sites Project, for a one-year term with an optional one-year extension in the amount of $472,993 and a change order authority in the amount of $27,007 not to exceed a total compensation amount of $500,000; and (2) authorized the City Manager, or his designee, to execute the Professional Consultant Services Agreement and subsequent related agreement(s), as necessary, with RADAR Inc, including making minor and non-substantive changes including but not limited to exercising the option to extend.
CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2025, 12:00 P.M.
ART PICK COUNCIL CHAMBER
3900 MAIN STREET
110-318
GRANT FUNDS - MULBERRY GARDEN FAMILY PROJECT - SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION -
RESOLUTION
The City Council (1) adopted a resolution authorizing a joint application with the City of Riverside and Eden Housing, Inc. and acceptance of a grant award of $27,974,220 from the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development for a $14,000,000 Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities loan for the development of the Mulberry Gardens Family Apartments located at 2524 Mulberry Street and a $13,974,220 grant for the associated Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure projects; (2) authorized the City Manager, or designee, to sign any documents that may be required for submittal of the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities application, including making minor and non-substantive changes; (3) accepted a grant award in the amount of $13,974,220 from the State of California Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Grant for transportation projects awarded under the Mulberry Gardens Family Project; and (4) authorized the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record an increase in revenue and an appropriation in the amount of $13,974,220, or the actual grant award, in the Development Grants Fund, AHSC Mulberry Gardens – Mulberry Gardens Family Project revenue and expenditure accounts; whereupon the title having been read and further reading waived, Resolution No. 24260 of the City Council of the City of Riverside, California, Authorizing the Acceptance of Grant Funds from the Department of Housing and Community Development for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities for the Mulberry Garden Family Project and Associated Sustainable Transportation Improvement Projects(“STI”).
AGREEMENT - COMMERCIAL DRIVER’S ENTRY-LEVEL DRIVER TRAINING SERVICES The City Council (1) approved a Professional Consultant Services Agreement with Rock Gate Capital LLC., Chicago, Illinois, to provide Employee Commercial Driver’s Entry-Level Driver Training Services for a three-year term through June 30, 2028 totaling $300,000, with the option for two one-year extensions, in an amount not-to-exceed $100,000 annually, for a total contract amount of $500,000 if options are exercised; and (2) authorized the City Manager, or his designee, to execute the Professional Consultant Services Agreement with Rock Gate Capital LLC., including making minor and no substantive changes and also execute future contract extensions as provided for in the Agreement.
CLOSED SESSION
The Mayor and City Council adjourned to closed session at 4:28 p.m. pursuant to Government Code (1) §54956.9(d)(1) to confer with and/or receive advice from legal counsel concerning City of Riverside v. LR Miller Properties, LLC, Riverside Superior Court
CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2025, 12:00 P.M.
ART PICK COUNCIL CHAMBER
3900 MAIN STREET
110-319
Case No. CVRI2501811; (2) §54956.9(d)(1) to confer with and/or receive advice from legal counsel concerning Susan Wiseman v. City of Riverside, et al., Riverside County Superior Court Case No. CVRI2500680; Claim No: 24-08-55; (3) §54956.9(d)(1) to confer with and/or receive advice from legal counsel concerning Thomas and Judy Langston v.
City of Riverside, Riverside Superior Court Case No. CVRI2301806; (4) §54956.9(d)(2)/54956.9(e)(3) to confer with and/or receive advice from legal counsel concerning Nikolas Mastorakis v. City of Riverside, Claim No.: 24-11-39; (5) §54956.9(d)(2) to confer with and/or receive advice from legal counsel concerning anticipated litigation - one case; (6) §54956.9(d)(4) to confer with and/or receive advice from legal counsel concerning the City Council deciding whether to initiate litigation - one case; (7) §54957(a), for consultation with Larry Gonzalez, Riverside Chief of Police, or his respective deputy, and George Khalil, Chief Information Officer regarding threat to public services or facilities; and (8) §54957.6 to review the City Council's position and instruct designated representatives 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 Police Officers Association (Police and Police Supervisory Units), Service Employees International Union #721, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers #47, and Riverside Police Administrators Association.
The Mayor Pro Tem Mill and City Council reconvened at 5:08 p.m. with Mayor Pro Tem Mill presiding and all Councilmembers present.
COMMUNICATIONS
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION DISCUSSIONS
City Attorney Rebecca Reimbold-McKee announced there were no reportable actions taken.
ITEMS FOR FUTURE CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION AS REQUESTED BY MAYOR OR MEMBERS
OF THE CITY COUNCIL - CITY MANAGER/CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS There was no future items requested.
PUBLIC COMMENTS IN PERSON/TELEPHONE
The City Council adjourned the meeting at 5:08 p.m.