UPDATED JUNE 2025
CITY OF RIVERSIDE STRATEGIC PLAN
FINAL SUMMARY REPORT
2025
ENVISION
RIVERSIDE
30.4%
Completed
7 of 23 69.6%
On-Going
16 of 23
STRATEGIC
PLANNING
COMPLETED
Parks
Master
Plan
Trails
Master
Plan
Gateway
Projects
STARTED
Arts
Master
Plan
General Plan – Open Space,
Parks, and Recreation
Element Update Started
KICKED OFF
INITIATIVES
100 Events to
Celebrate
Museum’s 100th
Anniversary
River District
Feasibility
Study
Piloted
Utility
Box Art
Launched
Mural
Program
Launched
Artist-in-Residence
Program
MAJOR
PROJECTS
DESIGNED
Eastside
Library
Design Award
COMPLETED & OPENED
Main Library:
Award of
Merit
The Cheech:
National Medal
for Museum
Bourns Youth
Innovation Center:
Award of
Excellence in Design
RAMPED UP
PROGRAMMING
• Expanded Library Hours
• Aquatics
• Seniors
• Adaptive Sports
• Bourns Youth
Innovation Center:
100+ STEAM classes
• Grab ‘n’ Go Meals:
163,200 Issued
• Library Programs:
Book Lockers,
Riverside Reads,
Summer Reading,
• Local Art Added to
All Libraries
• Senior
Eldertainment Series
• Senior Luncheons:
8,000 Meals
• Launched
“Rec to Go”
(Mobile Park)
Program
ARTS, CULTURE
AND RECREATION
23 ACTION ITEMS
5 GOALS
CURRENT
PLANS
SPC Jesus S. Duran Eastside Library
Secured $14.5M in State Grants for Construction
Fairmount
Park
Armory
$2.5M in
Fed Funds
Gage Canal
Trail Conversion
Projects
$5.1M in Grants
BID Issued
César Chávez
Community
Center
$25M Out to BID
in State Funds
Harada House
Rehabilitation
Patterson Park
Award of BID
Tim Strack
Park
Bordwell
Gym
$8M BID
Awarded
Museum
of Riverside
$42M BID
Awarded
INCREASED
INVESTMENT
PARKS REFRESH PROJECTS
• Harrison
Park
• Hunt Park
• Nichols
Park
• Taft Park
Refresh Projects ($3.5M):
• Bergamont Park
• Castleview Park
• Collett Park
• Dario Vasquez Park
• Playgrounds
• Parking
Lots
• HVAC
Updates
LIBRARY
• One-Time
$600k for Books
• $500K Annual
Increase for
Books
• e-Mobile Library
Launched
• Assisted 195 Low Income Renters With
Emergency Assistance
• Assisted 946 Homeless Individuals With
Shelter and Case Management
• Engaged 1,800 Households Annually
Through Street Outreach
• Created Standard Plans for ADUs
• Entrada: Built 64
Affordable Housing
Units and 8 Units
for Permanent
Supportive Housing
• Increased Housing
Production From 450/Year to
600/Year
• Housed 84 Homeless
Individuals Coupled With
Case Management
• Started Construction on 408
Affordable Units; 281 More in
Development
• Completed Rehab of 23-Bed
Non-Congregate Shelter
• Functional “0” Homelessness
for Youth
INCREASED
HOUSING
AND REDUCED
HOMELESSNESS
STRATEGIC
PLANNING
General
Plan Update
Kicked Off
Citywide Community
Engagement Policy
and Toolkit Approved
Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan
Approved
Housing
Element
Approved
Police Department Strategic Plan and
Fire Department Strategic Plan approved
Homeless Action
Plan Approved
COMMUNITY
WELL-BEING
36 ACTION ITEMS
6 GOALS
5.6%
Pivoted
2 of 36
47.2%
Completed
17 of 36
47.2%
On-Going
17 of 36
KICKED OFF
INITIATIVES
• The City launched a Real Time Crime Center (RTCC)
combining AI, surveillance, license plate readers, and crime data to enhance public safety. Serving as a centralized hub, the RTCC provides real-time intelligence to support officers, detectives, and analysts with timely, actionable insights. • Partnered with other agencies to create an Inland SoCal Fusion Center.
• Partnered with Feeding America to rescue food for
redistribution.
• Launched Riverside Blue Zones Initiative in partnership with Inland Empire Health Plan, RUHS, and Kaiser Permanente.
INCREASED
SAFETY
Reduced
Type 1 Crime by
2.7% Over 4 years
• Reduced Theft
of Vehicles by
24.5% Over 4
Years
• Reduced
Burglary by
22.3% Over 4
Years
Reduced
Type 2 Crime by
11.9% in 2024
Maintained Broad Community Policing & Education Programs:
• Public Safety
Engagement Team
• School Resource Officers
• Blue Elf
• Citizen/Teen
Academies
• Law & Protective Services
Academy
• You Are Not Alone
• Chief’s Advisory
• Neighborhood/Business
Watch
• Police Explorers
• Opportunities With
Education
• 74 Police Officers Hired in
2024
• Started Park and
Neighborhood Specialists
Program
• Since 2020 Hired 189
Officers
• Lowest Vacancy Rate in
Decades With 30 Vacant
Positions (6%)
MAJOR
PROJECTS
• 51-Bed Recuperative Care Facility
(Illumination Foundation)
• 28-Bed Mental Health Recuperative
Facility (Helping Hearts)
• 49-Bed Transitional Housing
(Project Legacy)
• 25-Bed Transitional Housing
(Walden Homekey)
• 80-Unit Affordable Rental Housing
(Vista De La Sierra)
• 33-Unit Supportive Housing for
Aged out Foster Youth (The Aspire)
STRATEGIC
PLANNING
• Economic Development Strategic Plan
• Economic Development Centers of
Excellence
• Magnolia Corridor Reinvestment,
Resilience and Revitalization Strategy
• Arlington Village and Midtown
Riverside Placemaking
• Visit Riverside Tourism Campaign:
6.1M Video Views, 21K+ Followers
• Arts & Culture District Placemaking
• Northside Specific Plan
• Riverside Airport Growth Initiatives
• General Plan Update With
Economic Development Element
PROGRAMS &
INITIATIVES
• Biotech, Aerospace, and
Defense Marketing Materials
• Incentives and Rebates
Promotional Efforts
• Streamline Riverside Refresh
• Developed Concierge
Programs
• Created Self Certification
Program
• Employee On-Boarding Toolkit
• Adaptive Reuse Ordinance: Alternative
Standards for Existing Buildings
• Voluntary Expedited Plan Checks via
Public Works and RPU
• Rivy Chatbot Launched to Support
Customer Questions
• Enhanced Public Portal with
Real-Time Response Features
• Ongoing Collaboration with Chambers
of Commerce and Community for
Feedback
ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY
26 ACTION ITEMS
5 GOALS
3.9%
Pivoted
1 of 26
26.9%
Completed
7 of 26
69.2%
On-Going
18 of 26
Visit Riverside
Brand Audit
Strategic Marketing Plan
and Implementation
Continued Marketing of
“Why Choose Riverside”
CURRENT
PLANS
MAJOR
PROJECTS
Northside Agricultural Innovation Center
First of Its Kind in the U.S.
GREEN TECH HUB
INVESTMENT
• Ohmio: Opened All-Electric Autonomous
Shuttle HQ, Research & Development
Center and Manufacturing Facility
• Voltu: Committed to Open
Manufacturing Facility
• Hyundai Rotem: Secured Site to Build
180 Hydrogen Trains for LA Olympics
• GreenPower:
Established U.S. e-Bus
Manufacturing Hub
• CARB: Opened Largest
LEED Platinum Net Zero
Building in US and So Cal
HQ, Creating 400+ Jobs
ORGANIC WASTE DIVERSION
STRATEGIC
PLANNING
• Approved Integrated Resources Plan
• Kicked off Climate Action
and Adaptation Plan
• Approved Zero Emission
Vehicle Transition Plan for City Fleet
• Initiated General Plan Update Including
elements on Conservation, Air Quality,
Open Space and Parks
• Approved Urban Water Management Plan
• Vehicle Miles Traveled
Mitigation Bank Approved
• Vegetation Management and
Defensible Space Ordinance
Approved
• Named to USGBC’s LEED for
Cities Cohort to Develop
Sustainability Goals and
Validate Performance
11,503,001 lbs.
27,420 Donations
923,778 lbs.
1,990 Donations
7,595,607 lbs.
25,226 Donations
2,983,616 lbs.
204 Donations
15,763.50
Total GHG
Emissions Avoided
(Tons of CO2e)
1,517.96
Total GHG
Emissions Avoided
(Tons of CO2e)
9,982.49
Total GHG
Emissions Avoided
(Tons of CO2e)
4,263.05
Total GHG
Emissions Avoided
(Tons of CO2e)
552,489,887
Total Water
Footprint Reduction
(Gallons)
71,033,095
Total Water
Footprint Reduction
(Gallons)
297,973,811
Total Water
Footprint Reduction
(Gallons)
183,482,981
Total Water
Footprint Reduction
(Gallons)
ALL DONATION
SOURCES
INCOMING
DONATIONS
INTERNAL
DONATIONS
OUTGOING
DONATIONS
• Public Works Solid Waste Partnered with Feeding America, Rescuing 8M+ Pounds of Food Each Year (2023–2024) for Community Redistribution
RAMPED UP
PROGRAMMING
ENVIRONMENTAL
STEWARDSHIP
32 ACTION ITEMS
6 GOALS
21.9%
Completed
7 of 32
75%
On-Going
24 of 32
3.1%
Pivoted
1 of 32
Expanded Rebates Available for Efficient HVACs and Heat PumpsINITIATIVES FUTURE
PLANS Planning an Extreme Heat Summit (Fall 2025) and Sustainability Conference (April 2026)
INCREASED
INVESTMENT
Implemented $30M TCC Grant
in Eastside Including Planting
2,000 Trees, No Cost Solar and
Drought Tolerant Turf Installation
at Dozens of Residences
Purchased Thirty Zero
Emission Vehicles to
Transition City Fleet
Secured Citywide Tree
Inventory Grant ($1M)
Increased Renewable
Portfolio From 37%
(2019) to 69% (2027)
Through Power
Purchase Agreements
MAJOR
PROJECTS
Approved 3.5 MW Solar for New
CARB Facility; Enrolled in RPU’s
100% Renewable Energy Tariff,
Securing LEED Platinum and
Largest Zero Net Energy Building
Status in the U.S.
Entered into Public
Private Partnership with
Anaergia to Construct
a Regional Facility to
Convert Organic Waste
to Gas Project
Ability to Recharge
Up to 26 Billion
Gallons/Year to
Groundwater Aquifer
via 7 Oaks Dam
Recharge Project
Partnered on EIR to Facilitate $100M Habitat
Restoration to Facilitate $1B in Water Projects
Installed Award-Winning
Phoenix Storm Drain
• Adopted the Vehicle Miles Traveled
and Level of Services Traffic Impact
Guidelines and Mitigation Bank
• Launch the Clean Air Car Share
in Partnership with Mobility
Development Operations, UCR’s
Center for Environmental Research
and Technology, CALSTART, and CARB
• Partnered with RTA to
Deploy Ohmio All-Electric,
Autonomous Vehicles
• Secured Grant Funding to
Study Increased Energy
Efficiency and Electrification
• Hosted First Aerospace
Community Expo
RAMPED UP
PROGRAMMING
STRATEGIC
PLANNING
• Pedestrian Target Safeguarding Plan
Approved
• Active Transportation Plan Approved
• Established a Complete Streets
Ordinance
• Trails Master Plan completed
• Updated Urban Forestry Policy
• Adopted Local Roadway Safety
Plan
• Integrated Resources Plan
Approved
• Launched Pavement Trench Cut Fee
Study Followed Waterline Repairs
14.3%
Pivoted
3 of 21
42.9%
Completed
9 of 21 42.9%
On-Going
9 of 21
INFRASTRUCTURE,
MOBILITY AND
CONNECTIVITY
21 ACTION ITEMS
4 GOALS
CURRENT
PLANS
Entered into Public Private Partnership with
Anaergia to Construct a Regional Facility
to Convert Organic Waste to Gas Project
Applied to Upgrade Bike Friendly
City Recognition to Silver City
DIGITAL
INFRASTRUCTURE
• Replaced 120+ Public Safety
Cameras
• Implemented Real Time Crime
Center to Improve Quality of Life and
Improve Public Safety
• Replaced 2,000 City Computers
• Upgraded the City’s Internet
Connection to Improve Internet and
Public Facing Digital Services
• 911 System Hardware
Replacement
• Implemented Active-Active
Multi-Data Center Disaster
Recovery Architecture.
• Replaced the City’s 15 Year
Old Network Infrastructure
• Established Infrastructure
Reserve Fund
CAPITAL
PROJECTS
• Extended Paving Moratorium
(3-5 Years)
• Issued $1.5M/Year RPU Contract for
Faster Street Repairs
• Replaced 260 Traffic Controls;
Funded 160 More
• Paved/Resurfaced 164 Miles of
Streets (~20%) Since 2020
• Expanded Vine St. Mobility Hub with
3–4 Bus Bays
• Bike Lanes: Maintained 156 Miles and
Secured Funding for 225 More Miles
• Constructed 7 Oaks Dam Water
Recharge Project (28B Gal/Year)
• Upgraded Wood Streets Sewer
(Phase 1)
• Began the Van Buren Blvd.
Sewer Project from Wood Rd. to
King Ave.
• Initiated Airport Taxiway A
Rehabilitation ($791K grant)
• Advanced a Project to Repaint
Riverside Airport Terminal.
• Issued a $1.5M/Year RPU
Contract to Replace Temporary
Asphalt Patches
• Expanded the Quiet Zone to
Panorama Rd. and Soon to
Cridge St., Brockton Ave., and
Palm Ave.
• Installed Traffic Signal Fiber
Optic Communications on
Magnolia Ave./Market St.
FUTURE
PLANS • Enterprise Resource Planning
• Asset Management System
• Permitting System Upgrade
• Utility Billing System Upgrade
• 311
Modernization
Digital Transformation Initiatives to Include:
INITIATIVES
• Selected by Harvard University/
Bloomberg Foundation to Help
Improve Use of Data, Innovate,
Improve Communication and Tackle
Complex Problems
• Selected to Participate in
Accelerator for America Cohort to
Assist with Innovation Infrastructure
Initiatives
• EOC Completed 22 Months of
Continuous Operation During
Pandemic and Managed Over a
Dozen Additional Activations
• Approved Community
Engagement Plan to Boost Public
Involvement
• Held Annual Town Hall Meetings
to Share City Milestones and
Challenges with Staff
• Boosted Transparency with a Public
One Stop Shop Portal, Letting
Customers Track Development
Progress at Every Stage
• City Hall and Libraries Certified
Blue Zones Workplace
RAMPED UP
PROGRAMMING
• Expanded Workforce
Training with 229 Training
Sessions and 22,782
Training Hours
• Increased Tuition
Reimbursement
• Added Training for Every Level: EPIC (All),
Emerging Leaders Academy (2 cohorts),
Building the Bench (Future Supervisors),
Foundations of Supervision & HR
Essentials (Front Line Supervisors), and
Amplify Your Impact (Division Managers)
HIGH PERFORMING
GOVERNMENT
35 ACTION ITEMS
5 GOALS
57.2%
On-Going
20 of 35
42.8%
Completed
15 of 35
Received Federal Grant to Host City’s First Extreme Heat Table Top ExerciseFUTURE PLANS
GRANTS
• Received $30M TCC Grant (Largest in City’s
History) Benefiting Eastside
• Secured $300M+ in grants (2023)
• Hired first Grants Administrator, Established
Consultant Bench, and Secured Grant
Management System
• Boosted Grant success rate to 80%
• Received Grants for Tree Inventory ($1M), Energy
Efficiency ($325K), Healthy Neighborhoods ($1M)
and Clean Air Car Share ($1M)
FINANCIAL
• Adopted General Fund and
Maintained Measure Z reserve Policy
(Adopted in 2019)
• Updated Fees and Charges
• Updated Rates
(Water, Electric, Refuse)
• Expanded SHARE Program
• Started Annual Financial Health
Indicator Reports to Benchmark the
City Against Peers
• Implemented Reserve Funds:
• Infrastructure Reserve Funds
• Maintained General Fund
Reserve Policy (adopted in 2016)
• Sewer Fund: A1 to Aa3 Rating
Reflects Strong Growth & Policies
• POBs: AA to AA- Rating
Lower Borrowing Costs
• RPU Water: AA+ Affirmed Rating
Backed by Solid Financials