City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: OCTOBER 21, 2025 FROM: COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WARDS: ALL
DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: PLANNING CASE PR-2025-001821: CODE TEXTS AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 20 ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 20 (CULTURAL RESOURCES) OF THE RIVERSIDE MUNICIPAL CODE.
ISSUE: Planning Case PR-2025-001821 (Title 20 Text Amendment) - Adopt an ordinance to amend Title 20 (Cultural Resources) of the Riverside Municipal Code.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council adopt an Ordinance amending Title 20 (Cultural Resources) of the Riverside Municipal Code.
INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE:
On September 16, 2025, the City Council introduced an ordinance amendment to Title 20 Cultural Resources of the Riverside Municipal Code, removing Section 20.30.030 Historic Preservation Fund in its entirety and other references to the Historic Preservation Fund, as needed. The motion carried unanimously with Councilmember Robillard absent.
CULTURAL HERITAGE BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS:
On July 16, 2025, the Cultural Heritage Board (CHB) unanimously voted (6 ayes) to recommend that the City Council approve Planning Case PR-2025-001821 and amend Title 20, removing the Historic Preservation Fund.
BACKGROUND:
In April 2013, the City Council established the Historic Preservation Trust Fund Program (HPTF) and the Historic Preservation Fund Committee (HPFC) by amending Title 20 (Cultural Resources) of the Riverside Municipal Code. The HPTF was initially funded with $500,000 from the General Fund and later $100,000 from the sale of the former Marcy Library property and $70,000 from the sale of the Farm House Motel was added.
In total 45 projects have been approved in four bi-annual grant cycles. With limited funding remaining, discussions were held on how to handle the remaining balance of the HPTF. Cultural Heritage Board members, City Council members, and Staff considered potential uses for the funds, including funding a revised Historic District Sign program.
On May 6, 2025, City Council allocated the remaining approximately $134,449.26 in the HPTF to projects including Historic District Signs, Landmark Plaques, and a Historic District Survey. As the HPTF was exhausted by the allocations, City Council directed staff to prepare an amendment to Title 20 and remove the Historic Preservation Fund Program.
DISCUSSION:
The Historic Preservation Fund Program is established by Section 20.30.030 (Historic Preservation Fund) of the Riverside Municipal Code with code text pertaining to the HPFC, grant administration, and eligible projects. Other references to the Historic Preservation Fund, related to notice and approval authority, are present in Chapter 20.15 (Approvals and Hearings).
The proposed amendment includes:
Removal of Section 20.30.030 (Historic Preservation Fund) in its entirety.
Modification of Table 20.15.010 (Approving and Appeal Authority) to remove the Historic Preservation Fund Committee and Historic Preservation Fund Grants Removal of Section 20.15.085 (Meeting and notice for Historic Preservation Committee)
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The proposed amendments are exempt from additional California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review pursuant to Sections 15308 (Actions to Protect Environment), 15060(c)(2) (No Physical Change), 15060(c)(3) (Not A Project), and 15061(b)(3) (General Rule), as the proposed amendment will cause no direct or indirect change to the environment, does not meet the definition of a Project under CEQA, and it can be seen with certainty that the proposed amendment will not have an effect on the environment.
FINDINGS
Cultural Resources Code Amendment Findings pursuant to Chapter 20.45.020:
The proposed amendment is generally consistent with the goals, policies, and objectives of the general plan; and The proposed amendment complies with the purposes of this Title.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This total fiscal impact of this action is approximately $1,421, which is the interest amount remaining in the Historic Preservation Trust Fund. Upon Council approval a supplemental appropriation in the amount of $1,421 will be recorded in the Grants & Restricted Programs Fund, Historical District Sign Program, expenditure account number 9930200-440309, with funds from the Interest Bearing Special Deposits Fund, Historical Preservation Trust account number 0000721-225467.
Prepared by: Scott Watson, Historic Preservation Officer Reviewed by: Jennifer Lilley, Community & Economic Development Director Attachment: Title 20 Amendment Ordinance
Title 20 Text Amendment ● Page 2