City Council
Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: JANUARY 27, 2026 FROM: MUSEUM DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION REGARDING THE LONG-TERM CARE OF THE NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK HARADA HOUSE, SATISFYING A REQUIREMENT OF A FEDERAL GRANT AWARDED BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO SUPPORT THE REHABILITATION OF HARADA HOUSE ISSUE:
Approval of a resolution regarding the long-term care of the National Historic Landmark Harada House, satisfying a federal requirement of a federal grant awarded by the National Park Service to support the rehabilitation of Harada House and authorization of the City Manager or designee to sign all necessary documents.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council approves a resolution regarding the long-term care of the National Historic Landmark Harada House, satisfying a federal requirement of a federal grant awarded by the National Park Service to support the rehabilitation of Harada House and authorizes the City Manager or designee to sign all necessary documents.
BACKGROUND:
In 2020, the Museum of Riverside (Museum) was awarded a $500,000 federal grant from the National Park Service (Save America’s Treasures program) to support the rehabilitation of the National Historic Landmark Harada House. One deliverable associated with this grant was an easement or covenant binding the Museum and the City to provide a level of care and public access to the site for a period of fifteen (15) years.
DISCUSSION:
The Museum’s Save America’s Treasures grant expired in September 2025, and the Museum is closing the files and providing to the National Park Service the final deliverables. Because the Museum was unable to find a suitable third-party easement recipient, authorization from the National Park Service was obtained to record a covenant on Harada House for fifteen (15) years to satisfy the terms of the grant.
After rehabilitation of Harada House is completed and the site is opened to the public, the fifteen-year term will begin. The Community and Economic Development Department will perform annual inspections of the property to ensure that the Museum Department is meeting its obligations of stewardship, documentation, and care of the historic site, and that the public has access as stipulated in the grant.
The Community and Economic Development Department concurs with this request.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the approval of this resolution.
Prepared by: Robyn G. Peterson, Museum Director
Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Certified as to
availability of funds: Julie Nemes, Interim Finance Director Approved as to form: Rebecca McKee-Reimbold, Interim City Attorney Attachments:
CEDD Concurrence
Resolution
Exhibit A to resolution – Index to Photographs
Harada House Resolution ● Page 2