1 Prepared by:
MISSING MIDDLE PROTOTYPE PLANS FOR INFILL
HOUSING SITES PROJECT
July 30, 2025
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PLAN
CITY OF RIVERSIDE
2 City of Riverside | Missing Middle Prototype Plans for Infill Housing Sites Project | Public Engagement Plan | Draft: June 1 7 , 2025
CONTENTS
1.Introduction
Purpose
Project Outreach Team
Project Outreach Stakeholders
2.Outreach Approach
Outreach Goal
Outreach Objectives
Levels of Public Involvement
3.Toolbox
Event Preparation and Logistics
Technical Advisory Committee
Community Workshops
Project Collateral
Application Materials
Media Engagement
Electronic Engagement
Translation
Outreach Toolbox by Milestone
4.Project Outreach Schedule
3 3
3 4
5 5
5 5
6 6
6 7
8 8
8 8
9 9
10 3
City of Riverside | Missing Middle Prototype Plans for Infill Housing Sites Project | Public Engagement Plan | Draft: June 1 7 , 2025
1. INTRODUCTION
Purpose
This Plan serves as a guiding document for community outreach and engagement for the City of Riverside’s Missing Middle Prototype Plans for Infill Housing Sites Project (Project). This plan is based on RADAR and PlaceWork’s understanding of the City expectations for the public engagement process. This plan is important because it:
• Outlines the goals and objectives for public outreach efforts • Establishes a flexible approach and action plan for engaging the community and stakeholders
• Aids City staff in managing the expectations of decision makers and the public regarding the amount of public engagement given the project budget, staff capacity, and other resources
This plan should be considered a living document and may be modified by the City over the course of the Project to ensure that the outreach goals and objectives are being met, with consideration given for the scope, schedule, and budget. Successful execution of this plan will enable the City to establish and maintain the trust, support, and confidence of the public and other stakeholders.
Project Outreach Team
Table 1, Project Outreach Team, identifies the key project team members who will help to execute the community engagement process for the Project.
Table 1. Project Outreach Team
Name Role/Title E-mail
City Contacts
Mathew Taylor Principal Planner [email protected] Daniel Palafox Associate Planner [email protected] Maribeth Tinio City Planner [email protected]
SCAG Contacts
Jacob Noonan SCAG Planning Supervisor [email protected] Kaitlin McCafferty SCAG Project Manager [email protected] Consultant Team Members
Rachel Allen Principal [email protected]
Karina Contreras Senior Associate [email protected]
Alan Loomis Principal [email protected]
Chad So Associate [email protected]
Pranjali Deokule Associate [email protected]
Maria Ceja Associate [email protected]
4 City of Riverside | Missing Middle Prototype Plans for Infill Housing Sites Project | Public Engagement Plan | Draft: June 1 7 , 2025 Table 2. Project Outreach Stakeholders
Boards, Commissions, Agencies, & Departments
• Fire Dept.
• Community & Economic Development Dept.
• Housing & Human Services Dept.
• Marketing & Communications Dept.
• Police Dept.
• Public Utilities Dept.
• Public Works Dept.
• Waste Management & CR&R
• Planning Commission
• Riverside Youth Council
• WRCOG
• SCAG
Property Owners
• Commercial Brokers
• Real Estate Professionals
• Housing Developers
Community At Large
• Seniors
• Non-Profits
• Media
• Neighborhoods
Project Outreach Stakeholders
Project outreach stakeholders are organizations and individuals who may have an interest in the Project and the capacity to disseminate information related to Project education and engagement opportunities. Table 2, Project Outreach Stakeholders identifies various agencies, organizations, residents, businesses, and other stakeholders potential participation in the Project and the Technical Advisory Committee. The project team will proactively expand the stakeholder list throughout the project.
5 City of Riverside | Missing Middle Prototype Plans for Infill Housing Sites Project | Public Engagement Plan | Draft: June 1 7 , 2025
2. OUTREACH APPROACH
Outreach Goal
An adopted Missing Middle Prototype Plans for Housing Infill Project that is inclusive to the needs of Riverside’s existing and future residents.
Outreach Objectives
• Broad reaching and transparent community engagement that incorporates multiple channels for participation and fosters an ongoing dialogue. • Engage the community in a way that is convenient and effective. • Capitalize on existing events and communication channels with which the City and community are already familiar and comfortable using. • Maintain an effective process so that community participation does not delay the Project process.
• Employ strategies to engage and obtain input from the full spectrum of local residents, with special consideration for residents of disadvantaged communities and historically disinvested communities.
• Raise the awareness of the Project and its relevance to the community.
Levels of Public Involvement
The International Association for
Public Participation developed a
spectrum describing the various
levels of public involvement used
across many types of civic efforts
(see Table 3, Spectrum for Public
Participation). This spectrum can be
used as a reference guide by City
staff when evaluating opportunities
to engage the general public in
programs identified in this Plan and
throughout the Plan process.
Table 3. Spectrum for Public Participation
6 City of Riverside | Missing Middle Prototype Plans for Infill Housing Sites Project | Public Engagement Plan | Draft: June 1 7 , 2025
3. TOOLBOX
Key Milestones
Toolbox Tools
• Technical Advisory Committee
• Community Workshops
• Project Collateral
• Media Engagement
• Electronic Engagement
• Outreach Summary Follow
Through Memo
• Project Design Brief
• 50% Design Concept
• Fully Approved Plan Set
• City Council Presentation
A successful outreach process relies on involving community members and stakeholders in varying degrees in all phases of the Project process. Guided by the outreach goal and objectives, the following set of tools and mechanisms are recommended. Table 6, at the end of this section, provides additional detail and context regarding how these will be deployed in connection with key milestones in the planning process and the overall project schedule.
Event Preparation and Logistics
RADAR, PlaceWorks, and the City will work closely to plan each outreach event.
The City will be responsible for securing meeting/workshop locations, providing refreshments, and supplementing staffing as needed. The City will also be responsible for noticing and coordinating with the appropriate media channels.
PlaceWorks will participate in all three (3) Technical Advisory Group meetings and six (6) Community-Wide Workshops indicated in this plan. City staff may engage in targeted outreach events in addition to the workshops and presentations to ensure that the goals for the process indicated above are achieved.
Technical Advisory Committee
The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) is an ad hoc advisory group established by the City of Riverside to serve as one of the primary channels for engagement related to the Project. The purpose of the TAC is to provide input recommendations to city staff and the consultant team on key components of the design brief such as local housing needs, community concerns, and practical development considerations. The TAC will be comprised of design professionals, developers, contractors, housing advocates, neighborhood and community organizations, and representatives of undeserved communities within Riverside.
Another crucial function of the TAC is to assist in expanding public awareness and participation in community workshops as part of the Project process. The TAC is scheduled to hold three (3) regular meetings (outlined in Table 4). RADAR and PlaceWorks will work with City to prepare necessary meeting materials for the TAC Meetings.
# Phase/Key
Milestone Project Team Role TAC Role TAC Dates
1 Kick off/
Project
Orientation
• Project/Team Introduction
• Review TAC role, rules, & responsibilities
• Share Initial Land Inventory and Site ID
• Share Draft Design Brief
• Preliminary Community Workshop Report Back
• Provide input on site
identification and local
housing needs
• Provide input on Draft
Design Brief
• Aug 2025
2 Final Design
Brief
• Share Final Design Brief
• Share Site Feasibility Analysis
• Community Workshops 1-3 Report Back
• Provide input on Final
Design Brief
• Sept 2025
3 50% Design
Concept
• Share 50% Final Design Concept for Prototype
Plans
• Provide input on 50%
Final Design Concept
• Nov 2025
Table 4. Technical Advisory Committee Meetings
7 City of Riverside | Missing Middle Prototype Plans for Infill Housing Sites Project | Public Engagement Plan | Draft: June 1 7 , 2025 Community Workshops
Community-wide workshops can be used to share information and gather input from a broad range of community members, while also enabling the project team to more efficiently and personally connect with and engage a large number of individual residents and stakeholders. Workshops will typically consist of a presentation facilitated by the project team with the support of City staff, followed by an interactive exercise to solicit community input. Interactive exercises may include small group discussions, prioritization activities, voting, and open-ended comments. To reach a broad cross section of community stakeholders, a total of six (6) workshops will be conducted at two critical project milestones. Three (3) duplicative workshops will be conducted during preparation of the design brief.
Another three (3) duplicative workshops will be conducted upon prototype plan approval.
All workshops will be strategically located and timed to provide access and convenience for DACs and historically disinvested communities with the highest potential for infill housing development. Alternatively, two (2) workshops maybe conducted virtually in lieu of two (2) in person workshops to reach broader engagement.
Community Workshops 1-3: Local Housing Needs
Three (3) workshops will be held in the early stages of the project to inform the Design Brief. The purpose of Community Workshops 1-3 is to introduce the project to the community, solicit feedback on local housing needs, and solicit feedback on the draft design brief concept plan. Activities may include a brief presentation, a visual preference survey, open ended comment cards, and roundtable discussions.
Community Workshops 4-6
Another Three (3) workshops will be held following approval of the final plans. The purpose of these workshops is to educate and promote the final prototype plans, report back on how community input was considered into the project, and provide technical assistance for small-scale or first time developers from disadvantaged communities to make use of prototype plans and navigate the approval and permitting process.
# Key Phase/
Milestone Topics/Activities Workshop Dates
1-3 Preparation of
Design Brief
• Project Introduction, Present Site Analysis
• Educate the community on the City’s current context and conditions related to housing
• Missing Middle Visual Preference Survey
• Draft Design Brief Concept Plan
• July-Aug 2025
4-6 Approval of Final
Plans
• Education and promotion of final plans
• Report back how input received was incorporated into the plans per the Outreach Summary Follow Through Memo
• Share promotional materials
• Provide technical assistance for small-scale or first time developers from disadvantaged communities
• Summer 2026
Table 5. Community Workshops
A Flexible Approach
PlaceWorks will remain flexible
and ready to adapt to evolving
conditions and staffing will be
determined prior to each event. If
it is not possible to host in-person
community events, PlaceWorks
will work with the City to identify
alternative forms of engagement,
such as an educational social
media campaign, virtual
workshops and pop-ups.
8 City of Riverside | Missing Middle Prototype Plans for Infill Housing Sites Project | Public Engagement Plan | Draft: June 1 7 , 2025 Project Collateral
PlaceWorks will prepare a variety of collateral material suitable for distribution online (website and social media) and in person (civic buildings, public events, project meetings, and community organizations). In some cases, such as press releases or project newsletter content, the City may also choose to draft its own copy. Assignments will be determined as each milestone arises. PlaceWorks will prepare collateral materials with limited planning jargon and easy-to-understand language and graphics. The following will be created during the appropriate phase of the project:
• Project fact sheet/FAQs (letter size and postcard format) • Social media content (up to 2)
• Flyers to promote public workshops (up to 2)
• Handouts or Brochures to promote prototypical plans
• Large format graphics for in-person workshops
• Outreach Summary Follow Through Memo
• Slide presentations
Application Materials
RADAR and PlaceWorks will work with the City of Riverside to prepare the necessary City application forms, checklists, technical guidance and related materials to develop projects using the prototype plans. Examples include Frequently Asked Questions about the prototype plans, guidance of where to start and the steps leading to building permit issuance, project submittal checklist for internal City departments including Building & Safety, Public Utilities – Electric and Water, and Public Works.
Media Engagement
It is the assumed City staff will be responsible for actively engaging local media to increase awareness of the Project and to promote engagement in the outreach process. Examples of media engagement activities include offering access to City staff for interviews and seeking promotion of upcoming project meetings and milestones. PlaceWorks will provide project collateral as needed.
Electronic Engagement
Project Website
A project website is a critical tool that will educate the public on Project. It will also provide notifications and news about opportunities to engage and will serve as a repository of work products including the TAC Presentations and meeting minutes, public feedback/engagement outcomes, final protoypical plans, application materials and related resources. It is assumed the City will host a page within the City website dedicated to this project. PlaceWorks will provide project collateral and website content to support the project website as needed.
Social Media
Social media is a cost-effective way to communicate project information to the community, increase public input, and reach those who are unable or unlikely to attend meeting or become involved in City issues. PlaceWorks will work with City Staff to craft messages for the City’s existing website, Facebook, Instagram, and Nextdoor platforms, as well as other platforms deemed useful to the Mising Middle Prototype Plans Project.
9City of Riverside | Missing Middle Prototype Plans for Infill Housing Sites Project | Public Engagement Plan Project Phase/Key Milestone Outreach
Preparing the Design Brief
• TAC Meeting #1: Kick off/ Project Orientation
• TAC Meeting #2: Final Design Brief
• Community Workshop #1 Virtual: Local Housing Needs
• Community Workshop #2 In-person: Local Housing Needs
• Community Workshop #3 In-person: Local Housing Needs
• Electronic notifications: Webpage updates, social media posts, e-blasts Technical Work / 50% Final
Design Concept • TAC Meeting #3: 50% Final Design Concept for Prototype Plans Approval of Public Plan Set
• Community Workshop #1 In-person: Final Prototypical Plans Roll Out • Community Workshop #2 In-person: Final Prototypical Plans Roll Out • Community Workshop #3 In-person or Virtual: Final Prototypical Plans Roll Out • Electronic notifications: Webpage updates, social media posts, e-blasts Table 6. Planned Outreach & Engagement Milestone
Outreach Summary Follow Through Memo
PlaceWorks will prepare a summary of feedback received from community outreach events such as community workshops and technical advisory committee meetings. The outreach summary will visually communicate key takeaways and feedback received from the community to inform the design process and provide rational for the prototype plans. Furthermore, the outreach summary will be shared with the community to ensure the community is acknowledged for their input.
Translation
It is assumed that the City will identify public facing materials, meetings, and outreach events that require Spanish translation. PlaceWorks shall provide Spanish translation of any public facing documents as necessary. The City shall provide American Sign Language (ASL) and Spanish translation services as necessary.
Outreach Toolbox by Milestone
Table 6 provides an overview of outreach to support each project phase of the GPU process.
10City of Riverside | Missing Middle Prototype Plans for Infill Housing Sites Project | Public Engagement Plan Design Brief
Technical Work
Public Hearings &
Adoption
2025 2026
Jul JanOct AprAug FebNov May Jun JulySep MarDecJun
TAC Meeting (3) Community Workshop (6)Phase/Key Milestone TAC 1: Kick off/ Project Orientation
TAC 2: Final Design Brief
TAC 3: 50% Design Concept
1: Final Design Brief
2. 50% Design Concept
3. Approved Public Plan Set
4. Public Hearings & Adoption
Workshop 1-3: Preparing the Design Brief
1. July 29, 2025 | Virtual Workshop | 10-1 2pm
2. July 3 1, 2025 | Springbrook Clubhouse | 1 1am-1pm
3. August 2, 2025 | Bourns Family Youth Innovation Center | 1 1am -1pm Workshops 4-6: Final Prototypical Plans Roll Out
• Dates and Location TBD
1 2
1 2
3 PROJECT OUTREACH SCHEDULE
Table 7 . Project Outreach Schedule
1 2 3
4 5 6 4
3