City Council
Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: JUNE 23, 2026 FROM: MUSEUM DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL SUBJECT: APPROVE A FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR MUSEUM OF RIVERSIDE OPERATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEARS 2026-2027 THROUGH 2030-2031 ISSUE:
Approve a five-year strategic plan for Museum operations for the fiscal years 2026-2027 through 2030-2031.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council approve a five-year strategic plan for Museum operations for the fiscal years 2026-2027 through 2030-2031.
BOARD RECOMMENDATION:
On April 22, 2026, the Museum of Riverside Board, with eight (8) members present and one (1) member absent, voted unanimously to recommend that City Council approve the five-year strategic plan for Museum operations as presented.
BACKGROUND:
The closure in September 2017 of the main Museum disrupted the Museum’s strategic plan (Plan) at the time. On June 19, 2019, the Museum Board approved a five-year Plan for the years 2019-2020 through 2023-2024. A plan revised in response to the pandemic’s impacts was approved by the Museum Board on April 27, 2022, for the years 2022-2023 through 2026-2027. It was subsequently approved by City Council on July 5, 2022. The Museum Board has received status reports on this Plan quarterly. To be prepared for the forthcoming reaccreditation process with a refreshed and current Plan, the process began in mid-2025 to renew and extend the current Plan.
The last Museum Department Overview was presented to City Council on March 24, 2026.
DISCUSSION:
The American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the Museum’s accrediting body, identifies a current strategic plan as one of an institution’s five “core documents,” and one of the four of these five that must be approved by any accredited museum’s governing body. The Museum of Riverside (Museum), whose governing body is City Council, is an AAM-accredited institution; it is thus obliged and desires to comply. The Museum will be due for renewal of its accreditation in 2027 and aims to be in full readiness.
The refreshed Plan carries over goals and actions from the prior Plan that remain relevant. It further recognizes that effectively opening and operating the new, expanded downtown Museum site as well as opening the Harada House site will be the key tasks occupying staff during this five-year period. Actions in the Plan are organized within the following categories:
Renovation, Growth, Access;
Inspiring and Connecting;
Stewardship; and
Maximizing Resources.
The plan is not intended to restate position descriptions or standard operating procedures, but rather to focus on new initiatives and special projects that fundamentally advance the institution and are deemed achievable within the five-year period. The Plan continues to pivot on a “visitor first” ethic in order to provide diverse and inclusive services in alignment with available resources. Staff will continue to strive to meet or exceed professional museum standards for the care of historic sites and collections, and the development exhibitions, programs, and special events. As was true of the prior plan, it includes accountabilities, costs, and timelines.
The plan was developed over several months, which involved multiple meetings and information-gathering sessions with staff and stakeholders. Feedback was solicited both inside and outside City staff.
The plan incorporates a column indicating staff’s expectation that each action will align with the forthcoming City of Riverside General Plan. This column will be edited to reflect that alignment as soon as the new General Plan is adopted.
Plan progress is reported to the Museum of Riverside Board quarterly, and all staff members’ performance is linked to meeting Plan goals. At approximately the three-year mark, it will be expected that actions completed and changed circumstances will again prompt a plan renewal process.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
Actions with financial impacts that are identified in the plan will be pursued only within the contexts of approved operating budgets, Measure Z budgets, grant-funded projects, or by means of donated and formally accepted funding.
Prepared by: Robyn G. Peterson, Museum Director
Reviewed by: Julie Nemes, Interim Finance Director
Approved as to form: Rebecca McKee-Reimbold, Interim City Attorney Reviewed by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Attachment: Strategic Plan 2026-20311, FINAL
Museum Board draft minutes – April 22, 2026
Museum Department strategic plan renewal ● Page 2