City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: JULY 14, 2026 FILLIN "DATE" \* MERGEFORMAT FROM: CITY CLERK’S OFFICE WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: BOARD AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENT, RESIGNATION, AND REMOVAL ISSUES:
Appoint Luke Lopez to the Transportation Board Ward 1 seat, file the resignation of Jessica Newman from the Board of Ethics Citywide seat, and remove Jessica Rojas of the Board of Library Trustees Ward 3 seat.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the Mayor and City Council:
Appoint Luke Lopez to the Transportation Board Ward 1 seat for a term through March 1, 2029; File the resignation of Jessica Newman from the Board of Ethics Citywide seat; and With at least five affirmative votes, remove Jessica Rojas from the Board of Library Trustees Ward 3 seat.
BACKGROUND:
Riverside City Charter Section 802 provides that each board and commission have one representative from each Council Ward.
Pursuant to Resolution 24348, Section XIV (A), Councilmember Falcone nominates Luke Lopez for appointment to the Transportation Board Ward 1 seat for a term through March 1, 2029.
On Monday, June 29, 2026, the City Clerk’s Office received a resignation from Jessica Newman who held the Citywide seat on the Board of Ethics for a term expiring on March 1, 2027.
Jessica Rojas (Ward 3) has not attended any Board of Library Trustees meetings since June 2025. Staff has made several attempts to reach her but has not received a response. According to Resolution 24348, which outlines the Rules of Procedure and Order of Business, the City Clerk is required to inform the Mayor for Citywide seats and the Councilmember for Ward-specific seats when any of the following conditions occur:
(a) A board/commission member is absent and unexcused from three consecutive regular meetings of the board/commission; or (b) A board/commission member is absent, whether excused or unexcused, from more than one-third of the regularly scheduled meetings in any calendar year.
Furthermore, pursuant to Riverside City Charter Section 802, board and commission members shall be removed by the Mayor and City Council through a motion that requires five affirmative votes, with the Mayor entitled to vote.
Councilmember Robillard recommends removing Jessica Rojas from the Board of Library Trustees Ward 3 seat with a term through March 1, 2029.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Recruitment and appointment costs are included annually in the City Clerk’s budget.
Prepared by: Donesia Gause, City Clerk
Approved as to form: Rebecca McKee-Reimbold, Interim City Attorney Page PAGE \* MERGEFORMAT 2
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