City of Riverside, California Ward 6 Update

Jim Perry City Council Member - Ward 6

A Message From Your Council Member… 

We welcome residents to join us on February 18^th at 8am for our Walk with the Mayor event taking place in Riverside’s Ward 6.  Come meet Mayor Rusty Bailey and enjoy a three mile walk in our community.  We are scheduled to make a couple stops along the way to enjoy conversation and view some places of interest located within the neighborhood.  Students who participate in their school’s 100 Mile Club can receive credit towards their year goal.  Walkers are to meet on the lawn at Alvord High School (3606 Pierce Street, Riverside) to begin the walk.  If you have any questions, please call the Mayor’s Office at 951-826-5551.  We look forward to having you and your family/friends join us!

Jim Perry

JPerry@Riversideca.gov 

---

Measure Z Information

 

The City of Riverside has created a new website to provide information to residents and business owners about the Measure Z sales tax.  Measure Z, a one-cent-per-dollar increase in the sales tax on taxable goods purchased in Riverside, was approved by voters on Nov. 8 and takes effect April 1. The website www.RiversideCA.gov/MeasureZ explains why Measure Z was placed on the ballot, including information on cuts that were made last summer to City services and a backlog of unfunded critical needs.  Measure Z, which is expected to raise about $50 million per year, needed more than 50 percent of votes to pass, and received 59.6 percent approval.

 

Now that Measure Z is poised to take effect, the City Council must determine how to spend the additional revenue. Options include restoring some or all of the budget cuts made last summer, enhancing public safety, paying down debt and taking care of critical infrastructure such as roads and tree trimming. The need to properly balance such priorities was encapsulated in the City Council’s Responsible Spending Vision Pledge approved late last year.  Budget Engagement Commission meetings are scheduled to take place on the following dates from 5:00pm until 7:00pm:

• February 23, 2017
• March 9, 2017
• April 6, 2017
• May 4, 2017
• June 8, 2017

 

These meetings are open to the public and residents are encouraged to participate.

 

Some of the City’s unfunded critical needs that were identified during the last budget cycle included funding for repair and replacement of first responder vehicles (police and fire); funding for 60 additional police officers; repair and maintenance of City facilities, such as police and fire stations, recreation centers and libraries, the Convention Center and many others; tree trimming; and street repair and maintenance.  The City already has returned to service a Fire Department squadron that was cut during last year’s budget formulation, in the interest of increasing public safety. An update to the City’s existing budget also will be provided at future Budget Engagement Commission Meetings.

 

Opportunity with Education

 

The Riverside Police Department’s Community Services Bureau is accepting applications for its next scheduled juvenile intervention program beginning in February.  Opportunity with Education (O.W.E) was created to provide education and mentoring to our youth through positive interactions with police officers, educators, prosecutors, and other professionals. This program is designed to positively redirect “at-risk” youth between the ages of 12 to17, through topic lectures, tours, physical fitness, community service, and close order drill.  Choices and consequences will be stressed throughout the program.  The opportunity to build self-esteem, leadership qualities, and change to positive social behaviors will be available to all participants to help aid in breaking the cycle of criminal behavior while encouraging them toward success.  Parent(s) & legal guardian(s) of program participants must fully support O.W.E. and the staff for their child to be enrolled, and are required to attend the morning session of each class for group counseling and topic lectures. 

 

RPD is currently accepting applications for the next session scheduled to begin on February 18, 2017.  O.W.E. is held at California Baptist University from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each Saturday for fourteen consecutive weeks.  The O.W.E. program is free to participating families and you do not need to be a resident of Riverside to apply.  To apply online, please go to www.rpdonline.org/owe.  For questions or inquiries, please email rpdowe@riversideca.gov.

 

 

Free Tax Preparation Assistance

 

The California State Controller Betty Yee Office’s is partnering with IRS-certified volunteers to help residents with their income tax preparation.  People with a household income of $54,000 or less may qualify to have a volunteer prepare and file a basic tax return for FREE through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.  For more information visit: www.irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep. Services will begin January 27^th through April 15^th, date and time vary depending on location.  Below are some locations in the area:

 

Norco College 2001 Third Street Industrial Tech Room 208 Norco, CA 92860

SAT

8:00AM

-

2:00PM

 

Casa Blanca Family Learning Center 2985 Madison Street Riverside, CA 92504

FRI 10:30 AM-3:30PM

SAT 10:30 AM-3:30PM

 

Riverside Community College 4800 Magnolia Avenue Bldg. Business Education Riverside, CA 92506 SAT 9:00AM - 3:00PM

 

Small Sparks Grant Program

 

For many years residents within the City of Riverside have invested countless hours of time, services, materials, and money in various neighborhood improvement projects. The Small Sparks Neighborhood Matching Grant Program supports local grassroots projects within the 26 neighborhoods in the City of Riverside. Small Sparks provides cash to match community contributions of volunteer labor, donated professional services or materials, or cash donations in support of neighborhood-based self-help projects. Projects are funded up to $500.00 once a year to neighborhood groups.  Below are the two types of projects that may qualify for a grant:

 

• Neighborhood Improvement/Beautification: A project that creates or enhances a physical improvement in a neighborhood.
• Neighborhood Social Enhancement: A one-time grant for a community building activity such as a festival or celebration, workshop/training or educational campaign.

 

For more information or for an application call (951) 826-5168.

 

Community Events

02/03 City Council @ Council Chambers/3900 Main St. (12:30pm)

02/07 City Council @ Council Chambers/3900 Main St. (3pm)

02/14 City Council @ Council Chambers/3900 Main St. (6:15pm)

02/17 City Council @ Council Chambers/3900 Main St. (12:30pm)

02/18 Walk with the Mayor @ Alvord High School (8:00am)

02/21 City Council @ Council Chambers/3900 Main St. (6:15pm)

02/28 City Council @ Council Chambers/3900 Main St. (6:15pm)