October 06, 2017
Edition #20
Greetings to Ward 3 Residents, Business Owners and All
Riversiders:
Much has happened over the past months since I last wrote
you. I hope you all endured the summer heat and high humidity. Fall is now upon
us and cooler temperatures should hopefully be coming our way.
Your city council and staff have been hard at work tackling
a number of issues, including homelessness, the Main (downtown) Library, the
City’s museum, the upcoming recreational marijuana matter, appointing a
replacement Councilmember in Ward 7, committing to hiring 50 additional police
officers, buying much needed replacement fire trucks and police cars, and more.
You will be happy to know, Measure Z monies have been allocated to supplement City tree
trimming; curb, gutter and sidewalk repairs and additional road repaving.
I’ve attended several grand openings and ribbon cuttings, which
is a positive sign for new investment and job growth in Riverside.
Riverside is seeing a huge upswing in investments; both
commercial and residential. Outside business interest in Riverside is growing
and it appears people from beyond our city are discovering all that Riverside
has to offer. Council and staff are working hard to help accommodate this
interest while it lasts. History shows us there are cycles of economic up and
downswings. During this time of expansion, Riverside must encourage solid
business growth to help our city build a strong tax base, which assists in
providing vital City services. Quality services and amenities have a positive
impact on our home values and local businesses.
Please take the time to review the contents of this Ward 3
Newsletter. I’m sure you will find the information helpful.
If you would like to read current and relevant information
about Ward 3 and our city, please go to my Councilman Mike Soubirous Facebook page. You can always reach me by personal cell,
text, or Instant Message. I am available.
I wish you all the very best!
Sincerely,
Mike Soubirous
Councilmember – Ward 3
(951) 515-1663
 
Riverside Public Utilities will be holding 6 scheduled Ward meetings (Ward 6 and 7 combined) which will focus on the rate proposal. RPU does have informational material on the website with the information referenced.
www.riversidepublicutilities.com/rateplan
The Ward 3 meeting is set for Wednesday November 1, 2017 at the Janet Goeske Senior Center. Residents are of course welcome to attend any of the meetings listed on the community calendar.
Before the meeting, please feel free to take a look at a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the proposed Rate Plan which can be found below:
 
Calling all Seniors!
The Janet Goeske Center is holding a health fair on October 11th. This fair is free to the public with numerous activities including, but not limited to:
- 3K Stress Relieving Garden Walk
- Unused / Expired Prescription Drop-off
- "The Nutritional Rainbow" Luncheon
This event is free for all seniors to attend. Please come out and join in the festivities!
 
Come January, millions of Rose Parade viewers will see a 23-ton tribute to Riverside's Mission Inn and its renowned Festival of Lights.
On Wednesday morning, Sept. 20, City and Mission Inn officials unveiled the Rose parade float's design. It depicts iconic features of the inn such as the colorfully-tiled Amistad Dome and the arched entry wall that holds numerous bells.
The $320,000 for the float and related costs was raised privately and doesn't include city dollars.
Residents and community groups will have the chance to help decorate Riverside's float entry at the building facility (Fiesta Float Builders - Irwindale)or in Riverside (more info on the City's website - riversideca.gov - soon).
Those attending the Festival of Lights will have the opportunity to sign vials that will later hold flowers on the finished float.
If you're to come to the Festival of Lights at Riverside Mission Inn this holiday season, don't bring your skates.The ice skating rink at the Festival of Lights has been discontinued.
For 10 years, the city subsidized the ice skating rink that was popular, but lost money. The City discontinued the rink in 2016 because a construction project took its place on the Main Street mall. This year, staff had great difficulty finding a safe, suitable location for the rink and support equipment.
After much thought, analysis, and discussion, Council and staff concluded the cost of running the rink and installing the massive infrastructure to make ice was prohibitive.
The highly anticipated food hall thats going in next to Riversides Fox Performing Arts Center has already announced 6 of 14 tenants. This scrumptious list includes: Bricks and Birch, which offers wood-fired pizzas; BeerFarm, which will serve popular and rare craft beers; Sweet Comforts, which will serve Belgium Liege Waffles smothered in delicious toppings; Bolcupop, which will serve savory acai bowls and popsicles; Fufu's Grill, serving gourmet Lebanese cuisine; and Freely Raw, which will serve healthy organic fruit & vegetable juices.
REMINDER: Looking for support for my proposal to Council to approve the creation of a Commission on Homelessness.
You can show your support or opposition by sending your email to city_clerk@riversideca.gov. The City Clerk will forward to Council and Mayor.
Thank you to those who responded last and emailed our City Clerk with your opinion.
A pest control district will be established in the Hemet area to defend against the invasive Asian citrus psyllid, under action taken today by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors.
Citrus Pest Control District No. 3 will enable commercial growers to develop strategies and procure pest control services to protect their oranges, lemons, grapefruit and tangerines without depending on outside sources.
In July, citrus greening disease, formally known as huanglongbing, was confirmed in a grapefruit tree located in the area of Chicago and Marlborough avenues in east Riverside. Another tree on the same block was identified as infected last month.
Asian citrus psyllids had infested both trees, which had to be uprooted and destroyed.
The board on Aug. 29 declared a local state of emergency because of the potential spread of greening disease countywide. Staff from the UC Riverside Center for Invasive Species Research have taken the lead in the effort to suppress it. Psyllids are finger-tip size, moth-like insects that made their U.S. debut in Florida nearly 20 years ago.
The U.S. Department of Agricultural said that Florida’s citrus crops are likely to produce 70 percent less this year compared to 20 years ago as a direct result of greening disease. The first signs of citrus greening disease are yellowing leaves on trees and fruit that remains green because it never ripens.
Officials encourage anyone with questions or concerns about huanglongbing and the threat posed by psyllids to contact either the agricultural commissioner’s office at (951) 955-3045, or the state’s pest hotline, (800) 491-1899.
Also, the officials suggested the following tips for treating citrus trees and how to treat with the systemic product Merit, the only available such pesticide that affects the psyllid:
- Water trees well, several days before application, making sure the ground is saturated.
- Apply Merit liberally around the root area and then water lightly — citrus roots are shallow.
- The topical pyrethroid Tempo should be applied when psyllids are observed. Psyllids can typically be found in the new growth at the end of branches. Washburn suggests a treatment in January in anticipation of budding activity in the spring.
- Homeowners who do not want to treat their trees should have them removed. |
