Happy New Year, Neighbors!

I started the year on horseback (pictured on the right) in the river bottom in the City of Norco to learn more about how we can make the river bottom safe and enjoyable throughout the region. This work continues via the River Side Gateway Project (keep reading for important engagement opportunities) and the hot-off-the-press report from Mayor Lock Dawson's Santa Ana River Bottom Economic Development Working Group that I co-chaired with Councilmember Hemenway (coming to Council on Feb 1). 

While work on these (and other) important issues is full-steam-ahead, the latest surge in COVID-19 cases is taking us virtual. All public meetings are virtual for the month of January, with the library, RPU, and the One-Stop-Shop serving online, as well. Your patience is appreciated. Join me in my office hours (linked below) to stay connected, even in this challenging time.

To keep us focused on the future, see below for a sneak peek of new businesses coming to Downtown Riverside and upcoming topics for discussion on the dais. 

Be well, and get tested at any of the Curative locations across Riverside. Tip: Curative opens more testing slots around 6PM, so that is a good time to book your test.

I am hosting January Office Hours via Zoom. Join me on January 27th from 6:30-7:30 to share your inquiries and ideas. 

On February 1st, I will join Mayor Lock Dawson and Councilmember Hemenway in presenting ideas for economic development along the Santa Ana River. 

As the co-chair of the Santa Ana River Working Group, I was excited to dream toward "an innovative built environment—integrated with the natural setting—that is a nod to the City of Riverside’s story.”

The River is more than just Riverside's namesake, it is a part of our future.

• What if our river looked more like the San Antonio River Walk? Or Tempe Town Lake? Or the Napa Riverfront. What would it take and how could we build upon what makes Riverside unique? 
• How do we grow and sustain stakeholder support over time? 
• What can we do NOW (pop up events, public art) to bring people to the river? 
• What is the right balance of future public and private use? 

Share your ideas at the February 1st City Council meeting at the 6:15 session, where we will explore next steps. We want to hear from you!  

This winter, Downtown welcomes Arcade Coffee Roasters on the Main St. Mall. Expect delicious coffee drinks and a vegan-friendly food menu.

Every Table will take the place of the former Subway space. Their mission? Making nutritious food accessible to our communities. We can expect them to open in early summer. 

Look out for Fuego Hibachi Grill opening this summer. Brought to us by the owners of Fire Up Grill, Fuego will be located on the ground floor of the Imperial Hardware Lofts. 

We value your input and feedback regarding Festival of Lights. Please take a moment to complete this 4-minute survey. For questions, please contact specialevents@riversideca.gov. 

Thank you to the neighbors that joined for the Mayor's Tent Tour on January 8th in the Wood Streets. We hope to see you at the next Big Tent Tour on February 5th at the Main Library from 9:30-11 AM.  

• Acceptance of a $10,000,000 pass-through grant from the State of California to fund the Project Legacy, City Council, January 25th (Afternoon)
• Extending contract with City Net for 4 case managers to help participants in the city’s rental assistance program (Consent Calendar), City Council, January 25th (Afternoon)
• Funding a citywide housing rehab program to provide low-interest loans and grants for low-income households to rehabilitate owner-occupied single-family homes (Consent Calendar), City Council, January 25th (Afternoon)
• Repairing manhole covers downtown (Consent Calendar), City Council, January 25th (Afternoon)
• PUBLIC HEARING - A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Riverside, California, certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Sycamore Hills Distribution Center (Ward 2), City Council, January 25th (3 PM)
• Santa Ana River Working Group overview, City Council, February 1st (Afternoon)
• Declaring that the repair of the waterline at Bubbling Wells Lake at Fairmount Park is of urgent necessity and authorizing construction agreement (Consent Calendar), City Council, February 1st

*For meeting information, videos, agendas, and e-comment submissions, visit us here.