June 15, 2021- Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson, City of Riverside – via Zoom

Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Virtual Meeting via ZOOM

Minutes

Present:  Patti Arlt, Megan Barajas, Deborah Barmack, Carole Beswick, Greg Bradbard, Mike Burrows, Chris Carrillo, Mark Cloud, Ken Coate, Sandra Cuellar, Kevin Dyerly, Otis Greer, Milford Harrison, Fran Inman, Mark Kaenel, Lowell King, Pam Langford, Bill Lemann, P.T. McEwen, Darcy McNaboe, John Mirau, Vikki Ostermann, Bansree Parikh, Catherine Pritchett, Thomas Rice, Michael Rivera, Elizabeth Romero, Dan Schenkel, Kristine Scott, Paul Shimoff, Phil Southard, Sol The, Eric Ustation, Lupe Valdez, Pete Van Helden, Reggie Webb, Dr. Judy White, Kim Wilcox and Marisa Yeager.

Guests: Marc Cerrell, LaDonna DiCamillo, Keely Marquez, Jake Orta, Janet Paine and Lea Peterson

Announcements:  1) P.T. McEwen announced his resignation from the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Redlands-Riverside effective July 2.  2) Senator Connie Leyva has been appointed to the California Air Resources Board.  3) The University of Redlands will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony this week unveiling their new train station which will be one of the stops on the Redlands Passenger Rail Project.

Motion by K. Coate/Second by T. Rice/Passed: Minutes from June 1, 2021

Ken Coate introduced Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson, City of Riverside.  Mayor Dawson was elected in November 2020.  Well known across the State as a champion of the Santa Ana River she has now established a strong collaboration with partners such as UCR and others to increase unity in the community.

Mayor Dawson collaborated and worked to create Riverside City’s mission statement: “The Mayor’s Office is dedicated to serving and honoring the needs of the community, demonstrating integrity, fairness, professionalism and confidence in the execution of the Mayor’s priorities and the referral of city services. In all our work we strive to further the success of our city, while promoting the vision that Riverside’s best days are ahead of us.”​

She is happy to report she now has a full staff, one that reflects the Cities diversity in ethnicity, age, gender, and sexual orientation.  Her top five priorities are targeted towards ensuring a bright future for all through:

• Economic development and job growth
  • Identify Riverside’s Competitive Advantages​
  • Establish Riverside as Clean Tech Center of jobs and industry ​
  • Leverage assets, such as CARB headquarters and CE-CERT​ at UC Riverside
  • Connect start-ups with capital ​
  • Foster innovation ecosystem (OASIS)- Opportunities to Advance Sustainability, Innovation, and Social Inclusion (partner with UCR)
• Social capital/equity and race relations
  • Big Tent Tour​-She will visit all of the 26 different neighborhoods over the next 6 months to speak and find out what is important to them.
  • Civil Rights Walk (Map & App) celebrate and lean about civil rights leaders through a series of statues on the main street pedestrian mall ​
  • Social Impact Bond-Returns for investors are in social measures (jobs & business creation, getting homeless people off the streets, etc.)
  • Diversity Equity & Inclusion Consultant-To help them focus on the workplace and in the city seekng inclusivity in all that they do.
• Quality of life
  • Address homelessness crisis through State & Federal funding and legislation
    • It’s not enough to put “heads in beds”. The County has been successful pushing to adopt “Laura’s Laws”, a court-ordered outpatient treatment program for individuals with severe mental illnesses assisting them to receive assisted treatment.
    • Housing Element Update website: https://riversideca.gov/cedd/planning/riverside-housing-public-safety-element-and-environmental-justice-approach
  • Arts & Culture District-enhancement of downtown
  • High quality entertainment and dining
  • Access to outdoor recreation​
  • Great neighborhood’s initiative-making each neighborhood unique and encourage /embrace their own culture and or identity.
  • Arts focused initiatives- Mayor’s Student Art Contest, and murals throughout the city
• Stable finances
  • Explore new forms of revenue generation- through EIFD’s (tax increment financing district) could form to help fund economic development projects.
  • Mayor’s Economic Council-she will meet regularly with business leaders regarding their needs, concerns and growth. ​
  • Priority Based Budgeting ​
  • Positioning Riverside for better access to more state and federal funds through better advocacy
• Education
  • Talent Audit​-Analyzing the degrees and the location of graduates from the 3 universities and 1 Community College in Riverside as a tool to attract employers
  • Campus Riverside-Connect students with city activities (modeled on “Campus Philly”) ​
  • Connect K-14 with Industry and CARB-for apprenticeships​
  • Apprenticeships with Sister Cities (newly developing with Erlangen, Germany & MOU’s with RCC/UCR) provide engineering around engine manufacturing collaboration​
  • Mayor’s Venture Catalyst Challenge-Monetary reward and mentoring support for best idea for a clean & green start-up company.  ​

A Q & A period followed.
9:03 a.m. The speaker and guests were excused.  Members debriefed the virtual State advocacy that took place on Tuesday, June 8, 20201.

Appreciation was expressed to Committee Chairs, Vice Chairs and Committee Members for their work and participation in this year’s State Advocacy.  Highlights included:

• Zoom meetings proved to be very effective
• Inland Action was extremely current on exactly where various legislation was in the process
• The group must keep an eye on the re-introduction of legislation increasing the SCAQMD Board size
• Encourage Vice Chairs and others to participate in the presentation/dialog with Legislators and Staff
• Follow up is critical, clarifying issues and expressing appreciation for requested support
• Advocacy should be thought of as year-round rather than once a year
• The Committees should closely monitor budget trailer bills

Meeting adjourned at 9:25 a.m.