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Council approves one-year change to crossing-guard cost split; districts to pay slightly more while city seeks RFP and grants
Summary
After debate, council approved a one-year amendment to the city’s crossing-guard arrangements: for fiscal year 2025–26 the reimbursement schedule moves to a 45% city / 55% school-district split, adding three guards at the new Casablanca Elementary; council directed staff to issue an RFP next year and to pursue grant funding.
Riverside City Council voted 6–1 on Tuesday to adopt a one-year revision to the city’s crossing-guard contract and related memoranda of understanding with the Riverside and Alvord unified school districts.
Christie Garcia, fiscal manager for Public Works, presented staff recommendations that would add three crossing-guard locations for the new Casablanca Elementary School and revise the reimbursement schedule so that the districts begin paying a larger share of program costs. Garcia told the council that implementing staff’s full proposed multi-year cost-sharing schedule would shift progressively more cost to the districts, with staff offering to help pursue grant funding to offset school contributions and to facilitate equity across districts.
Riverside Unified School District representatives opposed the multi-year increase, saying the district had not agreed to the proposed higher shares and warning of budget constraints tied to declining average daily attendance and other pressures. Erin Power, assistant superintendent for business services with Riverside Unified, asked the council to keep the existing 50/50 cost split or disapprove the staff-proposed MOU as written.
Council members exchanged questions about how a creditable grant plan, Safe Routes to School planning and other infrastructure work could reduce long-term guard needs, and staff confirmed the city had received a Safe Routes to School planning grant that will inform future construction and grant applications. Public commenters and several council members emphasized safety and the need to keep students protected near busy school intersections.
After discussion, Councilmember Hemingway offered a substitute motion to adopt only the first year of the staff recommendation — a 45 percent city / 55 percent school-district split for fiscal year 2025–26 — and to direct staff to issue a request for proposals for crossing-guard services next year and to return with updated costs. That motion passed 6–1 (Councilmember Falcone voted no). The action authorizes a Fourth Amendment to the city’s agreement with All City Management Services (ACMS) to add the new locations and sets the one-year reimbursement schedule while staff pursues grants and prepares a future procurement.
