Riverside disability commission urges clearer communication, outreach as city reviews boards

The City of Riverside Commission on Disabilities on Thursday urged clearer citywide communications and more active outreach after hearing a staff presentation on a Governmental Process Committee review of the city’s boards and commissions.

Fred, administrative analyst and ADA coordinator in the City of Riverside General Services Department, told commissioners the review aims to “analyze and maybe consolidate some of the boards” and asked the commission to provide feedback for the committee’s future sessions. “So, the goal of conducting this review is just to analyze and maybe consolidate some of the boards,” Fred said.

Commissioners raised several concerns during the discussion: low public awareness of commissions’ roles, frequent meeting cancellations, and uneven ward representation in vacancies. Commissioners noted that 16 boards and commissions together have more than 150 volunteer members, six boards are established by the City Charter (each with nine members), other boards have between nine and 18 members, about 31 seats were vacant across boards and commissions, and roughly 18 meetings had been canceled in the prior year because of lack of quorum, according to staff remarks.

The commissioners focused on practical responses rather than structural change. Multiple members recommended that the city notify commissions when city-sponsored events are approved so commissions can participate at no additional cost; several suggested “piggybacking” a Commission on Disabilities presence onto Parks and Recreation events, summer programs, and other city-sponsored gatherings to raise the commission’s profile. Commissioner comments also requested regular departmental briefings (for example, police and public works) so commissioners can learn what departments do to promote accessibility and then offer recommendations.

Dr. Jessica Gordon, interim general services director, said staff can coordinate behind the scenes and bring Parks and Recreation and the events team into follow-up meetings. “I love the direction of where the conversation is going and what we can do, behind the scenes, we can talk with Parks and Rec, we can talk with the events team, and see how to get you more involved,” Dr. Gordon said.

The commission approved a revised one-page resource brochure for distribution to city departments and community outlets. A motion to approve the brochure “as is” carried on a roll-call vote: Chair Trim (yes), Commissioner Mickelson (yes), Commissioner Tharmo (yes), Commissioner Lee (yes), Commissioner Hennessy (yes), Commissioner Crick (yes), Commissioner Pellegrino (yes). The motion’s mover and seconder were not recorded in the relevant public transcript segment. Staff said they will circulate a PDF for departmental printing and obtain printing quotes for copies requested by community centers.

Commissioners also proposed several next steps for the Governmental Process Committee to consider: standardizing bylaws or a citywide resolution governing boards and commissions, considering reduced meeting frequency or smaller membership for some commissions, asking city departments to present quarterly to the Commission on Disabilities, and creating a standing mechanism so the city’s events approvals automatically notify relevant commissions.

Less formal items raised during communications included recent local disability-focused events (for example, a mock-interview program that drew school-district participation and Riverside Police), a request to amplify event notices to the commission by email rather than waiting for agendas, and continued coordination with the mayor’s office and assistants on a proposed family-accessible event at Fairmont Park for next year.

The Commission on Disabilities said staff will summarize the commission’s suggestions and forward them to the Governmental Process Committee for consideration. The commission’s next regular meeting was scheduled for July 17, 2025.