Council approves property transfer to CIC, personnel manual changes and county tax-resolution

Riverside City Council on Monday adopted three items after public comment and discussion: a transfer of specified city parcels to the Community Improvement Corporation of Riverside (CIC) to promote economic development (Ordinance 25-0-870), amendments to the city personnel manual that clarified bereavement leave language (Resolution 25-R-3050), and the city’s annual adoption of county-determined tax rates (Resolution 25-R-3051).

Ordinance 25-0-870 declares particular city-owned parcels in the Springfield Street corridor to be surplus and authorizes the city manager to convey them to the CIC for economic development. The city manager reminded council the CIC is a separate legal entity but currently funded by the city as it develops operations; the manager said the city provides an initial operating allocation and that the CIC’s goal is eventual self-sufficiency. A member of the public asked how the city would receive proceeds if the CIC later sells property; the manager said revenue-sharing would be evaluated case by case and the ordinance does not pre-commit a particular revenue split.

Multiple residents asked for clarity about the CIC’s funding. The manager said the CIC is funded in the city’s annual budget and that “the city in its budget gives the CIC $100,000 to operate.” He said the transfer is intended to “seed” the CIC so it can undertake development deals and ultimately reduce the city’s maintenance obligations for vacant parcels.

On the personnel manual (Resolution 25-R-3050), a resident urged removing language that made bereavement leave “up to” five days and removing the clause that granted bereavement time for non-immediate family “at the discretion of the city manager.” The manager recommended straightforward edits to remove the phrase “up to” and to eliminate the discretionary language for non-immediate family; council approved the edits by voice vote. A council member noted aligning the manual with existing employee contracts promotes fairness and retention.

Resolution 25-R-3051, the annual adoption of county tax-rate determinations used for tax duplicates, was described by staff as routine, and council approved it unanimously.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 25-0-870 (transfer parcels to Community Improvement Corporation of Riverside): adopted by roll call. Recorded votes: Ms. Lomach — Yes; Mr. Joseph — Yes; Mr. Brown — Yes; Mr. Denning — Yes; Mr. Maxfield — Yes; Ms. Fry — Yes. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 25-R-3050 (personnel manual amendments — bereavement language): motion to approve with recommended edits carried by voice vote. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 25-R-3051 (adopt county tax-rate determinations): approved by voice vote. Outcome: approved.

Council discussion emphasized that the CIC enables faster business transactions than the city’s ordinance-driven sale process — the manager summarized the difference as the CIC moving “at the speed of business” while the city moves “at the speed of the city.” Several council members urged transparency and case-by-case review of large deals; the manager said larger economic development negotiations would prompt separate conversations about any revenue sharing. Public commenters asked for clearer reporting on CIC activity and for continued attention to neighborhood impacts as parcels are repurposed.

No amendments to the ordinance were recorded at final adoption and the ordinance was declared adopted at the meeting’s roll call.

After the votes the council proceeded to other agenda items, including a source-water protection presentation and community questions about local construction and stormwater billing.