Riverside County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Riverside County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Domestic Violence Awareness and Services
The Board proclaimed Domestic Violence Awareness Month, hearing that local law enforcement received over 7,200 domestic violence calls in 2022 and that only about a third of incidents are ever reported.
Flock License Plate Reader Surveillance
Idyllwild residents say the Flock camera network surrounds their community with warrantless surveillance and are petitioning the county to cancel contracts and ban ALPRs in unincorporated areas.
Safe Sleep and SIDS Awareness
Public Health, First 5, and DPSS teamed up on a safe-sleep awareness campaign after an alarming rise in sleep-related infant deaths, urging parents to keep babies on firm surfaces and out of adult beds.
County Transparency and Public Records Practices
Former County Counsel attorney Kimberly Sefiane asked the board to refer the county's public records processes for independent oversight, citing delayed, circular and incomplete productions across multiple 2026 requests and past grand jury findings.
Solar glare management near March Air Reserve Base runways
Solar carports near an active military runway can create glare for pilots. The Air Force reviewed the glare study and the project must use anti-reflective coatings or textured glass to cut reflections.
Wild burro attacks in Reche Canyon
Residents reported 15 coordinated attacks on wild burros, including a donkey found beheaded the morning of the meeting, and asked the county for law enforcement help in the Badlands area.
Code enforcement grand jury response
The county formally answered the civil grand jury's critical report on code enforcement, disputing claims of retaliation and favoritism while promising an updated policy manual by January 2027 and acknowledging turnover and communication gaps.
Palm Desert Sheriff's Station expansion funding
The Board authorized $17.8 million — mostly development impact fees plus Palm Desert RDA funds — for the Sheriff's Palm Desert Station expansion.
Regional veterinary school feasibility study
The county will spend $125,000 — matched by UC Riverside — to study creating a regional veterinary school, aiming to ease a severe veterinarian shortage that drives up pet care costs and strains animal services.
Rural agricultural crime protection
The Farm Bureau says the rural ag crime task force was disbanded, leaving farmers exposed to equipment and crop theft; the chair noted the sheriff made the staffing cut, not the board.
Body-worn camera contract expansion
The Sheriff's Office is spending $18.2 million more to replace and upgrade about 2,086 body cameras, adding translation features and better evidence sharing with prosecutors.
Fentanyl awareness campaign
Supervisors Spiegel and Washington are spending $64,260 in opioid settlement money on a year-long fentanyl awareness ad campaign.
Fencing conflict between City of Perris design standards and airport safety
The self-storage building near Palm Springs Airport still needs an FAA letter confirming it's no hazard to air navigation — the ALUC won't release its approval until then.
Incompetent to Stand Trial Penalty and CLEAR Program
The county's state penalty for sending too many defendants to state hospitals dropped from $2.5-3 million to $238,804 thanks to the CLEAR mental health program. The money comes back to the county to keep reducing those determinations.
Airport safety awareness and crash history
The director flagged recent plane crashes elsewhere and reminded everyone why strict building rules around March matter — a big military aircraft crash would damage blocks, not parcels.
Stronger MSR accountability review
LAFCO's municipal service reviews are supposed to be independent checkups on cities and special districts, but Commissioner Sanchez says they too often rely on agencies' own word. A new standing committee will review the process and recommend ways to give the reviews more teeth.
Hemet school resource officers
A five-year, $3.59 million contract keeps sheriff's deputies on Hemet Unified campuses, funded by school district revenue.
Veterans hiring preference
Revisions to county hiring policy now guarantee interviews for qualifying spouses of fallen and 100%-disabled veterans, part of a broader push to serve Riverside County's large veteran population.
Fire-resistant building materials in wildfire zones
A public commenter called for a countywide ban on combustible building materials in very high fire hazard zones, arguing wood-framed rebuilds repeat a deadly cycle for homeowners and firefighters.
Copper theft and AB 476 enforcement
A speaker urged the county to follow Fresno and Kern counties in adopting a stronger ordinance against copper wire theft, which knocks out communications and costs millions, under new state law AB 476.