The Riverside City Clerk’s Office is the city’s official record keeper and the public’s main point of contact for records requests, municipal elections, passport applications, board and commission appointments, and legal claims filed against the city. The office sits on the 7th floor of City Hall at 3900 Main Street. You can reach staff at (951) 826-5557 or cityclerk@riversideca.gov.
Requesting Public Records
California law lets any person inspect public records during normal business hours, with narrow exceptions for things like ongoing investigations and certain personnel files.1California Legislative Information. California Code Government Code 6253 – Inspection of Public Records The Clerk is the custodian of Riverside’s legislative records, which includes ordinance books, council proceedings, and resolutions.2Justia. California Government Code Chapter 2 – City Clerk
Once you submit a request, the agency has ten calendar days to respond. That response doesn’t have to be the records themselves. It can be an acknowledgment plus an estimate of when documents will be ready. If staff need to pull material from multiple locations or compile electronic files, the deadline can be extended by another fourteen days. Requests can be submitted in writing or by contacting the office directly.
City Council Meetings and Agendas
The Clerk prepares the agenda for every City Council meeting and keeps the official minutes, so every vote and public comment lives in a permanent record. For regular meetings, the agenda must be posted in a publicly accessible location and on the city’s website at least 72 hours ahead. Special meetings require 24-hour notice. Genuine public-safety emergencies can proceed on as little as one hour’s notice. Each item has to be described in enough detail that you can decide whether to show up.
You cannot be required to sign in, fill out a questionnaire, or meet any other condition to attend.3State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Open Meetings If you need a sign language interpreter or another auxiliary aid to participate, the city is required to provide it.4ADA.gov. State and Local Governments
Municipal Elections
The Clerk runs Riverside’s municipal elections from candidate filings through ballot counting. The city held a general municipal election on June 2, 2026, for City Council seats in Wards 2, 4, and 6, along with Measure Z, a sales tax renewal. The next general municipal election is scheduled for March 7, 2028, covering the Mayor and City Council representatives for Wards 1, 3, 5, and 7.5RiversideCA.gov. Elections – City Clerk
For mail ballot elections, ballots go out to registered voters about four weeks before Election Day. You can return your completed ballot by mail, drop it at an official ballot drop-off location, or vote in person at a designated polling site. The Clerk’s elections page also carries the official candidate list and candidate statements for each cycle.
Applying for a Passport in Person
The Clerk’s Office is a federally authorized passport acceptance facility. If you’re applying for your first passport, or you don’t qualify for a mail-in renewal, you’ll need to appear in person with a completed DS-11 printed in black ink only, plus:6U.S. Department of State. Application For A U.S. Passport
- Proof of citizenship: a certified birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or previous U.S. passport.
- Photo identification: a valid driver’s license, government-issued ID, or military ID.
- One passport photo, 2 × 2 inches in color, taken within the last six months against a plain white or off-white background.7U.S. Department of State. Passport Photos
The photo has to show your full face with a neutral expression, both eyes open, and no glasses. A religious or medical head covering is allowed as long as your full face is visible and you include a signed statement explaining the reason.
Two separate payments are required at the appointment. The application fee is paid to the U.S. Department of State by check or money order. The $35 acceptance fee goes to the City Clerk’s Office. Current application fees for a passport book are $130 for adults aged 16 and older and $100 for children under 16. A passport card alone costs $30 for an adult or $15 for a child.8U.S. Department of State. United States Passport Fees Expedited processing adds $60 per application.9U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
At the appointment, the Clerk verifies your documents, witnesses your signature, and mails the whole packet to federal processing. Routine processing times shift during the year, so check the State Department’s processing times page before booking travel. Expedited service roughly cuts the wait in half.
Renewing a Passport by Mail
If your most recent passport meets all of the conditions below, you can skip the in-person visit and renew by mail using Form DS-82:10U.S. Department of State. Renew Your Passport by Mail
- It was issued when you were 16 or older.
- It was issued within the last 15 years.
- It hasn’t been reported lost or stolen.
- It’s undamaged beyond normal wear.
- Your name hasn’t changed, or you have documentation of the change (marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order).
If you miss any one of those, you’ll need to apply in person using the DS-11 process. The same application and expedite fees apply to renewals. The one difference is that mail-in renewals skip the $35 acceptance fee because no acceptance facility handles the packet.
Serving on a Board or Commission
Riverside has volunteer advisory boards and commissions covering areas like planning, parks and recreation, and human relations. To apply, you must live in Riverside and be a registered voter.11RiversideCA.gov. Boards and Commissions – City Clerk Applications are accepted year-round through the Clerk’s website. The Riverside Youth Council is the exception, accepting applications only from February 1 through May 1. If there’s no current vacancy on the body you want to join, your application stays on file for one year.
Once the Clerk’s Office confirms you qualify, the City Council or Mayor conducts interviews and makes appointments. If appointed, you’ll complete a LiveScan background screening before you start, and you’ll file a Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700) disclosing your personal financial holdings.12California Fair Political Practices Commission. Statements of Economic Interests – Form 700 Form 700 isn’t a one-time filing. You’ll update it every year and again when you leave the position.
Filing a Claim or Serving the City
Before you can sue the City of Riverside over something like a personal injury from a broken sidewalk or damage caused by a city vehicle, California law requires you to file a formal government tort claim first. For personal injury and property damage, the deadline is six months from the date of the incident. Breach of contract and damage to real property claims have a longer window of one year. Missing these deadlines almost always bars the case, regardless of its merits.
The clock starts on the date of the incident, not the date you realized you were harmed. If you think you have a claim, talk to an attorney early.
The Clerk’s Office is also the city’s designated agent for service of legal process. Summonses, complaints, and subpoenas directed at the City of Riverside or any city department are delivered to the Clerk’s Office during regular business hours. The office cannot accept service for individual city employees, and it cannot accept documents submitted electronically.