2025 All-America City Finalist – Western Riverside Region, CA

The Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG) strength lies in its ability to unite cities, counties, and public agencies around a shared vision of sustainability, equity, and long-term regional resilience. Through inclusive strategic planning, robust public engagement, and collaborative initiatives like the Food Rescue Program and Love Your Neighborhood, WRCOG creates clear, actionable paths forward that reflect community priorities. Its Executive Committee—this year led by an all-female, multi-jurisdictional team—embodies the organization’s commitment to diverse, inclusive leadership.

WRCOG fosters civic capital through structured community engagement, grassroots partnerships, and targeted equity strategies. Programs like the Fellowship and Clean Cities initiatives build leadership pipelines and amplify historically underrepresented voices. WRCOG’s digital-first communication approach, which includes high-performing newsletters, multilingual materials, and social media collaboration, ensures transparency and accessibility. By serving as a trusted convener and equipping partners with ready-to-use resources, WRCOG bridges sectors to address regional challenges, build trust, and create meaningful, lasting impact.

Stephen’s Kangaroo Rat Habitat Conservation Plan

The challenge of balancing development with environmental protection became clear in 1988 when the Stephen’s Kangaroo Rat (SKR) was listed as a federally endangered species. Development in Riverside County slowed significantly, as each project required costly and time-consuming consultations. This created major barriers, especially for underserved communities where housing and infrastructure were urgently needed.

To address the issue, the Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency (RCHCA) was formed in 1991. RCHCA convened local governments, environmental agencies, academic experts, the Building Industry Association, and community members to craft a regional solution. Early on, a short-term Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) allowed limited development while a long-term strategy was created. In 1996, RCHCA adopted the full SKR HCP, aiming to permanently protect 15,000 acres as reserves while allowing development on another 15,000 acres with mitigation fees.

RCHCA engaged the public through over 40 scoping sessions and forums, addressing concerns about property rights and emphasizing the dual benefits of conservation and development. Developers supported the one-time mitigation fee model, which replaced complex federal negotiations and accelerated project timelines.

Ultimately, the plan protected 46,000 acres of habitat, led to the downlisting of the SKR to “threatened” in 2022, and helped build affordable housing and infrastructure. Unlike many conservation efforts, much of the protected land remains open for recreation, boosting local economies. The SKR HCP stands as a national model of collaborative conservation, inspiring other regional plans in Riverside County and beyond.

Fellowships Fostering Future Public Service Leaders

Public sector agencies in Riverside and San Bernardino counties face two key challenges: limited staffing to advance critical projects and a lack of structured opportunities to prepare future leaders—particularly in energy efficiency, sustainability, and public administration. Simultaneously, local students, especially in underserved communities, struggle to find meaningful career-aligned experiences.

WRCOG’s I-REN Energy Fellowship addresses these gaps by recruiting and training local university and community college students to support energy initiatives at public agencies. Fellows have contributed to municipal energy audits, climate resilience planning, and energy-saving measures. In its first year, 11 fellows supported 28 projects; in year two, 14 fellows engaged in additional initiatives. Educational partnerships, outreach in disadvantaged areas, and stakeholder roundtables ensure diverse recruitment and alignment with community needs.

Fellows describe their experiences as transformative. One shared that conducting outreach, presenting to city councils, and discussing imposter syndrome with local youth helped build confidence and critical skills. Another, now pursuing environmental law, contributed to a city’s California Native Job Tolerant Policy—cementing their interest in public service.

The WRCOG Public Service Fellowship builds local capacity by placing students in city and county agencies. The program manages logistics and funds up to 100% of salaries, eliminating barriers for both fellows and hosts. Since launch, over 110 fellows have contributed 85,000+ service hours, many transitioning into full-time roles. Both fellowships exemplify WRCOG’s commitment to workforce development and regional resilience.

Love Your Neighborhood (LYN) and Regional Food Rescue Program (RFRP)

Riverside County faces significant challenges related to food waste, food insecurity, and environmental sustainability. Over 6 million tons of food are discarded annually due to overproduction, supply chain inefficiencies, and unclear labeling, while illegal dumping disproportionately affects underserved communities. In response, WRCOG launched two community-focused programs: Love Your Neighborhood (LYN) and the Regional Food Rescue Program (RFRP).

LYN, developed with the Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, promotes environmental stewardship through neighborhood cleanups, educational workshops, and multilingual outreach. The program has mobilized over 5,000 volunteers, removed more than 250,000 pounds of waste, and improved stormwater pollution prevention in vulnerable communities.

RFRP bridges the gap between food generators and food-insecure populations while supporting local environmental regulations aimed at reducing food waste. Using the Careit app, the program enables real-time food donations from businesses to local food banks and nonprofits. Since launch, RFRP has rescued 6.2 million pounds of food, helped 75% of food-generating businesses meet regulatory requirements, and partnered with over 50 food recovery organizations.

Both programs prioritize equity by addressing barriers such as language, transportation, and awareness, ensuring underserved communities can participate. Through strategic partnerships, inclusive outreach, and technology-driven solutions, WRCOG is building a cleaner, healthier, and more connected region.

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