Riverside County Planning Commissioners
Riverside County Planning Commissioners

1st District Planning Commissioner

Shade Awad, Commissioner

Bio: Shade Awad was appointed Planning Commissioner on May 4, 2022, by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. Mr. Awad has been a resident of Riverside County for over 32 years. Mr. Awad has over 25 years of experience as a business owner, developer and entrepreneur. Currently Mr. Awad is on the board of directors of Exceed and has previously served on the MAC board for 6 years. As a parent of a special needs child his passion is to be an advocate for those in need and to give back to his community. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and attending sporting events. 

Term Expires: June 30, 2025
 

The First Supervisorial District includes the cities of Wildomar, Perris and all of the City of Riverside. The unincorporated communities of DeLuz, Good Hope, Highgrove, LaCresta, Mead Valley, Meadowbrook, and Tenaja.

2nd District Planning Commissioner 

 

Marisa Gruytch, Commissioner

Bio: Marisa Gruytch was appointed Planning Commissioner on January 10, 2023 by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. She is a Riverside County employee with over 10 years of service and has been a resident of Riverside County for over 30 years. She attended California Baptist University, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. In her free time, Ms. Gruytch enjoys spending quality time with her husband and children, as well as attending concerts and community events.

Term Expires: June 30, 2023

 

 

The Second Supervisorial District includes the cities of Canyon Lake, Corona, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, Lake Elsinore, and Norco. The unincorporated communities include El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Home Gardens, Lake Mathews, Lakeland Village, Temescal Valley, Warm Springs and Woodcrest.

3rd District Planning Commissioner

Gary Thornhill, Chair

Bio (coming soon)

Term Expires: June 30, 2023

 

 

 

The Third Supervisorial District includes the cities of Menifee, Murrieta, Temecula, and Wildomar, and the communities of Aguanga, Anza Valley, East Hemet, French Valley, Green Acres, Homeland, Lake Riverside, Sage and Winchester, as well as parts of Valle Vista.

4th District Planning Commissioner

Guillermo "Bill" Sanchez, Commissioner

Bio: Guillermo “Bill” Sanchez was appointed Planning Commissioner by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors on July 2, 2019. Mr. Sanchez had been a lifelong resident of Riverside County graduating from Coachella Valley High School and earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration from California State University, Long Beach. Mr. Sanchez has many years of experience as a planning commissioner for the City of Coachella.

Term Expires: June 30, 2023

 

The Fourth Supervisorial District includes the cities of Blythe, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage. The unincorporated communities include Bermuda Dunes, Chiriaco Summit, Colorado River communities, Desert Center, Desert Edge, Eagle Mountain, Idyllwild, Indio Hills, Lake Tamarisk, Mecca, Mesa Verde, Mountain Center, North Shore, Oasis, Pine Cove, Ripley, Sky Valley, Sun City, Thermal, Thousand Palms and Vista Santa Rosa.

 

 

5th District Planning Commissioner

   
 

Romelio Ruiz, Commissioner

Bio: Romelio Ruiz was appointed Planning Commissioner on January 24, 2023, by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. He has been a resident of Riverside County for 36 years. He has extensive experience in building project management where he holds various certifications including OSHA 30. Mr. Ruiz is an active member in his parish as well as an active donor in feeding the hungry ministry, which feeds the homeless in our community. In his free time, Mr. Ruiz enjoys antique carpentry as well as preparing meals for his family.

Term Expires: June 30, 2025

The Fifth Supervisorial District includes the cities of Banning, Beaumont, Calimesa, Hemet, Moreno Valley and San Jacinto. The unincorporated communities include Cabazon, Cherry Valley, Lakeview, Nuevo, Reche Canyon, San Timeteo Canyon, as well as parts of Valle Vista and Whitewater.

 

 

Contacting the Planning Commission

Please route all correspondence to:

TLMA Commission Secretary
Riverside County Administrative Center
4080 Lemon Street 12th Floor
P.O. Box 1409
Riverside, CA 92502
E-mail: planninghearings@rivco.org  
Phone: (951) 955-7436 Fax: (951) 955-2767

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 
 
PRESENTATIONS
 
Any person wishing to make a presentation that includes printed material, video, or another form of electronic media must provide the material to the Project Planner or Commission Secretary at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.  All electronic media must be submitted on a flash drive or CD.  If providing printed material, the presenter should submit 9 copies of the document to the Project Planner or Commission Secretary for distribution to the Hearing Body. 
 

PUBLIC HEARING RULES

An applicant, or applicant’s representative, wishing to speak on an agenda item will be permitted to be heard twice.  Once for up to ten (10) minutes for the purpose of making an opening presentation and once for up to twenty (20) minutes for the purpose of making a rebuttal presentation.

A member of the public wishing to speak on an agenda item will be permitted to be heard once for up to three (3) minutes.

A member of the public who is present, but does not wish to speak on a agenda item, may give his or her time to another member of the public who does wish to speak, provided, however, that no more than four (4) members of the public shall be allowed to give their time to a single speaker.

The Chairman/Planning Director (or appointee) adheres to a strict three (3) minutes per speaker.  If you intend to give your time to another speaker, please indicate the name of the person to whom you are giving your time to at the very bottom of the Speaker Identification Form. 

The time limits referenced above are maximum limits and the Chairman/Planning Director (or appointee) may, in his or her discretion, impose shorter time limits for any of the following reasons: to ensure that a meeting is completed within a reasonable period, to ensure that a meeting is completed before an anticipated loss of a quorum or to otherwise facilitate the business of the Hearing Body.