City Council - Regular Meeting

Good morning, everyone. My name is Karina Silva. I'm a neighborhood services coordinator here with the City of Salinas. Thank you all for being here today. I'm honored to introduce the 2026 Salinas Youth and Government Institute, a passionate and thoughtful group of students who dedicated their time this summer to learning how our city government works and how they can lead meaningful change in our community. Let's go ahead and give them a round of applause. It's been a true privilege to work alongside such a bright and committed group and I deeply appreciate all the energy and effort they've brought to this program. Today, I'm proud to present their final project, a mock city council meeting addressing one of our most pressing issues here in Salinas, affordable housing. At this time, I'd like to turn it over to our mayor to begin the proceedings and call the meeting to order.

Good morning, everyone. Before we begin, I would like to inform you that city meetings may be observed live on the Salinas Channel on YouTube or Comcast Channel 25. Hello and good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining us today. We are the Salinas Youth and Government Institute of 2026. Today is Friday, July 24th. I invite you all to please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Council Member Gian Sacro, may you please help us lead the pledge.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. We will now proceed with the roll call. City Clerk, please start the roll call. Council Member Alvarez.

Present.

Council Member Emerson.

Present. Council Member Montes. Present. Council Member Ortiz. Present. Council Member Sacro.

Present.

Council Member Zamora.

Present. And Council Member Rodriguez. Present. Mayor, you have a quorum. We will now start with the proclamation. Council Member Mancias, please help us with the proclamation, the volunteer month of July proclamation.

National Volunteer Month, July 2026. Whereas National Volunteer Week has been observed in the United States every year since 1974. And it continues to grow each year with numerous volunteer projects and special activities planned across much of the nation throughout the week. And whereas the city of Salinas is proud of our countless volunteers who not only serve the community with pride and dedication, but also contribute to making Salinas a great place to live, work, and play. And whereas Salinas volunteers are one of our community's most valuable assets, inspiring, equipping, and mobilizing individuals to make a difference in the world. And whereas Salinas has several services and community events that prosper due to volunteer participation, including but not limited to coaching, tutoring, district neighborhood cleanups, park cleanups, the Adopt a Park program. And whereas the Amor Salinas Movement is a community commitment to citywide beautification, reducing litter and debris, and improving quality of life through partnerships, volunteerism and education and outreach and whereas over a thousand new volunteers have participated in cleanups over the past year contributing thousands of hours of volunteer work to beautify salinas and whereas the volunteers are essential to our future as a caring and productive community and nation the city of salinas recognizes and honors this service

Now, therefore, be it resolved, I, Mayor Rodriguez, on behalf of the Salinas City Council, proclaim July as National Volunteer Month and urge local residents and organizations to honor all volunteers for their dedicated, selfless, and compassionate efforts. Thank you, Council Member Mancias. Now, I would like to invite the Neighborhood Service Coordinator to receive the proclamation.

Good morning everyone, council, mayor, and city staff. Thank you for this recognition. Ranger and I are honored to be here and receive this proclamation on behalf of Neighborhood Services. Our team has worked very hard to make sure Salinas is a safer, cleaner, overall great community. Volunteers have cleaned and beautified parks, worked on food banks, libraries, and much more. The most recent volunteer event we have hosted was the cleanup of downtown Salinas, which we are very proud of. Thank you once again for this opportunity.

Thank you for your service and dedication to the city. For the purpose of this exercise, public comment will only be allowed from Youth and Government Institute participants, city staff, and City of Salinas elected officials. City staff and officials, you are welcome to participate with public comments after Yagi participants go first. As a reminder, inappropriate language will not be tolerated. Please refrain from using profanity. Each person who addresses the City Council shall do so in an orderly manner and shall not disrupt the orderly conduct of the City Council. Any person who makes slanderous, profane remarks or who utters loud, threatening personal or abusive language and who engages in any conduct which disrupts, disturbs or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of the City Council meeting may be removed from the City Council chambers. The city clerk shall monitor the timing and shall announce when the speaker's time is completed. Public comments generally are limited to two minutes per speaker. I may further limit the time for public comments depending on the agenda schedule. We are now open for public comments on items that are not on the agenda and that are in the city of Salinas subject matter jurisdiction. Comments on agenda items should be held until the items are reached.

Good morning City Council members and Mayor. My name is Jan. I'm from District 5. Today I'd like to talk about sidewalks, specifically ruined ones. I'm a person who enjoys doing activities outside with friends around parks or my neighborhood. But the more I go outside, the more I seem to notice how messed up the sidewalks are. There are times where I see people having to walk on the street because the sidewalks are so bad. What I'm hoping and asking for is for the city to renovate visibly ruined sidewalks so that people can easily take walks or runs without having to worry about having trouble getting around. Thank you.

Hello, my name is Jayla. I'm from District 4, and today I would like to talk about the placement of some buildings. For an example, I would like to use the Starbucks and the Sherwood Gardens Shopping Center. The placement of the Starbucks is inconsiderate about the buildings around them. An example is the Chinese restaurant near it called Mandarin Garden. Knowing Starbucks is incredibly overpopulated, and just to add a little comment, we already have so many Starbuckses and Salinas already, I don't think this one was needed to be built. I presently do not think the placement was a very good choice because Starbucks is overly packed, and this Starbucks specifically being a drive-thru populated building, it makes the situation worse because overcrowding causes cars to take up a lot of space more than needed, which deducts the chance for other people who want to go somewhere around the building to find parking. What I'm asking for is simply for the city to be more mindful of the placement of buildings they make. Thank you.

Good morning, Council. My name is Ignacio Mendez. I am a resident of District 2 and would like to address the major issue that is pollution in the form of trash here in the city of Salinas. As you all know, trash is present almost everywhere in Salinas, whether it is on the sides of roads or in public places such as parks, in this case specifically, Natividad Creek Park, also known as Las Casitas Park. I ask you, Council, to give more attention to this overshadowed problem. Thank you.

Good morning, city council members. My name is Carissa, and I live in District 5. When I take my daily walks around my neighborhood, I've noticed that some dog owners have not been picking up their dog's waste around North First Street and Taroki Drive. Maybe the city can provide potty bags around the neighborhood. I've also noticed that parts of the concrete of the sidewalks are lifting near Osage Drive. This is dangerous to everyone, but especially children and elderly individuals. Lastly, near Osage Drive, many front yards and sidewalks are covered in leaves. My grandma maintains her yard daily. However, due to the wind, excessive amounts of leaves end up in her front yard. It's frustrating because it's time-consuming and extra work. What is the city doing to help residents upkeep their homes and neighborhoods? Lastly, thank you to all staff of the City of Salinas for all you've done for the wellness and safety of our community.

Good morning mayor and city council members and everyone in the community. Public transportation is essential to the economics of Salinas. My name is Jesus and I am a resident of District 1 and I am here today to speak about the need for reliable and accessible bus services in our city. Many people in Salinas depend on the bus to get to work, school, doctor appointments, and other important places. Some neighborhoods have limited access to bus stops, which means people may need to walk long distances just to catch a bus. Sometimes buses don't come often, or the routes don't reach the places people need to go. This can make people late for work, school, or make it harder to get to important appointments. Bus Route 41 is helpful, but it does not extend further into our neighborhood. Because of this, many residents still walk long distances just to reach the nearest bus stop. Extending Route 41 further into District 1 would make it easier for students, workers, seniors, and families to use public transportation every day. Reliable public transportation helps everyone in our community. It gives people who do not own a car a way to travel safely and affordably. It also helps reduce traffic and gives more people access to jobs and other opportunities. One way we could help solve this problem is by working with Monterey Salinas Transit to improve bus services, adding more bus stops where they are needed, increasing how often buses run on busy routes, extending Route 41 further into District 1, expanding services to growing neighborhoods, and improving bus stops with better lighting and shelters would make public transportation more reliable and comfortable for riders. Better public transportation is an investment in our community. It helps students, workers, seniors, and families get where they need to go and improve the quality of life in Salinas. Thank you for your attention and I hope you consider these ideas.

Is there anyone else who would like to make a public comment?

Hello, Mayor and Council. I just wanted to say thank you to the Neighborhood Services team for all their hard work and dedication this summer in both Yagi and Camp Amar. It was nice to see so many young people ages 13 to 18 participating in our volunteer programs and engaging with their community. So thank all of you guys for being here and committing your summer to this program. So it's nice to meet all of you and thank you.

Is there anyone else who would like to make a public comment? We will now close public comments. Next on the agenda, we have a presentation by the Community Development Director Julissa Vigil on the issue of affordable housing. Julissa, please take the stage.

Good morning, mayor, council members, and residents of Salinas. My name is Jalissa Vigil, and I'm honored to serve as your community development director for the Salinas Youth and Government Institute of 2026. Today, I am here to present a critic proposal regarding the topic that every single resident deals with in Salinas, affordable housing. As for our 2026 initiative, we have learned how city government works, explored careers in public service, and have learned to give back directly to our community through finding solutions for affordable housing. Now we're going to deep dive into what we're going to be discussing today and then moving on to our primary objectives for today's session. So we are going to be discussing the current affordable housing crisis that Salinas is currently facing. Second, we will present a new proposed affordable housing initiative that is designed to address these exact gaps. Third, I will explain how this proposal directly benefits our local residents. Finally, I'll conclude by requesting a specific direction from the city council so we can take the next actionable steps forward. To understand why this approval is so critical, let's look at the data surrounding why this matters so deeply right now. Why this matters? Simply, Salinas continues to experience a severe community housing crisis that threatens our community stability. We are seeing rapid housing costs paired with limited affordable housing options. This has led to a long waiting list for affordable apartments across our city. The reality of this crisis is that our essential workers, including teachers, first responders, seniors, and young families, to find it nearly impossible to find houses in a community that they serve. Left unchecked, this housing instability directly contributes to increased homelessness. We must act to protect the backbone of Salinas. To ensure our response aligns with our residents, let's look at what the community has shared with me. When designing this proposal, we listened directly to our residents. The community feedback we received highlights the heavy burden our families are currently carrying. People are struggling with high rent prices and a lack of homes for first-time buyers. There are simply not enough affordable apartments available. This forces many workers into long commutes because they can't afford to live near their jobs. Furthermore, there's urgent demand for more dedicated housing options for our seniors and veterans. In direct response to this feedback, our department has developed a strategic roadmap. We are proud to present our recommendations for the proposed affordable housing initiative. Our first strategy is partnering directly with affordable housing developers to maximize our resources. Through this partnership, we recommend building approximately 120 housing units. To ensure we take care of our most vulnerable populations, this development will include homes specifically for families, seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. This isn't just about building walls, it's about building a community. The features will include parks, walking paths, a community room, and energy-efficient buildings to keep utility costs low. Now let's take a look at our ideal location we identified to bring this community to life. To make this initiative a reality, we have identified an ideal site located at 58 West Market Street. This is a vacant, city-owned property positioned near schools, parks, and public transportation. Utilizing this specific location offers tremendous strategic advantages. First, because it is already a city-owned property, it is incredibly easy to redevelop. It's a downtown location which keeps residents close to jobs, provides direct access to bus routes, and places them near grocery stores. First of all, it sits in a safe neighborhood. By selecting this optimal site, the positive ripple effects will be felt across our entire city grid. Investing in this initiative delivers wide-ranging benefits directly to Salinas. The project would immediately increase our affordable housing inventory. It would also reduce the ongoing issue of our household overcrowding. By doing so, we support families, helping them stay rooted right here. Providing this foundational safety net will improve neighborhood stability, encourage sustainable development practices moving forward, and strengthen our local economy. Now let's take a look at the financial breakdown to see how we're going to fund this vision. To achieve these goals, we have put together a highly leveraged budget. The total estimated cost sits at around $50 million. However, we are not asking the city to do this alone. We have secure, diverse funding resources, including $18 million from state housing grants, $20 million... $18 million from state housing grants and $10 million from federal grants. And our biggest contribution, which is the affordable housing developer, is investing the largest portion at around $20 million. This allows us to turn a small local investment into a massive $50 million community asset. While financials make sense, we must also address the natural questions that come with the project of this scale. We recognize that a project of this scale naturally brings questions from our residents. Some residents may ask, will there be more traffic? Will property values decrease or will schools become more crowded? As city staff, we take these concerns very seriously and have proactive plans in place. First, comprehensive traffic studies will be completed to manage flow. Second, new housing actively supports local businesses and good modern design improves our neighborhoods. Finally, public input will continue throughout the project. to continue and to ensure our schools and infrastructure scale smoothly alongside our growth. Beyond addressing community concerns, this initiative is also highly eco-friendly. Sustainability is at the very core of this development plan. The project includes robust green elements featuring trees and landscaping alongside solar panels for clean energy. We are designing walkable streets equipped with bike racks to encourage alternative transportation. Additionally, the site will utilize water efficient landscaping to conserve our local water supply and sustainable building materials to reduce construction waste. We are building a greener future for Salinas. conclusion the community development department formally recommends that the city council takes action we ask that you approve the affordable housing initiative authorize staff to pursue grant funding that we outline begin the formal environmental review and continue to do our community outreach efforts as noted on the slide the time to act is now we have the land the funding partners in the community blueprint ready to go with that i will move on to my final slide Thank you so much for your time, your leadership, and your commitment to the residents of Salinas. I'm not open for any questions, thoughts, or direction the council may have. Thank you.

Council member Alvarez, do you have any questions?

Yes, but first off, I want to thank you for your presentation. My question for you is, why did staff choose this location?

Staff selected this location because it's centrally located in downtown Salinas, and it is close to public transportation, schools, grocery stores, healthcare services, and employment opportunities. The site supports the city's goal of encouraging housing near transit and existing services while making the best use of city-owned land.

No further questions. Thank you.

Thank you. Council Member Emerson, do you have any questions?

No questions. Thank you for this presentation on affordable housing. This new project seems very well thought out, Community Development Director.

Thank you. Thank you. Council Member Mancias, do you have any questions?

I have a question for Community Development Director Julissa Vigil. If this is currently a parking lot, where will people park?

Staff recognizes that the parking is an important concern. As a part of our project design, parking for residents will be included within the development. And the city would evaluate nearby public parking options and shared parking opportunities. A parking study would also be completed before construction begins.

Thank you. My next question is for the city manager. If this project is approved tonight, what are the next steps?

If the council approves the recommendation, staff will begin the environmental review process, pursue state and federal grant funding, negotiate agreements with development partners, and continue community outreach. Any major agreements or funding requests would return to the city council for future consideration.

Thank you.

No further questions. Thank you. Council Member Ortiz, do you have any questions?

No question, but I'd like to thank your dedication for this presentation.

Thank you. Thank you. Council Member Sacro, do you have any questions?

Yes, Mayor, I do have a question for our city attorney. Are there any legal issues or requirements that a council should consider before approving this project?

Yes, Council Member. Before construction can begin, the project must comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws. This includes completing the environmental review required under the California Environmental Quality Act, following zoning and land use regulations, and ensuring all contracts and development agreements are legally reviewed before they are presented to the Council for approval.

Thank you for responding. No further questions.

Thank you. Council Member Zamora, do you have any questions?

I have a question for the city attorney. Can the city require the developer to keep these units affordable in the future?

Thank you for your question. It's an important one. And yes, the city can require affordability through a legally binding affordable housing agreement or regulatory agreement. And these agreements specify who qualifies to live in the unit, establish income limits, and require the home to remain affordable for a designated period, often 55 years or longer.

Thank you. No further questions.

Thank you. The presentation was very clear. Thank you for taking the time to prepare the affordable housing presentation. We hope to provide more support and services to the unhoused population. Let's give Julissa a round of applause.

Thank you.

We will now open the podium for public comments regarding this issue.

Good morning, City Council members.

My name is Aurelia. I'm a resident of District 5, and I've lived in Salinas my whole life. In the years I've been living here, I have always noticed how expensive it is to live here comfortably. Families are being forced to live in overcrowded apartments or even unsafe conditions just to be able to afford shelter. I want to see the city work to fix this problem and support its people. Right now, Salinas is among the top 10 most expensive cities in the country. The average annual salary is only $56,000, while the average home price is nearly a million, and apartment rent prices typically range between $2,000 to $3,000 monthly. This is hardly livable, even with multiple incomes. That price is only going to rise if something is not done. It's impossible for residents to afford a house. Housing prices need to come down and cannot continue being this prominent of an issue. Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor and Councilmembers. My name is Zayla, a resident of District 6. I want to thank you for making affordable housing a priority. I appreciate the work you are doing to create more housing opportunities and support families, seniors, and young people who want to continue living in our community. Thank you for your dedication and for investing in the future of our city.

Good morning City Council and city staff. My name is Nestor Jimenez and today I want to talk about the issue that affects many families in our community, affordable housing in Salinas. One of the great issues that we must be accounted for. Salinas is a hard-working city and it's home to farm workers, teachers, nurses, first responders, and many others who help keep our community strong. However, many of these hard-working people struggle to afford a place to live. As housing costs continue to rise, many families are forced to spend most of their income on rent, live in overcrowded homes, or move farther away from their jobs because they simply cannot afford housing in Salinas. Affordable housing is about more than just having a place to live. It provides stability, security, and opportunity. When families have affordable homes, children perform better in schools, and parents express less financial stress, and communities become stronger. Everyone benefits when people have a safe and stable housing. So what can we do as a community? We can support the construction of more affordable housings by encouraging local leaders, builders, and organizations to work together and create homes that our working families can afford. We can also support local programs that provide rental assistance, financial education, and resources for the first time home buyers. These programs help families stay in their homes and build better futures where we could all benefit. Affordable housing is not just a government issue, it's a community issue. When we work together, we can create an opportunity for families, strengthen our local economy, and build a better future for everyone. I hope the council makes up a decision and do their part in Salinas, a place where everyone has an opportunity to live, work, and thrive in our community. Make it a priority and not an option. Thank you.

Good morning, City Council. My name is Jose, and I am a resident from District 5. I came today to talk about what is going on to attract developers to build more affordable housing. Salinas is considered one of the least affordable cities relative to local incomes, and many feel it is way too much and unrealistic to think about buying a home in the foreseeable future. And as part of the youth, I'd like to consider buying a home in the future. Thank you for your time, City Council.

Good morning, City Council. My name is Leo. I'm a resident from District 6. And today, I want to bring attention to the affordable housing crisis in Salinas. Salinas is home to hardworking families, essential workers, seniors, and young people who all want to contribute to our community. But for many residents, finding a safe and affordable place to live has become increasingly difficult. When housing costs rise faster than people's incomes, families are forced to make difficult choices between paying rent, buying groceries, and supporting their loved ones. This is not just a housing problem. It affects the entire community, especially for the younger generation like me who wants to eventually own a house here in Salinas. This is scary. I suggest that we start implementing strategies immediately to help rectify this issue. We could develop financial aid programs for families who make minimum wage, develop lower- to middle-class-friendly housing opportunities, or we could develop courses and programs that teach people about finance. Salinas deserves more attention, more affordable housing opportunities, and real solutions. By speaking up and bringing light to this issue, we could help create a community where people can not only work, but also afford to live. Thank you.

Good morning, Mayor, City Council members. My name is Jesus. I am a resident of District 1 here in Salinas. I'm here to talk about affordable housing. Affordable housing is not just about paying less for rent. It's about making sure people have a safe place to live and can live with dignity. Many people here in Salinas work hard every day, but still cannot afford their own apartment. Because of this, they have They have to rent a room and share bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms with other people. Some people choose to live this way, but many do it because they have no other choice. I believe everyone should have a chance to live safe and without having to share basic living spaces just because house costings are too high. People should not have to give up privacy just to have a place to live. One way we could help solve this problem is by building more affordable housing. The City of Salinas can work with builders and give them incentives like lower fees or faster permits if they include affordable apartments in their projects. The city could also turn empty buildings into housings and continue supporting programs that help people find affordable homes. If we build more affordable housing, more families, students, seniors, and workers will have the chance to live in a place they can afford. Thank you for your time and for listening to my concerns.

Is there anyone else who would like to make a public comment? We will now close public comments. We will now proceed with final comments from the council. Council Member Alvarez.

First off, I would like to thank all the presenters and everybody who showed up. I hope that we as a council and as a city can fix this housing issue and make Salinas a better and more affordable place for everyone. Thank you.

Thank you. Council Member Emerson. I want to thank everybody for coming and taking their time out of their day to be here. Your comments and suggestions will not go unanswered. We will do our best to make more affordable housing and help solve the other issues that the community has brought up today. It is only by the community that we can make Salinas a better place for the future. Thank you. Thank you. Council Member Mancias?

I sincerely appreciate all in attendance. Your concern shall not go invalidated. With your participation, the city of Salinas will continue to flourish and grow as one. Thank you.

Thank you. Council Member Ortiz.

I would like to thank everyone who took their time to come here and voice their concerns for the city.

Thank you. Council Member Sacro.

I do appreciate everyone's participation today, the courage and every comments or problems that you brought to the podium. We will discuss and take an action as soon as possible for the betterment of our city. Thank you all for your time and also thank you for the presentation of the Community Development Director. Again, we are hope of this city, so let's make it better.

Thank you. Council Member Zamora.

I want to offer my sincere thanks to everyone for attending and participating. I'm excited and look forward to what the future has in store for Salinas.

Thank you. Thank you all for being attentive today during today's meeting. This report is now deemed as received. Due to the nature of this mock city council meeting, no action is taken or required. We would like to thank everyone for joining us on this lovely afternoon, and we would like to give a special thanks to the city staff who joined us today. This meeting is adjourned.