City of Gonzales
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
ACTIVITY REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: April 20, 2026
FROM: Taven Kinison Brown, Community Development Director THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Community Development Department Activity Report
HOUSING
The Vista Lucia Specific Plan . LAFCO replied to the City's annexation request on March 26, 2026, with a 33-page, "incomplete application" letter. City staff, Consultant Brent Slama, and City Attorney Mike Rodriquez are conferring with Pembrook Development Group in crafting our response.
The Housing Element. Placeworks Inc. continues to prepare the implementation programs for the 6th Cycle Housing Element. Placeworks' aid to the city is being paid with our REAP 2.0 Grant administered through AMBAG. Staff prepared the Housing Element Annual Progress Report to submit to HCD and the Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI). This appears separately on the Council's April 20, 2026 Consent Agenda.
The Puente Del Monte Specific Plan. The City is presently underway collecting responses from responsible and trustee agencies for items to include in the EIR document under way in its preparation.
City staff and our consultants (Slama Consulting and EMP Planning Group) continue to meet on the construction and mechanics of the EIR effort underway.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
This summer will allow the Economic Development Division to receive two paid-for interns from Hartnell College:
• The first intern position will primarily be in support of the whole Community Development Department with mentorship and direction from the Director in matters of economic AGENDA
ITEM
7 development, business licensing, recordkeeping and review of our past business and home loan programs, building permits, local construction, code enforcement and the planning division • The second intern position will assist the City of Gonzales with implementing a Local Business Promotion Program to showcase Gonzales business through social media and other channels.
Additionally, we will have the intern explore making small "commercials" for the City of Gonzales to help market vacant and available structures, and provide positive social media content.
BUILDING DIVISION ACTIVITY
From March 1, 2026 - March 31, 2026 (31 reporting days) the City issued (9) permits for a furnace system changeout, electrical work for a solar installation, 3 wall heaters in 3 units of an apartment complex, two patio door replacements, a reroof and re-stuccoing of a house. The estimated value of improvements was $83,173.00
CODE ENFORCEMENT
The City continues to meet with property owners, inspect potential violations and start documentation to progress to remedies.
CITYBUSINESS LICENSES
Coming in May and June, staff will be guiding the annual business license renewals for all business conducting activity in Gonzales.