1 UNOFFICIAL MINUTES
OF THE
SALINAS PLANNING COMMISSION
November 15, 2023
The meeting was called to order at 3:31 p.m. in the City Council Chamber Rotunda.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
WELCOME AND STAFF INTRODUCTIONS
PRESENT: Chairperson Gonzalez, and Commissioners, Meeks, Manzo, Donohue, and Ramos
ABSENT: Commissioners McKelvey Daye and Purnell
STAFF: Community Development Director, Lisa Brinton; Planning Manager, Courtney Grossman; Planning Manager, Grant Leonard; Senior Planner, Jonathan Moore; and Administrative Aide, Desteny Villa
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Chairperson Gonzalez opened for public comment at 3:32 p.m.
No public comment was made.
Chairperson Gonzalez closed for public comment at 3:32 p.m.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: October 18, 2023
Upon motion by Commissioner Donohue, and a second by Commissioner Meeks, the minutes of October 18, 2023, were approved. The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Chairperson Gonzalez, and Commissioners Meeks, Manzo, Donohue, and Ramos
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Commissioners McKelvey Daye and Purnell
2 ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
None
CONSIDERATIONS
None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Recommendation to Adopt the 2023-2031 Housing Element (General Plan Amendment 2023- 002)
Planning Manager, Grant Leonard, presented a PowerPoint presentation, which is on file at the Community Development Department.
Commissioner Manzo inquired about reconciliation between the current and new general plan.
Mr. Leonard informed that the city is currently operating under the 2002 general plan and scheduled to adopt the 2040 Vision Salinas general plan by Summer 2024 , which is consistent to the current general plan and includes the Housing Element.
Commissioner Manzo inquired about race and ethnicity and the composition of integration and segregation and the data comparison from the City of Seaside.
Mr. Leonard indicated that he is not aware of the City of Seaside data will look into the statistics and will follow up with an answer.
Commissioner Manzo inquired about meeting notes around community meetings that highlight community land trust as a potential option for meeting the needs of housing and whether there is sufficient foundation being implemented in the housing element.
Mr. Leonard informed that the City plans to approach this matter with community partners and residents by supporting the potential foundation and foresees this as a long-term goal.
Commissioner Manzo inquired about the possibility of updating the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance that is in compliance with the current economic landscape.
Mr. Leonard informed that the City is currently working with an economic analysis firm to update the background study of the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance.
Commissioner Manzo inquired about the timeline of the updated Inclusionary Housing Ordinance.
Lisa Brinton, Community Development Director, informed that this update is expected to be finalized sometime in 2024, but does not have an exact date.
3 Commissioner Manzo requested clarification around preserving 39% affordable housing stock at risk of conversion.
Mr. Leonard clarified that affordable housing is affordable by deed restriction, which is developed with a clause attached and recorded by the County. Towards the expiration date, the deed restriction is tracked, and the City continues to work with the property owner who receives state or federal funds such as the Housing Authority, to extend the funding that will convert into perpetuity.
Commissioner Manzo inquired about a time frame of implementing the inspection program around the rental registry.
Mr. Leonard informed that the City Housing Department is in the early phase of taking rental registration.
Ms. Brinton informed that the current focus is the rental registration program and the City is currently working on compliance. The City is currently prioritizing legal and financial resources that will be offered to the community before implementing an inspection program.
Commissioner Meeks inquired about the determination factor of affordable housing.
Mr. Leonard informed that the city refers to the legal definition to determine affordability.
Commissioner Meeks inquired about the intention to promote rehabilitation of affordable housing.
Mr. Leonard informed about the Community Development Block Grant program, which is a grant and loan program that funds home renovations for qualifying Salinas residents.
Commissioner Meeks inquired about Code Enforcements responsibilities within Salinas neighborhoods.
Mr. Leonard informed that Code Enforcement is currently understaffed and operates by a complaint- based system where concerned residents may submit complaints.
Commissioner Meeks inquired about particular areas in Salinas that are facing reversed patterns of discrimination.
Mr. Leonard informed that areas like Chinatown, Alisal and certain areas around Downtown are facing income segregation and racial discrimination and the goal is to implement the Alisal Vibrancy Plan, which will reverse the disparities these areas are facing.
Commissioner Ramos inquired about the plans for the future housing development and current housing developments.
Mr. Leonard informed that there are plans for growth within the future growth area for the West Area Specific Plan and the Central Area Specific Plan. City staff is currently leading a third growth area known as the East Area Specific Plan.
Commissioner Ramos inquired about the potential traffic congestion in the future growth areas.
4 Mr. Leonard informed that traffic circulation is important within the City Maintenance of the roads is provided by Public Works. Advanced Planning is working through the General Plan Update under the traffic circulation which focuses on how to accommodate more growth and how to solve the traffic congestion the city is currently facing.
Commissioner Ramos inquired about employment rates reflecting affordable housing.
Mr. Leonard noted that the income categories are updated every year by the federal government Department of Housing and Urban Development and the state’s Housing and Community Development Department and take an average of the incomes throughout the area to determined who would qualify.
Commissioner Ramos inquired about the percentage to be affordable.
Mr. Leonard informed that a percentage of every major development will be deed restricted. He also informed that through the future growth, it is expected to see the existing housing stock more affordable.
Chairperson Gonzalez inquired about the list of themes added into the Housing Element Staff report and whether City Council will be provided with this material.
Mr. Leonard informed that City Council will receive the information from the Housing Element staff report.
Chairperson Gonzalez inquired about the inclusionary housing process timeline what this process will look like in 2024.
Ms. Brinton informed that the City will give a presentation at the next Planning Commission meeting around updates on the inclusionary housing 2024 timeline.
Chairperson Gonzalez inquired about housing goal one and some examples of diverse housing types.
Mr. Leonard informed that the size is the type of housings units such as small units, single and multi- family units and Accessory Dwelling Units.
Chairperson Gonzalez inquired about a potential strategy to prevent displacement and the partnership between the City and community groups.
Mr. Leonard informed that there is a state law that requires all city and county jurisdictions to list surplus land that is available for housing as well as several programs and actions related to identifying grant funding and working with developer partners like Moon Gate Chinatown.
Chairperson Gonzalez inquired about whether the city will make capacity available for collecting data on identifying key indicators to understand tenant displacement and housing insecurity.
Mr. Leonard informed that there are existing data sources the city has implemented , but with the rental registry as a source of data, it is expected to have a greater source outcome.
5 Chairperson Gonzalez inquired about whether the cost of housing be more than 30% of an individual’s income.
Mr. Leonard confirmed that housing rent will stay within the 30% income range.
Ms. Brinton clarified that the 30% income range is within the deed restricted affordable properties.
Chairperson Gonzalez inquired as to whether the city is looking into other options to ensure housing stability rather than deed restricted affordable housing.
Mr. Leonard informed that the city is encouraging developers to build smaller multifamily units and apartments as well as having a variety of housing stock to decrease the rent cost.
Ms. Brinton clarified that live work units, townhomes, condominiums, etc., are considered lower cost units.
Chairperson Gonzalez inquired about potential programs such as farm worker and first -time home buyers.
Mr. Leonard informed that the City has two policies related to farm worker housing and will provide an update as to whether there is a specific home ownership program and/ or policy for farm workers.
Chairperson Gonzalez inquired about how the City is approaching potential displacement for current residents while implementing the proposed benefits.
Mr. Leonard clarified that t he Alisal Vibrancy Plan and Chinatown Revitalization Plan are not intended to gentrify the community of Salinas , but to approach the projects through community engagement rather than push out community residents.
Eloise Shim, community resident, addressed the rental registry in the City of Monterey and inquired about the number of landlords that have complied with rental registry since implemented.
Mr. Leonard informed that he is not aware of the details of the City of Monterey’s program.
Upon motion by Commissioner Manzo to approve a resolution recommending that the City Council adopt the 2023-2031 Housing Element, and a second by Commissioner Meeks, the motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Chairperson Gonzalez , and Commissioners Meeks, Manzo, Donohue, and Ramos
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Commissioners McKelvey Daye and Purnell
6 OTHER BUSINESS
General Plan Steering Committee Updates
Chairperson Gonzalez informed that the committee reviewed land use which focused economic development implications.
Commissioner Donohue informed that the committee focused on public safety.
Chairperson Gonzalez informed that the committee looked at a diversity of ways to address public safety.
FOLLOW UP REPORTS
None
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Mr. Grossman informed that PUD 2022 -001 involving a new Raising Canes restaurant will be presented at the next Planning Commission meeting scheduled on December 6, 2023.
ADJOURNMENT
Chairperson Gonzalez reviewed for quorum for December 6, 2023, and adjourned the meeting at 4:19 p.m.
______________________ _______________________
ROSA GONZALEZ COURTNEY GROSSMAN
Chairperson Executive Secretary
______________________
JOHN MEEKS
Vice Chairperson