Public Safety Element
Goal PS-1: Continue to play a central role in the creation and maintenance of a community that resolves its problems in non-violent ways.
Community Conflict Resolution & Violence Prevention
Policy PS-1.1: Improve community safety and health through civic engagement and relationship building.
Action PS-1.1.1: Ensure language inclusivity (including indigenous languages) to increase communication and connections with community members.
Action PS-1.1.2: Support and facilitate youth and resident led community events like National Night Out and Ciclovía.
Action PS-1.1.3: Convene residents, community organizations, schools, and the County to improve the criminal justice system.
Action PS-1.1.4: Work with community to establish practices/programs to help address disparities in underserved communities (racial equity framework).
Action PS-1.1.5: Encourage the creation of police sub-stations to facilitate community relations.
Police Response Alternatives
Policy PS-1.2: Implement alternative policing methods, Community Policing, youth programs and crime awareness public education programs to reduce the incidence of crime within Salinas.
Action PS-1.2.1: Promote neighborhood cohesion programs, and Neighborhood Watch programs to reduce the risk of criminal activity.
Action PS-1.2.2: Build partnerships with schools and support and facilitate youth programs and activities (e.g., Explorer Program, outreach positions for at-risk youth, etc.) Action PS-1.2.3: Offer crime/violence prevention trainings/programs for parents and youth.
Action PS-1.2.4: Collaborate with regional partners to explore the creation of a mobile crisis unit that prioritizes mental health support.
Action PS-1.2.5: Work with Salinas Outreach and Response Team (SORT) to support engagement/communication with unhoused residents.
Action PS-1.2.6: Encourage ongoing application of Department of Justice report recommendations.
Goal PS-2: Provide effective and responsive police and fire services to ensure a safe and vibrant community.
Fire & Police Services
Policy PS-2.1: Ensure Salinas’ residents have effective and responsive fire, EMS, and police services.
Action PS-2.1.1: Address staffing needs by:
*Adding additional response units during periods of high incident activity; *Add additional battalion chief(s) per shift;
*Plan for the addition of facilities and staff in future growth areas; *Exploring opportunities to reduce response workload;
*Addressing administrative and support staff needs.
*Re-establish Deputy Fire Marshall position.
Action PS-2.1.2: Offer mental health/emotional support services for fire/police officers.
Action PS-2.1.3: Encourage capacity building and trainings for staff.
Action PS-2.1.4: Ensure roads can accommodate fire protection equipment and other emergency vehicles.
Action PS-2.1.5: Update traffic signal pre-emption equipment to help improve response times.
Action PS-2.1.6: Mitigate impacts of traffic calming measures on response times.
Policy PS- 2.2: Improve facilities and access to equipment and technology.
Action PS-2.2.1: Seek funding to modernize fire facilities to help improve work conditions and response times.
Action PS- 2.2.2: Extend use of cameras at intersections and high traffic public spaces.
Action PS- 2.2.3: Seek funding opportunities to purchase new and improved fire/police equipment.
Action PS- 2.2.4: Leverage advancing technologies to decrease dispatch and overall response times.
Policy PS- 2.3: Fire/PD collaboration with other City departments and outside agencies/organizations to help improve the built environment and connect residents to services.
Action PS-2.3.1: Work with the Community Development Department to assist community members with housing/shelter needs.
Action PS-2.3.2: Work with Code Enforcement to help mitigate safety concerns due to overcrowding.
Action PS-2.3.3: Support Public Works with active transportation projects to ensure pedestrian and traffic safety.
Action PS-2.3.4: Work with County of Monterey to connect residents with mental health, social, domestic violence support programs and other services.
Action PS-2.3.5: Build partnerships with outside agencies, and organizations, like the Red Cross, to provide fire prevention assistance to residents.
Action PS-2.3.6: Work to improve the emergency communications and dispatch agreements with Monterey County and explore alternatives to current arrangements to contain costs and maintain/improve service levels.
Action PS-2.3.8: Establish a business inspection program.
Action PS-2.3.9: Reduce reliance on mutual aid responses into the city from neighboring fire departments.
Action PS-2.3.10: Explore partnerships and alternatives for the provision of ambulance transport within the City to; Assure availability of medical transport resources.
Stabilize/reduce ambulance billing rates for residents.
Provide critical capacity and redundancy during times of peak call-volume and local/regional disasters.
Policy PS- 2.4: Provide a range of fire/police services to support community education and non-emergency situations.
Action PS-2.4.1: Seek funding opportunities to support local schools with first aid and safety trainings/demonstrations.
Action PS-2.4.2: Continue to promote Safe Zone Exchange and work with community to identify additional programmatic needs.
Action PS-2.4.3: Increase public education and messaging related to community risk reduction, home fire safety/prevention and safe zones.
Action PS-2.4.4: Promote the use of the Salinas Police Department anonymous tip line.
Goal PS-3: Create a safer community through the use of design techniques for existing spaces, new developments and reuse/revitalization projects.
Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED)
Policy PS-3.1: Promote the use of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design techniques/strategies.
Action PS-3.1.1: Encourage physical features that improve building visibility, as well as well-marked entrances and exits, proper lighting, and landscape design to improve or limit access to certain areas.
Action PS-3.1.2: Create welcoming and accessible community spaces with both safety and design features (e.g., signage, public art, large planters/boulders to discourage vehicles, etc.) Action PS-3.1.3: Ensure repair and general upkeep of neighborhoods, debris, trash and graffiti removal, and street, lighting and sidewalk repairs.
Policy PS-3.2: Cultivate a safe and clean neighborhood environment in which residents, employees, and visitors always feel comfortable and safe.
Action PS-3.2.1: Ensure that streets, sidewalks, and public spaces are clean and well maintained.
Action PS-3.2.2: Maintain and improve lighting in parks.
Action PS-3.1.4: Install infrastructure improvements that increase pedestrian and traffic safety.