Salinas City Council
Strategic Planning Session
February 22, 2025
United Way Community Impact Center
Facilitated by Reva Feldman
2022 – 2025
Strategic Goals
Economic Development
Housing / Affordable Housing
Infrastructure & Environmental
Sustainability
Public Safety
Youth & Seniors
Effective & Culturally
Responsive Government
APRIL 2022 – FEBRUARY 2025
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
Effective & Culturally Responsive Government
Youth & Seniors
Public Safety (Fire/Police/Infrastructure)
Infrastructure/Environmental Sustainability
Housing/Affordable Housing
Economic Development
Administration – City Manager’s Office
Projects / Initiatives
Community Budget Sponsorship Policy
Monterey One Water Conveyance & Treatment Fee
Implementation of American Rescue Plan Act Projects & Initiatives Employee Engagement Events
Looking Forward
City Hall Build-Back Project Management Support
Sustainovation Leadership Training
Legislative Program Development
Administration – City Clerk
Projects / Initiatives
Records Management & Transparency Platform
2024 General Municipal Election & Special Election
2024 General Tax Ballot Measure Extension Polling
Looking Forward
Language Access
City Council, Commissions, Committees Onboarding & Support Contract Management Platform
Administration –
Community Relations
Projects / Initiatives
Communication & Engagement Strategy
Youth Intern Program & Youth Podcast
Recruitment Videos
Expansion of Communications Reach
Looking Forward
2026 General Tax Ballot Measure
Extension
Leadership Development Program for
Staff
Community Development
Projects / Initiatives
General Plan Update
Alisal Vibrancy Plan District Identity Master Plan
Rental Registration & Rent Stabilization Ordinance Implementation Major Project/Permit Approvals
Looking Forward
Comprehensive Zoning Code Update
Processing Future Growth Area Applications
Alisal Facade Improvement Program
Site Assembly & Pre-Development Activities in Chinatown
FINANCE
Projects / Initiatives & Looking Forward
Identify and support budget balancing
strategies
Ensure audits are completed on time
Reformat budget documents to include greater
transparency
Fill critical vacancies
Continue to institute accounting and finance
policy/procedure best practices Citywide
Continue to make progress on the IT Annual
Workplan
Fire
Projects / Initiatives
Fire Station 1 Renovations
Land Acquisition & Construction of Fire Station 7
Additional Unit Hours to Deploy Engine 7
Demolish & Replace/Relocate Fire Training Facility
Looking Forward
Continue to Address Deferred Maintenance & Repairs at All Fire Stations Expand Fire Prevention Div. & Restructure as Community Risk Div. Replace Aging Apparatus
Relocation of Certain Existing Fire Stations
HUMAN RESOURCES
Projects / Initiatives
Workplace Violence Prevention Plan/Central Safety
Committee
Labor Relations
Support Department recruitment/retention; employee
training, performance, and coaching efforts
Looking Forward
Occupational Medicine RFP
Personnel Manual update and Policy development
Employee Onboarding
LEGAL
Support City Council, City Manager, and all Departments in achieving their goals and objectives
Projects / Initiatives
Rent Stabilization Program
Looking Forward
Future Growth Area(s)
Purchasing Policy/Ordinance
Municipal Code Update (Zoning Code)
Resolve Significant Litigation (Project Homekey &
Amazon)
Personnel Manual/Policies
Library & Community
Services
Projects / Initiatives & Looking Forward
Hebbron Family Center
Closter Park Revitalization & ADA
Restroom Renovation
Park Playground Improvements-
Steinbeck/Natividad Replacements and
Universal Playgrounds at
Northgate/Williams Ranch
Cesar Chavez Park Improvements
John Steinbeck Refresh
Police
Projects / Initiatives & Looking Forward
Community Engagement & Youth Diversion
Programs
Communication - Website & Social Media
Enhance Recruitment
Real Time Information Center
Electronic Scheduling / Timecard System
Improve Computer Infrastructure and Internet
Speeds for Police Facilities
Employee Training, including Staff Wellness
Public Works
Projects / Initiatives
Boronda Road Construction
Sidewalk Repairs
Sewer Line Repairs
Independence Blvd Repaving
Looking Forward
Williams Road Improvements Environmental
Process
McKinnon Safe Routes to School Environmental
Arterial Crack Filling
REVA
FELDMAN
CITY COUNCIL
STRATEGIC PLAN
SETTING MEETING
February 22, 2025
COUNCIL-MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT
• The Mayor and City Council are elected by the residents • Serve as the legislative body
• Make policy decisions
• Adopt local laws and ordinances
• Approve the annual budget
• The City Manager is appointed by the City Council
• Carries out policies adopted by the City Council
• Oversees the day-to-day operations of the City
• Hires and supervises department heads and staff
• Prepares and manages the annual budget
CITY COUNCIL
SHARED
VALUES
Equity and Inclusion
Fiscal Responsibility
Integrity
Responsiveness
Service
Transparency
VISION AND VALUES
The City Manager and key management staff are
responsible for ensuring that these values are
implemented at all levels of the organization.
Salinas is a community that is recognized for its leadership by living its values. Salinas is family-friendly, fiscally sound, respectful of all residents and committed to a quality of life that affords all residents housing, jobs and safety.
DRAFT 2025 STRATEGIC PLAN
Develop a consistent long-term strategic plan to meet the needs of the community
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
1. Continue implementation of the Alisal Vibrancy Plan
2. Complete an Agriculture Technology Plan
3. Partner with key stakeholders to ensure training for farm workers to compete for agriculture technology jobs
4. Continue to support and engage new and existing small, large and entrepreneurial businesses
5. Create incentives to diversify economic base
6. Revitalize blighted areas
HOUSING
1. Continue to pursue transit-oriented housing development opportunities that align with the City’s adopted specific plans
2. Evaluate reasonable renter protections and disseminate effective public information on rent protections to the community
3. Encourage and incentivize mixed-use developments
4. Collaborate with partners to effectively address and reduce homelessness
5. Identify opportunities for workforce, low-income and farm worker housing
6. Encourage the development of ADUs
7. Encourage incentives for senior housing facilities
INFRASTRUCTURE
1. Create and maintain attractive gateways at city entry points
2. Improve the condition of sidewalks and streets, including implementing regular pothole maintenance
3. Increase safety for residents by adding lighting in public spaces
4. Improve city street sweeping efforts
5. Introduce innovative ways using technology to improve the flow of traffic
6. Analyze expanding the use of the airport
7. Implement the Urban Forest Management Plan
8. Invest in recreational programs and public facilities
CITY SERVICES
1. Continue working on the Visión Salinas 2040 General Plan
2. Update Equity Plan
3. Maintain balanced General Fund budget and robust reserves
4. Streamline permitting services
5. Expand and enhance Economic Development services
6. Enhance city communication efforts
7. Engage neighborhoods
8. Expand the City’s volunteer programs
PUBLIC SAFETY
1. Encourage emergency preparedness and
resiliency throughout the community
2. Maintain staffing of police and fire
departments
3. Continue community policing efforts
4. Enhance the abandoned vehicle abatement
program
5. Expand code enforcement efforts
6. Consider environmental design factors for
improved public safety
7. Hire locally for public safety positions
YOUTH AND SENIORS
1. Improve and develop youth and senior
facilities
2. Consider a joint use agreement with school
district for community use of recreational
space
3. Increase the number of community events
4. Partner with regional stakeholders to improve
access to the arts
QUESTIONS
AND
DISCUSSION