DATE: MAY 6, 2025
DEPARTMENT: ADMINISTRATION
FROM: RENE MENDEZ, CITY MANAGER
PATRICIA M. BARAJAS, CITY CLERK
CHRISTOPHER A. CALLIHAN, CITY ATTORNEY
BY: PATRICIA M. BARAJAS, CITY CLERK
TITLE: CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE REVIEW AND UPDATE
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Receive a report regarding City Council Committees/Regional Boards and provide direction regarding the dissolution or continuation of certain ad hoc committees and direction regarding restoration of the Mayor’s appointment authority as specified in the City Code.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Annually, and following an election, the Mayor is required to make appointments to the City Council committees and regional boards on which the City is represented. On January 10, 2023, the City Council took action requiring the Mayor’s appointments to be ratified by the City Council. Consistent with that action, on January 14, 2025, the City Council approved the City Council Standing Committees and Regional Board appointments for 2025, except for appointments to the City’s ad hoc committees. As part of the City Council action, staff was directed to prepare a report regarding the City Ad hoc Committees highlighting their relevance and ongoing participation on those committees. This report is intended to provide a summary of the ad hoc committees’ scope of work and recommendation for dissolution. The City Council has the authority to establish committees to address specific issues within the City’s prevue and may dissolve committees once the scope of work has been met and there is no longer a need for such committee.
BACKGROUND:
Pursuant to Salinas City Code Section 2-1, Rule 2(c), the Mayor may make appointments of Council members to serve on any Council Subcommittees and Regional Board. Attached as Exhibit A is the list of City Council Committees and Regional Boards as approved on January 14, 2025. Staff also requests the City Council consider restoring the Mayor’s appointment authority as specified in the Salinas City Code.
Below is a summary of the existing ad hoc committees for Council to provide direction regarding dissolution or continuation with appointments as necessary.
Education and Outreach Subcommittee
Established February 2, 2021, to engage with the various school districts within the city’s jurisdictional boundaries on joint efforts and public/youth engagement. Subcommittee meets quarterly and as needed. The City has robust youth engagement and outreach programs, and the City’s Executive Leadership meets with the School Districts, School Superintendents and key staff regularly to address concerns as they arise. The subcommittee has not met regularly.
Staff Recommendation: Discontinue. As issues arise, both the Superintendents and City Manager may request their respective policy bodies to form a committee as needed.
Salinas Downtown Community Board
Established on January 23, 2007, pursuant to City Council Resolution No. 19149 to support the continued involvement of Councilmembers and staff with the Salinas Downtown Community Board. The City Council authorized the Mayor to appoint an ad hoc committee with a focus on Chinatown project development and implementation of the neighborhood revitalization plans and the City’s Redevelopment Agency Downtown Action Strategies and subsequent implementation plans including the Downtown Vibrancy Plan and the Chinatown Revitalization Plan, all components of Vision Salinas.
Staff Recommendation: Continue.
Fireworks Subcommittee
Established in 2014 following adoption of the citizen-led initiative for Safe and Sane Fireworks. Subcommittee meets as needed to review the Police and Fire Fireworks Action Plan, sales of safe and sane fireworks operations, outreach and education, and illegal fireworks enforcement. Salinas Fire Prevention and Salinas Police Department have enhanced education and enforcement efforts using drone technology and social media outreach and the Action Plan and After-Action Report are presented to the City Council annually as required by the Municipal Code. Since 2014, there have been significant progress and successes with the Police and Fire Fireworks Action Plan, that is presented to the Council in advance of the sale of safe and sane fireworks and 4th of July celebrations. Staff feels that the subcommittee is no longer necessary as the plan is presented to the Council and there is an opportunity for community input.
Staff Recommendation: Discontinue. However, should the environment change in the future, the City Council may reconstitute the subcommittee.
State/Federal Subcommittee
Established in 2008, following retention of state and federal lobbyist to assist with advocacy and support in governmental affairs at the State and Federal level. Subcommittee meets quarterly and as needed. Lobbyist advocacy and support has allowed the city to secure critical funding for public safety, housing, parks and open space and youth prevention. City Manager is currently working with JEA and Associates and MMO Partners to establish a formal City Council Legislative Platform to streamline governmental advocacy that will be presented to the City Council for consideration in the near future.
Staff Recommendation: Continue.
Litter and Debris Subcommittee
Established February 21, 2021, to address increase in blight throughout the City specifically in city parks and right-of-way. As part of this effort, AMOR Salinas was created with a commitment to citywide beautification, reducing litter and debris and improving quality of life through partnerships, volunteerism, and education and outreach was created. Subcommittee meets as needed, and the beautification efforts continue independent of the Subcommittee with the support of the Neighborhood Services, Environmental Maintenance and Parks and Recreation divisions. The implementation of the AMOR Salinas initiative has allowed some of the issues that led to the formation of this subcommittee to be mitigated.
Staff Recommendation: Discontinue.
Rodeo Oversight Committee
The City and the California Rodeo Association have had a longstanding relationship regarding the Salinas Sports Complex and the surrounding areas. The City and the Rodeo Association first entered into a lease agreement in 1987, and that lease agreement was last updated in 2010. The Lease Agreement provides for an Oversight Committee “to review services provided and activities and events hosts, held or conducted by the Association [at the Sports Complex] and to review the management and operational obligations performed by the Association pursuant to the Lease Agreement.” The Oversight Committee also has “the responsibility, but not the final approval authority, for reviewing and discussing fees and charges for use of the [Sports Complex].” The Oversight Committee consists of three City Council members appointed by the Mayor and three Association-appointed members and is to meet at least two times per calendar year.
Staff Recommendation: Should the City Council choose to discontinue the Oversight Committee the Lease Agreement will need to be amended to reflect this change.
EMS Greater Salinas Regional Council
The EMS Greater Salinas Regional Council was established to address issues related to the provision of emergency services and to the County’s ambulance service contract. The EMS Council has not met for several years, however, and there is not currently a need for the Council to meet.
Staff Recommendation: Discontinue.
City/County MOU Subcommittee
Established in 2012 to address City and County projects of mutual interest. The County and the City have worked together to develop a comprehensive planning and implementation program for a multi-agency campus-style Government Center located in and around downtown Salinas. Such collaboration is vital given each agency owns and/or occupies a significant share of downtown properties. In addition to the downtown government center planning efforts, the City and County continue to collaborate on homeless services, animal sheltering services, public safety, and are in discussion regarding an Enhance Infrastructure Financing District. The current Downtown Government Center MOU is set to expire in March 2027.
Staff Recommendation: Continue.
City Charter/Decorum Subcommittee
Established in 2012 to review City Council rules, develop procedures for meeting decorum for Council and public, establish Council censure process, follow-up request, uniform bylaws, and consider City Charter updates. The Subcommittee meets as needed to address issues as they arise. California Elections Code requires specific public meeting requirements and public participation in any proposed Charter amendments. As such staff recommends renaming this subcommittee to Decorum Subcommittee. A Charter Committee can be established at any time within the parameter of California Government Code and Election Code as the need for changes to the City Charter arise.
Staff Recommendation: Continue with recommend subcommittee name change to “Decorum Subcommittee”.
Car Club Subcommittee
Established in February 2023 to focus on community and car club engagement and to revisit Salinas Municipal Code Chapter 20, Article XIV – Cruising Ordinance following California Assembly Bill 436 which proposed the repeal of subdivision (k) of California Vehicle Code section 21100, removing local agencies’ authority to regulate the activity of cruising. Subcommittee met monthly, engaged in robust public engagement, and City Council approved Ordinance 2665 repealing Salinas Municipal Code Chapter 20, Article XIV on May 16, 2023.
Staff Recommendation: Discontinue.
Regional Soccer Complex Board (also known as Salinas Regional Sports Authority Board) Established in 2007 at the request of the Authority support and collaborate with the City and County of Monterey on the development of the Regional Soccer Complex Phases. Other areas of concern and continued dialogue include lease agreements, maintenance, homeless encampments and activity, illegal activity and enforcement, city permitting, funding and traffic impacts. Subcommittee meets as needed. The Authority regularly communicates with City staff as issues or concerns arise and concerns are administratively mitigated.
Staff Recommendation: Continue. However, while there may not be a need to continue this subcommittee, this appointment was made at the request of the Regional Soccer Complex Board and Council may maintain the appointments.
Salinas United Business Association (SUBA)
Under Salinas Municipal Code section 21B-41, the Salinas United Business Association (SUBA) is the City’s advisory board with respect to activities within the business improvement area. City Council serves as an ex-officio member of the board to support business entrepreneurship and support collection of assessment fees. The City of Salinas no longer manages the collection of assessment on behalf of SUBA. However, the Community Development Department continues to support all businesses in the SUBA District through the Business Navigator and economic development efforts. SUBA also presents an update to the City Council on an annual basis regarding activities within the business improvement area providing the Council and the public an opportunity for dialogue.
Staff Recommendation: Discontinue. The City Council only serves as an ex-officio member, which may create an unnecessary appearance of conflict of interest.
Staff recommends the City Council deliberate, consider the recommendations from staff, and provide direction to staff with respect to the dissolution of the above ad hoc subcommittees accordingly.
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
Not a Project. The City of Salinas has determined that the proposed action is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378).
CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 84308 APPLIES:
No.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
This report aligns with the City Council’s goal of Effective and Culturally Responsive Government (City of Salinas Strategic Plan 2022-2025) by ensuring the city is represented in and working collaboratively on City/County-wide regional boards.
DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION:
The City Manager, City Clerk and City Attorney coordinated on this Report.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact related to the City of Salinas committees/regional board appointments.
ATTACHMENTS:
Exhibit A – Committee/Regional Board Appointments List
RESOLUTION NO. (N.C.S.)
RESOLUTION APPROVING UPDATES TO THE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES/REGIONAL BOARDS LIST WHEREAS, the Salinas City Municipal Code Section 2-1 the Mayor is authorized to make appointments to the City Council committees and regional boards on which the City is represented; and WHEREAS, on January 10, 2023, the City Council took action requiring the mayor’s appointments to be ratified by the City Council annually; and WHEREAS, consistent with the January 14, 2025, action, the City Council approved the City Council Standing Committees and Regional Board appointments for 2025, except for appointments to the City’s ad hoc committees; and WHEREAS, staff was directed to prepare a report regarding the City Ad Hoc Committees highlighting their relevance and ongoing participation on those committees; and WHEREAS, Exhibit A, attached hereto, outlines the updates to the City Council Committees to include dissolution of certain committees and name changes accordingly.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF SALINAS, that the City Council does hereby approve Exhibit A – Committee/Regional Board Appointments List.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 6th day of May 2025, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
APPROVED:
________________________
Dennis Donohue, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
Patricia M. Barajas, City Clerk
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