Tuesday, June 10, 2025
5:00 PM
City of Salinas
200 Lincoln Ave., Salinas, CA 93901
www.cityofsalinas.org
Rotunda
Joint Salinas City Council and Salinas Planning
Commission
*****
Mayor Dennis Donohue
Councilmembers:
Jose Luis Barajas, District 1 - Tony Barrera, District 2 Margaret D'Arrigo, District 3 - Gloria De La Rosa, District 4 Andrew Sandoval, District 5 - Aurelio Salazar, Jr., District 6 Commissioners:
Juan Gutierrez, Mayor's Appointee
Jessica Almanza-Larios, District 1 - John Meeks, District 2 Lorisa Mckelvey Daye, District 3 - Maureen Wruck, District 4 Carissa Purnell, District 5 - Marcelino Rocamora, Jr., District 6 Meeting Agenda - Final
SPECIAL MEETING
June 10, 2025Joint Salinas City Council and
Salinas Planning Commission
Meeting Agenda - Final
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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL - CITY COUNCIL
ROLL CALL - PLANNING COMMISSION
PUBLIC COMMENT PROCEDURES
Public comments are restricted to items on the special meeting agenda pursuant to California Government Code section 54954.3(b). Public comments generally are limited to two minutes per speaker; the Mayor may further limit the time for public comments depending on the agenda schedule. Public comment may also be submitted via email at [email protected] and will be entered into the record.
STUDY SESSION
ID#25-199
Joint Study Session: Draft General Plan Update - Visión Salinas 2040 Recommendation: No action required. Receive an administrative report on the Draft General Plan Update - Vision Salinas 2040 and provide direction.
Councilmembers' questions.
Planning Commissioners' questions.
Public comment.
Councilmembers' comments.
Planning Commissioners' comments.
June 10, 2025Joint Salinas City Council and
Salinas Planning Commission
Meeting Agenda - Final
ADJOURNMENT
_____________________________
Patricia M. Barajas, City Clerk
AGENDA MATERIAL / ADDENDUM
Any addendums will be posted within 72 hours of regular meetings or 24 hours of special meetings and in accordance with Californian Government Code Section 54954.2 and 54956. City Council agenda reports and other writings distributed to the legislative body may be viewed at the Salinas City Clerk’s Office, 200 Lincoln Avenue, Salinas, and are posted on the City’s website at www.cityofsalinas.org in accordance with California Government Code section 54597.5. The City Council may take action that is different than the proposed action reflected on the agenda.
Disability-related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services, may be requested by any person with a disability who requires a modification or accommodation in order to participate in the meeting. Language interpretation may be requested as soon as possible but by no later than 5 p.m. of the last business day prior to the meeting. Requests should be referred to the City Clerk’s Office At 200 Lincoln Avenue, Salinas, 758-7381, as soon as possible but by no later than 5 p.m. of the last business day prior to the meeting. Hearing impaired or TTY/TDD text telephone users may contact the city by dialing 711 for the California Relay Service (CRS) or by telephoning any other service providers’ CRS telephone number.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
This agenda was posted on June 5, 2025 in the Salinas Rotunda and City's website.
Meetings are streamed live at https://salinas.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx, televised live on Comcast Channel 25 and on http://www.youtube.com/thesalinaschannel at 4:00 p.m. on the date of the regularly scheduled meeting and will be broadcast throughout the day on Friday, Saturday, Monday and Wednesday following the meeting. For the most up-to-date Broadcast Schedule for The Salinas Channel on Comcast 25, please visit or subscribe to our Google Calendar located at http://tinyurl.com/SalinasChannel25. All past City Council meetings may also be viewed on the Salinas Channel on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/thesalinaschannel.
City of Salinas
Legislation Text
200 Lincoln Ave., Salinas,
CA 93901
www.cityofsalinas.org
File #: ID#25-199, Version: 1
Joint Study Session: Draft General Plan Update - Visión Salinas 2040 No action required. Receive an administrative report on the Draft General Plan Update - Vision Salinas 2040 and provide direction.
City of Salinas Printed on 6/5/2025Page 1 of 1
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CITY OF SALINAS
JOINT CITY COUNCIL/PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT
DATE: JUNE 10, 2025
DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
FROM: LISA BRINTON, DIRECTOR
THROUGH: GRANT LEONARD, PLANNING MANAGER
BY: JONATHAN MOORE, SENIOR PLANNER
TITLE: GENERAL PLAN UPDATE/VISIÓN SALINAS 2040 STUDY
SESSION
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Receive an administrative report on the Draft General Plan Update – Visión Salinas 2040 and provide direction.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Since launching the General Plan Update in 2021, Community Development staff have provided quarterly progress reports to City Council. Throughout the process, staff held Study Sessions with City Council and Planning Commission to review draft policy on rising topics, including land use and circulation, health and safety and economic development. This Study Session focuses on the General Plan in its entirety and summarizes the update process, changes to state planning law, major themes and significant new additions to the document. The City is preparing a Public Review Draft of the General Plan for release this summer and is also working on the related Climate Action Plan and an Environmental Impact Report for both documents.
BACKGROUND:
Visión Salinas 2040 General Plan Development and Engagement
The roots of this General Plan start with the creation of the City’s first Economic Development Element, which was accepted in 2014 and formally adopted in 2017 (2017 EDE). In 2010, a non- profit - the Salinas Planning and Research Corporat ion (SPARC) - formed to assist the City with creating a master economic plan to respond to the Great Recession of the late 2000s. Significant public engagement and a partnership with the community -based organization Building Healthy Communities evolved this effort into full General Plan element that included a more holistic and equitable approach to economic growth and success. The 2017 EDE was a foundational document for this General Plan Update, and its goals and policies actions are integrated throughout the document.
Page | 2
Visión Salinas was an initiative launched in 2017 to coordinate public outreach of multiple concurrent planning efforts and to develop a n overarching core value and Guiding Principles for the eventual General Plan update. The Guiding Principles were vetted through public engagement and simultaneous planning efforts, including the Alisal Vibrancy Plan (AVP), Chinatown Revitalization Plan (CRP), and Parks, Recreation and Libraries Masterplan (PRLMP). Attachment 1 is the Guiding Principles booklet developed to describe the community engagement process and elaborate on each Principle.
The City launched Visión Salinas 2040 in 2021 as the umbrella project for its first comprehensive General Plan Update in over two decades and its associated documents. Along with updating existing chapters, or “ Elements” of the General Plan, Visión Salinas includes the City’s first Environmental Justice Element and a separate Climate Action Plan (CAP) . The City already adopted a Housing Element Update in December of 2023 to meet state statutory deadlines.
Community engagement is a critical component of the Visión Salinas 2040 process. Since 2021, staff has conducted dozens of workshops and webinars, Steering Committee meetings, Working Group meetings, and other stakeholder discussions. Pop -ups, surveys, house meetings, and radio interviews, are some examples of other tools used for General Plan outreach. See Attachment 2 General Plan Engagement Summar y, and the Visión Salinas 2040 website for more information.
This commitment to engagement has also included keeping City Council informed throughout the process. Since launch, staff has presented or prepared memos for Council quarterly, and conducted three previous Study Sessions for direction on early draft policy:
Land Use and Circulation – March 12, 2024
Environmental Justice and Public Safety – April 23, 2024 Economic Development – January 27, 2025
In addition to the 2017 Economic Development Element, staff also incorporated priorities from policies and engagement of over 30 related City and regional planning documents completed in the last ten years. This includes the Downtown Vibrancy Plan, AVP, CRP, PRMLP, the Vision Zero Action Plan, the West and Central Area Specific Plans, and many others.
Changes to State Planning Law
Over the past two decades, California state law has evolved significantly, primarily in response to climate change and housing challenges. While housing legislation is primarily addressed in the 2023-2031 Housing Element, key legislation remaining includes:
Key State Legislation
Assembly Bill (AB), Senate Bill (SB)
Addressing Document/Element
AB 32 (2006): Established the state's mandate
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with
current targets aiming for carbon neutrality by
2045.
Climate Action Plan
Page | 3
AB 1358 (2008) : Mandates that circulation
elements address the mobility needs of all
users, promoting healthier and more
sustainable transportation.
Circulation Element
SB 743 (2013): Shifted the environmental
impact metric under CEQA from traffic
congestion (Level of Service) to Vehicle Miles
Traveled (VMT), prioritizing red uced travel
distances over reduced congestion.
Circulation Element/Environmental Impact
Report
Update to Interim VMT Policy
SB 379 (2015): Requires cities to conduct
climate vulnerability assessments and
incorporate adaptation strategies into their
General Plans.
Conservation and Environmental Safety
Element
SB 1000 (2016): Introduced the
Environmental Justice Element, requiring
cities to address the health impacts of the built
environment on disadvantaged communities.
Health and Environmental Justice Element
General Plan Structure
California law (Government Code section 65302) requires every City and County to prepare and adopt a comprehensive and long -range General Plan that addresses eight topics (or “elements”):
land use, circulation, housing, conservation, open space, noise, safety, and environmental justice.
The format of these elements can be tailored to meet the needs of the community, provided that required topics are addressed and elements are internally consistent, as is the case with Vis ión Salinas 2040. A General Plan may also have additional elements beyond the eight required by Government Code. Visión Salinas 2040 also includes a Community Design Element; Economic Development Element; Arts, Culture and Youth Element; and a Public Safety Element.
Visión Salinas 2040 starts with three context -setting chapters (Introduction, Community Profile, Community Engagement) and then consolidates the eight mandated elements and the additional custom elements for Salinas into three “Pillars” (i.e., chapters):
State-Mandated Element Visión Salinas 2040 Element Pillar Land Use Land Use Element
Built Environment
Pillar
Housing Housing Element (adopted in 2023)
Circulation Circulation Element
Noise Noise Element
Optional Community Design Element
Conservation Conservation and Environmental Safety
Element Environment and
Sustainability Pillar Safety
Open Space Open Space Element
Environmental Justice Health and Environmental Justice Element Socioeconomic Systems Pillar Optional Public Safety Element
Page | 4
Optional Economic Development Element
Optional Arts, Culture, and Youth
Each of the three Pillars also has an introduction chapter describing how the elements therein relate to and further the Guiding Principles, equity in Salinas, and relative community planning documents.
Each element contains the City’s long-range goals for the future, and the policies and actions to meet those goals. Each element is organized in the following sections:
Element section Purpose
Introduction Describes the context and legal requirements (if applicable) for the Element
Assets and Challenges Details relevant existing conditions, positive projects or opportunities, and community
needs.
Goals and Policies Sets the Go als and Policies of each element with supporting narrative.
Implementation Discusses how the Goals and Policies can be implemented and lists actions for each Policy.
Together, these components convey a long -term community vision and guide local decision making to achieve that vision. City staff apply General Plan goals and policies to provide direction to development applicants and land use analysis for the City Council, Planning Commission, and other boards and commissions. General Plan actions also comprise a detailed program to further focus City department work programs, priorities, and budgeting.
General Plan Pillar Topic Summary
Attachment 2 includes the draft goals, policies, and actions for each draft element (not including the adopted Housing Element). Attachments 3 and 4 are the draft Place Type land use designation descriptions and Place Type land use map. These attachments and the Pillar summaries below are meant as a review aid, and not a supplement for, the entire Public Review Draft.
The Built Environment Pillar is comprised of the Land Use Element, the Community Design Element, the Circulation Element, and the Noise Element. While each element of the Built Environment Pillar makes up a separate piece o f the General Plan, they are interconnected with one another and work together to advance the community’s vision for Salinas. Together, the elements of the Built Environment Pillar focus on how existing and future development can meet the needs of the community in terms of where people live, work, play, and how they get around.
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Built Environment Pillar Summary
Major policy themes Key additions or changes
Create more flexible land uses
Increase housing production, and
address affordability and homelessness
Focus community design on making
great places for people
Revitalize existing neighborhoods and
preserve local history
Encourage high quality, safe, active
transportation and transit
Mitigate traffic congestion and parking
challenges
Maintain roads, sidewalks, and other
infrastructure
New land use designation system –
Place Types
More land use flexibility, mixed use
designations, and opportunities for
housing
Placemaking and centering design on
people
Complete streets and incorporating
recommendations for multi-modal and
safety improvements from Active
Transportation Plan and Vision Zero
Management of parking resources
The Environment and Sustainability Pillar is comprised of the Conservation and Environmental Safety Element and the Open Space Element. Both elements focus on the interface between humans and the natural environment and seek to support those who are most vulnerable to natural hazards such as drought, high heat, flooding, severe weather, sea level rise, landslides, and wildfires. Together, these elements work in collaboration to enhance the quality of and access to the natural environment and open space.
Environment and Sustainability Pillar
Major policy themes Key additions or changes
Protecting Salinas’ vulnerable
populations, infrastructure, and
industries from climate change
Ensuring a safe and adequate water
supply with regional cooperation
Protecting the community from
environmental hazards
Preserving open space and parks for
community and environmental use
Prioritizing maintenance and
improvements in existing park facilities
Expanding fair access to open space
and
Climate adaptation and resiliency
Ties to work with the Salinas Valley
Basin Groundwater Sustainability
Agency
Aligns Open Space Element with
Parks, Recreation, and Libraries
Masterplan
Focus on improving and maintaining
existing parks and recreational
facilities while strategically adding
new spaces when possible.
The Socioeconomic Systems Pillar is comprised of the Health and Environmental Justice Element, the Economic Development Element, the Arts, Culture, and Youth Element, and the Public Safety Element. All elements that make up the Socioeconomic Systems Pillar focus on quality -of-life aspects for Salinas residents, businesses, and visitors. These elements help bring color and life into the city and are foundation for Salinas’ vibrant neighborhoods and a prosperous and safe future.
Page | 6
Socioeconomic Systems Pillar
Major policy themes Key additions or changes
Reversing negative health impacts on
underserved communities
Addressing environmental burdens
Making Salinas a place where
businesses can and want to grow
Building pathways to economic
prosperity
Creating tools for non-violent conflict
resolution
Providing adequate emergency
response services and safety
infrastructure
Building on the culture, art, and
heritage of Salinas
Supporting youth leadership and
development
New elements:
o Environmental Justice
o Public Safety
o Arts, Culture, and Youth
Focused Economic Development
Element
o Strengthening agricultural base
while diversifying economy
o Improved business
environment
o Education and workforce
development
o Retail, entertainment, tourism
o Commercial corridors and
shopping centers
Economic Development Element Status
On January 27, 2025, the Council conducted a General Plan Study Session focused on the Economic Development Element. Since January, staff has continued to refine the draft Economic Development Element and has held monthly meetings with economic development stakeholders, particularly those directly involved with the development of the 2017 EDE, including SPARK, the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce, SC CIA, and SUBA . A draft Economic Development Element will be included with the revised draft General Plan re leased with the Environmental Impact Report in the late summer/early fall of 2025.
Next Steps
City staff and the consultant team are preparing a Public Review Draft for release in July. There will be a 30-day comment period once the draft is released, du ring which time staff will conduct additional engagement workshops and other events. Staff also continues to work with the consultant team on engagement for and preparation of a draft Climate Action Plan, and a draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the General Plan and Climate Action Plan. The EIR release will start a mandatory 45 -day comment period for that document. The projected General Plan Update schedule through the end of 2025 is included as Attachment 5.
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
Not a Proje ct. 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).
In addition, CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 includes the general rule that CEQA applies only to activities which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a Page | 7
significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. Because the proposed action and this matter have no potential to cause any effect on the environment, or because it falls within a category of activities excluded as projects pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378, this matter is not a project. Because the matter does not cause a direct or foreseeable indirect physical change on or in the environment, this matter is not a project. Any subsequent discretionary projects resulting from this action will be assessed for CEQA applicability.
CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES:
No
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
Continuing work on the General Plan Update is a component of the Strategic Plan under City Services. Many General Plan policies align with and further the goals and key strategies of the Strategic Plan , including development process streamlining, increasing housing production, promoting economic development, and improving public safety and services for youth and seniors.
DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION:
Community Deve lopment Department (CDD) staff worked with Public Works , Library and Community Services, Police, and Fire staff to review draft policies and documents to ensure internal consistency and direction. CDD staff is also working closely with the City Attorney and their outside special counsel firm Meyers Nave on the development of the General Plan and related environmental documents.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
There is no cost associated with this study session. Funding for the General Plan Update comes from State grants and the General Plan fund, which is funded through General Plan/Zoning maintenance fees.
Fund
Appropriation
Appropriation
Name
Total
Appropriation
Amount for
recommendation
FY 24-25
Operating
Budget Page
Last Budget
Action
n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Visión Salinas Guiding Principles Booklet
2. General Plan Engagement Summary
3. Administrative Draft General Plan Goals, Policies, and Actions
4. Draft Citywide Place Type Description Table
5. Draft Place Types Land Use Map May 2025
6. Projected Schedule
Guiding
Principles
Winter 2019
An Inclusive, Diverse
and Welcoming City
where all Persons
can Thrive
Introduction
“Visión Salinas” was initiated in 2017 to coordinate the public outreach and planning efforts in Salinas, and to guide the future update of the City’s General Plan in 2019. It is also the backbone behind many Salinas community engagement efforts, and will be the brand of the upcoming General Plan Update.
Key Objectives:
1. Planning
• Ensure a cohesive and unified
General Plan Update
• Development of Draft Guiding
Principles to guide the City’s
upcoming General Plan Update
2. Community Engagement
• Ensure a 100 percent bilingual
outreach process
• Increase resident engagement,
participation and ownership of the
planning process
3. Capacity Building
• Build capacity of residents in
working with the City to shape
policy and planning processes
4. Coordination
• Branding and name recognition for
the various planning processes in
Salinas
• Coordination between the various
planning processes underway in
Salinas (Related plans: the Carr Lake
Park Plan; the new Police Services
Headquarters, the New El Gabilan
Library)
The General Plan is the blue
print for development in a
City. Its a comprehensive long
range planning document
that outlines how Salinas will
grow, adapt to the changing
economy, conserve open
space, develop housing, and
a plethora of other important
factors that will face the City in
WHAT IS A GENERAL PLAN?
State Mandated General
Plan Elements
Land Use*
Circulation*
Housing*
Conservation*
Open Space*
Noise*
Safety*
Environmental Justice
Air Quality*
Other Optional
Elements
Health
Economic Development*
Community Design*
Equity
Water
Climate Change
Resiliency
*current General Plan
elements
2 ■ Visión Salinas Guiding Principles
Developing Visión Salinas
Guiding Principles
An important accomplishment in the Visión Salinas process thus far was the development of an Overarching Core Value and Guiding Principles. The Overarching Core Value for Salinas is meant to speak to the values of inclusivity, diversity, and civic engagement that Salinas takes pride in – it is a general value statement that is woven into each Guiding Principle. The Guiding Principles are topic based principles that will guide each policy and action item in the General Plan.
The development of the Guiding Principles started with
reviewing public feedback and comment from a wide variety of critical planning programs and efforts citywide (see insert).
From this feedback, the Guiding Principles were drafted and circulated among staff and stakeholder groups and were released to the community in May of 2018. Between May and August of 2018, the community vetted and contributed to the conversation of the Guiding Principles.
The input from the planning
processes below helped develop the
the content of the Guiding Principles
• Economic Development Element
(EDE – 2014)
• Housing Element Update (2015)
• Downtown Vibrancy Plan (2015)
• Alisal Vibrancy Plan (Ongoing)
• Chinatown Revitalization Plan
(Ongoing)
• Parks, Rec, and Libraries Master
Plan (Ongoing)
PLANNING INPUT
Visión Salinas Guiding Principles ■ 3
People joined
4 “Train the Trainer”
facilitation trainings
for Parks Master Plan Steering
Committee, Alisal Vibrancy Plan
Steering Committee, and City Staff
120
People invited to
participate in popup
events and the
Guiding Principles
Community Survey
1,164
People brought
to the table at 15
popup events and 4
stakeholder meetings
977
People engaged
500+
Bilingual process
100%
People completed the
Guiding Principles
community survey
176
Followers on Instagram
and growing
1,200
Visión Salinas in Action
Visión Salinas Guiding Principles
Overarching core value:
An Inclusive, Diverse and Welcoming City where all Persons can Thrive Salinas believes that an inclusive, diverse and welcoming environment is essential to developing and sustaining a livable City, which is working as a community to ensure that all members have equitable access to opportunities to advance their well-being regardless of their circumstances.
The City’s decisions, policies and practices are rooted in the principles of social equity and sustainability so that the fundamental needs of all people are met regardless of their race, color, ethnicity, age, religion or beliefs, income or where they live, language, marital status, gender identity or sexual orientation, place of birth, citizenship status, health or disability.
This Overarching Core Value is embedded in each of the following Guiding Principles.
Livable and Sustainable Community
Collaborative, Inclusive and Engaged
Decision-Making
A Community to Celebrate
Connectivity, Access and Mobility
Housing Opportunities for All
Economic Prosperity, Equity and
Diversity
Healthy and Safe Community
Youth are the Future
6 ■ Visión Salinas Guiding Principles
Economic Prosperity,
Equity, and Diversity
A City where all persons have equitable access to
prosperity through a diversified economy, jobs and
educational/training opportunities
• Attract emerging industries and
support entrepreneurship, innovation
and creativity, while continuing to
promote Salinas as the premier center
for agricultural productivity and
AgTech.
• Promote the image of the City as a
desirable, safe, and vital location for
businesses to locate and people to live,
work, and visit.
• Embrace underserved populations and
provide them the resources to succeed
into different sectors of the economy.
• Foster small business development
and ensure that existing businesses
gain access to the capital, resources
and services that they need to succeed,
expand and stay in the City.
• Create a workforce prepared for the
future by providing educational and
training pathways in specific industries
to increase job opportunities and
earning power.
Nursing students graduate from Hartnell College in Salinas Visión Salinas Guiding Principles ■ 7
• Facilitate the development of a
variety of innovative housing types
throughout the City that meet the
diverse needs and income levels of the
community, are energy efficient and
promote healthy living.
• Ensure that affordable housing options
exist for underserved populations such
as seniors, the homeless, disabled
persons and farmworkers.
• Remove unfair or inappropriate
barriers to housing and minimize
housing displacement.
• Ensure existing housing and
neighborhoods are well-maintained to
improve safety, reduce overcrowding,
encourage social interaction and
bolster community pride.
• Promote higher density mixed-
use residential and transit-
oriented development near public
transportation, bike facilities and along
major corridors.
Housing Opportunities
for All
A City with a diversity of housing types and
affordability levels for its residents
El Tresor Apartments in Northeast Salinas provide affordable multi-family units 8 ■ Visión Salinas Guiding Principles
Healthy and Safe
Community
A City which strives to protect and improve the
personal safety, health and welfare of the people who
live, work, and visit
• Build a trusting dialogue between the
community and public safety to reduce
violence and ensure people feel safe
going about their daily activities.
• Address the root causes of violence
through investment in strategies that
support safe neighborhoods, youth,
and families.
• Emphasize crime prevention through
the design of the built environment.
• Partner with health providers and
organizations to improve the mental
and physical health of the community,
reduce health inequities, and provide
access to health care.
• Promote equitable access to healthy
food, parks, recreation and other
desired amenities to encourage
healthier lifestyle choices.
• Ensure the protection and sustainable
use of the City’s air, water, land, and
natural resources.
• Cultivate the preparedness of our
most vulnerable population, improve
the resiliency of the City’s hard
infrastructure, and reduce greenhouse
gas emissions to ensure a better
response to climate change and natural
disasters.
Ciclovía is an entirely youth-led event in East Salinas that allows families to bike, walk, and scoot down Alisal Street Visión Salinas Guiding Principles ■ 9
Youth are
the Future
A City where youth flourish and have equitable
access to education, recreation and a healthy urban
environment
• Develop innovative and culturally
relevant collaborations to end
childhood poverty, improve literacy
and prevent youth violence.
• Ensure all youth have access to quality
preschools, schools, afterschool
programs, libraries and recreational
opportunities.
• Support educational and training
pathways and opportunities for all
youth so they can gain skills that will
help them improve their well-being,
upward mobility, secure employment
and allow them to remain in the
community.
• Foster access to family support services
to help parents, families and caregivers
fulfill their roles and provide a safe,
caring and healthy atmosphere where
youth can thrive and achieve their full
potential.
Children racing their “horsies” at the California Rodeo, Salinas 10 ■ Visión Salinas Guiding Principles
• Ensure City policies promote racial
equity, align with the Overarching
Core Value, Guiding Principle and the
General Plan.
• Encourage and engage all people
(especially youth) to have an active role
in driving City decisions, policies and
practices.
• Form community partnerships in the
City that foster transparency, effective
communication, and lead to tangible
outcomes.
• Catalyze and invest in community
problem solving and neighborhood
improvement efforts by building
the capacity of, residents, partners
and community groups to create
change, bolster community pride,
and maximize the impact of limited
resources.
Collaborative, Inclusive
and Engaged
Decision-Making
A transparent and responsive City Government driven by
the voices of a participatory community
Community members participate in an Alisal Vibrancy Plan Popup event at Ciclovía, 2018 Visión Salinas Guiding Principles ■ 11
• Promote livability by focusing on
sustainable land use planning,
targeted circulation and infrastructure
improvements that provide equitable
access and the efficient use of
resources.
• Encourage vibrant and active
community gathering spaces such
as libraries, community facilities,
performance venues, open spaces,
parks, and plazas.
• Ensure the City’s infrastructure is well-
maintained, has sufficient capacity, is
accessible for disabled persons, and is
adaptable to emerging development
patterns, changing land uses,
technological advances and lifestyles.
• Work cooperatively with the community
members and others to maintain
properties, promote volunteerism,
ensure effective code enforcement,
preserve natural and architectural
assets, revitalize disinvested commercial
and residential corridors and promote
greening and beautification of the City.
Livable and Sustainable
Community
A well-planned City with a thriving community core
and commercial corridors, excellent infrastructure
(streets, sewers, parks, trees and open spaces, libraries, and community facilities, etc.) that meet the unique
and changing needs of the community
A man and woman walk their dogs at the Rossi-Rico Greenway in Central Salinas 12 ■ Visión Salinas Guiding Principles
Connectivity, Access
and Mobility
An active City with a well-connected, eco-friendly
network of multi-modal streets, bikeways, greenways
and trails, and effective public transportation options • Facilitate community interaction
by removing physical barriers and
improving connectivity.
• Create a modern, safe, sustainable and
connected transportation network that
provides a variety of mobility choices
for all.
• Improve access and connect
pedestrian and bicycle linkages and
public transit from all neighborhoods
to schools, parks, open space, shopping
and services, employment centers,
downtown and other community core
areas to promote connectivity.
• Emphasize walking, biking, and
public transit when considering new
development or revitalizing existing
neighborhoods.
Community members board a free Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) bus on New Years Day, 2019 Visión Salinas Guiding Principles ■ 13
A Community to
Celebrate
A City that celebrates, promotes, preserves and
honors the diversity, history, art, and culture of
its community
• Promote the rich diversity and culture
in Salinas through art, music, festivals,
parades and other community events.
• Celebrate the City’s history, the
architecture of its buildings, the diverse
cultures of its people, and its rich
immigrant history.
• Foster a sense of place by encouraging
community driven transformation,
initiating themed districts, and by
building upon existing neighborhood
identity.
Spectators watch the Lion Dance at the 2017 Salinas Asian Festival in Chinatown 14 ■ Visión Salinas Guiding Principles
Neighborhood
Vibrancy/Urban
Grenning Plan
2017
Visión Salinas 5 Year Process
Visión Salinas
Launches
2017
Economic. Devevelopment
Element
2014
Housing Element
2014-2015
Downtown
Vibrancy Plan
2015
2014 2015 2016 2017
Four Facilitation Trainings
2017
Visión Salinas Guiding Principles ■ 15
General Plan Update
Begins
2019
Visión Salinas Guiding
Principles Developed 2018-2019
Alisal Vibrancy Plan 2019
Adopt Chinatown Revitalization Plan 2019
Adopt Parks, Rec & Libraries
Master Plan 2019
Request for
Proposals
Spring 2019
Planning Team
Selection
Fall 2019
General Plan Outreach
Approach Formulated
Spring 2019
General Plan
Community
Engagement
Begins
2020
2017 2018 2019 2020
16 ■ Visión Salinas Guiding Principles
Visión Salinas in the Community
Visión Salinas Guiding Principles ■ 17
General Plan Community Engagement Summary
Vision Salinas: An Integrated Planning Initiative
In 2017, shortly after the adoption of the Economic Development Element (EDE), Visión Salinas was initiated to coordinate city-wide public outreach efforts. The EDE was instrumental in shifting City practices towards more equitable and inclusive engagement and served as a guide for the Visión Salinas process. Visión Salinas’ extensive community engagement helped establish a foundation for this update by developing an Overarching Core Value and Guiding Principles for the General Plan Update . Visión Salinas was rebranded to Visión Salinas 2040 and served as the backbone of the planning process.
Overarching Core Value: An inclusive, diverse, and welcoming City where all persons can thrive.
This Overarching Core Value is embedded in each of the following Guiding Principles:
• Economic Prosperity, Equity, and Diversity
• Housing Opportunities for All
• Healthy and Safe Community
• Youth and Future
• Collaborative, Inclusive, and Engaged Decision Making • Livable and Sustainable Community
• Connectivity, Access, and Mobility
• A Community to Celebrate
Visión Salinas 2040 Engagement Strategy
The Visión Salinas 2040 community engagement strategy uses an equitable outreach vision, and lessons learned from recent community plan processes , which increased efforts to bring more voices into the conversation. At the beginning of the Visión Salinas 2040 process, COVID -19 brought new challenges to outreach and required new and deliberate strategies to make sure the process was equitable and inclusive of Salinas’ diverse voices. Community engagement summaries for the Working Groups and workshops/webinars are available at:
www.visionsalinas.com/comengage
Key numbers:
• 11,200+ total people engaged
• 5,913 People reached through Global Budget Engagement using Guiding Principles • 22 Large Workshops
• 17 Pop-ups at community events and public spaces
• 16 Steering Committee Meetings
• 8 Working Group Meetings
Key Objective: removing barriers to participation and building capacity The City took many steps to enable community members to participate in the planning process at the level they desired, whether someone wanted to simply share their ideas through a pop-up, by attending a workshop, or if they wanted sustained participation i n the multiyear planning effort.
These steps included:
• Holding virtual meetings during social distancing protocols, • Holding meetings after business hours, typically from 6-8 PM, • Providing food and childcare, when appropriate,
• Conducting workshops and meetings in English, with translation to Spanish, and bilingual materials (when appropriate), Mixteco interpretation when requested, and • Contracting outside outreach support to reach underserved populations.
Community Engagement Structure
Steering Committee:
The Steering Committee is comprised of key community stakeholders representing local agencies, community based organizations, the business sector, agriculture, schools, youth, and one representative for each of the six City Council districts and one representing the Mayor. The Visión 2040 Steering Committee is responsible for:
• Guiding the General Plan Update process and document structure • Communicating information and priorities to drive engagement • Developing content within Working Groups
• Providing guidance on project issues and key policy topics Steering Committee meeting materials are available at:
https://www.visionsalinas.org/steeringcommittee.
Working Groups:
The purpose of the Working Groups was to allow residents, stakeholders and technical advisors the chance to expand on the 2002 General Plan’s goals, policies and actions. Working Group members had the opportunity to expand on, vet and refine the content ou tlined in the policy matrices. Due to the COVID -19 Pandemic, the early Working Group meetings were offered on Zoom and later transitioned to in person meetings centered around the three GP pillars. Meetings were exclusively held in the evenings to allow fo r more participation with food and translation available.
• February 16th, 2022: Built Environment
• March 9th, 2022: Socioeconomic Systems
• March 17th, 2022: Natural Systems
• March 23rd, 2022: Built Environment
• April 7th, 2022: Socioeconomic Systems
• April 19th, 2022: Natural Systems
• April 21st, 2022: Built Environment
• May 11th, 2022: Socioeconomic Systems
Community Workshops/Webinars:
The City held twenty -two (22) community workshops covering a variety of topics. In the early stages of the update process, workshops were held on Zoom and later transitioned to large in - person meetings.
• August 17th, 2021: District 2 Land Use Workshop
• August 19th, 2021: District 1 Land Use Workshop
• August 26th, 2021: District 3 Land Use Workshop
• September 1st, 2021: District 4 Land Use Workshop
• September 9th, 2021: District 6 Land Use Workshop
• October 7th, 2021: District 5 Land Use Workshop
• October 13th, 2021: City at large Land Use Workshop
• January 20th, 2022: Existing Conditions/Working Group Kick-off • April 28th, 2022: Climate Action Plan Webinar
• June 29th, 2022: Community Design Webinar
• September 28th & 29th, 2022: Environmental Justice Workshops • March 28th and 29th, 2023: Public Safety Workshops
• April 19th, 26th and 27th, 2023: Housing Element Workshops • November 2nd: Active Transportation Workshop
• February 1st, 2024: Transportation Open House
• February 27th, 28th, 29th, 2024: Land Use Info Sessions Pop-ups:
Community Development staff, with some outside support from the Center for Community Advocacy, completed seventeen (17) pop-up activities at community events and public spaces.
They were designed to quickly attract and engage community members, share information and provide a voice to residents who are affected but have not been represented in the collaborative process.
Sustainable Agriculture Lands Conservation Grant (SALC) Engagement:
In 2020, The City was awarded a grant through the California Department of Conservation, the Sustainable Agriculture Lands Conservation Grant (SALC) to support Visión Salinas 2040. The SALC grant augmented public engagement efforts focused on direct outrea ch to farmworkers.
With the support of the Center for Community Advocacy (CCA) and eleven (11) General Plan Update Ambassadors, over nine hundred (900) farmworkers have been reached and a total of three thousand four hundred and fifty (3,450) Salinas community members were engaged using pop-up activities, food bank distributions, and lunch time field visits. This outreach was supported by staff with the preparation of pop-up materials focused on environmental justice, public safety, transportation, and housing.
The City also established a Technical Ad visory Comm ittee (Ag Tac) to assist wit h the development and review of a Salinas Agriculture Economic and Land Use Study (Study). The Ag TAC had representatives from Western Growers, the Monterey County Farm Bureau, Monterey County Vintners Association, and the Grower -Shipper Association. The Ag Tac helped develop the scope of work for the Study consultant, participated in interviews and assisted with connecting the consultants with other agriculture stakeholders, and reviewed the Study.
City Budget Engagement:
Over the last few years, the City has been committed to a robust community engagement process designed around the City budget. The 2022 and 2023 City Budget engagement process included forty (40) pop-up activities and over four thousand (4,000) survey responses. This feedback was reviewed and helped establish topic priorities and new goals, polices and actions.
Plan Communication:
• Project website-visionsalinas.org
• Public notices
• Radio interviews
• Email blasts
• Letters and postcards
• Social media (City Facebook and Instagram)
• La Plaza 5 AM Pop-up – meant to engage farmworkers at a popular bakery on their way to work.
• LCS Activity Kit – 400 kits distributed through the Salinas rec centers to share GP information.
• Coasters – 500 distributed to restaurants and bars. Coasters shared information related to the project website and invited folks to complete a General Plan survey. • House meetings - through the SALC Grant , General Plan Ambassadors completed 95 house meetings. This is a common grassroots community organizing strategy where you hold small meetings anywhere community members are gathered, most often in their homes.
Administrative Draft General Plan Goals, Policies, and Actions This document contains the implementation action matrices from the elements of the administrative draft Visión Salinas 2040 General Plan (not including the adopted 2023-2031 Housing Element, or the matrix from the Economic Development Element, still under review with stakeholders).
Land Use Element Action Matrix
Goal LU-1: Support a balanced, diverse, and equitable land use pattern that provides a wide range of jobs, housing, recreation, and services.
Policy LU-1.1: Actively encourage mixed-use designations and flexible residential development to increase sustainability and capacity for housing, business, services, and alternative modes of transportation.
Action Department Timeframe
Action LU-1.1.1: Update the zoning code to
include more mixed-use districts based on
Place Type designation and emphasize form
over use in these districts.
Community
Development
Short
Action LU-1.1.2: Facilitate high-quality multi-
family residential development throughout the
city at a variety of densities (accessory
dwellings, missing middle, midrise etc.) to
increase opportunities for attainable and
affordable housing.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action LU-1.1.3: Establish and maintain the
Central City as the business, government,
dining, lodging, cultural, and entertainment
center of Salinas. Maintain a compact Central
city core that minimizes distances between
most residential units, offices, stores, and
restaurants.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action LU-1.1.4: Group neighborhood
shopping centers, schools, civic and
recreational uses, parks, and public transit
opportunities together to create an activity
center focal point for the neighborhoods they
serve.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Policy LU-1.2: Promote and prioritize redevelopment and revitalization of infill opportunities to ensure the efficient use of land and existing infrastructure and services (e.g., roads, transit, water, sewer, schools, etc.).
Action Department Timeframe
Action LU-1.2.1: Use the Place Types and
zoning reform to encourage Transit-Oriented
Development (TOD) around the Intermodal
Transit Center and near major corridors and
destinations.
Community
Development
Medium
Action LU-1.2.2: Evaluate ways to reduce
development costs and/or provide equitable
incentives to encourage development within
existing neighborhoods on underutilized or
disinvested properties, while protecting
against displacement of existing businesses
and residents.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action LU-1.2.3: Utilize well-designed infill
development and increase density along
major corridors and Economic Opportunity
Areas.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action LU-1.2.4: Promote green retrofits of
existing parking lots in infill development for
environmental benefits.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Policy LU-1.3: Maintain a compact urban form, locating growth areas in a manner that mitigates negative impacts of future growth on environmental quality and quality of life and minimizes loss of important agricultural resources, while allowing for the reasonable expansion of the City to address projected population growth.
Action Department Timeframe
Action LU-1.3.1: Apply a system of managing
growth based on the timely provision of public
services and facilities and general thresholds
or standards for their adequacy.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action LU-1.3.2: Promote vertical urban
expansion in the city core and other
appropriate areas through the Zoning Code.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action LU-1.3.3: Encourage industrial
development to locate within the approved
Salinas Ag-Industrial Center Specific Plan
area.
Community
Development
Medium
Action LU-1.3.4: Encourage clustering of
development on sites within the Future
Growth Area to minimize impacts on
agricultural and open space resources
through respective specific plans.
Community
Development
Long
Action LU-1.3.5: Lead development of an
East Area Specific Plan.
Community
Development
Short
Action LU-1.3.6: Continue to require specific
plans prior to development of future growth
areas currently annexed or annexed following
adoption of this plan.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action LU-1.3.7: Do not pursue growth into
Economic Reserve Areas until full buildout of
Future Growth/Target Areas. As this buildout
occurs re-evaluate Economic Reserve Area
land use to best meet needs of the
community.
Community
Development
Long
Policy LU-1.4: Promote economic development through focused land use planning and infrastructure improvements, and targeted resource expansion.
Action Department Timeframe
Action LU-1.4.1: Use Place Types to reinforce
the strengths and identity of each Economic
Opportunity Area.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action LU-1.4.2: Complete the
Ferrasci/Target Area K Specific Plan and
implement by incorporating land into the city
through annexation.
Community
Development
Short
Action LU-1.4.3: Selectively increase the
supply of land outside of existing City limits
for economic and housing development by
expanding the Sphere of Influence to include
Target Areas and by exploring future
annexation as projects come forward.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action LU-1.4.4: Use the Place Types to
increase flexibility in the Zoning Code to
accommodate innovative economic
development activity.
Community
Development
Short
Action LU 1.4.5: Implement land use and
infrastructure recommendations from recent
community plans (EDE (2017) AVP, CRP,
DVP, etc.) in the Zoning Code.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Policy LU-1.5: Coordinate with local school districts and other educational organizations.
Action Department Timeframe
Action LU-1.5.1: Work in partnership with
local school districts and assist them in
identifying land needed for new school sites
so that sufficient facilities are provided for
students.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action LU-1.5.2: Consider impacts of
proposed projects on school enrollment and
facilities service standards.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action LU-1.5.3: Work with Monterey Salinas
Transit to provide transit routes to serve
education institutions.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Goal LU-2: Ensure that above- and below-ground infrastructure meets the existing and future community needs.
Policy LU-2.1: Maintain, improve, and expand flood, wastewater, and sewer systems to meet current and anticipated demands.
Action Department Timeframe
Action LU-2.1.1: Actively coordinate and work
with Monterey County Water Resources
Agency (MCWRA) to provide and maintain
necessary flood control facilities and services
to meet the needs of the community.
Continue to work with the MCWRA to
construct Zone 9 Reclamation Ditch
improvements to address flood storage and
discharge issues.
Public Works
Ongoing
Action LU-2.1.2: Provide a sewer system that
meets the needs of the community for sewer
collection and treatment and work with
Monterey One Water (M1W) for sewer
treatment needs. Coordinate with M1W for
additional treatment capacity of expanded
sewage disposal needs.
Public Works
Ongoing
Action LU-2.1.3: Ensure existing wastewater,
industrial wastewater, and storm drainage
infrastructure systems, including broad
municipal level wastewater and stormwater
solutions for water reuse are maintained and
upgraded to accommodate existing and
future businesses and development.
Public Works
Ongoing
Action LU-2.1.4: Continue to work with both
MCWRA and M1W to recycle industrial
wastewater for regional reuse which will in
turn aid in the expansion of the Industrial
Wastewater Treatment Facility.
Public Works
Ongoing
Action LU-2.1.5: Through development
requirements and public projects, increase
pervious surfaces and encourage sustainable
and resilient green infrastructure such as
drought tolerant/native plantings, a larger tree
canopy, bioswales, grey water reuse, etc.
Public Works
Ongoing
Action LU-2.1.6: Review development
proposals to ensure that adequate sewer and
water treatment and recycling facilities,
conveyance systems, and capacity are
available to meet the needs of the
development without negatively impacting the
existing community.
Public Works
Ongoing
Action LU-2.1.7: Require new development,
to the extent feasible, to provide flood control
facilities that are visually attractive and
ecologically beneficial and require on-going
maintenance of the facilities by the
development through a maintenance district.
Apply appropriate development standards
and fees to improve present drainage
systems and provide adequate stormwater
detention basins and sedimentation ponds
with new construction.
Public Works
Ongoing
Policy LU-2.2: Ensure adequate funding for infrastructure projects through both public and private sources.
Action Department Timeframe
Action LU-2.2.1: Develop an infrastructure
funding toolkit which describes infrastructure
funding options and mechanisms available to
the City and for partnerships with the private
sector.
Public Works
Short
Action LU-2.2.2: Incorporate priority
infrastructure projects into the Capital
Improvement Plan to ensure they are
programmed for funding and implementation
in an appropriate timeframe to meet priority
community objectives.
Public Works
Ongoing
Action LU-2.2.3: Work with local and regional
agencies to identify new and expanded
infrastructure requirements and costs to
ensure adequate service capacity to meet the
demands of new development within the
Sphere of Influence.
Public Works
Community
Development
Long
Action LU-2.2.4: Pursue public-private
partnerships to increase access to and
potentially fund energy, water, resource
recycling and reuse, broadband, green
infrastructure, and other infrastructure
capacity.
Public Works
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action LU-2.2.5: Pursue grants and other
funding mechanisms to implement
recommendations of the Broadband Master
Plan, prioritizing improvements in unserved
and underserved areas.
Public Works
Community
Development
Medium
Goal LU-3: Support the development and continued evolution of the Salinas Municipal Airport.
Policy LU-3.1: Encourage development of the airport in accordance with the Salinas Municipal Airport Master Plan.
Action Department Timeframe
Action LU-3.1.1: Plan for future airport
operations, considering possible expansion of
airport operations, services, the potential of
Electric Vertical Take Off and Landing
(EVTOL) vehicles, and the proximity of
adjacent land uses.
Public Works
Medium
Action LU-3.1.2: Encourage development in
the vicinity of the Salinas Municipal Airport
that would not cause land use conflicts,
hazards to aviation, or hazards to the public
and that is in compliance with the California
Airport Land Use Planning Handbook.
Public Works
Ongoing
Action LU-3.1.3: Support new compatible or
aviation-related businesses at the Salinas
Municipal Airport and surrounding
commercial areas, including retaining airport
property with direct runway access for uses
directly related to aviation.
Public Works
Ongoing
Policy LU-3.2: Within the designated airport operations area (area within the Airport proper, which typically includes the aircraft movement areas), safety shall be the first consideration and priority shall be given to construction projects that make this area safe for aircraft operations.
Action Department Timeframe
Action LU-3.2.1: Maintain open space
adjoining Salinas Municipal Airport in
accordance with the State of California
Airport Land Use Planning Handbook to
ensure safety for the present runway
configurations and for possible future
expansions.
Public Works
Ongoing
Action LU-3.2.2: Review development
proposals within areas affected by the
operation of the airport to ensure airport and
land use compatibility, protect the public
safety, and allow for continued aviation
operations. This includes minimizing
residential population increases within the 55
decibel CNEL contour.
Community
Development
Public Works
Ongoing
Action LU-3.2.3: Require dedication of an
avigation easement as a condition of
development approval of projects within the
Airport Local Area of Influence. Said avigation
easement shall include special provisions for
properties within the 1-mile clear zone
required for the California International
Airshow.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Circulation Element Action Plan Matrix
Goal C-1: Provide and maintain a safe and integrated circulation system that meets the current and future needs of the community for all modes of travel.
Policy C-1.1: Design and maintain safe streets.
Actions Department Timeframe
Action C-1.1.1: Use traffic calming methods
within residential areas where necessary to
create a pedestrian friendly circulation system.
Public Works Ongoing
Action C-1.1.2: Continue to enforce traffic
laws, including those addressing bicycle and
pedestrian traffic, to ensure a circulation
system that is safe for motorized, bicycle, and
pedestrian traffic.
Public Works/Police Ongoing
Action C-1.1.3: Implement Vision Zero Plan
recommendations and invest in safer
transportation infrastructure for pedestrians,
cyclists, and other modes of travel.
Public Works Ongoing
Action C-1.1.4: Minimize potential safety
conflict between trucks and freight
transportation and other transportation
network users.
Public Works Ongoing
Action C-1.1.5: Improve regional and intra city
road, rail, and air logistics and connections.
Public Works/TAMC/Salinas
Airport Ongoing
Action C-1.1.6: Work with other local
jurisdictions and regional agencies to develop,
implement, and improve regional transit
projects and transportation systems.
Public Works/MST/TAMC Ongoing
Action C-1.1.7: Improve connectivity and
access within the City through efforts to
implement the Downtown Vibrancy Plan and
improve broader access to downtown with the
rail station, Chinatown, Alisal Market Place,
and Carr Lake.
Public Works/Community
Development/ Ongoing
Action C-1.1.8: Promote proper capacity and
traffic flow on City streets where feasible. Public Works Ongoing Action C-1.1.9: Continue to require new
development to contribute to the financing of
street improvements, including formation of
roadway maintenance assessment districts,
required to meet the demand generated by the
project.
Public Works Ongoing
Action C-1.1.10: Encourage removal of “back
out” parking on major roads from non-
residential uses.
Public Works Ongoing
Action C-1.1.11: Utilize AB43 Traffic Safety to
classify Safety Corridors in the City that can
benefit from reduced posted vehicle speed
limits.
Public Works Ongoing
Action C-1.1.12: Continue to explore the use
of technology-based solutions to improve the
efficiency and safety of the roadway network
for all users and expand data-sharing with
developing markets including Smart City and
Connected-Autonomous Vehicle platforms.
Public Works Ongoing
Goal C-2.1: Create and support sustainable and healthy transportation options that encourage a reduction in single-occupancy vehicle commuting and overall Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT).
Policy C-2.1: Use Transportation Demand and System Management (TDM and TSM) strategies, coordinated land use planning, and interagency collaboration to reduce VMT.
Action C-2.1.1: Require preferential parking for
electric vehicles, carpools, and vanpools
through development standards.
Public Works/Community
Development Ongoing
Action C-2.1.2: Encourage ridesharing
facilities such as Uber and Lyft to reduce the
number of vehicles on City’s road network.
Public Works Ongoing
Action C-2.1.3: Create requirements for public
transit passes and other TDM management as
part of VMT mitigation measures for non-
discretionary projects that exceed VMT
thresholds.
Public Works/Community
Development Short
Policy C-2.2: Provide and maintain safe pedestrian routes to school, work, shopping, and recreation.
Action C-2.2.1: Improve the walking
environment by increasing the availability of
safe, attractive, and well-maintained
sidewalks, cut-throughs, landscaping, use of
traffic-calming devices on local streets,
adequate pedestrian separation from
automobile traffic and the inclusion of
pedestrian-scaled amenities such as lighted
crosswalks and increased lighting along
sidewalks in all areas of the City.
Public Works Ongoing
Action C-2.2.2: Ensure that all pedestrian
route improvements meet with ADA standards
for accessibility.
Public Works Ongoing
Action C-2.2.3: Find additional funding to
complete sidewalk repair backlog list as it
exists in 2025.
Public Works Medium
Action C-2.2.4: Require pedestrian safety
features such as crosswalks and walking
paths in large commercial parking lots.
Community
Development/Public Works Ongoing
Action C-2.2.5: Create objective design
standards to ensure new development in
Residential, Mixed Use, Unique, and
Commercial land use Place Types encourages
a walkable built environment.
Community
Development/Public Works Medium
Action C-2.2.6: Use features such as street
trees and other green infrastructure, curb
extensions, mid-block crossings, high
visibility/unique crosswalk markings,
pedestrian signals, four-way stops, whenever
possible when repairing or building new
streets and intersections.
Public Works Ongoing
Policy C-2.3: Provide and maintain an extensive public bicycle network with safe and equitable on-street and off-street facilities.
Action C-2.3.1: Continue to develop a safe
and attractive network of on- and off-street Public Works Ongoing
bicycle routes to encourage and facilitate the
use of bicycles for commuting, recreation, and
other trips. Eliminate gaps and provide
connections between existing bicycle routes.
Action C-2.3.2: Ensure that all pedestrian and
bicycle route improvements meet the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
standards for accessibility, and Caltrans
standards for design.
Public Works Ongoing
Action C-2.3.3: Increase availability of facilities
by encouraging existing businesses and
requiring new construction to provide on-
premise facilities, such as safe short-term and
long-term bicycle parking.
Public Works/Community
Development Ongoing
Action C-2.3.4: Create an interconnected
active transportation network by developing
off-street trails throughout Salinas along
creeks/waterways and through parks that
integrate with on-street bicycle and pedestrian
infrastructure.
Public Works Ongoing
Action C-2.3.5: Explore extending a trail
network outside of Salinas that connects with
regional recreation opportunities.
Public Works/TAMC Ongoing
Action C-2.3.6: Implement Active
Transportation Plan recommendations. Public Works Long
Policy C-2.4: Promote and maintain an efficient, reliable, and equitable public transportation network, that provides a feasible alternative to driving.
Action C-2.4.1: Support expanded services
and continued maintenance and expanded
use of the Intermodal Transportation Center.
TAMC/MST/Public Works Ongoing
Action C-2.4.2: Support Monterey-Salinas
Transit initiatives to provide adequate and
improved (e.g., more frequent availability and
use of Intelligent Transportation System
measures where appropriate) public
transportation service.
MST/Public Works Ongoing
Action C-2.4.3: Promote public transportation
that is bike- and pedestrian-friendly by
encouraging buses with bicycle racks at public
transportation stations and for all new or
modified bus stops to take pedestrian access
into consideration.
MST/Public Works Ongoing
Action C-2.4.4: Design development and
reuse/revitalization projects to be transit-
oriented to promote the use of alternative
modes of transit and support higher levels of
transit service.
MST/Public Works/Community
Development Ongoing
Action C-2.4.5: Continue providing support to
TAMC to provide commuter rail service to the
Silicon Valley and other major destinations to
provide alternatives to automobile use.
Public Works/TAMC Ongoing
Action C-2.4.6: Promote alternative fuel
vehicles such as electric scooters, electric
bikes, and car sharing to reduce car
dependency.
Public Works/Community
Development Ongoing
Action C-2.4.7: Support electric vehicle
charging stations throughout Salinas and City
electric vehicles fleet conversion.
Public Works/Community
Development Ongoing
Goal C-3: Support the local economy through a circulation system that moves products safely and efficiently
Policy C-3.1: Improve transportation infrastructure necessary for efficient freight logistics.
Action C-3.1.1: Coordinate with state and
regional partners on improving truck access to
U.S. 101 in Salinas and at the Abbott Street
interchange southeast of the City’s boundary.
Public Works Ongoing
Action C-3.1.2: Improve street maintenance of
designated truck routes. Public Works Ongoing
Action C-3.1.3: Support freight movement via
rail and other alternatives if feasible. Public Works Ongoing Action C-3.1.4: Minimize the need for freight
loading and unloading on public streets when
designing new industrial or commercial
developments or road configurations.
Public Works Ongoing
Policy C-3.2: Improve communication infrastructure and access.
Action C-3.2.1: Update Citywide policies to
support Broadband and implement Broadband
Masterplan recommendations.
Public Works Ongoing
Action C-3.2.2: Identify a champion for
Broadband development. Public Works Ongoing
Action C-3.2.3: Identify available funding
opportunities to expand Broadband to
underserved areas.
Public Works Ongoing
Policy C-3.3: Promote appropriate capacity and traffic flow on City Streets.
Action C-3.3.1: Strive to maintain traffic Level
of Service (LOS) D or better for all intersection
and roadways.
Public Works Ongoing
Action C-3.3.2: Design roadway capacities to
adequately serve planned land uses.
Discourage diversion of traffic to local streets
by providing capacity on arterial streets and
locating high traffic-generating uses on or near
arterial frontages.
Public Works/Community
Development Ongoing
Action C-3.3.3: Utilize roundabouts, where
feasible, to promote improved traffic
operations and to enrich the driving
experience. Utilize the center of the
roundabouts for public art and landscaping.
Public Works Ongoing
Action C-3.3.4: Reduce the number of existing
driveways on arterial streets whenever
possible for reuse/revitalization projects to
improve traffic flow.
Public Works Ongoing
Policy C-3.4: Effectively manage parking resources.
Action C-3.4.1: Consider a Residential Parking
Permit (RPP) Program. Work with local
community groups to identify unique RPP
registration needs and number of permits per
household. When implementing the program,
include a significant grace period and
education program. Consider warning tickets
for first-time offenders.
Public Works Medium-
Long
Action C-3.4.2: Allow for flexible conversion of
residential yard space while maintaining
required permeable space for stormwater
management and balancing neighborhood
aesthetics.
Community
Development/Public Works Short
Action C-3.4.3: Ensure Zoning Code parking
requirements include bicycles, carpooling
spaces, facilities for electric vehicle charging,
and provide spaces for motorcycles. Site
planning for industrial areas should consider
heavy vehicle holding space on city streets.
Community
Development/Public Works Medium
Action C-3.4.4: Encourage use of unbundled
parking off-street parking to separate the
sale/rental price of parking spaces from
Community
Development/Public Works Medium
sale/rental price of a residential unit or non-
residential building square footage.
Action C-3.4.5: Update the Zoning Code to
recalibrate parking requirements for new
development. Consider eliminating minimum
parking requirements (when not already
eliminated through State law) for transit-
oriented, mixed-use, and adaptive reuse
development.
Community
Development/Public Works Medium
Action C-3.4.6: Continue time-limited parking
in commercial areas and invest in
enforcement. Consider meters or other
payment systems in areas with high demand
and the need for parking space turnover.
Public Works Ongoing
Community Design Element Action Matrix
Goal CD-1: Create, preserve, and enhance a positive and distinct community image and identity.
Policy CD-1.1: Enhance and strengthen the visual aspect of major entry routes into the City and neighborhoods.
Action Department Timeframe
Action CD-1.1.1: Use landscaping, design
schemes and signage to improve the image
and distinct identity of the City, its
neighborhoods, and its major gateways.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-1.1.2: Apply high-quality design
and landscaping standards through the
Zoning Code to major gateways and projects
visible from Highway 101 and Route 68.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-1.1.3: Maintain the distinction of
the City's urban/rural interface by using
roadway segments and/or natural features
and tree plantings to form sharply defined
edges between urban development and open
space or agricultural uses.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-1.1.4: Design City-owned land and
Highway 101 right-of-way landscaping to
make Salinas interesting and attractive as
seen from the Highway.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Policy CD-1.2: Define and promote a strong sense of neighborhood identity and harmony through design.
Action Department Timeframe
Action CD-1.2.1: Create and preserve
distinct, identifiable neighborhoods with
traditional neighborhood development
characteristics.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-1.2.2: Encourage walkable
neighborhoods through close proximity of
schools, amenities, and shopping.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-1.2.3: Create neighborhood
centers with ground floor retail space and
office space, upper story residential and a
civic space such as a plaza or park.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-1.2.4: Encourage increasing
housing densities from perimeter to center
(i.e. neighborhoods should be more densely
populated at the center).
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-1.2.5: Locate small parks
throughout neighborhoods to increase park
access.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-1.2.6: Design vehicular and active
transportation networks that connect
neighborhoods with the surrounding
community.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-1.2.7: Allow flexible parking
requirements and arrangements or the
reduction or elimination of parking
requirements within neighborhood activity
centers to minimize the impact of the
automobile and foster a pedestrian oriented
streetscape.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-1.2.8: Require a balance and
variety of housing types and designs to avoid
visual monotony.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-1.2.9: Require infill development to
be compatible with the scale and character of
existing neighborhoods through objective
design standards, developed through a
Zoning Code update, and use standards to
promote the culture, art, and history of
Salinas' neighborhoods through place-
sensitive design.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-1.2.10: Locate and design water
retention areas and preserve important urban
wildlife habitat to contribute to the visual
quality of the City’s open space system.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-1.2.11: Develop wayfinding signs
to guide the public in unique districts and
promote local businesses and attractions.
Community
Development
Short
Policy CD-1.3: Address vacant properties and blight to improve appearance of residential neighborhoods, to bolster property values, incentivize private investment, and increase community pride.
Action Department Timeframe
Action CD-1.3.1: Identify and address
contaminated parcels, dilapidated buildings,
and abandoned properties to ensure they are
safe to residents and visitors.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-1.3.2: Use developer incentives,
enforcement of property maintenance and
building codes, public-private partnerships
and City-sponsored programs to encourage
the continued maintenance, rehabilitation,
and mitigation of negative visual impacts of
residential, commercial, public, and industrial
properties.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-1.3.3: Catalyze and guide
redevelopment of underutilized and
disinvested parcels, especially in
neighborhoods that have historically
experienced disproportionately less economic
investment.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-1.3.4: Pursue grants to conduct
environmental studies and possibly cleanup
on City-owned or key public-private
partnership brownfield sites.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-1.3.5: Encourage ‘pre-
development’ active reuse of vacant parcels
for short-term community benefits.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-1.3.6: Encourage green
infrastructure in neighborhoods through
increasing street tree canopy, incorporating
vegetation into neighborhood design and
increasing drought resilient public and private
landscaping.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Goal CD-2: Protect and enhance community historical resources.
Policy CD-2.1: Preserve architecturally important historic buildings that are capable of being adapted for viable use.
Action Department Timeframe
Action CD-2.1.1: Support private efforts to
reinvest in and restore historically and
architecturally significant structures and to
continue their use as an integral part of the
community.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-2.1.2: When historic buildings are
renovated to extend their useful lives, the
historic architecture should be maintained
when possible.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-2.1.3: Protect historical resources
in accordance with the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-2.1.4: Complete a new
comprehensive survey identifying historic
structures and resources in Salinas.
Community
Development
Short
Action CD-2.1.5: Identify historic sites
through historic landmark plaques and the
Historic House Tour Guide.
Community
Development
Short
Action CD-2.1.6: Administer the local Mills
Act ordinance which allows a reduction of
property taxes in exchange for preservation
and market the program to owners of
potential qualifying structures.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Goal CD-3: Prioritize placemaking and space for people.
Policy CD-3.1: Improve the urban design relationship between buildings, streets, and people.
Action Department Timeframe
Action CD-3.1.1: Align Place and Street
Types (see Land Use and Circulation
Elements) to create human-scale districts
and public spaces.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-3.1.2: Use the zoning code and
future specific plans to require building mass
to frame (give an appropriate sense of
enclosure) adjacent public/open spaces,
streets, and walkways.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-3.1.3: Consider the entire public
realm when undertaking major street
projects, and enhance pedestrian/active
transportation connectivity, improve sidewalk
amenities, and utilize green infrastructure.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-3.1.4: Avoid large un-landscaped
parking areas and blank building walls facing
streets or adjoining properties.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-3.1.5: Minimize the use and visual
effect of sound attenuation walls and noise
barriers.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-3.1.6: Minimize the visual impact
of transformers and similar utility equipment
through screening or undergrounding as
feasible.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action CD-3.1.7: Use low-impact
development (LID) landscaping to emphasize
on-site treatment of stormwater and provide a
connection to the natural environment.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Noise Element Action Matrix
Goal N-1: Minimize adverse effects of noise on the community.
Policy N-1.1: Promote proper land use planning to minimize adverse effects of noise.
Action Department Timeframe
Action N-1.1.1: Require noise-reducing
design features in the Zoning Code for new
development and reuse/revitalization projects
to address the impact of noise on residential
development. Use noise/land use
compatibility standards and the Noise
Contours Map as a guide for future planning
and development decisions to ensure that
new development can be made compatible
with the noise environment.
Community
Development
Short
Action N-1.1.2: Ensure proposed
development meets Title 24 Noise Insulation
Standards for construction.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action N-1.1.3: Support continuation and
improvement of the Airport's noise abatement
program. Ensure that new development
within the Salinas Municipal Airport “area of
influence” does not result in a land use/noise
compatibility conflict or hazard, is compatible
with the airport noise environment, and meets
the guidelines of the Caltrans handbook.
Community
Development
Public Works
Ongoing
Action N-1.1.4: Protect Sensitive Receptors
land uses listed in Table N-1 from adverse
impacts caused by the noise generated by
new developments. Incorporate necessary
mitigation measures into development design
to minimize short-term noise impacts. Prohibit
long-term operational noise increases at the
sensitive receptor property line, or new uses
that generate noise levels at the sensitive
receptor property line, as follows:
• Greater than 3 dBA Ldn increase for
ambient noise environments of higher
than 60 dBA Ldn; and
• Greater than 5 dBA Ldn increase for
ambient noise environments of less
than or equal to 60 dBA Ldn.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Policy N-1.2: Minimize transportation-related noise impacts.
Action Department Timeframe
Action N-1.2.1: Ensure noise impacts
generated by vehicular sources are
minimized through the use of noise control
measures (e,g., earthen berms, landscaped
walls, lowered streets).
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action N-1.2.2: Control truck traffic routing to
reduce transportation-related noise impacts
on sensitive land uses.
Public Works
Ongoing
Action N-1.2.3: Enforce the City of Salinas
Noise Ordinance as it relates to vehicles and
traffic-related sources.
Police
Ongoing
Action N-1.2.4: Provide sufficient annual
funding to continue strategic improvement of
roadway pavements.
Public Works
Ongoing
Policy N-1.3: Minimize non-transportation related noise impacts.
Action Department Timeframe
Action N-1.3.1: Enforce the City of Salinas
regulations to ensure stationary noise
sources and noise emanating from
construction activities, private
Police
Community
Development
Ongoing
development/residences, and special events
are minimized.
Conservation & Environmental Safety Element Action Matrix Goal COES-1: Increase the adaptability and resiliency of Salinas to the effects of climate change.
Policy COES 1.1: Protect climate vulnerable populations.
Action Department Timeframe
Action COES-1.1.1: Establish locations for
cooling centers in Salinas that are open and
welcoming for all residents and create and
communicate clear benchmarks for when
they will be open.
Library and
Community Services
Ongoing
Action COES-1.1.2: Explore options and
resources for protecting outdoor laborers
(farmworkers, construction workers, etc.)
from the dangers and potential wage loss
from extreme heat and flooding events.
Community
Development
City Attorney
Medium
Action COES-1.1.3: Establish resiliency hubs
at community facilities (libraries, community
centers, etc.) and provide multilingual
guidance and resources on how to prepare
for emergencies and disasters at these hubs
and through social media.
Library and
Community Services
Short
Action COES-1.1.4: Make resilience
resources available throughout the
community. Support implementation of the
Monterey County Community Resilience Plan
and similar efforts.
Library and
Community Services
Community
Development
Short
Action COES-1.1.5: Establish or support
outreach programs to conduct wellness
checks and help distribute resources in
preparation for or in the aftermath of a
disaster.
Library and
Community Services
Fire
Short
Policy COES 1.2: Prepare the built and natural environments for a different climate and more severe natural events.
Action Department Timeframe
Action COES-1.2.1: Identify critical
infrastructure vulnerable to climate change
and ways to increase protection and
resiliency, such as installing back-up power
generators or flood prevention.
Public Works
Ongoing
Action COES-1.2.2: Encourage resilient
landscaping and plant selection for a warmer
climate through municipal codes, plans, and
public resources.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action COES-1.2.3: Incorporate wildfire
protections into the East Area Specific Plan
to mitigate risk along its Old Stage Road
boundary and adjacent fire hazard zones to
the northeast.
Community
Development
Short
Action COES-1.2.4: Expand weatherization
programs and assistance, particularly to
residents in older structures and mobile home
parks.
Community
Development
Medium
Action COES-1.2.5: Invest in expanding
Salinas’ urban tree canopy, particularly in
under-resourced neighborhoods.
Public Works
Medium
Action COES-1.2.6: Make use of funding
from agencies that help with natural disaster
mitigation, adaptation, and recovery.
Community
Development
Public Works
Fire
Ongoing
Goal COES-2: Ensure a safe and adequate water supply for the community.
Policy COES-2.1: Encourage the local conservation of water resources.
Action Department Timeframe
Action COES-2.1.1: Work with water
providers and Groundwater Sustainability
Agencies to institute conservation programs
to address water supply problems caused by
groundwater overdrafting.
Public Works
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action COES-2.1.2: Enforce the City's Water
Conservation Ordinance and related
regulations, and apply standards that
promote water conservation in agricultural,
residential, and non-residential uses.
Community
Development
Public Works
Ongoing
Action COES-2.1.3: Maintain and restore
natural watersheds and support stormwater
capture/reuse in Salinas through
development regulations, restoration projects,
and green infrastructure to recharge the
aquifers and ensure the viability of the ground
water resources.
Public Works
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action COES-2.1.4: Incorporate low impact
design principles and other water
conservation best practices into development
regulations.
Community
Development
Short
Policy COES-2.2: Work with partners on regional solutions to water challenges.
Action Department Timeframe
Action COES-2.2.1: Cooperate with local,
regional, and state water agencies to develop
or expand new water sources.
Public Works
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action COES-2.2.2: Continue to participate in
and support regional programs and projects
that target the improvement and conservation
of the region's groundwater and surface
water supply. This includes active
participation in the Salinas Valley Basin
Groundwater Sustainability Agency and
liaison with the Monterey County Water
Resources Agency, Monterey One Water,
and other organizations to explore regional
solutions for water reuse, conservation and
supply.
Public Works
Ongoing
Action COES-2.2.3: Actively support regional
efforts with partner agencies and local
industries to stop seawater intrusion in the
180/400-Foot Aquifer and address other
critical threats to water supply.
City
Long
Action COES-2.2.4: Promote responsible and
sustainable water usage education for City
residents, businesses, and surrounding
agricultural producers.
Public Works
Ongoing
Policy COES-2.3: Protect and enhance water quality.
Action Department Timeframe
Action COES-2.3.1: Cooperate with the
Monterey County Water Resources Agency,
the State Water Resources Control Board
and the Regional Water Quality Control
Board to implement programs that address
the causes of poor water quality in the
planning area, including saltwater intrusion,
nitrate contamination, and other sources of
pollution.
Public Works
Ongoing
Action COES2.3.2: Enforce national
(NPDES) requirements and participate in
regional efforts to protect and enhance water
quality.
Public Works
Ongoing
Action COES-2.3.3: Work with partners
(Monterey County, Big Sur Land Trust, etc.)
to enhance Carr Lake as a reclamation/flood
control facility in addition to its other functions
in addressing water quality, enhancing
traffic/circulation, and creating recreational
opportunities.
Public Works
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action COES-12.3.4: Promote public and
private development to create green
infrastructure that captures and infiltrates
water.
Public Works
Community
Development
Ongoing
Goal COES-3: Encourage energy conservation and use of carbon-free energy sources.
Policy COES-3.1: Apply standards and develop programs that promote energy conservation and a community-wide shift towards renewable energy.
Action Department Timeframe
Action COES-3.1.1: Enforce State Title 24
building construction requirements.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action COES-3.1.2: Encourage land use
arrangements and densities that facilitate the
use of energy efficient public transit and
locate or retain neighborhood-level services
(e.g., family medical offices, dry cleaners,
grocery stores, drug stores) throughout the
City to reduce energy consumption through
automobile use.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action COES-3.1.3: Work with energy
suppliers and distributors (Central Coast
Community Energy and Pacific Gas and
Electric) to implement energy conservation
programs and help inform the public of these
programs.
Public Works
Ongoing
Action COES-3.1.4: Encourage buildings that
are energy efficient and support sustainability
and occupant health using green construction
and design techniques, including passive
house design, LEED and other certification
systems, heat pumps, appliance
electrification, solar energy, and other
technologies, techniques and materials.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action COES-3.1.5: Support initiatives for
equity in electrification and making
electrification possible for all residents.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Goal COES-4: Protect and enhance significant ecological and biological resources in the planning area.
Policy COES-4.1: Identify, protect, and enhance creek corridors, river corridors, sloughs, wetlands, natural hillsides, and other potentially significant biological resources for their value in providing visual amenity, flood protection, habitat for wildlife and recreational opportunities.
Action Department Timeframe
Action COES-4.1.1: Conserve significant
ecological and biological resources by
protecting sensitive areas from development
and mitigating/minimizing impacts to the
greatest extent feasible where development
is permitted.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action COES-4.1.2: Locate and design water
retention areas and preserve important urban
wildlife habitat areas to contribute to the
visual quality of the city's open space system.
Community
Development
Public Works
Medium
Action COES-4.1.3: Explore with Monterey
County the potential for creation of a Gabilan
Creek Regional Park and nature corridor
extending along the creek from the urban
edge to the headwaters in the Gabilan
Mountains.
Library and
Community Services
Community
Development
Medium
Action COES-4.1.4: Actively maintain creek
corridors to ensure flood protection, water
quality, and regulatory compliance with
maintenance permits.
Community
Development
Public Works
Ongoing
Action COES-4.1.5: Support regenerative
landscape practices and native habitat
restoration projects (e.g. BSLT restoration
project at Carr Lake).
Community
Development
Library and
Community Services
Ongoing
Action COES-4.1.6: Coordinate with resource
agencies to protect rare or endangered
species of plants and animals.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Policy COES-4.2: Identify, protect, and avoid special-status species, sensitive natural communities, and regulated wetlands and waters.
Action Department Timeframe
Action COES-4.2.1: Update the City’s
Municipal Code to require a biological
resource assessment as part of
environmental review for proposed
Community
Development
Short
development on sites with natural habitat
conditions that may support special-status
species, sensitive natural communities, or
regulated wetlands and waters. The
assessment shall be conducted by a qualified
biologist to determine the presence or
absence of any sensitive resources which
could be affected by proposed development;
shall provide an assessment of the potential
impacts; and shall define measures for
protecting the resource and surrounding
buffer habitat, in compliance with City policy
and State and federal laws. An assessment is
not required for locations where past or
existing development have eliminated natural
habitat or the potential for the presence of
sensitive biological resources and regulated
waters.
Policy COES-4.3: Identify, protect, and avoid disturbance of nests of native birds.
Action Department Timeframe
Action COES-4.3.1: Update the City’s
Municipal Code to require that construction
on development sites avoid nests of native
birds when in active use to ensure
compliance with the State Fish and Game
Code and the federal Migratory Bird Treaty
Act when construction is initiated on
development sites. If initial vegetation
removal and site disturbance cannot be
restricted outside the nesting season
(September 1 through January 31), a
preconstruction survey for nesting birds shall
be conducted by a qualified biologist during
the bird nesting season (February 1 through
August 31). Where an active nest is found on
the site, an adequate setback shall be
established around any nest of a native bird
species when it is in active use until the
young have fledged and are no longer
dependent on the nest. The nest setback
distance shall be defined by a qualified
biological consultant with input from the
California Department of Fish and Wildlife,
with the setback zone fenced or flagged and
all construction disturbance restricted from
this zone until the qualified biologist has
confirmed the nest is no longer in use.
Community
Development
Short
Policy COES-4.4: Encourage landscaping with native and compatible non-native plant species, especially drought-resistant species, to improve habitat values for native wildlife, and encourage removal of invasive non-native plant species in open space and other natural habitats where they can pose a threat to natural habitat values.
Action Department Timeframe
Action COES-4.4.1: Continue to implement
the City’s Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance regulations of the Municipal Code.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Policy COES-4.5: Identify, preserve, and protect the significant agricultural resources within and surrounding Salinas, while minimizing conflicts between agricultural and urban uses.
Action Department Timeframe
Action COES-4.5.1: Participate in programs
that protect important agricultural resources
and mitigate the conversion of lands
designated outside City boundaries to
nonagricultural uses.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action COES-4.5.2: Support public relations
and education sessions between the
agricultural industry, nonagricultural
businesses, developers, and residents.
Community
Development
Short
Action COES-4.5.3: Minimize conflicts
between agricultural and urban uses through
the use of buffer zones, roads, and other
physical boundaries.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action COES-4.5.4: Work with agricultural
stakeholders to manage the impact of
agriculture-related activities on local
infrastructure.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Goal COES-5: Reduce the risk to the community from flooding, wildfire, seismic activity, geologic conditions, and other natural hazards.
Policy COES-5.1: Encourage policies, programs, and measures to reduce the risk to the community from potential flooding, wildfire, and seismic activity.
Action Department Timeframe
Action COES-5.1.1: Locate development
outside flood-prone areas unless flood risk is
mitigated without decreasing retention
capacity.
Community
Development
Public Works
Ongoing
Action COES-5.1.2: Ensure the design of
flood control systems in new development
areas avoid increasing flood hazard
elsewhere.
Community
Development
Public Works
Ongoing
Action COES-5.1.3: Maintain open areas
needed to retain stormwater and prevent
flooding of urban or agricultural land.
Community
Development
Public Works
Ongoing
Action COES-5.1.4: Provide stormwater
retention capacity consistent with
Reclamation Ditch capacity to avoid damage
to urban development as a result of a 100-
year flood.
Public Works
Ongoing
Action COES- 5.1.5: Increase the number of
City staff trained to work at the County's
Emergency Operations Center in the event of
a flood or other natural disaster.
Fire
Short
Action COES-5.1.6: Ensure that all new
development and reuse/revitalization projects
are developed in accordance with the most
recent Uniform Fire Code requirements.
Fire
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action COES-5.1.7: Increase fire prevention
and disaster preparedness education.
Fire
Ongoing
Action COES-5.1.8: Seek funding for and
implement seismic upgrades to critical
municipal infrastructure.
Public Works
Ongoing
Action COES-5.1.9: Upgrade existing
stormwater infrastructure to increase capacity
and lifespan.
Public Works
Ongoing
Action COES-5.1.10: Work with Monterey
County on implementation efforts related to
the MJHMP and coordinated hazard planning
and response.
Fire
Ongoing
Open Space
Goal OS-1 Provide, develop, and maintain ample parks, urban community spaces, and recreational facilities that offer a variety of recreational activities.
Policy OS-1.1: Develop and maintain a high-quality system of parks, plazas, and other facilities that provides adequate space and facilities for a variety of recreational opportunities conveniently accessible to all existing and future Salinas Residents.
Action Department/Org Timeframe
Action OS-1.1.1: Consider formation of
special districts, issuance of bonds and other
means for financing and maintaining large
urban parks, green infrastructure, and special
facilities serving all of Salinas.
Library and
Community Services
Long
Action OS-1.1.2: Require new residential
development to provide land and/or fees to
help achieve goal of a minimum of 3.0 acres
per additional 1,000 population for developed
public parklands for community or
neighborhood parks.
Library and
Community Services
Community
Development
Long
Action OS-1.1.3: Encourage development of
private outdoor and indoor commercial
recreational facilities (e.g., Carr Lake, Soccer
Complex, etc.) to expand community
recreational opportunities and to fill unmet
needs.
Library and
Community Services
Community
Development
Long
Action OS-1.1.4: Maximize the use of built
and natural features to develop a citywide
network of parks and open spaces with Carr
Library and
Community Services
Long
Lake, Gabilan Creek and the Sherwood
Park/Rodeo Grounds complex as essential
elements of the open space network.
Community
Development
Public Works
Action OS-1.1.5: Explore the feasibility of a
downtown plaza per Downtown Vibrancy
Plan recommendations or on other sites.
Library and
Community Services
Community
Development
Long
Action OS-1.1.6: Encourage public plazas or
privately-owned but publicly accessible
spaces in the Mixed Use and Unique Place
Type categories through partnerships,
regulations, and incentives.
Library and
Community Services
Community
Development
Medium
Policy OS 1.2: Promote equity and inclusion in new and existing parks and open spaces.
Action OS-1.2.1: Plan park developments in
cooperation with concerned public and
private agencies and organizations,
particularly school districts and neighborhood
residents.
Library and
Community Services
Community
Development
Long
Action OS-1.2.2: Prioritize new park
development and improvements in
underserved areas utilizing PRLMP
assessment criteria
Library and
Community Services
Long
Action OS-1.2.3: Promote diverse
opportunities for gathering, wellness and
exercise in City parks and other
intergenerational gathering spaces.
Library and
Community Services
Ongoing
Action OS-1.2.4: Promote linguistic access
with bilingual signage (English/Spanish) and
consider including additional languages
where needed.
Library and
Community Services
Community
Development
Short
Policy OS-1.3: Ensure parks and recreational spaces are accessible and promote active transportation.
Action OS-1.3.1: Link activity centers,
recreational opportunities, transit nodes and
other services to integrated trails network.
Library and
Community Services
Community
Development
Public Works
Long
Action OS-1.3.2: Develop and maintain an
integrated system of open-space corridors
and trails along utility easements, power-
transmission-line rights-of-way, the
reclamation ditch, stream banks,
drainage-ways, slopes, and other natural
features
Library and
Community Services
Community
Development
Public Works
Long
Policy OS 1.4: Incorporate park design features that enhance the space and promote sustainability.
Action OS-1.3.3: Consider the incorporation
of sun and wind elements into park designs
and existing public facilities.
Library and
Community Services
Community
Development
Public Works
Long
Action OS-1.3.4: Implement Active
Transportation and Trail Master Plan and
other documents encouraging green space
(trees, bioswales, bioretention, etc.)
Library and
Community Services
Community
Development
Public Works
Long
Health and Environmental Justice Action Matrix
Goal HEJ- 1: Improve the quality of the built and natural environments to reduce health inequities caused by pollution and support a healthy community.
Policy HEJ-1.1: Protect the community from hazards related to air pollution, hazardous materials and other human activities by working with federal, state and county agencies.
Action Department Timeframe
Action HEJ-1.1.1: Continue to monitor
regulations governing the use of pesticides
and work with the County Agricultural
Commission to better inform the community
and promote the responsible use of
pesticides.
Community
Development
Fire Department
County Agricultural
Commission
Ongoing
Action HEJ-1.1.2: Continue to work with the
Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control
District (APCD) and the most recent Air
Quality Management Plan to improve
regional air quality.
Community
Development
APCD
Ongoing
Action HEJ-1.1.3: Continue to work with the
Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority to
implement the Household Hazardous Waste
and Small Business Hazardous Waste
Programs.
County of Monterey
Environmental Health
Salinas Valley Solid
Waste Authority
Ongoing
Action HEJ-1.1.4: Implement and enforce
state/regional regulations to prevent
hazardous materials and toxic air
contaminants from negatively impacting
sensitive land uses.
Community
Development
Fire Department
Ongoing
Policy: HEJ-1.2: Adopt land use practices that improve environmental quality and reduce community exposure to toxins and pollution.
Action Department Timeframe
Action HEJ-1.2.1: Seek funding for clean-
up/remediation of City-owned land in
anticipation of future development projects.
Community
Development
Short
Action HEJ-1.2.2: Improve air quality through
proper land use planning and development
design that maintains and minimizes
exposure to both direct and indirect
emissions of air pollutants.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action HEJ-1.2.3: Implement measures to
prevent the expansion of industrial uses in
densely populated areas.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action HEJ-1.2.4: Implement Active
Transportation Plan and other related
initiatives to reduce emissions associated
with automobile use.
Public Works
Community
Development
Short
Goal HEJ-2: Well-maintained and improved infrastructure and public facilities that equitably meet the needs of the community.
Policy HEJ-2.1: Prioritize the creation of new infrastructure and upgrading existing infrastructure to enhance mobility and access to public facilities, particularly in underserved areas of the community.
Action Department Timeframe
Action HEJ-2.1.1: Strive to create
development patterns that allow the majority
of residents be within one-half mile walking
distance of a park, greenway/open space,
public plaza or recreation center.
Community
Development
Public Works
Ongoing
Action HEJ-2.1.2: Include green infrastructure
in City projects where feasible.
Community
Development
Public Works
Ongoing
Action HEJ-2.1.3: Expand trail networks for
walking and cycling by implementing the
Active Transportation and Master Trails
Plans.
Public Works
Ongoing
Policy HEJ-2.2: Develop and maintain a network of public facilities to ensure all community members have access to a wide range of recreational, cultural and social opportunities.
Action Department Timeframe
Action HEJ-2.2.1: Continue to prioritize facility
improvements outlined in Parks, Rec and
Libraries Master Plan.
Library and
Community Services
Ongoing
Action HEJ-2.2.2: Ensure all facilities are
well-maintained, clean, accessible, and
considerate of the community’s cultural
diversity.
Library and
Community Services
Ongoing
Goal HEJ-3: Ensure Salinas residents have equitable access to healthy, affordable and culturally relevant foods.
Policy HEJ- 3.1: Support development projects, programs and initiatives aimed at reducing food insecurity and promoting healthy eating habits.
Action Department Timeframe
Action HEJ-3.1.1: The City shall facilitate the
development of healthy food retail
establishments (including full-service grocery
stores, farmer’s markets, and smaller markets
where a majority of the food is healthy) in
underserved areas.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action HEJ-3.1.2: Increase healthy food and
beverage options at city facilities, meetings
and events.
City
Short
Action HEJ-3.1.3: Work with Blue Zones to
strengthen and leverage partnerships with
local hospitals, schools, non-profit
organizations and local businesses to
encourage healthy eating habits through
information sharing and education.
City
Local Partners &
Organizations
Short
Action HEJ-3.1.4: Support local organizations
and businesses by offering education on
funding opportunities, such as the Healthy
Refrigeration Program.
Community
Development
Local Organizations
Short
Policy HEJ-3.2: Promote and expand year-round access to sustainable, locally sourced, and culturally relevant food through urban agriculture initiatives and emergency food resources.
Action Department Timeframe
Action HEJ-3.2.1: Work with Monterey Salinas
Transit to facilitate access to farmer’s
markets.
City
MST
Ongoing
Action HEJ-3.2.2: Continue to work with the
Food Bank for Monterey County by facilitating
food distributions at city facilities.
Library and
Community Services
Food Bank for
Monterey County
Ongoing
Action HEJ-3.2.3: Collaborate with Everyone’s
Harvest, Salinas City Center Farmer’s Market,
and the Food Bank of Monterey County to
establish Food Rx programs that connect low-
income patients and their families with fresh
fruits and vegetables.
City
Food Bank for
Monterey County &
Farmer’s Markets
Ongoing
Action HEJ- 3.2.4: Facilitate the development
and management of community gardens
prioritizing areas of high food insecurity.
Community
Development
Library and
Community Services
Ongoing
Action HEJ- 3.2.5: Strengthen partnerships
with schools to establish community gardens.
City
Local School Districts
Ongoing
Goal HEJ-4: Ensure that low-income communities have access to safe and healthy shelter and housing.
Policy HEJ-4.1: Implement measures to eliminate health risks related to lead-based paint, mold and other contaminants in housing.
Action Department/Org Timeframe
HEJ-4.1.1: Create an educational campaign to
inform the public about risks associated with
lead-based paint, mold and other
contaminants.
Community
Development
Short
HEJ-4.1.2: Create a funding source to
encourage and facilitate remediation to benefit
low-income families primarily in environmental
justice communities.
Community
Development
Short
HEJ-4.1.3: The City shall inspect city-operated
housing navigation centers for possible
contaminants to ensure prompt remediation.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Policy HEJ-4.2: Develop and implement policies and programs to prevent displacement and guarantee safe and stable living conditions
Action Department/Org Timeframe
Action HEJ-4.2.1: Establish Just Cause
Eviction and Anti-Harassment Ordinance.
Community
Development
City Attorney
Short
Action HEJ-4.2.2: Increase public education
related to fire safety and prevention.
Community
Development
Fire Department
Ongoing
Action HEJ-4.2.3: Raise awareness of safety
codes to address issues related to blight,
overcrowding, and unpermitted plumbing and
electrical work.
Community
Development
Fire Department
Ongoing
Action HEJ-4.2.4: Connect residents to
funding sources for maintaining and improving
housing, with a focus on older and
substandard dwellings.
Community
Development
Short
Action HEJ-4.2.5: Collaborate with Monterey
County Health Department to share
information related to health protocols and
safety measures.
Community
Development
Library and
Community Services
Fire Department
Monterey County
Health Department
Ongoing
Goal HEJ-5: Provide a diverse range of parks and recreational spaces, along with programming and support, to encourage and engage the community in physical activity.
Policy HEJ-5.1: Maintain safe and accessible public spaces with amenities that facilitate exercise and encourage physical activities, promoting an active lifestyle across the community.
Action Department/Org Timeframe
Action HEJ-5.1.1: Develop signage and ‘how
to’ visuals in public parks to encourage and
facilitate physical activity.
Community
Development
Library and
Community Services
Short
Action HEJ-5.1.2: Promote Adopt a Park and
park clean-up programs through various
partnerships and the AMOR Salinas
movement.
Library and
Community Services
Administration
Ongoing
Action HEJ-5.1.3: Collaborate with
neighborhood groups to assess park safety
concerns.
Community
Development
Library and
Community Services
Ongoing
Action HEJ-5.1.4: Strengthen partnerships
with public/private organizations to facilitate
organized sports at parks.
Library and
Community Services
Ongoing
Local Organizations
Action HEJ-5.1.5: Invest in exercise
equipment for parks throughout the city,
prioritizing the underserved areas.
Library and
Community Services
Short
Policy HEJ-5.2: Provide inclusive intergenerational programming and activities that are considerate of diverse abilities and encourages safe physical activities for all participants.
Action Department/Org Timeframe
Action HEJ-5.2.1: Continue to expand
programming that encourages physical activity
for seniors and persons with diverse abilities
Library and
Community Services
Ongoing
Action HEJ-5.2.2: Encourage and facilitate
opportunities for adult recreation in the
evenings (i.e., adult leagues).
Library and
Community Services
Long
Action HEJ-5.2.3: Work with schools to
streamline the Joint Use Agreement process
to expand the use of available recreation
space.
Library and
Community Services
Ongoing
Action HEJ-5.2.4: Identify the recreation
needs of special user groups and address
these in park and recreation facility
development/improvements.
Community
Development
Library and
Community Services
Ongoing
Action HEJ-5.2.5: In areas of high
concentration of low-income families or where
sufficient needs exist, consider assisting with
the development of community facilities (e.g.,
youth and senior centers) to meet their special
needs and provide space for necessary
programs and activities.
Community
Development
Library and
Community Services
Ongoing
Action HEJ-5.2.6: Work with community-based
organization and other partners to encourage
physical activity in the workplace.
Community
Development
Library and
Community Services
Short
Goal HEJ-6: Foster robust and inclusive civic engagement and develop resident leaders dedicated to shaping the city's future.
Policy HEJ-6.1: Establish and maintain a welcoming environment that fosters effective civic engagement.
Action Department/Org Timeframe
Action HEJ-6.1.1: Provide community facilities
that encourage and facilitate public
participation and pride in the community, such
as cultural and public gathering centers.
City
Ongoing
Action HEJ-6.1.2: Ensure that civic
engagement is worthwhile by providing
bilingual meeting materials, agendas and
budget documents and by creating interactive
activities that facilitate meaningful feedback.
City
Ongoing
Action HEJ-6.1.3: Hold community meetings
at a reasonable hour, offer food options,
interpretation and childcare when applicable.
City
Ongoing
Action HEJ-6.1.4: Work with various
stakeholders to access barriers to
participation, particularly those who are often
left out of decision-making spaces (indigenous
language speakers and others) and co-create
strategies to address them.
City
Ongoing
Action HEJ-6.1.6: Use the Alisal Vibrancy Plan
as an example to create community-led plans
in other underserved parts of the city.
Community
Development
Short
Policy HEJ-6.2: Build the capacity of resident leaders to actively participate in city and community decision-making processes.
Action Department/Org Timeframe
Action HEJ-6.2.1: Continue to develop
resident leadership (adults and youth) through
the expansion of the city-led Civic Academy.
Library and
Community Services
Ongoing
Action HEJ-6.2.2: Support the development of
cultural festivals and other resident led
engagement activities by facilitating permitting
process and providing in-kind services.
City
Ongoing
Action HEJ-6.2.3: Develop a membership
analysis of committees and commissions to
ensure equitable community representation.
City Manager
Short
Policy HEJ-6.3: Strengthen the capacity and sustainability of community-based organizations (CBOs) to support and develop resident leadership.
Action Department/Org Timeframe
Action HEJ-6.3.1: Provide capacity-building
training and technical assistance to
community-based organizations to secure
funding and develop new skills.
Community
Development
Library and
Community Services
Ongoing
Action HEJ-6.3.2: Create opportunities for
community-based organizations to support
City projects.
City
Ongoing
Action HEJ-6.3.3: Continue to convene
community-based organizations to effectively
leverage resources.
Community
Development
Library and
Community Services
Ongoing
Action HEJ-6.3.4: Facilitate the use of City
facilities for community engagement efforts.
Library and
Community Services
Ongoing
Goal HEJ-7: Enhance and support existing programs and create new initiatives and developments that address the needs of environmental justice communities and work to mitigate the impacts of historic disinvestment.
Policy HEJ-7.1: Develop and implement a racial equity framework to guide the prioritization of projects and programs, ensuring that historically underserved and marginalized communities receive targeted investments and support.
Action Department/Org Timeframe
Action HEJ-7.1.1: Develop a Racial Equity
Impact Assessment (REIA) tool and an Equity
Lens Checklist to identify disparities and
support equitable prioritization and decision-
making.
City Manager
Short
Action HEJ-7.1.2: Collaborate with
community-based organizations and Salinas
City Manager
Short
residents to develop and formalize a racial
equity tool.
Action HEJ-7.1.3: Continue to hold racial
equity trainings for City staff, elected officials
and board/committee members.
City Manager
Ongoing
Policy HEJ-7.2: Ensure the ongoing provision of essential social services to stabilize and support the homeless population.
Action Department/Org Timeframe
Action HEJ-7.2.1: Expand physical and mental
health services, such as substance abuse
counseling and rehabilitation services through
an interdisciplinary team for individuals
experiencing homelessness.
Community
Development
Monterey County
Health Department
Ongoing
Action HEJ-7.2.3: Help improve access to
bathrooms and personal hygiene supplies for
individuals experiencing homelessness.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action HEJ-7.2.4: Work with Monterey County
Behavioral Health and Department of Social
Services to expand Emergency Motel
Program.
Community
Development
Monterey County
Health Department
Department of Social
Services
Ongoing
Action HEJ-7.2.5: Create a relocation
assistance program for rapid rehousing that
helps cover move-in costs (credit check, first
month, deposit).
Community
Development
Short
Policy HEJ-7.3: Implement strategies and programs aimed at reducing disparities in life expectancy and health outcomes among different racial, ethnic, and income groups, as well as LGBTQ+ communities.
Action Department/Org Timeframe
Action HEJ-7.3.1: Work closely with the
Monterey County Health Department to track
trends and support targeted prevention and
wellness programs throughout the life course.
Community
Development
Monterey County
Health Department
Ongoing
Action HEJ-7.3.2: Support the expansion and
access to culturally competent medical and
mental health services.
City
Monterey County
Health Department
Ongoing
Action HEJ-7.3.3: Work with Monterey County
and other stakeholders to create a mobile
crisis unit that prioritizes mental health
support.
City
Monterey County
Ongoing
Action HEJ-7.3.4: Support programs that offer
access to health services for undocumented
workers.
Monterey County
Ongoing
Action HEJ-7.3.5: Foster relationships with
Epicenter and other stakeholders to expand
access to healthcare services for LGBTQ+
youth.
City
Local Partners
Short
Action HEJ-7.3.6: Work with partner
organizations to ensure health education
campaigns are language inclusive and
culturally appropriate.
City
Local Partners
Short
Policy HEJ-7.4: Support early childhood development programs and expand access to high-quality childcare services primarily in environmental justice communities.
Action Department/Org Timeframe
Action HEJ-7.4.1: Facilitate the development
and legitimization of childcare facilities by
streamlining the permitting process.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Action HEJ-7.4.2: Collaborate with early
childhood development organizations to
provide educational workshops and materials
to assist potential childcare providers to
strengthen childcare services.
Community
Development
Ongoing
Public Safety
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.
Policy PS-1.1: Improve community safety and health through civic engagement and relationship building.
Action Department/Org Timeframe
Action PS-1.1.1: Provide language inclusivity
(including indigenous languages) to increase
communication and connections with
community members.
City
Ongoing
Action PS-1.1.2: Support and facilitate youth
and resident led community events like
National Night Out and Ciclovía with staff
participation/engagement, streamlined permit
process and funding, when appropriate.
City
Ongoing
Action PS-1.1.3: Continue to support CASP
activities and find other opportunities to
convene residents, community organizations,
schools, and the County to improve the
criminal justice system.
Police
Administration
Library and
Community
Services
Ongoing
Action PS-1.1.4: Work with community to
establish practices/programs to help address
disparities in underserved communities (racial
equity framework).
City Manager
Community
Development
Short
Action PS-1.1.5: Encourage the creation of
police sub-stations to facilitate community
relations.
Police
Medium
Policy PS-1.2: Implement alternative policing methods, community policing strategies, youth programs, and public education initiatives focused on crime awareness to effectively reduce crime rates and enhance community safety.
Action Department/Org Timeframe
Action PS-1.2.1: Promote neighborhood
cohesion programs, and Neighborhood Watch
programs to reduce the risk of criminal
activity.
Police
Library and
Community
Services
Ongoing
Action PS-1.2.2: Build partnerships with
schools and support and facilitate youth
Fire
Short
programs and activities (e.g., Explorer
Program, outreach positions for at-risk youth,
etc.)
Police
Action PS-1.2.3: Offer crime/violence
prevention trainings/programs for parents and
youth.
Police
Library and
Community
Services
Short
Action PS-1.2.4: Continue to collaborate with
regional partners to formalize the pilot mobile
crisis unit, which currently prioritizes mental
health support.
Police
Fire
Short
Action PS-1.2.5: Work with Salinas Outreach
and Response Team (SORT) to support
engagement/communication with unhoused
residents.
Community
Development
Fire
Police
Ongoing
Action PS-1.2.6: Pursue ongoing application
of Department of Justice report
recommendations.
Police
Ongoing
Goal PS-2: Provide effective and responsive police and fire services to ensure a safe and vibrant community.
Policy PS-2.1: Ensure Salinas’ residents have effective and responsive fire, EMS, and police services.
Action Department/Org Timeframe
Action PS-2.1.1: To address Fire staffing
needs, the department will add response units
during peak incident activity, increase the
number of battalion chiefs per shift, plan for
new facilities and staff in growth areas,
explore opportunities to reduce response
workload, address administrative and support
staff needs, and re-establish the Deputy Fire
Marshal position.
Fire
Short
Action PS-2.1.2: Offer mental
health/emotional support services for
fire/police officers.
Fire
Police
Ongoing
Action PS-2.1.3: Encourage capacity building
and trainings for staff.
Fire
Police
Short
Action PS-2.1.4: Collaborate with all
departments to ensure roads in future
developments accommodate fire protection
equipment and other emergency vehicles.
Community
Development
Fire
Police
Public Works
Long
Action PS-2.1.5: Update traffic signal pre-
emption equipment to help improve response
times.
Fire
Police
Public Works
Short
Action PS-2.1.6: Mitigate impacts of traffic
calming measures on response times.
Fire
Public Works
Ongoing
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.
Fire
Long
Action PS- 2.2.2: Extend use of cameras at
intersections and high traffic public spaces.
Police
Public Works
Short
Action PS- 2.2.3: Seek funding opportunities
to purchase new and improved fire/police
equipment.
Fire
Police
Ongoing
Action PS- 2.2.4: Leverage advancing
technologies to decrease dispatch and overall
response times.
Fire
Police
Short
Policy PS-2.3: The Fire and Police Departments shall collaborate with other City departments and external agencies and organizations to improve the built environment and connect residents to essential services, fostering a safer and more accessible community.
Action PS-2.3.1: Work with the Community
Development Department to assist community
members with housing/shelter needs.
Community
Development
Fire
Police
Ongoing
Action PS-2.3.2: Work with Code
Enforcement to help mitigate safety concerns
due to overcrowding.
Community
Development
Fire
Police
Ongoing
Action PS-2.3.3: Support Public Works with
active transportation projects to ensure
pedestrian and traffic safety.
Community
Development
Fire
Police
Public Works
Long
Action PS-2.3.4: Work with County of
Monterey to connect residents with mental
health, social, domestic violence support
programs and other services.
Community
Development
Fire
Police
Ongoing
Action PS-2.3.5: Build partnerships with
outside agencies, and organizations, like the
Red Cross, to provide fire prevention
assistance to residents.
Fire
Short
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.
Fire
Short
Action PS-2.3.7: Establish a business
inspection program.
Community
Development
Short
Fire
Action PS-2.3.8: Reduce reliance on mutual
aid responses into the city from neighboring
fire departments.
Fire
Long
Action PS-2.3.9: 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.
Fire
Ongoing
Policy PS- 2.4: The Fire and Police Departments shall provide a range of services that support community education and address non-emergency situations.
Action PS-2.4.1: Seek funding opportunities
to support local schools with first aid and
safety trainings/demonstrations.
Fire
Police
Library and
Community
Services
Ongoing
Action PS-2.4.2: Continue to promote Safe
Zone Exchange and work with community to
identify additional programmatic needs.
Police
Ongoing
Action PS-2.4.3: Increase public education
and messaging related to community risk
reduction, home fire safety/prevention and
safe zones.
Community
Development
Fire
Ongoing
Action PS-2.4.4: Promote the use of the
Salinas Police Department anonymous tip
line.
Police
Ongoing
Goal PS-3: To create a safer community by implementing design techniques in existing spaces, new developments, and reuse or revitalization projects.
Policy PS-3.1: Promote the use of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design techniques/strategies in both public and private projects.
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.
Community
Development
Ongoing
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.)
Community
Development
Public Works
Long
Action PS-3.1.3: Support repair and general
upkeep of neighborhoods, debris, trash and
graffiti removal, and street, lighting and
sidewalk repairs.
City
Ongoing
Policy PS-3.2: The City shall cultivate a safe and clean neighborhood environment, ensuring that residents, employees, and visitors feel comfortable and secure at all times.
Action PS-3.2.1: Maintain clean streets,
sidewalks, and public spaces.
City
Ongoing
Action PS-3.2.2: Improve lighting in public
spaces.
Library and
Community
Services
Public Works
Ongoing
Action PS-3.2.3: Install infrastructure
improvements that increase pedestrian and
traffic safety.
Public Works
Long
Arts, Culture & Youth
Goal ACY-1: Support the recreational, educational, and social needs of residents through new and existing community facilities.
Policy ACY-1.1: Maintain and continue to develop a high-quality library system.
Action Department Timeframe
Action ACY-1.1.1 - Provide library services
and facilities that fulfil the requirements of the
Library Plan of Service, the Salinas Public
Library Mission, the State of California
Library and
Community Services
Ongoing
guidelines for library facilities, and the Library
Commission's recommended standards.
Action ACY-1.1.2- Improve the library system
by building one new branch library in the
Future Growth Area and by expanding current
library facilities, with interim expansion of
service achieved through alternative means
such as bookmobiles, portable buildings, and
joint-use facilities.
Library and
Community Services
Long
Action ACY-1.1.3: Increase funding for
programming that improves educational
outcomes outside of school, such as library
homework centers.
Library and
Community Services
Long
Action ACY-1.1.4: Increase language
accessibility in programming and services.
Library and
Community Services
Short
Policy ACY-1.2: As the City grows, routinely assess the need for additional multigenerational recreational facilities and ensure diverse and rich programming/services.
Action Department/Org Timeframe
Action ACY-1.2.1: Develop new and
rehabilitate existing recreational facilities,
following PRLMP recommendations, to house
vital recreation and enrichment programming.
Library and
Community Services
Long
Action ACY-1.2.2: Increase use of
recreational facilities and programming by
removing barriers to participation such as
transportation.
Library and
Community Services
Ongoing
Action ACY-1.2.3: Work with Monterey Salinas
Transit to provide transit routes to serve new
recreational and institutional facilities, and to
create youth/student pass program.
Library and
Community Services
Long
Goal ACY-2: Promote public art, culture, and creative expression in a manner that fosters community pride.
Policy ACY-2.1: Support local artists and community groups in the development and maintenance of public art projects and events.
Action Department/Org Timeframe
Action ACY-2.1.1: Offer training opportunities
and capacity building for local artists to apply
for competitive grants.
Community
Development
Library and
Community Services
Short
Action ACY-2.1.2: Provide resources, such as
workspace and funding, to allow artists
showcase art, and live and work in Salinas.
Community
Development
Library and
Community Services
Long
Action ACY-2.1.3: Work with local artists,
Public Art Commission, and art interest
groups to expand/maintain murals and public
art throughout the City.
Community
Development
Library and
Community Services
Long
Action ACY-2.1.4: Encourage partnerships
with art organizations and local schools to
create programming for local artists to expand
art mediums and gain a competitive edge.
Library and
Community Services
Short
Action ACY-2.1.5: Work with public and
private agencies/organizations to facilitate
projects and work with interested parties on
their development.
Community
Development
Library and
Community Services
Long
Action ACY-2.1.6: Work with community
partners to expand community schools’
culture and arts curriculum.
Library and
Community Services
Ongoing
Action ACY- 2.1.7: Support local community
groups in the development and execution of
culturally responsive community
activities/events with in-kind services and a
streamlined permitting process.
Community
Development
Library and
Community Services
Ongoing
Policy ACY- 2.2: Promote and preserve the diverse culture, art, identity, and history of Salinas’ unique neighborhoods through context and place-sensitive design.
Action Department/Org Timeframe
Action ACY-2.2.1: Establish arts and culture
districts throughout the City with assistance
from the Public Art Commission.
Community
Development
Library and
Community Services
Long
Action ACY-2.2.2: Seek funding opportunities
for the development and execution of a
historic building/events audit/assessments
through the recommendations of the Historic
Resources Board.
Community
Development
Library and
Community Services
Medium
Action ACY-2.2.3: Support restoration
projects aimed at protecting valuable historic
buildings and community spaces.
Community
Development
Library and
Community Services
Long
Action ACY-2.2.4: Explore digital options, as
well as static mediums (QR codes and info
plaques on existing public art/historic
spaces), to create interactive mapping to
showcase historic landmarks, buildings,
events and public art.
Community
Development
Library and
Community Services
Short
Action ACY- 2.2.5: Create partnerships with
schools to expand story telling with visuals.
Library and
Community Services
Short
Action ACY-2.2.6: Work to re-establish and
promote new City-led preservation projects.
Community
Development
Library and
Community Services
Long
Goal ACY-3: Support Youth Leadership and Development.
Policy ACY-3.1: Promote healthy youth development through intentional investment in support and resources.
Action Department/Org Timeframe
Action ACY-3.1.1: Work with local school
districts and other educational organizations
to promote youth leadership development and
mentorship programs.
Library and
Community Services
Ongoing
Action ACY- 3.1.2: Support the development
and operation of community centers and
recreation facilities as a pre-emptive strategy
to reduce youth related crime, substance
abuse and bullying.
Library and
Community Services
Long
Action ACY- 3.1.3: Increase partnerships with
school districts and community-based
organizations to offer a range of personal and
professional no-cost programming (music,
dance, poetry, etc.) and internship
opportunities for youth (social media).
Library and
Community Services
Administration
Ongoing
Action ACY- 3.1.4: Promote and formalize
youth participation in City and community
decision-making by re-establishing the Youth
Commission.
Administration
Short
Action ACY- 3.1.5: Work with community-
based organizations and Monterey Health
Department to help support outreach,
including at risk and homeless youth and
create a more centralized system for family
resources.
Community
Development
Library and
Community Services
Short
Action ACY- 3.1.6: Foster and develop
partnerships with community-based
organizations and schools to encourage
physical activity and civic
engagement/programs.
Community
Development
Library and
Community Services
Short
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Projected General Plan Update Timeline 2025
June July-August September
– October
November-
December
Pre-Public Review Draft
Study Session
Finalize Public Review
Draft General Plan
Zoning Code consultant
contract approval
Release Public Review Draft
General Plan
Draft plan engagement
Start Zoning Code Update
Release draft EIR, CAP , and
revised GP for 45-day
comment period
Continue engagement
Study session on EIR, CAP ,
and revised General Plan
Revise documents following
comment period
Publish revised General Plan,
CAP , and EIR
Start approval process
• Monterey County Airport LU
Commission
• Planning Commission
• Traffic and Transportation
Commission
• City Council certification and
adoption