200 Lincoln Ave., Salinas,
CA 93901
www.cityofsalinas.org
City of Salinas
Meeting Minutes - Unofficial
City Council
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, District 6 Rene Mendez, City Manager
Christopher A. Callihan, City Attorney
City Clerk’s Office: (831) 758-7381
3:00 PM SALINAS ROTUNDATuesday, January 13, 2026
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
Councilmember De La Rosa joined the meeting at 6:00 p.m.
Councilmember Jose Barajas
Councilmember Tony Barrera
Councilmember Margaret D'Arrigo
Councilmember Gloria De La Rosa
Councilmember Aurelio Salazar
Councilmember Jose Andrew Sandoval
Mayor Dennis Donohue
Present: 7 -
CLOSED SESSION
The City Council recessed to closed session at 3:01 p.m.
ID#25-604 a. Real Property Negotiations - California Government Code section §54956.8.
Conference with real property negotiators René Mendez, City Manager; Lisa Murphy, Assistant City Manager, and Christopher A. Callihan, City Attorney regarding the price and terms of sale of 43 Soledad Street, Salinas, California (APN 002-191-011-000).
b. Existing Litigation - California Government Code Section 54956.9, conference with legal counsel regarding, Christopher Lane vs. City of Salinas, Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board Case Number(s): ADJ16137529. c. Labor Negotiations - California Government Code Section §54957.6 with its designated labor representatives Rene Mendez, City Manager; Christopher A.
Callihan, City Attorney; Katherine Hogan, Assistant City Attorney; Selina Andrews, Finance Director; Marina Horta-Gallegos, Human Resources Director; Sylvia Enriquez, Human Resources Manager; and Che Johnson, Liebert Cassidy
January 13, 2026City Council Meeting Minutes - Unofficial Whitmore, regarding labor relations with Service Employees International Union (SEIU), SEIU Supervisors, Salinas Municipal Employees Association/SEIU, Association of Management Personnel, Police Officers Association, Police Management Association, International Association of Firefighters, Fire Supervisors Association, Confidential Non-Management Employees, Confidential Management Employees, and Department Directors.
THE CITY COUNCIL RECONVENED IN THE ROTUNDA AT 4:00 P.M.
NEW EMPLOYEE WELCOME AND PROMOTIONS
PROCLAMATION
The City Council proclaimed:
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
CITY OF CHAMPIONS
The City Council recognized the following organization as a City of Champion. 2025 Holiday Parade of Lights Committee
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS
Received public comment.
CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 - LEVINE ACT
No disclosures reported.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
ID#25-524 Salinas Youth Council Updates and Comments
Received report from Youth Leadership Councilmembers.
No action required. Received an administrative update from the Salinas Youth Council.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
ID#25-607 Establishment of a Zone of Benefit in the Central Area of the North of Boronda Future Growth Area
Continued to January 27, 2026.
January 13, 2026City Council Meeting Minutes - Unofficial Conditional Use Permit 2025-023; appeal of Planning Commission denial of a request to establish and operate an off-sale alcohol related use (Type 21 ABC License) at a proposed convenience store located at the Laurel West Shopping Center at 1018 North Davis Road in the Commercial Retail (CR) Zoning District.
Continued to January 27, 2026
CONSENT AGENDA
ID#25-623 Minutes
Upon motion by Councilmember Barrera, seconded by Councilmember Barajas, the minutes of December 9, 2025 were approved. The motion failed by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmember Barajas, Councilmember Barrera, Councilmember D'Arrigo, Councilmember Salazar, Councilmember Sandoval and Mayor Donohue 6 -
Absent: Councilmember De La Rosa1 -
ID#25-476 Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Salinas and the County of Monterey to Administer and Operate the SHARE Center
Upon motion by Councilmember Barrera, seconded by Councilmember Barajas, Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Salinas (City) and the County of Monterey (County) for joint governance, funding, and operation of the SHARE Center and take all necessary actions to implement its provisions in an amount not to exceed fifty percent of the amount required to administer the program was approved. The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmember Barajas, Councilmember Barrera, Councilmember D'Arrigo, Councilmember Salazar, Councilmember Sandoval and Mayor Donohue 6 -
Absent: Councilmember De La Rosa1 -
Enactment No: RES 2026-001
ID#25-563 CalRecycle Beverage Container Recycling Grant Program Acceptance Upon motion by Councilmember Barrera, seconded by Councilmember Barajas, Resolution authorizing the acceptance of CalRecycle funds in the amount of $205,411; authorizing the City Manager or designee to negotiate and execute grant agreements and all documents necessary to effectuate the grant; and establishing the Fiscal Year 2025-26 appropriation and funding accordingly was approved. The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmember Barajas, Councilmember Barrera, Councilmember D'Arrigo, Councilmember Salazar, Councilmember Sandoval and Mayor Donohue 6 -
Absent: Councilmember De La Rosa1 -
Enactment No: RES 2026-002
ID#25-602 Amendment to Professional Services Agreement for On-Call Airport Planning and Environmental Consulting with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
January 13, 2026City Council Meeting Minutes - Unofficial Upon motion by Councilmember Barrera, seconded by Councilmember Barajas, Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an Amendment to the Agreement for Professional Services with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. for airport planning and environmental consultant services to increase the total not-to-exceed amount from $400,000 to $750,000 and extend the term to January 31, 2027; and authorizing the appropriation of $350,000 from the Airport Enterprise Fund Balance was approved. The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmember Barajas, Councilmember Barrera, Councilmember D'Arrigo, Councilmember Salazar, Councilmember Sandoval and Mayor Donohue 6 -
Absent: Councilmember De La Rosa1 -
Enactment No: RES 2026-003
ID#25-608 Surplus Vehicles and Equipment for Disposal
Upon motion by Councilmember Barrera, seconded by Councilmember Barajas, Resolution pursuant to Salinas Municipal Code section 12-15 declaring vehicles and equipment surplus and authorizing their disposal was approved. The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmember Barajas, Councilmember Barrera, Councilmember D'Arrigo, Councilmember Salazar, Councilmember Sandoval and Mayor Donohue 6 -
Absent: Councilmember De La Rosa1 -
Enactment No: RES 2026-004
ID#25-617 Reorganization, Modification to the Classification - Salary Schedule, Reclassification, and Workforce Allocation Adjustment
Upon motion by Councilmember Barrera, seconded by Councilmember Barajas, Resolution modifying the Classification - Salary Schedule to add the classification of Public Works Division Manager; approve the recommended reclassification associated with the Public Works Department re-organization; amend the FY 25-26 workforce for the Public Works Department; and adjust the salary ranges for Junior Engineer, Assistant Engineer, Associate Engineer, Sr.
Civil Engineer, and the vacant Deputy City Engineer was approved. The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmember Barajas, Councilmember Barrera, Councilmember D'Arrigo, Councilmember Salazar, Councilmember Sandoval and Mayor Donohue 6 -
Absent: Councilmember De La Rosa1 -
Enactment No: RES 2026-005
ID#25-621 Fire Supervisors Association Memorandum of Understanding, Modification to Classification-Salary Schedule
Upon motion by Councilmember Barrera, seconded by Councilmember Barajas, Resolution authorizing the City Manager to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Fire Supervisors Association (FSA), for a term ending on December 31, 2026, and approving modification to the Classification - Salary Schedule
January 13, 2026City Council Meeting Minutes - Unofficial for the wage adjustments was approved. The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmember Barajas, Councilmember Barrera, Councilmember D'Arrigo, Councilmember Salazar, Councilmember Sandoval and Mayor Donohue 6 -
Absent: Councilmember De La Rosa1 -
Enactment No: RES 2026-006
CONSIDERATION - 6:00 P.M.
ID#25-565 A Resolution of the Salinas City Council disapproving of and censuring certain actions of Salinas City Council member Andrew Sandoval Received report from City Attorney Christopher A. Callihan outlining the censure process as stipulated in the City Council Rules of Procedure and Public Decorum.
Received public comment from the following members of the public in attendance:
Jose Guerra
Joan Bennett
Robin Lee
Peter Szalai
Daniel Munoz
Monica Nye
Berenice Larios
Daphney Yanez
Unidentified audience member
Unidentified audience member
John Silva
Jorge Villa
Gabriel Cortez
Cary Swensen
Joey Alvarado
Jay Cohen
Carla Viviana Gonzalez
Eric Petersen
Bill Freeman
Francisca
Jacob Sandoval
Unidentified audience member
Jason Pineda
Marisol Gonzalez
Alma Loredo
Robert Reyes
Unidentified audience member
Rene
Jeff Davi
Audrey Wardwell
Chris Barrera
Mrs. Sandoval
Ethan Andrew Sandoval
Nathan Sandoval
Abigail Hernandez
Linden, NAACP President
January 13, 2026City Council Meeting Minutes - Unofficial Yolanda Hayes
Rose Clark
Joaquin Ramirez
Unidentified audience member
James Mena
Nidia Soto – JAV Language Solutions
Rosa Tapia – JAV Language Solutions
Margaret Serna Bonetti
Jazmin
Wes White, Salinas Monterey Salinas County Homeless Union Daniel Orta
Bella Sandoval
Aidee Farias
Karla Lobo
Rosa Gonzalez
Jesus Morales
Unidentified audience member
Unidentified audience member
Abril
Natalie Hernendeen
Yajaira Garcia
Diana – JAV Language Solutions
Tanya
Luis Xago Juarez
Anna Velasquez
Melissa Sanchez
Keesha
Diana Garza
Melissa Sanchez
Eloise Shimm
Fernando
Ignacio Fregoso
Jose Laris
Juanita Aguilar – JAV Language Solutions
Received a response to the censure from Councilmember Sandoval which was filed with the City Clerk and entered into the official record. Staff report and other document presented during the censure hearing are also filed with the City Clerk as the official record.
Upon motion by Councilmember Barajas, seconded by Councilmember D'Arrigo, Resolution disapproving of and censuring certain actions of Salinas City Council member Andrew Sandoval was approved. The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmember Barajas, Councilmember D'Arrigo, Councilmember De La Rosa, Councilmember Salazar and Mayor Donohue
5 -
Noes: Councilmember Barrera1 -
Abstain: Councilmember Sandoval1 -
Enactment No: RES 2026-007
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
January 13, 2026City Council Meeting Minutes - Unofficial Received report from City Manager providing and update to the City Council regarding numerous city projects including scheduled health and safety clean-ups, street lighting repairs and the employee leadership training programs.
COUNCILMEMBERS’ REPORTS, APPOINTMENTS AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.