DATE: SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
FROM: LISA BRINTON, DIRECTOR
BY: GRANT LEONARD, PLANNING MANAGER
TITLE: GENERAL PLAN FALL 2026 OUTREACH PLAN
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
No action required. Receive update on General Plan outreach.
DISCUSSION:
In preparation for the release of the second Public Review Draft General Plan and Climate Action Plan, and first Draft Environmental Impact Report, staff created this outreach plan to maximize community engagement during the mandatory 45-day comment period. This will include a summary of all changes to the first Public Review Draft General Plan and Climate Action plan since their respective original releases in December of 2025 and April of 2026. This milestone brings the City closer to the culmination of the General Plan Update (GPU) after more than five years of engagement, analysis, drafting, and review; all building off a decade of other robust community planning efforts. Staff anticipate a release in fall 2026 with a mandatory 45-day comment period.
The Outreach Plan includes reconstituting the General Plan Steering Committee for up to four meetings during the comment period. In addition to those original Steering Committee members who are still able and willing to participate, each council member and the mayor will have the opportunity to appoint a new person for this effort. The comment period will also coincide with the start of Phase Two of the Zoning Code Update and the formation of the Zoning Advisory Committee (ZAC). The ZAC will also review the draft General Plan documents as they will be the basis for their guidance of the Zoning Code Update. Other strategies listed below include reaching out to listed groups for individual meetings or presentations to their organizations, pop-ups at local events, and more. Once the comment period is complete, the City will analyze and prepare responses to comments and make edits to the documents prior to starting the adoption process.
Outreach Plan:
Mandatory noticing per the California Environmental Quality Act Community Open House
Reconstituted General Plan Steering Committee
Previous members who are still able and willing to participate plus a new appointee by each Councilmember and the Mayor 4 meetings during the 45-day comment period
Meetings in-person or via Zoom
Zoning Advisory Committee (ZAC)
Will need to review new General Plan to understand need for Zoning updates Social media and GovDelivery notices
Pop-ups at City and community events
Press release – target Monterey Herald, Weekly, and KSBW Memos to City boards and commissions
Environmental Impact Report-focused study sessions with Planning Commission and City Council Paper copies of the General Plan, EIR, and Climate Action Plan posted in City libraries, Permit Center and City Hall.
Requests to meet individually or present to the groups and stakeholders listed below:
Groups and Stakeholders:
Community Organizations
Chamber of Commerce
Salinas City Center Improvement Association
Salinas Planning and Research Corporation
Salinas Rotary Clubs
Building Healthy Communities - Monterey County
Center for Community Advocacy
Communities Organized for Relational Power in Action
MILPA Collective
Ag Land Trust
LandWatch Monterey County
Big Sur Land Trust
Chinatown Stakeholders
Alisal Vibrancy Plan Implementation Committee
Government Agencies
Caltrans
Monterey Salinas Transit
Transportation Agency for Monterey County
County of Monterey
Local Agency Formation Commission of Monterey County
Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency
School Districts
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