Our Government
For most of us, it’s at the local level that government has the greatest impact on our lives. And it's at the local level that each of us can have the greatest impact on government.
Our City government is formed by a charter, which plays a role similar to that of the United States Constitution — it describes what the government does, and gives it legitimacy.
Like the federal government, the City government has branches. They include the elected City Council, led by the Mayor, which represents the will of the voters; the staff, led by the City Manager, which executes policies set by the City Council; and commissions, boards, and committees, which advise on specific areas such as planning, transportation, or libraries.
And most important of all: residents who get informed and involved, as we hope you will.
Upcoming Events: Our Government
Cherokee Drive Traffic Calming Community Meeting
Jan 29 2019 - 6:00pm
Traffic & Transportation Engineering
The City of Salinas Transportation Division have prepared a community traffic calming plan in response to a request by residents. Problems of speeding have been confirmed by City staff on the street. The community DRAFT Traffic Calming Plan will have recommended tools for reducing speeds through Cherokee Drive.
The City would like your input on the DRAFT community plan. ...
Open House: Downtown Complete Streets Project
Jan 30 2019 - 6:00pm
Traffic & Transportation Engineering
The City of Salinas will have an open house from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at the Salinas City Hall West Wing Conference Room located at 200 Lincoln Avenue, Salinas, CA, 93901 to discuss future safety improvements along West Alisal Street.
The Downtown Complete Streets Project intends to make the corridor on West Alisal, ...
Open House: Downtown Complete Streets Project
Jan 30 2019 - 6:00pm
The City of Salinas will have an open house from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at the Salinas City Hall West Wing Conference Room located at 200 Lincoln Avenue, Salinas, CA, 93901 to discuss future safety improvements along West Alisal Street.
The Downtown Complete Streets Project intends to make the corridor on West Alisal, ...
City Council Strategic Planning Session
January 26, 2019 - 8:00am
Minutes and agenda can be found here as published.
Open House: Downtown Complete Streets Project
January 30, 2019 - 6:00pm
The City of Salinas will have an open house from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at the Salinas City Hall West Wing Conference Room located at 200 Lincoln Avenue, Salinas, CA, 93901 to discuss future safety improvements along West Alisal Street.
The Downtown Complete Streets Project intends to make the corridor on West Alisal, from Front Street to Blanco Road, a safe, efficient and a complete street. Complete streets are...
News: Our Government
West Area Specific Plan Closer to Public Review
January 8, 2019
Staff is making the refining changes to the West Area Specific Plan and overseeing the same for the associated Draft Environmental Impact Report to prepare these documents for a 45-day public review period. The West Area Specific Plan project is located within the North of Boronda Future Growth Area between Boronda, San Juan Grade and Russell Roads (as shown on the figure titled “North of Boronda Future Growth Area, West Area Specific Plan” below).
The project will feature new urbanism principles applied to 4,340 dwelling units of high, medium and low densities provided in a variety of housing products, and approximately 500,000 square feet of mixed-use commercial/residential development over 797 acres. This project is
Permit Center Welcomes Staff to New Roles
November 14, 2018
The past 18 months have been an exciting time for staff in the Permit Services Division of the Community Development Department. The division has been able to promote a part-time employee to the position of Revenue Officer, hire a full-time Senior Plan Check Engineer and fill two vacant, newly created Building Permit Specialists.
As the new Revenue Officer, Teresa Kistler, oversees spending and budgeting for the Permit Center. With the enterprise fund budget, having someone as detailed oriented as Teresa will make sure the revenues and expenditures match and fees are properly accounted for. Teresa started with the city in 2009 as a part-time revenue technician in the Code Enforcement Division and was promoted
Code Enforcement Appreciation Week
October 30, 2018
This October, the Council proclaimed the second week of October as Code Enforcement Officer Appreciation Week in the City of Salinas in acknowledgement of the important and often overlooked work that Code Enforcement does in the community. Code Enforcement Officers play a vital role in addressing blight as well as major health and safety issues throughout our neighborhoods. By addressing properties with accumulated rubbish, stored inoperable and prohibited vehicles, and vehicles parked on front yards, Code Enforcement Officers play a key role in maintaining property values and the image of the community. By addressing property maintenance issues, building code violations, and health and safety code violations, Code Officers work each day to improve safety in
Staff Attends 2020 United States Census Training
October 16, 2018
Community Development staff attended a training in September on the upcoming 2020 United States Census. The training prepared staff for the City's role in the upcoming census to ensure a complete count of all Salinas residents. The training informed staff of the push to hire temporary Census canvassers, and new technologies that create a seamless process for census canvassing, such as a mobile phone app that allows the canvassers to select their own hours for work. The training informed various tools for engaging community members in "hard to count areas." Hard to count areas include locations with a significant population of veterans, foreign born persons, renters, senior citizens, homeless persons, and children under five years.
49 Affordable Rental Units Come Online with Hikari Opening
September 18, 2018
Housing and Community Development
Haciendas Phase III also known as “Hikari,” which means “light” in Japanese, is the first affordable housing development on the Central Coast that was developed using modular construction. The project on Rossi Street also includes solar energy to offset all common area usage as well as a portion of the tenants usage. Hikari is the final phase of the Haciendas developments which include Haciendas Phase I, Phase II and Phase IV (senior housing) all developed by the Monterey County Housing Authority Development Corporation (HDC). Hikari is a new construction affordable multi-family rental housing development comprised of fifty (50) residential units, of which forty-nine (49) units will be affordable to low-income households earning sixty percent (60%)
Thank you Jennifer! A Legacy of Public Service
June 27, 2018
Jennifer Coile is retiring after over 30 years of government service. Jennifer received a bachelor’s Degree in history and Spanish with Honors from the University of Maryland and a Master’s of City and Regional Planning Degree from Harvard Graduate School of Design. She worked at the federal level for six years, first for the United States Consulate in Italy and Argentina, and then for the National Park Service.
Jennifer worked more than 30 years with several California communities. In 2013, she began her employment with the City of Salinas Community Development Department Housing Division, first as an Administrative Supervisor than as an independent contract planner. While working with the Housing Division, she was instrumental
Seeking Grievance Board Volunteers
April 7, 2017
Interested in serving on a City commission, board or committee? Here is an opportunity for you! The City is looking for volunteers who are
