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
Historic Resources Board Meeting - CANCELED
July 6, 2020 - 12:00pm
The Historic Resources Meeting scheduled for Monday, July 6, 2020, has been canceled due to lack of business. The next regular meeting of the Historic Resources Board will be on Monday, August 3, 2020. Minutes and future agendas can be found here (link is external) as published.
Finance Committee Meeting Canceled
July 6, 2020 - 1:00pm
West Wing Conference Room
Minutes and agenda can be found here as published.
Planning Commission Meeting
July 15, 2020 - 3:30pm
Minutes and agenda can be found here as published.
News: Our Government
Community Development Department Wins Two American Planning Association Section Awards
June 17, 2020
The Northern Section of the American Planning Association (APA) California Chapter recently recognized the the City’s Community Development Department with an Award of Excellence as a Planning Agency, another Award of Excellence in Advancing Diversity and Social Change for the Alisal Vibrancy Plan. The Planning Agency Award, “honors the work of a public sector agency that has continually produced a program of exceptional work that has elevated awareness about planning” ( APA Awards Program Policy, Page 6 ). In the span of the last five years, the City and its Community Development Department completed twelve major planning efforts, including cross-departmental and cross-organizational projects throughout Salinas. The Department also formed Visión Salinas in to
City and Partners Ensuring You Count for Census 2020
May 20, 2020
Salinas has officially made it passed the 50% mark for the City’s Census Self-Response Rate (SRR)! The City is currently at 52% SRR, not far behind Monterey County at 55.6% SRR. Census outreach has been challenging in the last couple of months but partnerships with local school districts and community-based organizations have been instrumental in reaching our community and getting our SRR to where it is today. The Santa Rita School District and Salinas Union High School District have been displaying Census messaging on their school marquees and the Alisal Family Resource Center has been including Census materials in their outreach efforts. The Census Bureau, The Epicenter, Building Healthy Communities and First 5 of Monterey
2020 Census just Two Weeks Away!
February 27, 2020
The 2020 Census is 2 weeks away!
In March, the Census will begin sending out invites to participate in the 2020 Census to your home. You can participate online, by mail, or by phone at 844-330-2020, o en Español al numero 844-468-2020.
The Census takes place every ten years and only takes about ten minutes to fill out for yourself and your family. It means more money for local schools, roads, bikeways, parks, and health clinics. It is completely confidential, and the Census Bureau is forbidden by federal law to share your information with anyone or any other governmental department. There is also no citizenship question on the Census, as it was
Salinas Police Service Headquarters is Nearly Complete
February 25, 2020
Salinas Police Service Headquarters is Nearly Complete
The new Salinas Police Service Headquarters is a $56 million project for the city of Salinas that will replace the current police headquarters, originally built in 1958. The new police facility will consist of two buildings; a two story,44,352 square foot Headquarters (built to the highest life safety standards) will house Administration, Investigations, Patrol and Support Staff. There will also be a community room opening to the adjacent parking lot to help facilitate community events. A second, 24,878 square foot support building will include state of the art evidence storage areas, forensic laboratory and firearms training facility.
The builders made good the promise
Community Development 2019 in Review
January 3, 2020
The Community Development Department (CDD) had a 2019 full of notable accomplishments. CDD’s tasks include long-term and current planning, funding community projects and service providers, permitting new development, and enforcing code and building regulations to keep our residents safe. Below are just some of the Department’s achievements in 2019, made possible through collaboration with the Salinas community.
- The City accepted the Alisal Vibrancy Plan (AVP) in November. The AVP is the City’s first community-driven plan for East Salinas, with over 2,000 community members participating and helping to generate more than 150 strategies.
- In December, CDD also completed the Chinatown Revitalization Plan (CRP), which represents nearly three years of
Community Development Welcomes new Outreach Coordinator
December 2, 2019
Community Development has welcomed Florenz Tuazon, a new Outreach Coordinator assigned to the Advanced Planning Division. She will focus her work on 2020 Census Outreach and coordinaton, and other Community Development projects such as the General Plan Update. Florenz was previously an intern at the City of Salinas Public Works Department.
Florenz is from the Phillipines and has a background in advertising and graphic design. Besides speaking English, she also speaks Tagalog and Kampangan, a language from the North of the Phillipines. Florenz hopes to create new and innovative approaches to community engagement using social media, infographics, and other user friendly interfaces that will help engage the residents of Salinas.
City Initiates 2020 Census Salinas Action Team
February 25, 2019
As a part of the countywide Monterey County Complete Count Committee, the City of Salinas has initiated an Action Team to ensure all Salinas
Staff Attends 2020 United States Census Training
October 18, 2018
Community Development staff attended a training in September on the upcoming 2020 United States Census. The training prepared staff for the City's
