Planning Division proposes new teams to streamline permit processing for future growth

The Salinas Finance Committee meeting on May 13, 2025, spotlighted critical staffing challenges within the city’s planning division, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced resources to manage increasing permit applications.

During the session, city planners outlined a strategic vision to restructure their team into three specialized groups. This includes a dedicated team for handling straightforward, ministerial permits and another focused on complex discretionary permits. The proposal aims to address the current understaffing issues, which have led to reliance on consultants who often fail to meet the city’s timelines and service standards.

A significant point of discussion was the difficulty in recruiting qualified personnel, particularly for senior planning positions. The city has struggled to fill these roles due to competition from the private sector, which offers higher salaries. To combat this, planners suggested separating supervisory responsibilities from engineering roles to create a more manageable structure that could attract candidates.

Committee members expressed strong support for the proposed changes, highlighting the importance of effective staffing in improving customer service and communication with applicants. The discussion also touched on the need for a new business navigator position aimed at supporting small businesses, although this role is not currently funded in the budget.

The committee underscored the necessity of preparing for future growth, with members advocating for a proactive approach to staffing that anticipates the demands of upcoming projects. The consensus was clear: without adequate staffing and resources, the city risks falling short in its service delivery and community expectations.

As the city prepares its budget for the upcoming fiscal year, the Finance Committee is poised to prioritize these staffing needs, recognizing that the success of Salinas’s development initiatives hinges on having the right people in place to facilitate efficient processes and positive outcomes for residents.