Salinas committee approves HUD consolidated plan, 2025–26 action plan and re‑certifies Alisal revitalization area

The Salinas Housing and Land Use Committee voted to approve the HUD 2025–29 consolidated plan, the 2025–26 annual action plan and the recertification of the Alisal Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area (ANDRA) at a meeting that began at 3:37 p.m.; the plans will go to the City Council for a public hearing on Jan. 17, 2025.

The consolidated plan and annual action plan set the city's priorities for federally funded housing and community development programs, including the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), the HOME Investment Partnerships Program and the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG). Planning Manager Vincent Montgomery of the Community Development Department told the committee the proposals allocate about $2.2 million in CDBG funds (listed in presentation materials as $2,209,417), $963,000 in HOME funds and $188,000 in ESG funds for fiscal year 2025'26.

"By designating the ANDRA, we gain flexibility in using CDBG funds and reduce administrative requirements, allowing us to direct resources where they are needed most for infrastructure and economic revitalization," Montgomery said.

Montgomery said the CDBG dollars are proposed for program administration, Chinatown neighborhood improvements, lead service line work (referred to in materials as "LSL settle"), streetlight installations, housing referral services and tenant/landlord support programs. HOME funds would support affordable housing development, administration and CHDO (community housing development organization) activities. ESG dollars were described as directed to rapid rehousing programs and administrative support.

The presentation described community outreach including surveys in English and Spanish, meetings at El Gavilan Library and eight outreach events, and cited local planning documents that informed the consolidated plan: the Alisal Vibrancy Plan, the Chinatown Revitalization Plan, the Salinas 2023'2031 housing element, Parks, Recreation and Library master plan, the city's broadband master plan and the Economic Development element.

Montgomery and staff identified a set of alternate projects to preserve expenditure flexibility and meet CDBG deadlines. The presentation listed alternate projects and amounts for housing services (up to $500,000), environmental remediation at Division Street (up to $220,000) and Sherwood Recreation Center Phase 4 (up to $500,000). The transcript referenced Alice Howe neighborhood sidewalks in the alternate list; the exact amount for that line in the meeting record was unclear.

Committee members asked about funding tied to the Chinatown Navigation Center (CNC). Montgomery said the ESG designation in the plan is intended to support rapid rehousing services provided through CNC as it finishes its current term and to help cover operations during inclement weather while staff and the operator explore longer-term funding options. "These funds would complement the rapid rehousing services that they're providing and will need to provide as they wind down operations," Montgomery said. He added that if some ESG-designated funds were not needed at that location they could be transferred into the general rapid rehousing category.

There were no members of the public who addressed the committee on the item during the meeting. A motion to approve the consolidated plan, annual action plan and ANDRA recertification carried on a roll-call vote; Councilman Sandoval, Councilman Salazar and Chair Barajas voted yes. The committee moved the plans to the City Council for the scheduled public hearing and final approval.

The committee's action advances the city's HUD funding strategy for the next federal program year and retains flexibility to shift CDBG funds within the Alisal Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area for infrastructure, housing and economic revitalization projects.