Salinas council adopts 2024 housing-element progress report as public debate over rent-stabilization continues

The Salinas City Council on March 25 unanimously adopted a resolution approving the city—s 2024 housing element annual progress report and authorized its submittal to the California Department of Housing and Community Development and the Governor—s Office of Planning and Research before the April 1 deadline.

The report summarizes the city—s housing production, funding and pipeline as the region implements the sixth-cycle Regional Housing Needs Allocation. "The city of Salinas goal is a total of 6,674 units," Community Development Analyst Monica Flores told the council during the presentation, noting that the city authorized 221 units in calendar year 2024, most of them accessory dwelling units.

Why it matters: The annual progress report documents whether Salinas is planning and permitting enough housing to meet state targets and helps unlock certain funding. The new RHNA target is a marked increase from the prior cycle, and council members and members of the public used the hearing to press city staff on production timelines, funding use and local ordinances affecting rentals.

City staff said 221 building permits for housing were issued in 2024, including 216 ADU permits, and 115 certificates of occupancy were finalized. The report lists…