Salinas planning commission backs 2024 housing element progress report; staff details projects, funding and production

The Salinas Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council accept the 2024 Housing Element Annual Progress Report and authorize its submittal to state agencies, following presentations from housing staff on production, funding and pipeline projects.

Monica Flores Ponce, community development analyst in the housing division, presented funding and project highlights. She said federal and state allocations in 2024 included $2,100,000 from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and $700,000 from the HOME Investment Partnerships Program. Flores Ponce also described pending state funding applications: a $1,600,000 request to the local housing trust fund and a $1,250,000 application to the state Pro-Housing Incentive Program (PIP); staff said award notifications were still pending.

Staff summarized housing production and pipeline numbers. They reported 115 certificates of occupancy and said 115 units were approved and finalized for the reporting period. Staff described a range of projects under way or in development, including: - 98 Kip Drive: acquisition assistance to CHISPA using $645,000 of PLHA funds for a 100% affordable senior development; - Wesley Oaks ADUs: support for three ADUs at the Wesley Oaks site with $390,000 of PLHA funding, targeting workforce households at 120% of area median income (AMI); - Fairview Avenue/Salinas Inn (1030 Avenue): a County/City collaboration to convert a former motel to permanent supportive housing restricted to 30% AMI, using a combination of PIP and PLHA funding totaling $2,500,000; and - Scattered-site developments across the city intended to avoid concentration of affordable units.

Luis Rodriguez, community development analyst, outlined policy actions completed in 2024 including the city's rental-registration program adopted in 2023 and an expanded tenant-protection package adopted in 2024. Rodriguez said the city enacted a rental-stabilization ordinance, a tenant anti-harassment protection ordinance and a just-cause eviction provision that became effective Jan. 1, 2025; staff said the operational effects of those measures will be assessed in next year's report.

Commissioners pressed staff on pipeline status and income-level breakdowns for forthcoming projects. Planning staff said many projects remain in pre-application stages and that developers provide full income-level breakdowns as part of entitlement packages before formal decisions.

Public commenters from the nonprofit Building Healthy Communities urged stronger outreach to Spanish-speaking residents and clearer public notice of housing goals. Nydia Soto said, "I'm asking you to invest interest and consideration into including our Spanish speaking neighbors who feel part of this community and understand that they are considered in this process." Luis Chavez, also with Building Healthy Communities, commended staff responsiveness and participation in regional housing discussions.

The motion to recommend City Council acceptance was made by Commissioner Meeks, seconded by Commissioner Rocamora, and passed on roll call with yes votes from Commissioner Rocamora, Commissioner Alman Salarios, Commissioner Meeks and Vice Chair Purnell. Staff will forward the report to the City Council and submit required materials to the California Department of Housing and Community Development and the Governor's Office of Planning and Research by April 1, 2025, per state schedules.

Staff noted other housing-division accomplishments in 2024: 1,750 code-enforcement cases opened with 1,251 closed, acquisitions such as 443 West Market (El Rey) for potential transitional housing, and services through the Salinas Outreach and Response Team, which assisted 291 unique individuals and housed 45 during the year.

Commissioners were told the housing element report will be scheduled at City Council on March 25, 2025, and staff expects to submit the annual report to HCD and OPR on or before April 1, 2025.