Council lowers rental-registry fees as staff pledges outreach and enforcement plan
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Summary
After extensive public comment about enforcement and staffing, the Salinas council approved a 35% fee reduction for the rental registry and rent‑stabilization program, set 2026 appropriations and directed staff to pursue compliance efforts and report back.
The Salinas City Council on Dec. 9 approved three resolutions adjusting fees and budget appropriations for the city’s rental registration and rent-stabilization program for calendar year 2026. Staff recommended a roughly 35% fee reduction—setting the rental registry fee at $29 and the rent program fee at $112—after an EPS fee study concluded prior-year collections exceeded operating needs. Staff proposed a $1,120,851 appropriation for program revenues and expenditures, incorporating a 25% reserve.
Public commenters, tenant advocates and nonprofit groups urged caution: they said lower fees could threaten enforcement capacity and recommended that staff fill vacant program positions and lay out a clear plan for increasing compliance from roughly 45% to a higher target. Councilmembers asked staff to prepare enforcement and compliance actions and confirmed the city intends to staff the program at appropriate levels; the city manager said he would bring follow-up plans and flagged the new rental-assistance program as a complementary tool to support compliance and tenants.
Council approved all three resolutions in a single vote; Councilmember Sandoval recorded a no vote.