Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Soledad releases strategic‑plan Q1 report; council lauds progress and readies outreach on Measure A
Summary
City staff reported 64% of 70 ‘urgent’ strategic‑plan objectives are moving forward; highlights included housing (Sandero), economic development (Wingstop, El Marketito), a $16 million recycled‑water grant, a $300,000 Clean California award, and Measure A placed on the June 2 ballot to support public safety staffing.
City staff on Wednesday presented the first quarterly update on Soledad’s five‑year strategic plan, reporting that about 64% of the 70 ‘urgent’ objectives are in progress and that several high‑profile projects and grants advanced in the quarter.
Jesus Yanez, management analyst, told the council the report treats the plan as a living document and focuses on urgent priorities. “We knew that if we put this on a shelf, it was gonna be worthless. Implementation is really key,” Yanez said. Staff reported 4% of urgent objectives are complete, about 60% are on track or in progress, and roughly 30% have not yet started.
City Manager Megan Hunter summarized highlights: completion of the Sandero interim housing project and 14 permanent placements, the opening of new retail (Wingstop) and regular pop‑up markets (El Marketito), progress on a 4.7‑mile recycled‑water (purple pipe) pipeline backed by a $16 million grant, a $300,000 Clean California grant for blight cleanup and workforce pathways, and adoption of a Vision Zero mobility plan. Hunter also noted staffing gains in public safety and that Measure A (a local parcel‑tax measure placed on the June 2 ballot) is intended to support fire and emergency staffing.
Council members praised staff and asked for public outreach to explain the strategic plan and budget implications. Several council members urged clearer public education about the West Street road‑diet rationale and broader communication about where city revenues come from and how Measure A would be used.
Staff said it will continue quarterly reporting and proposed a community listening session — marketed as “Tacos with the Team” — that will include high‑level budget education to improve public understanding of revenue and spending.
