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Council highlights: youth summit plans, MST emergency transport, property and business updates
Summary
At the March 16 meeting, the council heard youth council and school updates, praised MST staff for a March 9 evacuation that helped 97 seniors and discussed local development news including a planned Anytime Fitness, a winery facility listed for sale and an MST property purchase in Salinas.
The Gonzales City Council on March 16 received a series of community updates ranging from youth programming to transit and local business developments.
Representatives of the Gonzales Youth Council outlined upcoming activities, including a Community Garden Day on March 18 and a regional South County Youth Summit scheduled for May 2 that the youth council said will be hosted jointly with Soledad and Greenfield councils. "On May 2, 2026, the Gonzales, Soledad and Greenfield Youth Councils will be hosting our third annual City South County Youth Summit," a youth council representative said.
Council Member Lorraine Worthy read an email from MST leadership describing an early-morning March 9 emergency response in which two MST buses transported about 97 passengers, primarily elderly and disabled residents, from a structure fire to temporary lodging. Worthy said the Monterey Police Department and CERT led evacuation efforts and praised MST staff for rapid response. The Housing Authority representative thanked MST and requested donations and temporary placements for displaced seniors.
Council members also reported on committee and regional items: a polling result for Measure Q pushed a potential county tax measure to 2028; the Monterey-Salinas Transit board authorized negotiation of a purchase-and-sale agreement with Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority for real estate at 139 Sun Street for approximately $5.975 million; and the city is working with prospective businesses including an Anytime Fitness planned for the old library site.
A council member noted that a local winery facility is winding down operations and is being marketed for sale, with staff reductions planned by July 1. Council members asked staff to consider redevelopment options for the site and flagged its large roof area as an asset for future uses.
Other announcements: a fire department open house is set for April 11, the Coastal Commission will hold meetings in mid-April at the community center, and a website committee will be formed to advise on accessibility and content.
The council approved the consent agenda earlier in the meeting and closed the session without further action on these informational items.
