10.20.26 Housing and Land Use Committee Meeting of October 20, 2026

The Salinas Housing and Land Use Committee met on October 20, 2026. The committee approved the September 8 meeting minutes and voted to postpone approval of the proposed 2027 meeting calendar until staff can return with an updated schedule reflecting pending topics and the possibility of additional meetings. Staff also reported on the inclusionary housing ordinance update: Economic and Planning Systems, Inc. has been contracted to conduct the analysis, and staff is forming a technical advisory committee. Committee members urged broader public outreach and a clearer project timeline. A draft ordinance is anticipated in about six months; no action was requested on this administrative report.

Staff provided a status update on four affordable housing projects with approximately $8.46 million in reported NOFA-related commitments. Vista del Terraza ($960,000) is preparing to begin rehabilitation, while St. George Apartments ($2.3 million in NOFA funding, plus $645,000 previously provided for land acquisition) and Cassantine Street Family Apartments ($3.8 million) are advancing through financing and required documentation. The city-owned Republic Cafe project has about $1.2 million committed, but Phase One stabilization is estimated at $3 million, leaving additional funding to be secured. Staff plans to issue an RFP by year-end to select a development partner; construction is also contingent on funding and contractor procurement. These were administrative updates, with no spending or procurement vote taken at this meeting.