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Mayor· 2024-12-04 - 2026-12-01

Dennis Donohue

Salinas

No biography on file yet.

At a glance

News mentions
0

Term ending Dec 1, 2026.

Voice

Meetings spoken in
22
Total speaking time
6:38:24
Avg per meeting
18:07
Segments
7044

Want every word Donohue has said?

The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Donohue said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.

Top issues during term (20)

critical↑Apr 2026[46]

Measure H and the repeal of renter protections

No added election cost per the city attorney; the outcome could reshape rents for the city's majority-renter population.

medium↑Jul 2026[31]

Quick Quack Car Wash at Northridge Mall

About 18 jobs per store, mostly part-time, plus construction work; no direct city cost.

high↓Aug 2026[28]

Flock license plate reader cameras

Speakers cited a proposed ten-year county contract with steep cancellation fees; the city's own contract cost was not stated.

high↓May 2026[25]

Measure H and Rental Protections on the November Ballot

Measure H's outcome would affect rent limits, eviction protections and the rental registry affecting renters and landlords citywide.

high↑Jan 2026[22]

Chinatown soil contamination and redevelopment

The city has spent grant and general fund money acquiring and pre-developing the properties; construction costs will fall to a future developer.

high↓May 2026[21]

Zoning Code Update Phase 1

No direct cost to residents; could lower housing costs over time by making it easier to build ADUs and other units.

high↓Feb 2026[20]

Homelessness and loss of Chinatown Navigation Center shelter beds

$200,000 in General Fund dollars, bringing the CNC contract to $3,288,278.

medium↑Oct 2026[20]

Soledad Street surplus land declaration

Any sale or transfer of the lots could affect city revenues and downtown parking supply; specifics are not yet known.

high↑Feb 2026[17]

Salinas Fire Department staffing and response times

$4.7 million total, with about $3.26 million financed and roughly $500,000 saved through a prepayment discount.

medium↓May 2026[17]

Council Meeting Structure and Public Comment Process

high↑May 2026[16]

88 affordable housing units and daycare at 200 Casentini Street

State grant funds have already paid for pre-development and entitlement of the sites.

high↑Apr 2026[16]

Customer service at City Hall

Potential future investment in constituent relationship management software was discussed but not yet costed.

high↑Oct 2026[16]

Adoption of the Emergency Operations Plan 2026

No direct cost to adopt, but the plan positions the city for FEMA reimbursement — the city expects roughly $5 million back for prior disaster work.

critical↑Jan 2026[16]

SHARE Center operations agreement

The city and county fund SHARE Center operations for FY 2026-27 under the newly approved agreement.

high↑Aug 2026[15]

Economic Development Two-Year Work Plan

The division runs on general fund grant programs (about $2,500 per business grant) and is hiring one analyst; property sales and an enhanced infrastructure financing district could affect city revenue.

critical↑Mar 2026[15]

Measure G tracking poll

Measure G funds roughly 117 positions and street, park and safety spending; its renewal sustains existing services without raising the tax rate.

high↓May 2026[14]

Pesticide/glyphosate spraying on city fields

Two positions would cost roughly $260,000; the council hopes to revisit in December.

medium↑Jan 2026[14]

Firehouse and Sherwood Recreation Center improvements

$429,857.10 reallocated from existing fire CIP funds, delaying the fire training tower project.

medium↓Aug 2026[14]

Rodeo bull cruelty incident and oversight

low↑Oct 2026[13]

Council compensation transparency

Council compensation was reported at roughly $95,000 per member; the city manager's total compensation was cited at $315,000.

Decisions during term (229)

Recorded while Donohue was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.

approvedVoted yes7-0Oct 27, 2026

Bid Protest — 2026 Pavement Improvements Project (ID#26-474)

approvedVoted yes6-0-1Oct 27, 2026

Consent: Minutes of October 13, 2026 (ID#26-519)

approved7-0Oct 27, 2026

Consent: Soledad Street Surplus Land Declaration (ID#26-465)

approved7-0Oct 27, 2026

Consent: SHARE Center Agreements (ID#26-471)

approvedVoted yes7-0Oct 27, 2026

Consent: Remaining Items — Janitorial, Surplus Vehicles, Fire Grants (ID#26-472, 473, 480, 481, 508)

approvedVoted yes7-0Oct 27, 2026

Video Management System Server Upgrade — $700,000 (ID#26-509)

approved6-0Oct 21, 2026

Approval of Minutes of October 7, 2026 (Consent Item ID#26-502)

approved6-0Oct 21, 2026

Planned Unit Development Permit 2025-002 — Quick Quack Car Wash at Northridge Mall (ID#26-446)

approved6-0Oct 21, 2026

Conformity of Proposed Acquisition of 43 Soledad Street (Victory Mission Facility) to the General Plan (ID#26-490)

approvedVoted yes6-0Oct 13, 2026

Adoption of the City of Salinas Emergency Operations Plan 2026 (ID#26-467)

approvedVoted yes6-0Oct 13, 2026

Approval of Minutes of September 29, 2026 (ID#26-476)

approvedVoted yes6-0Oct 13, 2026

Acceptance of the Sherwood Recreation Center Building Improvement, CIP No. 9535 (ID#26-445)

approvedVoted yes6-0Oct 13, 2026

Rejection of Bids for Hazardous Materials Abatement at the Former Police Department Building, CIP 9612.03 (ID#26-447)

approvedVoted yes6-0Oct 13, 2026

Award of Accessibility Improvements for Firehouse Recreation Center, CIP No. 9311 (ID#26-448)

approved6-0Oct 7, 2026

Approval of Minutes of September 16, 2026 (ID#26-468)

approved6-0Oct 7, 2026

Minutes of September 16, 2026

approvedVoted yes7-0Sep 29, 2026

Proclamation Establishing the Threatened Existence of a Local Emergency (El Niño/Flood Readiness)

approved7-0Sep 29, 2026

ID#26-460 Minutes of September 15, 2026

approved7-0Sep 29, 2026

ID#26-393 ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan Update

approved7-0Sep 29, 2026

ID#26-431 FY 26-27 Homeless Services Rental Assistance Funding

Voting record (138)

135 yes3 no

Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.

Voted yesOct 27, 2026

Bid Protest — 2026 Pavement Improvements Project (ID#26-474)

Voted yesOct 27, 2026

Consent: Minutes of October 13, 2026 (ID#26-519)

Voted yesOct 27, 2026

Consent: Remaining Items — Janitorial, Surplus Vehicles, Fire Grants (ID#26-472, 473, 480, 481, 508)

Voted yesOct 27, 2026

Video Management System Server Upgrade — $700,000 (ID#26-509)

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

Adoption of the City of Salinas Emergency Operations Plan 2026 (ID#26-467)

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

Approval of Minutes of September 29, 2026 (ID#26-476)

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

Acceptance of the Sherwood Recreation Center Building Improvement, CIP No. 9535 (ID#26-445)

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

Rejection of Bids for Hazardous Materials Abatement at the Former Police Department Building, CIP 9612.03 (ID#26-447)

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

Award of Accessibility Improvements for Firehouse Recreation Center, CIP No. 9311 (ID#26-448)

Voted yesSep 29, 2026

Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement for Professional Services with BKF (formerly MNS Engineers Inc) for construction management services of the Boronda

Voted yesSep 29, 2026

Proclamation establishing the threatened existence of a local emergency (Salinas Municipal Code Section 11A-6.A(1)) was approved.

Voted yesSep 29, 2026

the minutes of September 15, 2026 were approved.

Voted yesSep 29, 2026

Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement, and any amendments or extensions thereto, with Bureau Veritas Technical Assessments, LLC, to conduct a comprehensi

Voted yesSep 29, 2026

Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Homeless Services Funding Agreement with the Monterey County Office of Education for the administration of the Rental Assistance Program in an amou

Voted yesSep 29, 2026

Resolution authorizing the reservation of a Public Utility Easement (PUE) over and across the northerly 124 feet of New Street right-of-way, retroactive to October 14, 2025; and authorizing the Public

Voted yesSep 29, 2026

Resolution accepting the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) of Sanitary Sewer Project for maintenance and responsibility was approved.

Voted yesSep 29, 2026

Resolution accepting the California Library Literacy Services (CLLS) block grant award in support of Adult Literacy and Family Literacy, for a total award of $217,832; authorizing the establishment of

Voted yesSep 29, 2026

Resolution authorizing the City Manager to approve Amendment No. 4 with St. Francis Electric, LLC extending the current agreement for one additional year term ending December 4, 2027, and increasing t

Voted yesSep 29, 2026

Resolution to support Proposition 1, the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026 on the November 2026 statewide ballot was approved.

Voted yesSep 29, 2026

the 2027 City Council Meeting Calendar was approved.

Voted yesSep 29, 2026

Resolution approving the reclassification of four positions listed below and modify the Classification – Salary Schedule to include the classifications of Temporary - Fire Inspector I/II, Public Servi

Voted yesSep 29, 2026

Proclamation Establishing the Threatened Existence of a Local Emergency (El Niño/Flood Readiness)

Voted yesSep 15, 2026

the Treasurer's Report for FY 2025-26 fourth quarter ended June 30, 2026 was approved.

Voted yesSep 15, 2026

Resolution finding the project categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15311(a); and approving Planned Unit Development Permit 2026-001 to increas

Voted yesSep 15, 2026

Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the Novation and Amendment Number 1 to the State Coastal Conservancy Grant Agreement No. 15-128 between the State Coastal Conservancy, Big Sur Land T

Voted yesSep 15, 2026

Resolution approving the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report and authorizing the City Manager to submit the FY 2025-26 CAPER to the United States Department

Voted yesSep 15, 2026

the minutes of September 1, 2026 were approved.

Voted yesSep 15, 2026

Resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for the 2027-2028 Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant (STPG) with a City match of 11.47%, and if awarded; delegating authority to the City Manage

Voted yesSep 15, 2026

PUD 2026-001 — Burlington sign area increase at Northridge Mall

Voted yesSep 15, 2026

FY 2025-26 HUD Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER)

Voted yesSep 15, 2026

Consent agenda: minutes, Coastal Conservancy grant transfer, transportation grant application, Treasurer's Report

Voted yesSep 1, 2026

Resolution accepting the Coventry Street and Victor Street Traffic Calming Devices, CIP No. 9163 for maintenance and responsibility was approved.

Voted yesSep 1, 2026

Upon motion by Councilmember De La Rosa, seconded by Councilmember Sandoval, the minutes of August 8, 2026 were approved.

Voted yesSep 1, 2026

Ordinance exempt as a “common-sense” exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines 15061(b)(3); and adopt the Ordinance amending Chapter 17 Article IV of t

Voted yesSep 1, 2026

appointment of Councilmember Jose Luis Barajas as the voting delegate for the annual Cal Cities business meeting on policy resolutions and further authorize the City’s delegate to vote in support/oppo

Voted yesSep 1, 2026

Resolution delegating authority to the City Manager to execute a two-year service provider agreement with United Way of Monterey County (UWMC) to operate the Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) beginni

Voted yesSep 1, 2026

Approval of Minutes (ID#26-422)

Voted yesSep 1, 2026

Zoning Code Update Phase 1 (ID#26-378, ORD 2699)

Voted yesSep 1, 2026

United Way Financial Empowerment Center MOU (ID#26-355, RES 2026-156)

Voted yesSep 1, 2026

Resolution accepting the Garner Avenue Bus Bulb Out, CIP No. 9503 for maintenance and responsibility was approved.

Voted yesSep 1, 2026

Resolution supporting the Transportation Agency for Monterey County’s efforts to bring a pilot rail services connecting Los Angeles to San Francisco Bay Area for the Summer 2028 Olympics was approved.

Voted yesSep 1, 2026

Garner Avenue Bus Bulb Out Acceptance (ID#26-396, RES 2026-157)

Voted yesSep 1, 2026

Coventry and Victor Street Traffic Calming Acceptance (ID#26-398, RES 2026-158)

Voted yesSep 1, 2026

Support for 2028 Olympics Pilot Rail Service (ID#26-403, RES 2026-159)

Voted yesSep 1, 2026

Cal Cities Voting Delegate (ID#26-420)

Voted yesAug 18, 2026

Zoning Code Update Phase 1 ordinance adopted

Voted yesAug 18, 2026

Biennial Budget Update — Resolution 2026-143

Voted yesAug 18, 2026

Consent agenda — continued items (ID#26-379 through 26-368)

Voted yesAug 18, 2026

Consent agenda — items ID#26-405 through 26-382

Voted yesAug 4, 2026

Resolution finding the action is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378) and exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 which