City Council

The Soledad City Council is made up of five members including a mayor.  This legislative and policy entity of the City and responsible to the residents of Soledad for all municipal programs and services.  City Council members also serve as the Soledad Successor Agency of the former Redevelopment Agency for the City.  The City Council appoints members of the community to commissions, committees, and boards. The City Council provides policy direction on a broad spectrum of issues.  The Soledad City Council holds regular meetings at 6:00 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of each month in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. All meetings are open to the public and governed by the rules of the Ralph M. Brown Open Meeting Act.

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

• Convene one goal setting session each fiscal year; review and update the City’s Strategic Work Plan for the coming year
• Conduct an annual review of organizational performance with the City Manager
• Hold one annual joint study session with the City of Soledad Planning Commission

CURRENT AND PREVIOUS AGENDAS CAN BE ACCESSED BELOW IN OUR NEW PORTAL

Spanish Agenda: CIUDAD DE SOLEDAD 11/04/2026

City Council Member Reports

BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

 

STANDING COMMITTEES

PLANNING COMMISSION

The Planning Commission meets to administer the Soledad General Plan and Zoning Code, makes decisions on projects, and provides recommendations to the City Council on larger projects and amendments to the Zoning Code. The Commission meets every 2^nd Thursday of each month at Soledad City Hall, 248 Main Street, at 6:00 p.m.

Planning Commissioners:

Name                                       Term

Chair Josefina Aguilera                       02/01/2023 – 02/01/2027
Vice Chair Sergio Diaz                       06/15/2022 – 06/15/2026
Commissioner Roberto Cruz              08/19/2020 – 08/19/2024       
Commissioner Lorenzo Sanchez        12/06/2023 – 12/06/2027
Commissioner Sandy Fuerte               09/04/2019 – 09/04/2023

TRANSACTION AND USE TAX CITIZEN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE (TUT)

The Transaction and Use Tax Citizen Oversight Committee (TUT) carries out review and recommendation functions for both Measure S and Measure Y tax revenues. The TUT Committee meets quarterly or as needed at Soledad City Hall, 248 Main Street, at 6:00 p.m.

Transaction and Use Tax Citizen Oversight Committee Members:

Name                                                                                     Appointed by                                                                                      Term

Chair Eugene Ivey III                                                           Reappointed by Councilmember Fernando Cabrera                          09/16/2026 – 09/16/2027
Vice Chair Jana Swearengin                                                 Reappointed by Mayor Anna Velazquez                                            09/16/2026 – 09/16/2027
Committee Member Ramos Arroyo                                     Reappointed by Councilmember Evarista Bañuelos                          09/16/2026 – 09/16/2027
Committee Member Lourdes Infante                                   Reappointed by Mayor Anna Velazquez                                            09/16/2026 – 09/16/2027
Committee Member Maria Rusconi                                     Appointed by Mayor Pro Tem Fernando Ansaldo-Sánchez               09/16/2026 – 09/27/2027
Committee Member Stella Laurel                                        Appointed by Mayor Anna Velazquez                                                09/16/2026 – 09/16/2027
Committee Member Javier Galvan                                      Appointed by Councilmember Ben Caldera                                       10/21//2026 - 10/21/2027

 

COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS TO OUTSIDE AGENCIES, BOARDS, AND COMMISSIONS

 

ASSOCIATION OF MONTEREY BAY AREA GOVERNMENTS (AMBAG) BOARD OF DIRECTORS

AMBAG provides strategic leadership and services to analyze, plan, and implement regional policies for the benefit of the Counties and Cities of Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz, balancing local control with regional collaboration. AMBAG's Board of Directors is composed of locally elected officials appointed by their respective city council or board of supervisors. Each member's city has one representative on the Board, while each member’s county has two. AMBAG meets on the 2^nd Wednesday of each month at the AMBAG Office Conference Room, 24580 Silver Cloud Crt. Monterey, CA 93940, at 5:00 p.m. These meetings are open to the public both in person and virtually.

Representative: Mayor Pro Tem Fernando Ansaldo-Sánchez
Alternate Representative: Councilmember Ben Caldera

 

 CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CAC)

The Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) for Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) is a legally mandated, community-facing body established to foster communication and transparency between the prison administration and the surrounding Monterey County community. The CAC generally meets on the 2^nd Wednesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. If you are interested in attending, you must contact the prison administration in advance to obtain the exact link or location. You can reach out directly to the SVSP Community Resources Manager at (831) 678-5540

Representative: Councilmember Ben Caldera
Alternate Representative: Councilmember Evarista Bañuelos

 

MONTEREY COUNTY MAYORS’ ASSOCIATION

The Monterey County Mayors' Association is a regional organization that convenes the mayors of the county's incorporated cities for monthly networking, briefings, and collaborative discussions. The group is composed of mayors representing the 12 incorporated cities within Monterey County. The meeting locations rotate monthly among the 12 member cities. The meetings are held the 1^st Friday of each month at 12:00 p.m. The Monterey County Mayors Association's regular meetings are not officially required to be open to the public, either in-person or virtually, as the association is not considered a local legislative body subject to California’s Brown

Representative: Mayor Anna Velazquez

 

MONTEREY-SALINAS TRANSIT (MST) BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Monterey-Salinas Transit Board of Directors is governed by representatives from the 12 cities in Monterey County and the County of Monterey itself. The MST Board of Directors governs the transit agency and makes the final decisions regarding public transportation services across Monterey County. Because the board members are elected officials from local cities and the county, they serve to represent their constituents' transportation needs. This Board meets on the 2^nd Monday of each month at 19 Upper Ragsdale, Ste. 100, Monterey, CA 93940, at 10:00 a.m. These meetings are open to the public, both in person and virtually.

Representative: Councilmember Fernando Cabrera
Alternate Representative: Councilmember Evarista Bañuelos

 

SALINAS VALLEY SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY (SVSWA) BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority Board of Directors consists of 9 members and 6 alternates representing the City of Salinas and other regional partner agencies. SVSWA Board of Directors serve as the governing body for Salinas Valley Recycles (SVR). Operating as a Joint Powers Authority (JPA), the Board oversees a unified, regional solid waste management and recycling system for its six member agencies. These meetings are open to the public, both in person and virtually.

Representative: Councilmember Evarista Bañuelos
Alternate Representative: Councilmember Ben Caldera

 

TRANSPORTATION AGENCY OF MONTEREY COUNTY (TAMC) BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Transportation Agency for Monterey County Board of Directors is a 23-member governing body composed of the five Monterey County Supervisors and one appointed member from each of the county's incorporated cities, plus ex officio members. The TAMC Board of Directors meets the 4^th Wednesday of each month, at 9:00 a.m., at 55 Plaza Circle, Ste. B, Salinas, CA 93901. These meetings are open to the public, both in person and virtually.

Representative: Mayor Anna Velazquez
Alternate Representative: Mayor Pro Tem Fernando Ansaldo-Sánchez

 

TRANSPORTATION AGENCY OF MONTEREY COUNTY (TAMC) RAIL POLICY COMMITTEE

The TAMC Rail Policy Committee advises the TAMC Board on passenger rail service matters, including the Monterey County Rail Extension. The Committee meets on the 1^st Monday of each month at 2:00 p.m. at 55-B Plaza Cir. Salinas, CA 93901. These meetings are open to the public and can be attended both in person and virtually.

Representative: Mayor Anna Velazquez
Alternate Representative: Mayor Pro Tem Fernando Ansaldo-Sánchez

 

MONTEREY BAY AREA AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT (MBAAPCD) BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Monterey Bay Air Resources District (formerly the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District) is governed by an eleven-member Board of Directors composed of elected officials from Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties. The Board of Directors regularly meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. These meetings are open to the public and can be attended both in person and virtually.

This appointment is selected by the City Selections Committee. The City of Soledad does not currently have a selected representative on this Board.

 

CENTRAL COAST COMMUNITY ENERGY (3CE)

3CE is governed by a Policy Board and an Operations Board, both composed of elected officials, city managers, and city administrators, as a public agency. The Policy Board handles high-level policy, budget adoptions, and strategic goals, such as achieving 100% renewable energy by 2030. The Operations Board oversees administrative, operational, and technical functions of the public agency. These meetings are open to the public and can be attended both in person and virtually.

Representative: City Manager Megan Hunter

 

SOUTH SALINAS VALLEY BROADBAND AUTHORITY (SSVBA) BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The South Salinas Valley Broadband Authority (SSVBA) is a five-municipality joint powers authority formed in May 2022 to deploy open-access municipal broadband as a low-cost utility in southern Monterey County. This Authority serves Soledad, Gonzales, Greenfield, King City, and unincorporated District 3 of Monterey County. These meetings are open to the public and can be attended both in person and virtually.

Representative: Councilmember Ben Caldera
Alternate Representative: Mayor Anna Velazquez

 

MEASURE Q OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

Measure Q Oversight Committee ensures oversight that revenue raised through this Measure is properly used  under the terms and conditions outlined by the Local Transit Funding for Senior Citizens, Veterans, and People with Disabilities sales tax ordinance 2015-01 (ordinance), approved by the voters of Monterey County on November 4, 2014. This Committee meets biannually (twice a year) at the MST Board Room located at 19 Upper Ragsdale, Ste. 100, Monterey, CA 93940. These meetings are open to the public and can be attended both in person and virtually.

Representative: Councilmember Anna Velazquez

 

CITY OF SOLEDAD SUBCOMMITTEES
A subcommittee is a smaller group that is a permanent part of a larger committee/structure with ongoing responsibilities/tasks, focusing on a particular aspect of the larger committee’s work.

 

AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUBCOMMITTEE
The City of Soledad Affordable Subcommittee reviews affordable housing agreements with developers that require inclusionary housing pursuant to City ordinances and makes recommendations to the City Council.

Subcommittee Member: Councilmember Evarista Bañuelos
Subcommittee Member: Councilmember Fernando Cabrera

 

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES SUBCOMMITTEE
The Policies and Procedures Subcommittee reviews policies and procedures and makes recommendations to the City Council.

Subcommittee Member: Mayor Anna Velazquez
Subcommittee Member: Mayor Pro Tem Fernando Ansaldo-Sánchez

 

SOLEDAD CITY COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE
The Soledad City Council Legislative Subcommittee is composed of two councilmembers who meet with the City’s lobbyist and staff to track important legislative bills and packages and recommend a legislative platform. This subcommittee meets on the 2^nd Thursday of each month at Soledad City Hall.

Subcommittee Member: Councilmember Fernando Cabrera
Subcommittee Member: Mayor Pro Tem Fernando Ansaldo-Sánchez

 

AD HOC COMMITTEE
An Ad Hoc Committee is a temporary committee created for a one-time, specific issue or project for a limited period.

 

IMMIGRATION AD HOC TASK FORCE
The Immigration Ad Hoc Task Force works to improve the quality of life for all new, existing, and future immigrants by providing resources and accurate information to ensure trust in local government. This Ad Hoc Task Force meets as needed.

Subcommittee Member: Councilmember Fernando Cabrera
Subcommittee Member: Mayor Pro Tem Fernando Ansaldo-Sánchez

 

LIAISON APPOINTMENTS TO OUTSIDE LOCAL AGENCIES

SOLEDAD HISTORICAL SOCIETY
A councilmember serves as the City’s representative to the organization and reports the Soledad Historical Society activities to the council, and seeks guidance from the council as to general matters related to the Soledad Historical Society’s activities.

Representative: Councilmember Evarista Bañuelos
Alternate Representative: Councilmember Ben Caldera

SALINAS VALLEY BASIN GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY (SVBGSA)
The Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SVBGSA) works to protect and sustain groundwater resources essential to Monterey County’s communities, agriculture, economy, and environment, and addresses challenges such as seawater intrusion, groundwater recharge, and water efficiency to ensure a reliable groundwater supply.

Agency Member: Mayor Anna Velazquez