Solana Beach Council takes up $62,000 in community grants, planned pay hikes

The Solana Beach City Council last week weighed a slate of spending, staffing, and election items, including a proposal to award $62,000 to 14 nonprofits and a separate measure that would give most city employees a 3 percent raise.

All actions remain pending official minutes, but the agendas for the June 24 and July 1 regular meetings outline a busy start to the new fiscal year.

Community Grants Considered

On July 1, the council took up the annual Community Grant Program, which recommended distributing $62,000 among groups such as the Boys & Girls Club, North Coast Repertory Theatre, and Solana Beach Backpacks for Kids. The allocations, if approved, would support services for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

The same agenda included a resolution to hire EPIC as the consultant for a Regional Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory (Resolution 2026-078) and a one-year professional services agreement with Summit Environmental for specialty planning work (Resolution 2026-087). The council also proclaimed the city’s 40th anniversary.

Salary Adjustments and New Position

At its June 24 session, the council was asked to greenlight a 3 percent salary adjustment and a 6 percent health care increase for management, confidential, SBEA, and marine safety employees. The consent calendar also called for creating a new Administrative Services Director position and renaming the Community Development Director to Planning Director.

Election, Budget, and Rail Trail Items

That meeting further proposed calling a Nov. 3, 2026 general municipal election for Council Districts 2 and 4, establishing the FY 2026/27 appropriations limit required by the California Constitution, and initiating proceedings for a Coastal Rail Trail maintenance district. A public hearing on rail trail assessments is set for July 15, with a requested $3,460 transfer from Measure S funds.

Closed Session

The council also met in closed session on June 24. No details were publicly listed for that meeting.

Coming up

No city council meetings are scheduled within the next two weeks. The next announced date is the July 15 public hearing on the Rail Trail maintenance district assessments.

Generated from official meeting agendas and minutes — every underlying document is linked from the city page. Read the primary source before you rely on a detail.