Salinas City Manager announces retirement

SALINAS >>

Salinas City Manager Ray Corpuz has announced he will be retiring at the end of September after serving with the city for almost nine years.

“Salinas will always be a very special place for me,” said Corpuz in a press release. “I am fortunate to have served the city while having met so many wonderful people.”

Before coming to work for the city of Salinas, Corpuz was Seaside city manager for six years, and before that, led the city of Tacoma, Washington in the same position for more than 13 years.

He has held various local government public service positions for 48 years, with 29 of those as a city manager.

Once Corpuz started in his role as city manager with the city of Salinas, he worked with the council to focus on strategic planning and community needs, according to the release. This included bringing the Salinas budget process into full community review and introduced new revenue sources such as a 1% local sales tax for the city and extending the measure that funds the city’s libraries.

Focusing on economic development, Corpuz helped establish Salinas as an AgTech Hub of Excellence, led efforts for a new Economic Development Element of the General Plan, as well as vibrancy plans for Downtown Salinas and the Alisal. He worked on community projects such as the Police Services Building, El Gabilan Library, Soccer Complex, East Laurel Drive Sidewalk, expansion of Boronda Road and the Main Street Streetscape project. During his tenure, the city was the recipient of the 2015 All American City Award by the National Civic League.

Corpuz worked to address homelessness issues, increase affordable housing and was honored with the Monterey County Business Council President Award for Economic Development in 2015 in addition to being recognized by the International City/ County Management Association in 2017 for 45 years of dedicated public service.

The city manager appointed the city’s first female police chief and fire chief.