City of Marina Government News

Celia Jiménez here, thinking about Marina’s Measure U, which aimed to fund needed facilities, including new fire and police stations, in the city.

Despite a majority of Marina voters supporting Measure U, a $50 million bond measure to upgrade outdated facilities, the approval fell short of the two-thirds approval needed to pass, and now the city needs to consider alternatives to fulfill staff and resident needs.

Long-empty train tracks west of Highway 1 offer a spectacular view of the dunes and the Monterey Bay. Since 2021, people who signed up for handcar rides have enjoyed it while feeling the breeze.

Sara Rubin here, just after taking a hard-hat tour of Monterey County’s newest neighborhood. The Promenade in Marina, an idea 20-plus years in the making, finally exists in three dimensions.

Locke-Paddon Community Park is an oasis in the middle of Marina – but everyone agrees it is lacking in attention.

For years the City of Marina has contemplated a bond measure to upgrade its aging facilities. This includes a new city hall, as well as police and fire stations.

Joby Aviation may have passed on Marina as the spot for its massive production facility – instead opting for Dayton, Ohio in 2023 – but the Santa Cruz-based air taxi company has stated it remains committed to California, having recently broken ground on a manufacturing facility at the Marina Municipal Airport.

Time is ticking for those who want to provide feedback on Marina’s downtown specific plan. The last day for public review is Friday, May 24.

The City of Marina is known for its coastal access, diverse community and an array of international food options, but it’s missing a well-defined downtown area.

When the Marina City Council meets Jan. 17, Councilmember Cristina Medina Dirksen plans to announce her resignation, effective Jan. 28, with almost a year remaining on her term.

Between 2000 and 2010, Marina’s population dropped by 21 percent. During that same time, the city’s downtown flagged.

There aren’t many hurdles left to clear for Monterey-Salinas Transit’s SURF! project, a rapid transit busway between Marina and Sand City.