<<First Name>>,
You may come in person to provide public comment or email public comment. See agenda packet for QR code that provides LIVE transcript to your device of the meeting in multiple languages, use a headset on your phone for audio or read the transcript on your device. This feature can be used if you want to speak in public comment in another language. Listening devices are available at the City Clerks table.
It's not a requirement to fill out a yellow speaker card, it's a request. The Mayor has reduced the open public comment on items NOT on the agenda to 1 minute each. Email public comment on any item or public comment on items NOT on the agenda before April 15 1pm to PublicComments@cityofgilroy.org.
You can see all public comment letters submitted to the City Council for public comment here. https://gilroy.streamlinegov.us
City Council Meeting Monday April 15 6pm-
Regular Meeting-
-Award a Contract to McKim Corporation for the FY24 Citywide Pavement Rehabilitation Project No. 24-PW-288 in the Amount of $3,899,534.55, Approve a Project Contingency of $583,061.45, and Approve a Total Project Expenditure of $4,482,596.00 for Construction
-Public Hearing to Establish a List of Properties Subject to the Weed Abatement Program and Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the Fire Chief to Abate the Nuisance Arising Out of Weeds Growing and Refuse
Accumulating Upon Property in the City of Gilroy Pursuant to Section 12.51 of the Gilroy Code
-Emergency Operations Plan Update
City Administrator's Report-
-Legislative Update
Closed Session-
-None
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Events, Appearances, Meet & Greets
-CALCCA Conference/Elected Luncheon April 2024
-Gilroy Arts Roundtable April 2024
-Workers Memorial Day Event April 2024
-Nueva Vida Día del Niño April 2024
-VTA TOC Grant Workshop April 2024
-Latino Family Fund 2024 Tequila Tasting Celebration May 2024
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Gourmet Alley Project
Gourmet Alley is one of three project concepts to form the "recreation triangle" brought forward by the community (Gilroy Economic Development Partnership comprised of representatives from the following organizations: Visit Gilroy/ California Welcome Center Gilroy, Gilroy Economic Development Corporation, Gilroy Gardens, Gilroy Chamber of Commerce, Gilroy Downtown Business Association, Gavilan College) in 2020 and all three have been moving along at different stages. In September 2020 a City Resolution was approved by that City Council at a public meeting Supporting a Vision of Gilroy Becoming a Recreation Destination.
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In late 2020 the General Plan 2040 was also approved by the General Plan Advisory Committee (made up of all sectors of the community), Planning Commission, and City Council. All done publicly with community support and staff support. General Plan 2040 language is guiding these projects and priorities too. I was appointed to the Gilroy Economic Development Partnership as a member of the City Council in 2021 and served for two years.
City of Gilroy has a website and newsletter with all details, schedules of construction, and updates for the Gourmet Alley project in Downtown Gilroy. https://www.cityofgilroy.org/1009/Gourmet-Alley-Project
The goals of the Clean CA Local Grant Program are to:
-Reduce the amount of waste and debris within public rights-of-way, pathways, parks, transit centers, and other public spaces.
-Enhance, rehabilitate, restore, or install measures to beautify and improve public spaces and mitigate the urban heat island effect.
-Enhance public health, cultural connection, and community placemaking by improving public spaces for walking and recreation.
-Advance equity for underserved communities.
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Local Economic Development- In 2024, we have opportunities for furthering our economic development with a hillside adventure and water surf park proposal around Gilroy Gardens, Sharks Ice Arena at the Sports Park, and Gourmet Alley in Downtown. These proposals form the recreation triangle and further our recreation community designation by city resolution. Redevelopment and new construction create additional hotels, housing, jobs, restaurants, industrial opportunities, and shopping experiences.
These initiatives were brought forward by the community (Gilroy Economic Development Partnership comprised of representatives from the following organizations: Visit Gilroy/ California Welcome Center Gilroy, Gilroy Economic Development Corporation, Gilroy Gardens, Gilroy Chamber of Commerce, Gilroy Downtown Business Association, Gavilan College) in 2020 and all three have been moving along at different stages. I was appointed to the Gilroy Economic Development Partnership (GEDP) as a member of the City Council in 2021 and served for two years.
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Future City Council Compensation
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This is a perfect example of how we can use our local control to address the issue of stagnant compensation for all members of our city council and future members of this elected body. Our compensation schedule, which is long overdue for adjusting, has not kept pace with inflation, and requirements for these positions.
We have the option to adjust Mayor and Council Member compensation to account for inflation and support diversity in our City Council because increased compensation can help individuals from across different income levels receive sufficient income for their service, along with the various retirement and healthcare benefits.
Another way to look at this, is that these positions are paid ones, and like with any job, there are certain expectations required from them. Moving to district elections would also create more diversity on the City Council. We moved forward with $1,600/month for Council Members and $2400/month for Mayor, starting January 2025. This follows with other cities offer based on 50,000 - 75,000 in population.
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Silicon Valley Clean Energy Calls for Entries in Spring EmPowerSV Student Video Scholarship
Calling all middle and high school students! Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE), your local electricity provider, presents the 2024 EmPower Silicon Valley scholarship short video competition. Unleash your creativity and explore the world of clean, efficient, all-electric technologies. With prizes of up to $3,000, students from SVCE's 13 member communities* have the chance to shine. Registration is open until May 3rd, and participants can choose from three exciting prompts to showcase their talent. Learn more at svcleanenergy.org/empower-sv/
*SVCE member communities include: Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Saratoga, Sunnyvale, Unincorporated Santa Clara County.
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I have long championed environmental stewardship. This Earth Day, I am pleased to offer you easy opportunities to love our planet. One simple way to divert waste from landfills is through the Mattress Recycling Council’s Bye Bye Mattress program.
This program, whenever possible, leverages the existing solid waste infrastructure. For many Californians, this means your mattress is being diverted from waste to recycling whether your retailer takes it back with your new purchase, your city or a waste hauler picks it up at curbside or you drop it off at a participating location.
More than 75% of a mattress can be recycled. The steel, foam, fibers and wood are turned into everyday products like carpet padding, industrial filters, construction rebar and garden mulch.
MRC’s program recycles foam and innerspring mattresses, futon mattresses that can separate from the futon frame or base, as well as box springs. At collection locations, unit limits vary by location and residency restrictions may apply. We recommend contacting the location prior to drop-off.
This Earth Day, we hope you will visit https://byebyemattress.com/california/ to learn how to recycle your mattress or share this information with a friend or family member.
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Supportive Housing, Community Plan to End Homelessness, and Re-Entry Update at SCC Housing, Land Use, Environment, and Transportation Committee (Click Above for March 28th Video)
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Santa Clara County District Attorney's Mariposas Resiliency Center – a newly expanded center based in Gilroy at the Neon Exchange to provide help to victims of violent crime. The Mariposas Resiliency Center, formerly the Gilroy Strong Resiliency Center, will provide comprehensive support to survivors of violent crime including on-site mental health and advocacy services. The Mariposas Resiliency Center is named after the Spanish word for butterflies. Butterflies have become powerful symbols for three young victims of the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting - six-year-old Stephen Romero, 13-year-old Keyla Salazar and 25-year-old Trevor Irby - and the community ‘s resiliency in the wake of the 2019 mass shooting. Those seeking services can obtain a referral from a community agency or can contact the Mariposas Resiliency Center directly by phone at (408) 209-8356 or by email Mariposas@dao.scc.gov
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Remember to check if it's a Spare the Air Day before you burn wood in your fireplaces.
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Downtown Gilroy/Mountain View by Bike, Train, Walk
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Gilroy Moves
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The benefits of walking are endless but making sure you do it safely is important too! Be aware when crossing Gilroy’s busy streets, use crosswalks and carry a flashlight at night. Watch this video to get to your destination in Gilroy safely.
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Valley Transportation Authority Policy Advisory Committee Updates
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The Santa Clara County Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is releasing the Transit-Oriented Communities Grant to seek proposals from Santa Clara municipalities, jurisdictions, arts, cultural, education, nonprofit and other community organizations to support VTA’s vision of equitable Transit-Oriented Communities.
The goal is to grow innovative and robust partnerships between VTA and local public agencies, nonprofit, community organizations, and other diverse stakeholders to strengthen communities, increase transit ridership, reduce the need for car trips, and support intensive mixed-use, mixed-income development around light rail stations and transit hubs. Selected projects will be collaborative across community and/or local government partners and remove barriers to creating safe, walkable, healthy, resilient, and thriving neighborhoods next to transit.
VTA will fund $750,000 in total to eligible applicants. Through a competitive process, 14-20 projects are expected to be selected to receive approximately $15,000 to $175,000. Selected projects are planned to commence between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
https://www.vta.org/programs/toc/transit-oriented-communities/grants
In-Person: Pre-Reg and Walk-Ins Welcome
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Time: 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. PST
Location: Gilroy Library
350 W. Sixth Street
Gilroy, CA 95020
https://sccl.bibliocommons.com/events/65f3403005ea9f280065b6da
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Gilroy/Morgan Hill by Bike, Train, Bus, Walk
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VTA provides bus routes from Gilroy throughout Santa Clara County. There are Local, Frequent, Express and Rapid routes. You can take your bike with you or park it at a locker at the Gilroy Transit Center. Bus service between Santa Clara County and Monterey County kicked off Monday, October 30, 2023 with 4 roundtrips Mon-Fri. Public transit will connect passengers between Santa Clara County and Monterey County, with the start of Bus Line 59 running between VTA’s Gilroy Transit Center and Salinas Intermodal Transit Center/AMTRAK. Daily ridership for the VTA bus routes in Gilroy. These daily boarding numbers are from January 2024 and to these riders I say thank you for riding public transit.
Rapid 568 Gilroy/San Jose- 676 boardings
Express 121 Gilroy/Lockheed Martin in Sunnyvale- 50 boardings
Frequent 68 Gilroy/San Jose- 4,023 boardings
Local Route 84- 85 boardings
Local Route 85- 119 boardings
Local Route 86- 85 boardings
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