YOUR GUIDE TO CITY-RELATED NEWS AND EVENTS | | |
July 29, 2024, City Council Meeting Recap:
- The purchase of three vehicles for Public Works was approved.
- A resolution was adopted to amend the submission relating to the Public Safety Transactions and Use Tax at the Special Municipal Election, relating to a minor adjustment to the ballot question identified by the Registrar of Voters.
- A report was presented for Council discussion on the Open Government Commission's recommendations regarding rules of conduct for all public speakers and virtual public comment/participation.
- The updated mid-cycle position control list was approved.
| | Council Meeting Highlight: July 29, 2024 | |
Discussion on the Open Government Commission’s Recommendations (from the November 6, 2023 Presentation) Regarding Rules of Conduct for All Public Speakers and Virtual Public Comment/ Participation
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At the November 6, 2023 regular City Council meeting, the Open Government Commission (OGC) presented their report on Enabling Hybrid Public Meetings to the City Council.
The OGC’s presentation included identified findings recommending the establishment of:
- Hybrid (in-person and virtual presence) meetings for the City Council and possibly other boards, commissions and committees, and
- Rules of Civility and Decorum for members of the public to abide by when participating in a public meeting.
During Monday's meeting, City Councill considered and discussed the below policy questions in relation to the OGC's recommendations:
Hybrid Meetings
- Does the Council desire to have members of the public participate virtually?
- How would the Council desire to address participants wishing to provide public comment who live outside of the city, region, and possibly state and nation?
- Would Council desire to allow virtual participants to share their screen for public comments? What about presenters to the Council on the agenda?
- Would Council desire or allow City consultants and non-staff participants to a business item on the agenda to present virtually during the meeting?
- Would multiple people on one login to a virtual meeting be allowed?
Rules of Conduct
- How are the rules to be enforced?
- If there is conflict amongst the Council or if a rule is violated, who is the final arbiter of violations?
- What is the enforcement mechanism for ongoing or repeat violations?
- How often should the rules of conduct be reviewed for possible amendments?
Following the discussion, City Council directed staff to research best practices for rules of conduct for participation in public meetings and website accessibility.
| | | | Conversation and Coffee with Mayor Marie Blankley: Economic Development and Sharks Ice Gilroy | | |
The community is invited to join Mayor Marie Blankley for coffee and conversation about economic development in Gilroy, including an update on Sharks Ice and other new businesses opening throughout our town.
Conversation and Coffee will take place on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at 9:30 AM in Council Chambers, located at 7351 Rosanna Street.
To ensure everyone can participate, we are offering Spanish-language interpretation services for this meeting. To request this service, please get in touch with communications@cityofgilroy.org at least 72 hours before the meeting.
To learn more about the City’s efforts to bring new businesses to our community, check out the July 2024 Spotlight: Economic Development and Sharks Ice Gilroy.
✅ Conversation and Coffee with Mayor Marie Blankley
✅ Date: August 3, 2024
✅ Time: 9:30 AM
✅ Location: Council Chambers at Gilroy City Hall located at 7351 Rosanna Avenue
| | Gourmet Alley Project: Work continues on Trench Drains and Parking Lot Entrances | | |
This week, crews finished the installation of the trench drain in the alley between 4th and 5th Street. The drain is now ready for the concrete pour. Work continues reconfiguring the entrances and exits to the parking lots.
The City is coordinating behind the scenes with businesses in preparation for the resurfacing of the alley and the parking lots. The resurfacing will require temporary closure of the entire alley and parking lots between 4th and 6th Streets. These closures are anticipated to begin in approximately two weeks following the final Downtown Live Summer Music Series event. We are working with the contractor to minimize the closure times as much as possible.
The Gourmet Alley Project is anticipated to be substantially completed in mid-October.
We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through the Gourmet Alley Project. Your support is invaluable to us, and we are committed to delivering a project that enhances our community and downtown.
For more information about the Gourmet Alley Project, please visit www.cityofgilroy.org/1009/Gourmet-Alley-Project.
| | Attention Multifamily Property Owners and Managers: Safety Inspections Required by State Laws | | |
California implemented new laws requiring rigorous safety inspections for multifamily buildings featuring exterior elevated elements such as balconies, decks, and stairways exceeding six feet above ground level.
The State of California passed these laws in response to a devastating balcony collapse in Berkeley in 2015, which claimed multiple lives.
In response, California passed Senate Bill 721 and Senate Bill 326, requiring rigorous safety inspections for multifamily buildings with elevated elements.
To ensure compliance, multifamily property owners and managers should hire a licensed professional to complete inspections by January 1, 2025.
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Senate Bill 721 (Health & Safety Code § 17973) applies to apartment buildings, effective January 2019.
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Senate Bill 326 (Civil Code § 5551) applies to condominiums, effective January 2020.
A licensed professional must inspect balconies, walkways, decks, landings, railings, and stairways for buildings with three or more units and wood-framed exterior elevated elements. If the inspection report identifies safety issues, the licensed professional is required to submit a copy of the report to the City.
For more information, visit www.cityofgilroy.org/1022.
| | Prepared: An Ongoing Commitment | | |
Our dedicated Gilroy Police Officers and Gilroy Firefighters recently held an active shooter training at Christopher High School in collaboration with local public safety partners.
In the morning, the teams focused on drills to neutralize threats, clear classrooms, and provide immediate medical care to potential victims. In the afternoon, they participated in a mock scenario to put their training into action.
Thank you to the efforts of our officers and firefighters who work tirelessly to help keep our community safe.
These ongoing training exercises are a crucial part of our commitment to ensure our community is prepared for any situation. Your safety is our top priority.
| | Gilroy Library Passport Services | | |
Planning a trip out of the country? Make sure you have a current passport! The Gilroy Library is opening an office to provide Passport Services beginning August 6th. This service will make it more convenient for anyone to obtain a new passport or renew an existing passport, with evening and weekend hours available.
To book your appointment now, please visit the Santa Clara County Library District website. An appointment is required, and a separate appointment is needed for each passport applicant. Make sure to carefully review the passport application requirements, list of important documents you must bring with you, and the applicable service fees.
You do not need to be a library cardholder to utilize this service.
Gilroy Library Passport Office Hours:
Tuesday and Wednesday, 1:00 – 8:00pm (closed 4:00-5:00pm)
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 10:00am – 5:00pm (closed 1:00-2:00pm)
| | Christmas Hill Park Bathrooms Are Open! | | |
The new restrooms at Christmas Hill Park are now open and ready for park visitors to use.
The new structure is a clean-looking prefab building designed for durability. It houses three standalone ADA-compliant bathrooms, each with a stainless toilet, sink, mirror and hand dryer.
As you may recall, an arson fire unfortunately destroyed the entire restroom structure in February 2023. Since that time, the Gilroy Public Works Department has been diligently working to rebuild the structure from the ground up. After evaluating options and approving plans, demolition of the old foundation began in October 2023 and construction of the new one in May 2024. The project was completed in July 2024.
We appreciate your patience and understanding while we worked to bring this amenity back to our park.
| Downtown Live - Summer Music Series | | |
What an amazing evening at the Downtown Live - Summer Music Series last Thursday!
Our historic downtown was alive with the sounds of live music, laughter, and community spirit. Families, friends, and neighbors enjoyed delicious food and libations from local restaurants, breweries, taprooms, and food trucks, played games, and soaked up the unbeatable summer vibe.
Join us in the downtown every Thursday through August 15th at 5 PM (music starts at 7 PM) for more fantastic music, food, and fun. Let’s keep the summer magic going in Downtown Gilroy!
Additional Information about the Downtown Live Summer Music Series.
| | Ask Gilroy: Your City, Your Questions! | | |
Thank you to everyone who submitted questions this week!
We've provided answers to some of the questions below, and look forward to more questions this week!
Responses provided by City Administrator Jimmy Forbis:
❓Our community mailbox, along with many others, were broken into. It has been over 1.5 months and it still has not yet been repaired. I was told it may even be another 2 months. What is taking so long??
The City of Gilroy is not responsible for mailbox repairs. Mailbox repairs are the responsibility of the property owner or USPS depending on who owns the boxes.
❓Does the city have plans to create any pickleball courts? The empty spot at Sunrise Park near the tennis courts and the play ground has been undeveloped for nearly 27 years. The tennis courts at Sunrise Park have been used for many different sports...tennis, pickleball, volleyball, and badminton. It would be nice to have dedicated pickleball courts available. The sport is growing rapidly and I don't see an end to it anytime soon.
The City’s Parks and Recreation Commission has been evaluating potential locations for pickleball courts. Please visit their website (in the recent agenda section) at: https://www.cityofgilroy.org/294/Parks-Recreation-Commission
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Have you ever wondered about Gilroy's infrastructure, upcoming developments, municipal services, or important community events? Your curiosity fuels our mission to provide you with answers.
In addition, we're introducing a new segment: Fact or Fiction! Got a rumor? Use the same form below to share it with us, and we'll fact-check it for you. Every week, we'll tackle a few questions and clear up any confusion.
📢 How It Works:
Ask Away: Drop your questions in the “Ask Gilroy” survey form
We Answer: Each week, we'll pick a question and provide a detailed answer in our weekly email
Stay Informed: Sign up for our emails to access our answers and stay in the loop.
It's time to unlock the mysteries of Gilroy together! Let's dive into the heart of our community and discover what makes our city tick.
👉 Ready to ask? Drop your questions in the survey form linked below and let’s go! 🚀
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City of Gilroy
Office Hours
Gilroy City Hall is open to the public Monday through Thursday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, and on Friday by appointment only.
City of Gilroy
(408) 846-0219
7351 Rosanna Street, Gilroy, CA 95020
www.cityofgilroy.org
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