[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6323072,"mediaKeyId","2343182-aa2273366efba808b9db2e5cbcfb738c","parentId",2343182,"title","Gilroy holds interviews for boards and commissions; council to appoint members at Jan. 27 meeting","audioSeconds",3129,"startMs",990000,"endMs",4119000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2343182-aa2273366efba808b9db2e5cbcfb738c&start=990&end=4119","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2343182-aa2273366efba808b9db2e5cbcfb738c/thumbnail_990000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6323072/Gilroy/Santa-Clara-County/California/Gilroy-holds-interviews-for-boards-and-commissions-council-to-appoint-members-at-Jan-27-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6323072-ceea30b422bfc8723cee0a37771c13cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771208085&Signature=KsHN5QjLzI0E1GOIxd1pzBfbwCrpmD26ioaWqxS23Ya7rLJFfJM5djICSua3BUEuA~5sMpO-S4560Sc8ozxY2dx2jujEZmK4f6uGtDaqXd-AccjeuAe8r08RirfpdADKil4pQeKCs7ZnzkG4HemEhzNKl5M3Dt3qA~9V-3Z9wrEDVKe4XaXYLuHF1FpsbcbLBmUXin6G4yIQkJjtkFwrnryo4a5UWzMWRvQHMjrwHmUB~5ehupnE0d8cWWkQZzvTA2qtJDjzhzbfT97d0qMn-rFAOSfoEzPYkmwTGZDQDXQ~JaQIbwYFQYC2Fkxx3511dv3nj8nk~VC3-eD8sKGQYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Gilroy","date","2025-01-06T00:00:00Z","article","The Gilroy City Council on Jan. 6 conducted its annual round of interviews for boards, commissions and ad‑hoc bodies. City staff said the city received 40 applications for open positions and councilmembers will make final appointments at the Jan. 27 meeting.

\"We are here to conduct our annual board and commission interviews. We had 40 applications for the open positions, and council will be appointing commissioners at the next council meeting on January 27,\" a staff member told the council during the introductory presentation.

Why it matters: boards and commissions advise the council on planning, parks, libraries, open government, personnel, arts and culture and youth matters. Several applicants emphasized public engagement and continuity with prior projects, and planning commission candidates were reminded that the position can require heavy packet review and occasional special meetings while the city updates its zoning ordinance.

Highlights from interviews and applicant statements:

- Arts & Culture: Steve Taylor (Navy veteran and MassMutual financial planner) and Wendy Zamora (former professional dancer) described desires to expand arts access and youth programming.

- Library: Cassandra Lowry described finding a library \"safe space\" for a teenager in her family; Victoria Coverson Baxter, a recent former Library Commission chair, said she would work to increase public awareness of library resources.

- Parks & Recreation: Applicants emphasized park maintenance, safety and access. Javier Martinez, who said he works in juvenile crime prevention at the county level, and Jesse Jimenez, a lifelong Gilroy resident who organizes youth events, described park programming and volunteer priorities.

- Open Government and Personnel: Applicants including Sharpie Sandhu (SVP at Okta) and Anne Marie McCauley (local resident who watched commission meetings) discussed transparency and staffing expertise.

- Planning Commission: Candidates with construction, legal and long‑time community backgrounds — including Blanca McMurray, Kay Spencer and Patricia Clute Denson (former city employee) — applied. Councilmembers warned prospective planning commissioners that packets can exceed several hundred pages and special meetings are likely during the zoning update process.

- Youth Commission: High school sophomore Sean Ethan said he wants to build understanding and events for AAPI youth and other community groups.

No appointments were finalized at the Jan. 6 meeting. Staff and council emphasized that the interviews were introductory and that the appointments will be ratified on Jan. 27. Councilmembers also encouraged applicants to stay engaged even if they must leave the meeting early because of the length of the agenda.

Ending: The interviews showcased a broad field of applicants and highlighted topics councilmembers expect commissioners to work on this year — notably a zoning/ordinance update for planning commissioners and program expansion for parks, libraries and youth services. Final appointments and any associated commission charters will be posted in the Jan. 27 agenda packet.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Gilroy City Council Meeting | January 6, 2025 | 6:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","The Gilroy City Council on Jan. 6 conducted its annual round of interviews for boards, commissions and ad‑hoc bodies. City staff said the city received 40 applications for open positions and councilmembers will make final appointments at the Jan. 27 meeting.","taxTitle","Gilroy, Santa Clara County, California","taxId",3782,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6323077,"Gilroy council approves consent calendar, introduces Glen Loma amendment and re‑joins county cities association; several appointments made",2520,420000,2940000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2343182-aa2273366efba808b9db2e5cbcfb738c&start=420&end=2940","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2343182-aa2273366efba808b9db2e5cbcfb738c/thumbnail_420000.jpg","/articles/6323077/Gilroy/Santa-Clara-County/California/Gilroy-council-approves-consent-calendar-introduces-Glen-Loma-amendment-and-rejoins-county-cities-association-several-appointments-made","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6323077-eff0439deab62399a1861b0219d18455/orig.mp4?Expires=1771208085&Signature=heszjERniKXt3DvMBDwt9jUW1WNBwLTIHyc21~t-NW778j2dEoMQUf1DFvHfMUZqMe4StKuwTrqXWR2wHoa9EDexWEVDoj3LZie1WVqMQNhClKZfJ3fG85LbiuZKIniKG~UW9thmWqSpKi8aayVm~OUaxNfij-007pV-id3XKCQFvWdfgDbG2CHCIuxLODaZvTRGyeZqTY4YOOjQiviKSYTi8qrTVHyB0j16G~0pw6va1mrt61lcF5NZwzaHElsvOy8k1aCDew0tH2xSJ9WVMS9aC0BtlVzqusN4Z7khN2TpXcepTFwtJuGV20Nr-WYf~oxgMykFCe0F9--AsHJCcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gilroy City Council on Jan. 6 approved routine business and took several policy and procedural votes, including introducing an ordinance to extend the Glen Loma Ranch development agreement for three years, rejoining the Cities Association of Santa Clara County and appointing council members to downtown and Gilroy Gardens ad‑hoc committees.

\"The Glen Loma Ranch project is a 359‑acre development in Gilroy's Western Foothill area,\" city planning staff told council during the public hearing on the development agreement extension. Staff said the project has built out at a lower intensity than anticipated and that an EIR addendum (EIR Addendum 2) and a fourth operating memorandum address changes including obligations for a new fire station parcel. The proposed first amendment would extend the development agreement's expiration from Dec. 21, 2025, to Dec. 21, 2028.

Why it matters: extending the agreement affects the timetable for developer obligations tied to infrastructure, including a planned fire station parcel and developer funding described in the operating memorandum. Rejoining the county cities association restores Gilroy's regional seat at the table and an ability to influence shared city policy and advocacy. The council also designated members to local ad‑hoc committees that will oversee downtown engagement and lease negotiations for Gilroy Gardens theme park.

Key votes at a glance

- Consent calendar — Motion to approve by Councilmember Bracco; second by Councilmember Marks. Roll call: Bracco, Fugazi, Marks, Hilton, Ramirez, Klein, Mayor Bozzo — yes (7–0). Item highlighted in consent: second amendment to the agreement for maintenance of state highways in the City of Gilroy.

- Glen Loma Ranch development agreement (public hearing / ordinance introduction) — Staff presentation and public hearing; council took three separate motions required by law. Council determined no independent SEQ (sequential) review beyond EIR Addendum 2 was required (motion moved by Councilmember Klein; second by Councilmember Marks) — roll call: 7–0. Council waived further reading and read title by motion (moved by Councilmember Marks; second by Councilmember Hilton) — roll call: 7–0. Council introduced the ordinance to approve the first amendment to extend the term by three years (motion moved by Councilmember Klein; second by Councilmember Ramirez) — roll call: 7–0. The ordinance will return for adoption at the Jan. 27 meeting.

- Cities Association of Santa Clara County membership — Motion to rejoin (moved by Councilmember Hilton; second by Councilmember Klein) — roll call: 7–0. Staff said the association restructured as a joint powers authority and addressed prior governance and liability concerns; annual dues were noted (~$14,000 per year as cited by staff).

- Downtown Committee appointments — Council appointed Councilmembers Ramirez and Fugazi to the downtown committee (motion moved by Councilmember Klein; second by Councilmember Bracco) — roll call: 7–0. Staff advised the committee membership and sunset date per the resolution adopted in 2023; council indicated staff would return with a ministerial resolution amendment to reflect appointments.

- Gilroy Gardens Lease Ad‑Hoc Committee — Council appointed Mayor Greg Bozzo to replace a departing member on the Gilroy Gardens lease ad‑hoc committee (motion moved by Councilmember Klein; second by Councilmember Fugazi) — roll call: 7–0. Staff said the ad‑hoc assists in lease negotiations with the Gilroy Gardens family theme park.

Other actions: The council approved the consent calendar, which included routine administrative items and a highlighted traffic maintenance agreement amendment; no consent items were pulled for separate discussion.

Taken together, the votes were unanimous at the Jan. 6 meeting. Several items will return to council for final approvals or follow‑up at the Jan. 27 meeting, including the Glen Loma ordinance adoption and commissioner appointments for boards and commissions.

Ending: The council completed a full agenda of appointments and policy motions and scheduled final adoption of several items — including the Glen Loma ordinance and board/commission appointments — for the Jan. 27 meeting.","At its Jan. 6 meeting the Gilroy City Council approved the consent calendar, introduced an ordinance extending the Glen Loma Ranch development agreement by three years, voted to rejoin the Cities Association of Santa Clara County and appointed council members to two ad hoc bodies; all recorded council votes were unanimous.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6323082,"Gilroy residents urge action on Alexander Street encampment; city manager says site is Union Pacific property",5903,317000,6220000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2343182-aa2273366efba808b9db2e5cbcfb738c&start=317&end=6220","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2343182-aa2273366efba808b9db2e5cbcfb738c/thumbnail_317000.jpg","/articles/6323082/Gilroy/Santa-Clara-County/California/Gilroy-residents-urge-action-on-Alexander-Street-encampment-city-manager-says-site-is-Union-Pacific-property","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6323082-d965f66a1718f959ffcb686d5ecbd5e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771208085&Signature=RBKCNBAu~SXPYKRA0EzFO7m~V4CO~F5nKYI3SGzwreCCeToFWCKQsC2AEt27sS3A2EosP75aRqU-5We0UU7QrkN3BFguvvD6LFeDEr3sj12s2SqGP-zhD3ycxbi1~kFyCIuDwajENs0rc~VnMuzcuYimhLZzZLijNTnj~sXRjTuM4rOZs7Dj9E5OVblei6joFg-NnvGMrrENRrzjxXFOXHaEIRR7UxHh6s6fFzzNPynlq9Ed0o2UDLQLBVek~zaz9lV35QUflOstoWZOv7uNrq1zn~Mbbo8R3JSkK-r7u2jHuB1g~HkJBQ5SE~QiA8sG7Pcos5w5gy1vC5VL428GEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents told the Gilroy City Council on Jan. 6 they are alarmed by a growing homeless and RV encampment near Alexander Street and the railroad tracks and pressed the council to take immediate action.

\"We have a problem on Alexander. We have a homeless encampment over there, and it's getting worse and worse as the day goes on,\" Delmar Nielsen, an East‑side resident, told council during the public‑comment period. Nielsen described vendors, trash, and safety concerns that he said have made his family reluctant to walk to local stores.

The uptick in encampment activity drew multiple speakers. \"It's getting enormous now. It's looking very, very bad,\" said Ron Kirkish, a resident who described seeing rodents and discarded needles on the site and said, based on his research, Union Pacific owns the land and had given the city permission to clean it up.

City Manager Jimmy Forbus responded to public comment later in the meeting, saying the situation is more complicated. \"That land is Union Pacific Railroad property, and the city does not have permission to go onto that property and abate those RVs,\" Forbus said, adding that Union Pacific began abating the area on Jan. 2. He noted the city's authority to abate encampments is greater on city‑owned parcels and in some school buffer zones where the city has explicit permission to act.

Why it matters: residents described immediate public‑safety and quality‑of‑life problems — needles, rodents, and unmanaged trash — in a neighborhood they said has deteriorated. Council members did not take formal action at the Jan. 6 meeting; Forbus asked residents to contact him or their councilmembers for updates and said staff is navigating liability and coordination issues when property is privately owned by a railroad.

Details from the meeting: Nielsen said pop‑up fruit and food vendors and overgrown alleys on the east side of the tracks are contributing to neighborhood decline. Kirkish said he believes the parcel belongs to Union Pacific and asked why city action had not already occurred. Forbus said the city lacks permission to enter Union Pacific property and that sending city crews to a non‑city parcel would raise significant liability and safety concerns; he said the city is working through channels and would share updates when available.

The exchange highlights a jurisdictional challenge common where railroad right‑of‑way and privately owned parcels abut residential neighborhoods: local officials can act quickly on city property but must coordinate or obtain permission when private, railroad or federal interests are involved. Forbus said the city has authority to abate on certain properties — for example, near schools where a 500‑foot encampment buffer is enforced when the city has permission — but that the Alexander site sits on Union Pacific land.

The mayor and council did not schedule follow‑up action or a vote at the Jan. 6 meeting. Forbus said he will share more information with residents and urged anyone with immediate concerns to contact his office or their councilmember.

Ending: Residents who spoke asked for quicker relief. City staff said coordination with Union Pacific and safety/liability considerations constrain the city's ability to act directly on the railroad parcel; the council did not adopt a new policy or motion at the meeting.","Several East Side residents told the City Council Jan. 6 they fear for safety because of a growing homeless and RV encampment near the railroad; City Manager Jimmy Forbus said the land is Union Pacific Railroad property and the city lacks permission to abate, and that Union Pacific began cleanup on Jan. 2.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Gilroy holds interviews for boards and commissions; council to appoint members at Jan. 27 meeting

Gilroy council approves consent calendar, introduces Glen Loma amendment and re‑joins county cities association; several appointments made

Gilroy residents urge action on Alexander Street encampment; city manager says site is Union Pacific property