[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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",[32,74,86],{"_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":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6568574,"mediaKeyId","3194170-03eabf9d83f25a4b9677f3138a984210","parentId",3194170,"title","Council reopens talks on Gilroy Gardens, sports park and Sharks Ice; annexation and LAFCO issues discussed","audioSeconds",351,"startMs",5429000,"endMs",5780000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3194170-03eabf9d83f25a4b9677f3138a984210&start=5429&end=5780","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3194170-03eabf9d83f25a4b9677f3138a984210/thumbnail_5429000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6568574/Gilroy/Santa-Clara-County/California/Council-reopens-talks-on-Gilroy-Gardens-sports-park-and-Sharks-Ice-annexation-and-LAFCO-issues-discussed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568574-abc0e1f702c733adca7b554b5951e851/orig.mp4?Expires=1770501682&Signature=FcBGBtKQNjtbLF8NLXpcwVRlqA0xDDtFdEWGGcFxnwZutwFwpqztpO3xv~GiGyQC8gm~5r65wMhOsWVm2rfA4eiq2vmIPqqndbHTE2IH9CDdVzAjVNhlSILU1eFWY9CJdtPj5r0huLCVmRNxjCMJ1dsrKvJbBYWe6PKov0qKcacvB-FwwIJO7GLN4nXWoSVNUvUxNCYcADU6yXKb-4ukdp602cQRASqsacWJr1~M1U2rLIJ6b2lsCADOHCBuhKVR20otSGbsGwyVbhq4VtKBm-h4oXc7n2dHtKQ7ovT56dgIWk-ncg2egxPIncwR1u8cQWfLgDqQjABJXS2U1Uerwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-05T15:41:50Z","article","During its May 5 strategic planning session the Gilroy City Council revisited long-running discussions about Gilroy Gardens and the adjacent Gilroy Sports Park, a large city-owned property outside city limits where council members and staff said a Sharks Ice facility or other sports-driven development could spur hotel, restaurant and retail investment.

City staff described the Sports Park as city-owned land located in county jurisdiction and said the city currently provides services under agreements that predate some LAFCO rules. City staff member Andy, who worked on earlier facets of the property plan, summarized the status: “The property is owned by the city. It’s in the county jurisdiction…we are allowed to service the properties…we are, in a sense, grandfathered,” he told the council.

Council members and staff discussed benefits and tradeoffs. Because the park lies outside the city, property tax now goes to the county. Sales tax from future retail or hotel development would not flow to the city until an annexation occurs. Several council members said they view an anchored facility such as Sharks Ice and a dug-in hockey rink as a catalyst that could prompt surrounding investment, and they discussed reopening a procurement process to attract proposals for new uses at Gilroy Gardens and the surrounding acreage.

The session also covered mitigation and prior planning steps. Staff recalled past RFPs and prior proposals (including developer interest such as Great Wolf and other bidders) that did not advance to fruition. They said a supplemental environmental review (EIR) and master planning work done earlier supported the possibility of sports-park development, but that a renewed effort is needed to reach the next stage.

On process and timing, staff said that if the Sharks Ice project advances it may be worthwhile to explore annexation with LAFCO because the agency’s posture toward such requests has changed in recent years. “The timing is certain will certainly be better in the next few years than it has been,” a staff member said, noting that prior LAFCO feedback favored infill alternatives rather than placing a major commercial use on the sports-park site.

Ending: The council did not adopt formal actions at the session. Members directed staff to re-examine options for Gilroy Gardens and the sports park as part of economic development work plans, and to consider whether annexation or other steps could improve the city’s share of future tax revenues if a major project is proposed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Strategic Planning Workshop | May 5, 2025 | Noon","oneSentenceSummary","Gilroy council members and staff discussed restarting work on long-gestating projects at Gilroy Gardens and the city-owned sports park, including the potential location for a Sharks Ice facility and the implications of county jurisdiction and LAFCO rules for tax capture and annexation.","taxTitle","Gilroy, Santa Clara County, California","taxId",3782,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6568579,"Gilroy council debates permit overhaul: in‑house reviewers, navigator role and transparent dashboards on the table",8036,2024000,10060000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3194170-03eabf9d83f25a4b9677f3138a984210&start=2024&end=10060","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3194170-03eabf9d83f25a4b9677f3138a984210/thumbnail_2024000.jpg","/articles/6568579/Gilroy/Santa-Clara-County/California/Gilroy-council-debates-permit-overhaul-inhouse-reviewers-navigator-role-and-transparent-dashboards-on-the-table","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568579-8cadb7f801e65448d8720dc86a8fafd0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770501682&Signature=OacacBuE1hL5Bb7jDR7Nw61uGmt2bgLIEwUmbFi0~DbOxD-TVBKGA3rK0aActAJQW2bfVVRQUXNgFmc~duUo6Q6NRBHL3Z65TtvfuPx-j8Z2nPFfi8vGM4k-do2FEyQ0wQ2iMFd3fbbVk~h8-Yx-dFtILs~j~LMAgoWN19KrfkYQ~cv8Co36kjsTxQ5qw7iNK-au8BQk3HDt2jO4-h7YbZcAmpaldbOsSPTdyTUjJ4Q5QTKHcQFl-o~~Y7iF5bcItDjU5kBX6TsW5BWKvsQTj~R-zcf5quA3QfqIU6JnoweFQkbTzk6v-QwAD3lUqUwVO5qt~sdlI60VVxysb-XaYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Gilroy city leaders used a May 5 strategic-planning session to press for faster, clearer permitting and to weigh whether to move some outsourced plan-review work in-house.

Community Development Director Sharon (first name used in the meeting) told council staff has modeled a hybrid approach — a core in-house plan-review team supplemented by consultants for peak workloads — and said the city would likely need an initial investment. “Starting the third year, I would envision the in-house team to be able to retain more plan reviews,” Sharon said. She added that her modeling showed net revenue becoming “pretty similar between fourth and fifth year and beyond” once the in-house team gained capacity.

The council also discussed a permit-navigator role: a named city point of contact who would help applicants move through multiple departments and outside-agency reviews. Staff described a transparency tool under development—a GIS-linked dashboard that would allow applicants and the public to see permit status on a map. “It’s integrated with GIS…in a map format. It’s kind of a storybook,” a staff member said of the planned dashboard.

Council members pressed staff on incentives and turnaround times. The meeting clarified that private plan-review consultants operate under turnaround-time clauses and that the city offers an expedited review option that charges 1.5 times regular fees, but there is no financial bonus for consultants who finish earlier than the contract timeframes. Sharon said, “If they make it in 25 days, they’re still good and dandy. There’s no…financial extra compensation for being 5 days ahead.”

Public comment illustrated the frustrations the council sought to address. Longtime resident and builder James Sooner told the council about an instance where the city retained an outside consultant to act as an interface for a habitat conservation program (HCP) application and said the consultant charged $4,000 per lot. “This…adds time, money, and energy to the process that’s very simple that we’ve already completed prior,” Sooner said.

Council members and staff agreed on next steps: schedule developer roundtables that bring community development, engineering and private-sector stakeholders into a single forum; develop clearer online status indicators and a permit navigator function; and, as part of the budget cycle, analyze the costs and benefits of shifting more plan review in-house versus outsourcing.

Ending: No formal policy change was adopted at the session. Staff said a detailed service-delivery analysis will be included in upcoming budget materials and that a first developer roundtable was scheduled for May 13.","Council and staff discussed measures to speed permitting — an in‑house plan‑review model, a permit navigator, developer roundtables and a public dashboard — and heard public complaints about consultant fees for habitat-permit processing.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6568584,"Gilroy council pivots to economic development, signals likely new director in upcoming budget",4148,172000,4320000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3194170-03eabf9d83f25a4b9677f3138a984210&start=172&end=4320","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3194170-03eabf9d83f25a4b9677f3138a984210/thumbnail_172000.jpg","/articles/6568584/Gilroy/Santa-Clara-County/California/Gilroy-council-pivots-to-economic-development-signals-likely-new-director-in-upcoming-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568584-7c3c23b28ef1668bdaea1b5e80eaf8ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1770501682&Signature=iY6-LNqDtE~CnzlAtZ4kaSTgphWW684E4A~n45uAhL1g7ceDZi80Nsaq55z8Na89FAc2pLCFJG6WsUI~-yZY93tvclBsfJUxNYXiywrlJFmA0EVdo0W5m6goLnrvVcRUmLM0QL9Tfq0e-6Mf2PrU9wM-Smffou9crB02JqLjIDAYm-xZffhxINI1W4xXEcxfiHgHz6iBApLAdlVAoZSIU6SuuzCbgCXVVnf6qbK64U-3TrlBXNSRh6mgoCD3cgpYlHMSmIFdsse0mswU0kr61mvUpY7up4g1VlO51R0zFHJqTInJ8aZsxq~t4EN9~MczJHY-TKqfPvBV3Vc7USGWyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a May 5 special strategic planning session, the Gilroy City Council centered discussion on economic development and what council members described as the “how” of implementation, including a likely new economic development director and measurable, revenue-focused goals.

The council’s economic-development discussion was led by Victoria Valencia, the city’s economic development manager, who reviewed a set of seven council-adopted guiding principles she said should frame incentives and outreach. “They are focused on revenue enhancing economic development, evaluating return on investment and community benefit, recognizing incentives are catalysts, promoting a can-do mindset for economic development, using data for insight and expanding accessibility, being visionary, and sustainability in viability,” Valencia said.

Why it matters: Council members repeatedly tied economic development to the city’s ability to pay for services, citing public safety and unfunded state mandates as reasons to prioritize revenue generation. Council member Joe Ramirez said, “Economic development is going to pay for the services that everyone in this community wants, including and especially public safety.”

Council members pushed for clear metrics and accountability. Several called for SMART goals (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time‑sensitive) and an executive dashboard showing progress on items such as jobs, property tax and sales tax. Council member Mark Marx said he expects to see indicators that move “up, up, up” over time so officials can judge a director’s effectiveness. Council member Zach Klein urged a quick timeline and said he wanted the position to be part of the FY 2025–26 budget: “My expectation … is part of this budget and moving forward. July 1, looking for that position to be filled,” Klein said.

City Administrator Jimmy (first name provided in the meeting) characterized the council’s direction as clear and said staff would reflect it in the coming budget. “I talk to you all. I listen, and there’s probably a pretty good chance there’ll be a director in the budget that you get on Wednesday,” he told the council.

Council members described what they expect from a director: someone who can build private-sector relationships, drive revenue, coordinate city departments, and manage projects such as a downtown strategic plan, gateway improvements and promotion of assets like Gilroy Gardens and a proposed sports park. Several council members wanted an aggressive, in-house economic development program instead of a scattershot approach; they repeatedly said the role should demonstrate return on investment.

Discussion touched on specific assets and projects the director would manage or coordinate with partners: downtown revitalization, a strategic plan for the Gilroy Sports Park and Sharks Ice, and efforts to market Gilroy as a recreational and visitor destination tied to its agriculture, wineries and events.

Council members also emphasized internal culture and relationships: streamlining customer service at counter and online, coordinating with bargaining units and city departments, and creating an “advocate” role for businesses so applicants do not get lost navigating permit and regulatory processes.

Next steps and timing: Council workshops on the budget were scheduled May 12 and May 19, and the city’s budget adoption deadline is June 2. Staff said they will draft work plans and include economic development staffing and priorities in that budget process for council consideration.

Ending: The council did not take a formal vote at the session. Instead members used the workshop to provide policy direction that staff said will be reflected in the forthcoming budget packet and work plan documents for final council action during the June adoption process.","At a May 5 strategic-planning session the Gilroy City Council pressed staff to make economic development a top priority, endorsing measurable goals and signaling that a standalone economic development director may appear in the city manager’s budget proposal next week.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council reopens talks on Gilroy Gardens, sports park and Sharks Ice; annexation and LAFCO issues discussed

Gilroy council debates permit overhaul: in‑house reviewers, navigator role and transparent dashboards on the table

Gilroy council pivots to economic development, signals likely new director in upcoming budget