09/12/2023 Downtown Committee Regular Agenda Packet
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Downtown Committee
Regular Meeting Agenda
September 12, 2023 | 8:00 AM
City Council Chambers, City Hall
7351 Rosanna Street
Gilroy, CA 95020
1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Public Comment (including public comment on sub-committees: Plywood Removal
and Vacancies)
4. Approval of the Minutes:
• August 15, 2023 Special Meeting
5. Reports from the Following Sub-committees, with Public Comment After Each:
• Noise
• Beautification of Downtown
• Code Enforcement
6. Adjournment
Next Meeting: October 10, 2023, 8:00 AM Council Chambers
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City of Gilroy
Downtown Committee Special Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, August 15, 2023 | 8:00 AM
1.CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chair Marques at 8:00 AM.
2.ROLL CALL
Attendance Attendee Name
Present Rebeca Armendariz (Council Member), Committee Member
Fran Beaudet, Committee Member
Marie Blankley (Mayor), Committee Member
Dion Bracco (Mayor Pro Tempore), Committee Member
Matt Gallion, Committee Member
Dave Leal, Committee Member
Carol Marques (Council Member), Chair
Jeff Orth, Committee Member
Emily McEwan-Upright, Committee Member
Absent Toni Bowles, Committee Member
Lorena Gaeta, Committee Member
William Leal, Committee Member
Jeanie Rizzuto, Committee Member
Fred M. Tovar (Council Member), Vice-Chair
Victoria Valencia, Committee Member
Chair Marques suggested Committee Members William Leal and Lorena Gaeta should be
removed from the Commission due to non-attendance. Council Member Armendariz stated
she will reach out to Committee Gaeta with regards to her participation.
3.Public Comment
Chair Marques opened Public Comment. With no speakers, she closed the Public Comment.
4.Report Out from Sub-Committees
Subcommittee Report by Chair Marques and Committee Member David Leal
•Window Displays Ordinance: The subcommittee introduced new language for the
current ordinance. For commercial spaces unoccupied over 90 days, display
requirements include faux window dressings, art displays, and window paintings.
Use of bare materials like plywood is prohibited unless decoratively painted by the
120th day. Non-compliance results in fines and permit restrictions. Exceptions can
be requested under special circumstances.
•Enforcement Mechanisms: Engaged in a discussion on implementing a lien or
taxing property owners as a method of enforcement for non-compliance.
Subcommittee Report by Committee Members McEwan-Upright and Bracco
•Vacancy Ordinance Exploration: The need for a comprehensive vacancy ordinance
was discussed, with a particular emphasis on:
o Review of existing ordinances in cities like Fairfield, Sacramento, and Palm
Springs.DRAFT
August 15, 2023 | 8:00 AM Page 2 of 2 Downtown Committee
Special Meeting Minutes
o Proposal of a vacancy ordinance that mandates building owners to register
their vacant properties with the city within ten days.
o Stipulated city inspections for these buildings to determine code compliance.
o Enforced renovations to meet code before re-occupancy.
o Implementation of a $150 per week fine for failure to register a vacant
building.
•PG&E Concern: Addressed the recurring issue raised by building owners regarding
prolonged wait times, extending to months or years, for PG&E to restore power,
hindering leasing endeavors.
•Exemption Discussion: Deliberated on the idea of exempting buildings from the
vacancy ordinance if delays were due to pending power restoration from PG&E.
Some concerns were raised about the potential for misuse of this exemption by
property owners.
5.ADJOURNMENT
Chair Marques adjourned the meeting at 8:58 AM.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and regularly adopted at a regular
meeting of the Gilroy Downtown Committee of the City of Gilroy.
/s/Thai Nam Pham, MMC, CPMC
City Clerk DRAFT