10/02/2023 City Council Regular Meeting Adopted 10/16/2023
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City of Gilroy
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
Monday, October 2, 2023 | 6:00 PM
1. OPENING
1.1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Blankley at 6:00 PM.
1.2. Pledge of Allegiance
Pro Tempore Mayor Bracco led the Pledge of Allegiance.
1.3. Invocation
Pastor Greg Quirke of South Valley Community Church provided the invocation.
1.4. City Clerk's Report on Posting the Agenda
City Clerk Pham reported on the Posting of the Agenda.
1.5. Roll Call
Attendance Attendee Name
Present Rebeca Armendariz, Council Member
Dion Bracco, Mayor Pro Tempore
Tom Cline, Council Member
Zach Hilton, Council Member
Carol Marques, Council Member
Fred Tovar, Council Member
Marie Blankley, Mayor
Absent None 1.6. Orders of the Day
There were none.
1.7. Employee Introductions
There were none.
2. CEREMONIAL ITEMS - Proclamations and Awards
2.1. Proclamation Proclaiming October 2023 as The Great Shakeout
Mayor Blankley read aloud the proclamation and presented it to Emergency
Services & Volunteer Coordinator Andrew Young.
3. PRESENTATIONS TO THE COUNCIL
3.1. Presentation from Silicon Valley Clean Energy
Adam Selvin, Director at Silicon Valley Clean Energy of Silicon Clean Energy,
provided the presentation.
3.2. PUBLIC COMMENT BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS NOT ON THE
AGENDA BUT WITHIN THE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL
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Regular Meeting Minutes
Mayor Blankley opened Public Comment.
The following members spoke on items that were not on the agenda.
Paul Dommert, Jr. championed a disc golf course at Christmas Hill Park,
noting the sport's accessibility and community spirit.
Ron Kirkish expressed concerns about hybrid meeting disruptions,
referencing issues in other cities and emphasizing a need for a deliberate
Council approach.
Gregory Felios promoted "Coffee with the Mayor" on October 7th,
underscoring it as a chance for community dialogue with the Gilroy
Unified School District superintendent.
No further speakers present, Mayor Blankley closed Public Comment.
4. REPORTS OF COUNCIL MEMBERS
Council Member Bracco had nothing to report.
Council Member Armendariz shared updates from South County United for Health and
highlighted the 7th Annual Tamal Festival and Car Show held last Saturday.
Council Member Marques reported on the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency Governing
Board and Gilroy Gardens Board of Directors.
Council Members Hilton and Cline acknowledged the success of the recent 7th Annual
Tamal Festival and Car Show.
Council Member Tovar reported on the Downtown Committee,
Mayor Blankley reported on CalTrain Policy Group, VTA Board of Directors, and VTA
Mobility Partnership Committee.
5. COUNCIL CORRESPONDENCE
There were none.
6. FUTURE COUNCIL INITIATED AGENDA ITEMS
There were none.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Blankley opened Public Comment. There being no speakers, Mayor Blankley closed
Public Comment.
Motion: Approve the Consent Calendar
RESULT: Pass
MOVER: Fred Tovar, Council Member
SECONDER: Carol Marques, Council Member
AYES: Council Member Armendariz, Mayor Pro Tempore Bracco, Council
Member Cline, Council Member Hilton, Council Member Marques,
Council Member Tovar, Mayor Blankley
7.1. Approval of the Action Minutes of the September 18, 2023 City Council
Regular Meeting
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Regular Meeting Minutes
A motion was made to approve the minutes.
7.2. Claim of Jose Aaron Munoz (The City Administrator recommends a "yes"
vote under the Consent Calendar shall constitute denial of the claim)
A motion was made to deny the claim.
8. BIDS AND PROPOSALS
There were none.
9. PUBLIC HEARINGS
9.1. Proposed Tentative Parcel Map to subdivide two developed commercial
lots located at 6955 Camino Arroyo into seven parcels, Application No. TM
23-01
Mayor Blankley asked the Council if they had received an ex-
parte communication. None were reported.
Planner II Melissa Durkin provided staff presentation and responded to
Council Member questions.
Mayor Blankley opened the Public Hearing at 6:30 PM. There being no
speakers, Mayor Blankley closed the Public Hearing at 6:30 PM.
Motion: Based on its independent analysis, determines that the proposed
project is exempt from further environmental review by State CEQA
Guidelines section 15061 (b), the “common sense” exemption because it
can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in
question may have a significant effect on the environment, and adopt a
resolution approving the proposed tentative parcel map to subdivide the
property known as APN 841-17-045 and 841-17-036 into seven separate
parcels.
RESULT: Pass
MOVER: Tom Cline, Council Member
SECONDER: Rebeca Armendariz, Council Member
AYES: Council Member Armendariz, Mayor Pro Tempore Bracco,
Council Member Cline, Council Member Hilton, Council
Member Marques, Council Member Tovar, Mayor Blankley
Enactment No.: Resolution No. 2023-57 10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
10.1. Appointments to City Boards, Commissions, and Committees with Seats
Vacant or Expired as of September 18, 2023
Mayor Blankley opened Public Comment. There being no speakers, Mayor
Blankley closed Public Comment.
The council appointed the following members:
Akur Varadarajan to the Open Government Commission with a term
ending December 31, 2024.
Dale Davis to the Parks and Recreation Commission with a term ending
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Regular Meeting Minutes
December 31, 2025.
10.2. Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiative Update
Police Sergeant Toney and Communications Manager Bedell provided staff
presentation and responded to Council Member questions.
Mayor Blankley opened Public Comment. There being no speakers, Mayor
Blankley closed Public Comment.
Council received the report and directed staff to have the consultant present
their findings at a future Council meeting.
11. INTRODUCTION OF NEW BUSINESS
11.1. Receive Preliminary Fiscal Year 2022-23 (FY23) Year-End Financial Report
Finance Director Sangha provided staff presentation and responded to Council
Member questions.
Mayor Blankley opened Public Comment.
Ron Kirkish expressed concerns about the city's current and future
revenues, urging the Council to prioritize spending and scrutinize
expenditures.
There being no speakers, Mayor Blankley closed Public Comment.
Motion: Motion to approve $225,000 to be transferred to the Section 115
Pension Trust, pursuant to the Pension Funding Policy.
RESULT: Pass
MOVER: Fred Tovar, Council Member
SECONDER: Rebeca Armendariz, Council Member
AYES: Council Member Armendariz, Mayor Pro Tempore Bracco,
Council Member Cline, Council Member Hilton, Council
Member Tovar, Mayor Blankley
NAYS: Council Member Marques
11.2. Discussion and Direction Regarding Other Post Employment Benefit
(OPEB) Section 115 Trust and Funding
Finance Director Sangha provided staff presentation and responded to Council
Member questions.
Mayor Blankley opened Public Comment. There being no speakers, Mayor
Blankley closed Public Comment.
Motion: Adopt a resolution establishing a Section 115 Trust for Other Post
Employment Benefits (OPEB), approving a one-time contribution to the
Section 115 OPEB Trust of $0.5 million from the General Fund balance
(reserves), and approving an OPEB Funding Policy, with the addition
Council to address the split between the OPEB and pension in equal
percentages to their respective unfunded balances.
RESULT: Pass
MOVER: Marie Blankley, Mayor
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SECONDER: Rebeca Armendariz, Council Member
AYES: Council Member Armendariz, Mayor Pro Tempore Bracco,
Council Member Cline, Council Member Hilton, Council
Member Marques, Council Member Tovar, Mayor Blankley
Enactment No.: Resolution No. 2023-58
12. CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORTS
12.1. Know Your Code
12.2. E-newsletter Mailbag
12.3. Love Gilroy/Fight Dirty
City Administrator Forbis provided the City Administrator’s Report.
13. CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORTS
City Attorney Faber provided the City Attorney’s Report.
14. CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Blankley opened Public Comment.
Richard Perino recounted a 2006 house fire experience, critiqued response times,
and pushed for fire department funding.
Mike Sterner appealed to improve fire department staffing and address retention
issues related to the CalPERS system.
Steven Hayes highlighted the urgent staffing need at Santa Teresa station,
emphasizing response times and urging action for optimal emergency outcomes.
Matt Tuttle emphasized a widespread staffing issue across county fire departments,
urging Gilroy officials to prioritize fire station staffing.
Christopher Cobillas advocated for continuous staffing at the Santa Teresa Station
and emphasized its role in emergency preparedness.
Kim Kurtis highlighted the critical need for funding and staffing fire departments
amidst Gilroy's growth.
Jason Lucero raised concerns about inconsistent staffing and resources at the Santa
Teresa Fire Station and questioned city transparency.
Bob Weaver criticized discrepancies in response times and safety issue
communication in the Santa Teresa district.
Jim Blean spoke on the impact of fire station proximity on insurance rates and
proposed consistent and strategic fire station staffing.
Ron Kirkish criticized Glen Loma developers for delaying a fire station and suggested
stringent council actions to ensure developer compliance.
There being no further speakers, Mayor Blankley closed Public Comment.
Mayor Blankley recessed the Regular Meeting at 8:40 PM.
The City Council reconvened into Closed Session at 8:45 PM.
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Regular Meeting Minutes
The vote to stay in Closed Session was unanimous.
14.1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS - COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
UNIT Pursuant to GC Section 54957.6 and GCC Section 17A.11 (4);
Collective Bargaining Units: Local 2805, IAFF Fire Unit Representing Gilroy
Fire Fighters
City Negotiators: Jimmy Forbis, City Administrator, LeeAnn McPhillips, HR
Director
Anticipated Issues(s) Under Negotiation: Wages, Hours, Benefits, Working
Conditions; Memorandums of Understanding: City of Gilroy and Gilroy Fire
Fighters Local 2805.
No reportable action.
15. ADJOURN TO OPEN SESSION
Mayor Blankley reported out of the Closed Session, as shown above.
16. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Blankley adjourned the meeting at 11:02 PM.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and regularly adopted at a regular
meeting of the City Council of the City of Gilroy on October 16, 2023.
Thai Nam Pham, MMC, CPMC
City Clerk