04/08/2024 City Council Regular MeetingCity Council Regular Meeting
Agenda April 8, 2024 | 6:00 PM Page 1 of 6
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
Monday April 8, 2024 | 6:00 PM
1.OPENING
1.1.Call to Order
Mayor Blankley opened the meeting in memory of former Council Member
and Gilroy’s first Mayor, Roberta Hughan who passed away on March 23,
2024.
1.2. Pledge of Allegiance
Council Member Marques led the Pledge of Allegiance.
1.3. Invocation
Rabi Debbie Israel led the Invocation.
1.4. City Clerk's Report on Posting the Agenda
Interim City Clerk Minor advised the agenda was posted on Thursday,
April 4, 2024 at 3:35 PM.
1.5. Roll Call
Attendance Attendee Name
Present Dion Bracco, Council Member
Rebeca Armendariz, Council Member
Carol Marques, Council Member
Zach Hilton, Council Member
Tom Cline, Council Member
Fred Tovar, Council Member
Marie Blankley, Mayor
Absent None
1.6. Orders of the Day There were none.
1.7. Employee Introductions
Police Chief Espinoza introduced Michael DeFrates, Community Service
Officer.
2.CEREMONIAL ITEMS - Proclamations and Awards
2.1. A Proclamation Recognizing April 2024 as Fair Housing Month
3.COUNCIL CORRESPONDENCE There were none.
4.PRESENTATIONS TO THE COUNCIL
4.1. Annual City Historian Presentation to the Council
City Historian Toby Echelberry provided an update on his efforts.
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Agenda April 8, 2024 | 6:00 PM Page 2 of 6
4.2. PUBLIC COMMENT BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS NOT ON
THE AGENDA BUT WITHIN THE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION OF
THE CITY COUNCIL
Mayor Blankley opened Public Comment.
Richard Legends spoke about the opening of Covale Rooftop Bar and
Restaurant in downtown Gilroy.
Ron Kirkish spoke regarding ABAG Plan Bay Area 2050 report.
Robert Zepeda spoke regarding the taxes that all citizens have to pay.
Mattie Scariot provided information on the Poppy Jasper Film Festival.
There being no further speakers, Mayor Blankley closed Public Comment.
5. REPORTS OF COUNCIL MEMBERS
Council Member Bracco No Report.
Council Member Armendariz reported on attending the Santa Clara Valley Habitat
Agency Governing Board, Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency Implementation Board
and the Housing and Community Development and Advocacy Committee meeting. She
also commented on attending the City’s JEDI training.
Council Member Marques reported on the Gilroy Gardens Park season opening and
that attendance was up.
Council Member Hilton provided a report on his attendance at the VTA Policy
Advisory Committee and Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority JPA Board.
Council Member Cline No report.
Council Member Tovar wished Miriam Nelson a happy 100th birthday and spoke about
the Poppy Jasper Festival and the work of City Staff to get the banner hung in downtown.
He also congratulated local students who were admitted Santa Clara University
Undergraduate program and Grad School.
Mayor Blankley spoke about the Poppy Jasper Festival and the filmmakers coming
into town for it. Santa Clara Valley Joint Waster Resource Committee held their
meeting and reported on the progress on efforts to increase the number of places to
deliver recycled water. She reported on the VTA tax measure coming in 2026, called
SB 1031.
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6. CONSENT CALENDAR
6.1. Approval of the Action Minutes of the March 18, 2024 City Council
Regular Meeting.
6.2. Adopt a Resolution Recognizing April 2024 as Arts, Culture and
Creativity Month.
Council Member Hilton requested Agenda Item 6.2 be removed from the
Consent Calendar. Council agreed.
Mayor Blankley opened Public Comment.
There being no speakers, Mayor Blankley closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Approve Consent Calendar Item 6.1.
RESULTS: PASS: 7-0
MOVER: Fred Tovar, Council Member
SECONDER: Rebeca Armendariz, Council Member
AYES: BRACCO, ARMENDARIZ, MARQUES,
HILTON, CLINE, TOVAR, BLANKLEY
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
MOTION: Approve Item 6.2 Resolution with the original ending
beginning with “Now therefore be it resolved that the City Council…”
RESULTS: FAIL: 5-2
MOVER: Zach Hilton, Council Member
SECONDER: Rebeca Armendariz, Council Member
AYES: ARMENDARIZ, TOVAR
NOES: BRACCO, MARQUES, HILTON, CLINE,
TOVAR, BLANKLEY
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
7. BIDS AND PROPOSALS There were none.
8. PUBLIC HEARINGS There were none.
9. UNFINISHED BUSINESS There were none.
10. INTRODUCTION OF NEW BUSINESS
10.1. Consent to City Contribution Towards Candidate Statement Costs
and Adjustment of the Voluntary Campaign Expenditure Ceiling for
the 2024 General Municipal Election.
Mayor Blankley opened Public Comment.
There being no speakers, Mayor Blankley closed Public Comment.
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MOTION: To maintain the existing practice of the City of Gilroy, paying
half of the candidate statement costs for the 2024 General Municipal
Election. Additionally, the Council is recommended to adopt a resolution
adjusting the voluntary campaign expenditure ceiling from $59,250 to
$60,078.
RESULTS: PASS 7-0
MOVER: Fred Tovar, Council Member
SECONDER: Carol Marques, Council Member
AYES: BRACCO, ARMENDARIZ, MARQUES, HILTON, CLINE,
TOVAR, BLANKLEY
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Enactment No.: Resolution No. 2024-18
10.2. Evaluation and Consideration of Adjusting Future Mayor and City
Council Member Salaries in Accordance with Recent Legislative
Changes under SB 329.
Mayor Blankley opened Public Comment.
There being no speakers, Mayor Blankley closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Staff to return with an Ordinance updating Council salaries.
RESULTS: PASS 7-0
MOVER: Marie Blankley, Mayor
SECONDER: Rebeca Armendariz, Council Member
AYES: ARMENDARIZ, MARQUES, HILTON, BLANKLEY
NOES: BRACCO, CLINE, TOVAR
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
10.3. Receive Report and Provide Direction on CDBG Program Year 2024-25
Funding Allocations.
Council Member Armendariz excused herself from this item as she may
have financial interest in one of the agencies receiving funds.
Mayor Blankley opened Public Comment.
Ann Peterson thanked Council for the CDBG Funding they have received
for Live Oak Adult Day Services.
Linda Phillips requested support for the needs of Sourcewise.
Deanne Everton thank Council for their support of Rebuilding Together
Silicon Valley.
There being no further speakers, Mayor Blankley closed Public Comment.
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10.4. Consideration of a Potential Public Safety Sales Tax Ballot Measure
for the November 5, 2024 Election Ballot.
Mayor Blankley opened Public Comment.
Terence Fugazi expressed his frustrations regarding the City budget and
the potential for this tax measure.
Ron Kirkish spoke regarding the need for additional School Resource and
Police Officers.
Andrew Lopez stated the Gilroy Police Officers Association would support
this tax measure.
There being no further speakers, Mayor Blankley closed Public Comment.
Council provided Staff with direction to move forward with putting together a
Public Safety Sales Tax Ballot Measure on the ballot and to bring it to
Council on July 29, 2024.
11. FUTURE COUNCIL INITIATED AGENDA ITEMS There were none.
12. CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORTS City Administrator Forbis spoke regarding the
programs that the Santa Clara County Office of Diversion and Reentry Services have
and their open house on April 18, 2024 on Murray Avenue. He also thanked all those
who joined in the cleanup of San Ysidro Park and encouraged everyone to attend the
Uvas Creek Cleanup on May 18, 2024.
13. CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORTS There were none.
14. CLOSED SESSION
14.1. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS Pursuant to GC
Sec. 54956.8 and GCC Sec.17A.8 (a) (2)
Property: City-Owned 536 Acres at Hecker Pass (Including Gilroy
Gardens Theme Park), 3050 Hecker Pass Highway, Gilroy, CA (APN’s:
810-17-024, 810-17-026, 810-17-029, 810-17-030, 810-17-031, 810-18-002,
810-18-013,
810-19-005, 810-19-007, 810-19-010, 810-19-011, 810-19-014)
Negotiators: Jimmy Forbis, City Administrator; Victoria Valencia,
Economic Development Manager
Other Parties to Negotiations: Paul Nakamoto, Bay.Org (DBA Aquarium
of the Bay/Bay Ecotarium)
Under Negotiations: Price and terms of payment for sale or lease
14.2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION.
Significant Exposure to Litigation Pursuant to Paragraph (2) of
Subdivision
(d) and Paragraph (3) of Subdivision (e) of Government Code Section
54956.9 and Gilroy City Code Section 17A.11 (3) (b), based upon receipt
of a written communication from International Association of Fire
Fighters. One (1) Case as Defendant
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Council unanimously voted to go into the Closed Session.
15.ADJOURN TO OPEN SESSION
Mayor Blankley advised no action was taken and the meeting was adjourned at 9:22
PM.
16.ADJOURNMENT FUTURE MEETING DATES
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.
/s/Beth Minor
Interim City Clerk