Minutes 2014/06/09City of Gilroy
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
June 9. 2014
I. CALLTO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Mayor Gage called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
Roll Call
Present: Council Member Terri Aulman; Council Member Dion Bracco; Council
Member Peter Leroe- Munoz; Council Member Cat Tucker; Mayor Don Gage
Absent: Council Member Peter Arellano; Mayor Pro Tempore Perry Woodward
II. STUDY SESSION
A. Review of Chapter 30 Article 37 of the Gilroy City Code Entitled "Sign
Regulations"
The staff report was presented by Development Center Manager Butler.
Council Member Peter Arellano joined the meeting at 6:07 p.m.
Public comment was opened.
Elsa Quintanilla LeDon presented a PowerPoint created by the Business Committee
highlighting three specific areas of the newly adopted sign ordinance that the committee
was suggesting be amended to support promoting business: establishment of uniform
A -frame sign guidelines, the reinstatement of the human mascot signs and the use of
banners.
Patti Tartaglio was called to speak sharing her support for the recommendations as
presented by the Committee.
Beverly Pierce was called to speak sharing her concerns with the newly adopted
ordinance and supporting the proposals as presented by the Business Committee.
John Rubio was called to speak sharing the franchise requirement of his insurance
business to have a human sign mascot explaining that his business would be fined if
they did not fulfill the obligation, and suggesting that he could provide the city with
liability insurance if needed.
Frank Hernandez was called to speak sharing his support for the suggested changes to
the ordinance and need to collaborate for a solution that would have a positive impact
on both the business community and the city. He asked that the City Council to consider
amending the ordinance at a future meeting.
Bob Sigala was called to speak explaining that he saw the recommendations of the
committee as a proactive approach in supporting the business community. He went on
to describe the need for signage for the new customer who didn't necessarily know that
a business was in town, explaining that several businesses were adhering to the new
sign regulations and were losing profit with the lost customer traffic. He concluded by
asking the Council to consider the proposal as submitted by the Business Committee.
Mary Yates was called to speak explaining that Gilroy had character because of the
uniqueness of the signs which she believed should be supported.
Joe Tartaglia shared the process of advertising his wife's business, explaining that
many people couldn't locate the business without the A -frame signs at the street. He
then thanked the Council for reconsidering the sign ordinance and need to reinstate the
human sign for those businesses who had the requirement within their franchise.
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Jaime Rosso was called to speak stating that he had been in business in Gilroy for over
25 years and supported the recommendations of the committee explaining that he ran
event sales with banners and flags which increased sales volume tremendously. He
concluded by explaining that banners had a great impact on car and RV dealers, as it
did for other businesses of the city.
Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce Mark Turner shared the letter he had
sent to the Council from the Chamber Board of Directors which detailed a study on
signs being a critical component of business survivability. He suggested that the Council
consider enforcing the existing ordinance before moving forward with the new
ordinance.
Gary Walton was called to speak sharing the difficulties of small business and the need
for the City to work more collaboratively with the small business community for
solutions. He went on to share statistics of the reinvestment into the community of small
business owners, versus the big businesses.
Ron Kirkish commended the Business Committee for their work on the presentation and
went on to describe the difficulty for small business to advertise in the local newspapers
because of the prohibitive costs, explaining that signing was their best advertising tool.
Richard Trujillo was called to speak explaining that as a small sign business owner he
had gone out to the outlet center to market his sign business and had been told by each
and every business that they had to use their corporate signing manufacturers. He went
on to explain that he was losing business with the new regulations prohibiting A -frame
and banner signs, and he believed that a quality sign should be utilized as a standard in
the city.
Public comment was then closed.
Motion on Item II.A.
Motion: direction to staff to consider the recommendations of the Business
Committee at an upcoming Council Meeting, and return at the July 1, 2014
meeting to decide which sections of the existing sign ordinance to set as low
priority enforcement until the item returned for further Council consideration on
August 18, 2014
Moved by Council Member Peter Arellano, seconded by Council Member Cat
Tucker.
Vote: Motion carried 6 -0 -1.
Yes: Council Member Peter Arellano; Council Member Terri Aulman; Council
Member Dion Bracco; Council Member Peter Leroe- Munoz; Council Member Cat
Tucker; Mayor Don Gage
Absent: Mayor Pro Tempore Perry Woodward
B. Gilroy Gardens Strategic Plan
The report was introduced by City Administrator Haglund.
Chairman of the Gilroy Gardens Board Greg Edgar spoke on the conceptual land use
plan, 5 -year capital plan and strategic plan and business outcome from the previous
years.
Executive Director of Gilroy Gardens Barb Grantor presented the report.
Motion on Item II.B.
Motion: to direct staff that the action item is complete and the Council is in
support the Board of Gilroy Gardens strategic plan and conceptual land use plan.
Moved by Council Member Cat Tucker, seconded by Council Member Peter
Arellano.
Vote: Motion carried 6 -0 -1.
Yes: Council Member Peter Arellano; Council Member Terri Aulman; Council
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Member Dion Bracco; Council Member Peter Leroe- Munoz; Council Member Cat
Tucker; Mayor Don Gage
Absent: Mayor Pro Tempore Perry Woodward
III. ADJOURNMENT TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF JUNE 16, 2014
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SHAWNA FREELS, MMC
City Clerk
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
6/9/2014