GILROY
– City Council scheduled a purposely light meeting Monday night
in lieu of Tuesday’s election that will seat potentially four new
members Dec. 1.
GILROY – City Council scheduled a purposely light meeting Monday night in lieu of Tuesday’s election that will seat potentially four new members Dec. 1.
The following items were discussed by Council during the regular session and a special study session Monday.
• Community Block Development Grants: Council directed staff to continue providing public service agencies with $60,000 in federal grant money for 2004. Agencies providing food, clothing and shelter will receive priority funding.
Overall, the city has roughly $552,000 to distribute next year to community agencies and special city projects. Council’s approval Monday is the first step in a seven-month process where nonprofits can apply for the federal money to carry out projects that will contribute to community revitalization.
• Santa Teresa Boulevard project update: Council heard a staff report describing the streetscaping plans for one of Gilroy’s main thoroughfares, Santa Teresa Boulevard.
Some Council members, comparing the street’s existing construction eyesores to war-torn Iraq, requested several days ago a progress report be given. Staff described plans for sound walls, medians, vegetation and other streetscaping and landscaping for the area of Santa Teresa Boulevard from First Street to Longmeadow Drive.
The project will go out to bid next month and construction will begin in the spring.
• Removal of a Public Art Committee member: Council is considering the removal of Camille McCormack from the Public Art Committee, a branch of the city’s Arts & Culture Commission.
McCormack, according to city documents, was in the process of moving to Gilroy when she was named to the committee. However, that move has not been accomplished and she has missed three consecutive meetings, city records state.
The commission wants to fill the slot with someone new, but McCormack requested Council to hold off on a decision until next month. According to the city clerk, McCormack said she wanted time to produce certain documents explaining her situation.
Council, 4-3, voted to continue the matter to the Dec. 15 meeting.
Council’s next regular meeting is Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. Newly elected members will be sworn in then.
