Gilroy Dispatch: Please briefly describe your background and experience. Why do you believe you’re qualified for this position?
Peter Leroe-Muñoz: I moved to Gilroy shortly after graduating from Harvard Law School. I served as a Deputy District Attorney for five years, a role in which I worked with law enforcement and community leaders to put criminal offenders behind bars. I now work in private practice as an attorney for a financial advisory firm.
I believe I am qualified to continue serving as a Council Member because Gilroy has experienced economic development and City improvements over the last four years. I have also taken the time to walk the different neighborhoods of our City, and speak with residents, face-to-face, to listen and understand their concerns.
GD: What unique skills, talents, passions, insight or other qualities do you have that will help you govern the city of Gilroy?
PLM: My legal training has been uniquely helpful while serving on Council. The Council deals with many legal issues, and understanding how our decisions shape and are shaped by statutes is important.
Additionally, my experience as an attorney helps me read and understand a large quantity of materials quickly and effectively. This is important because most Council meetings have packet materials that often exceed several hundred pages.
What are the biggest issues or challenges facing Gilroy residents right now and over the course of the next four years? What are some topics of particular interest to you, or important issues on your personal radar?
Revitalizing the Downtown remains an important project for the City, both in terms of its economic importance, as well its importance in creating a sense of identity for our community.
Public safety is also important. The City remains committed to participating in the regional emergency communications network, and this will require significant funds and training for our law enforcement and first responders.
How we use our natural resources is another issue important to many citizens. Are we doing what we can as a city to make efficient use of energy and water? Are there areas for improvement?
Finally, it is necessary to continue bringing good jobs to Gilroy, which will create a strong tax base, and a citizenry that is invested in our community.
What is your position on Measure F, the half-cent general-purpose sales tax measure on the ballot?
I support Measure F because it will improve our City and increase the safety of our community.
The funds generated from the Measure will be used for important projects like modernizing our emergency communications network, supporting gang prevention programs, and fixing basic infrastructure needs. Without this source of funding, these projects will continue to languish.
Measure F funds will be controlled locally, and cannot be taken by the State and spent elsewhere. Money generated in Gilroy will stay in Gilroy, and a Citizens Oversight Committee will ensure accountable spending.
Some city officials have said that if Measure F doesn’t pass, the city won’t be able to fund a variety of projects, from miles of street and sidewalk repairs to an upgrade of 9-1-1 emergency communications equipment. If the tax does not pass, how would you propose infrastructure repairs receive funding?
Difficult spending choices will have to be made if Measure F does not pass. Although the City has not yet studied possible alternatives for funding infrastructure improvements in such an event, it is likely that services deemed “non-essential” would see cuts. We have not yet discussed criteria for what would classify as non-essential. The problem with cutting non-essential services is that they still impact the quality of life in our City. This is precisely why voters should understand the importance of passing Measure F.
More than 80 percent of the city’s General Fund supports public safety, including equipment costs for police and fire, salaries, benefits and other related expenses. Do you think that number is too high, or do you think that percentage should increase as our community grows? Why or why not?
While I don’t believe that spending decisions should be set to an arbitrary percentage, I do recognize that a city must provide a variety of services, safety and non-safety related.
Safety personnel, equipment, and required infrastructure have considerable fixed costs. To ensure that costs for safety remain manageable, we must ensure that we maximize our resources efficiently. This includes reviewing work and patrol schedules to reduce the need for overtime. One such arrangement might be a move to different shift schedules, like a 4-3 10-hour shift.
Another means of ensuring we use safety resources wisely is by working with safety personnel to establish reasonable and fair compensation. During my term, the Council has initiated shorter informal bargaining sessions, which decrease the time and cost of prolonged negotiations. Good relations between the City and personnel save all parties time, money, and avoid the potential for costly and bitter litigation.
What will it take for Gilroy’s downtown to flourish? And what do you believe the city’s role, and your role if elected to the council, should be in making that happen?
To have a thriving downtown with businesses and residents, we need buildings that can be safely occupied, attractive amenities, and adequate parking. The Council must work actively to support these goals.
During my term, the Council voted to impose fines on owners who refused to improve their dangerous buildings or meet with the City to explore means of resolving their situation. Owners now understand that the City is serious about making sure buildings can be occupied, and not be left to languish. Most owners have come forward with plans to fix their buildings and safety improvements are being made. This will be a long process, but the beginning stages are in place. Once buildings are rehabilitated, they can be rented, and provide shops and services to Gilroy residents and visitors.
Amenities are also important a thriving downtown. Improved signage for local businesses and industries, as well as energy efficient lighting and security cameras all improve the experience of visiting downtown. These are all improvements I voted for while on Council.
Finally, more accessible parking is needed. The City “paseo” will link Monterey Rd. with side-street parking, but we must consider additional parking locations in order to meet demand.
Are you satisfied with the amount of public participation in local government, from attending planning commission and council meetings, for example, to voting in elections, and what would you do to encourage more participation in local government by community members?
I am always surprised by how engaged the Gilroy community is regarding local government. I have been accosted numerous times in the grocery store, the library, or public parks by residents who want to share with me their thoughts and ideas about our City. People may not always attend formal meetings, but they are certainly not shy about speaking with me whenever they have the chance!
For me, increasing public participation in local government is personal. I have worked on several voter registration drives, and I always carry voter registration forms with me when I walk neighborhoods and speak with residents. I have helped a variety of people register, from high school seniors to elderly citizens who never before voted. The City Council represents all residents in Gilroy, and it is important to increase participation in and access to local decisions.
Gilroy’s fiscal outlook is improving and revenues are growing, especially when compared to the Great Recession. Like anything, our financial picture can change with the times and leaders may need to make tough decisions to balance the budget. If Gilroy’s budget were in the red right now, how would you go about analyzing where to trim city government and balance that with providing residents with essential services?
I would begin by prioritizing the services and resources provided by the City. Keeping residents safe and secure is one of the most important responsibilities of a municipal government, and law enforcement and public safety would be top priorities. Next, I would consider the importance of maintaining a strong infrastructure. Roads, sidewalks, and capital projects allow residents to travel safely for work and pleasure, and they provide the local economy with the resources to conduct business. Then, I would consider projects and services that address the recreational and social desires of the community, and how they can be provided, in light of reduced budgets.
Do you think the city can and should do more to allow members of the public a chance to see behind the curtain during public employee negotiations, whether it’s publishing offers and counter-offers on the city’s website after they’re proposed or opening up the actual negotiation process to residents? Why or why not?
I have always been a strong proponent of open government. The Government Code and the Brown Act specifically exempt contract negotiations from open session discussion because of their unique circumstances. Both parties to the negotiation must be honest and open with one another, and that may be hindered if they feel the other side may try to posture or create division within the community during a public negotiation. Instead, it is better the City and public employee groups meet in an honest negotiation, and mutually agree to what information they will publicly share about the process. The results of the negotiation will of course remain open to the public.
