The city of Gilroy is looking for volunteers to fill 25 open seats on 12 various boards, commissions and committees. The openings range from seats on the Planning Commission to the Arts and Culture Commission, and registered voters within city limits must fill seats.
On Nov. 17, the City Council appointed six lucky teens to the Youth Commission, and Mayor Don Gage noted he was impressed with the number of applicants—17—and their passion and drive. On the other hand, he remarked filling adult volunteer positions across various city boards is more of a challenge and urged members of the public to apply.
“Sometimes, there’s only one applicant. That’s not a lot of choice,” Gage said. “We continually have a problem with trying to get people to do these positions and we need the help of the community. These are areas where you represent the neighborhoods and bring ideas to the committees to give to the Council. If we don’t get any representatives, we lose our voice.”
The deadline for applications to be received is 5 p.m. Dec. 2, and candidates are scheduled to have interviews with the City Council 6 p.m. Dec. 8 in council chambers of Gilroy City Hall. The Council is slated to make the appointments at its Jan. 5 meeting.
Last year, the city extended the deadline for 27 open seats on 13 various boards due to a lack of applications. An extension could happen this year, according to City Clerk Shawna Freels.
“I don’t intend to extend it but I honestly don’t have a lot of applications right now,” she said. “(An extension) is likely to happen but we like not do that because it slows down the process.”
“We’re starting the new year soon and we’d like to get those (25 open positions) filled so we have complete boards and commissions out there,” Gage said. “If we don’t have a majority, they can’t have a meeting and business doesn’t get taken care of.”
Public participation is important, Gage said, because the Council needs to hear from the various city boards—whose volunteer representatives represent the community at large—to help them make the right decisions.
“Apply for them because we do need your help with your community to help us do our job better—(so we get) feedback from the people in the area you live,” he added.
Each position is either a two or four-year commitment to attend meetings, review materials and participate as a community leader, and each board is responsible for a different topic of business or activity within the city. For example, the Planning Commission reviews all planning applications for developments within city limits and makes recommendations to the Council about applications.
To apply for the openings, visit cityofgilroy.org or the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, located at 7351 Rosanna St. Applications can be submitted to City Clerk Shawna Freels at 7351 Rosanna Street. Gilroy, CA 95020.
Openings on city boards, commissions and committees
-Arts and Culture Commission (two seats; four-year terms): This seven-member body is responsible for advising staff and the City Council on matters pertaining to cultural and artistic activities to encourage, promote and stimulate broad based arts in the community. The group meets the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers.
-Bicycle Pedestrian Commission (one seat; four-year terms): This five-member Commission advises staff and the City Council on matters related to bicyclist and pedestrian activities. Meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. in council chambers
-Building Board of Appeals (two seats; four-year terms): This five-member Board addresses matters pertaining to building and construction and hears all building appeals. The Board meets as needed and is comprised of five people qualified by experience and training, with one public member.
-Community and Neighborhood Revitalization Committee (seven seats; two to four-year terms): This seven-member Advisory Committee provides recommendations and input in the processes of administering Community Development Block Grant and Housing Trust Fund awards through the City of Gilroy.
-Historic Heritage Committee (one seat; two-year terms): This five-member body meets the third Wednesday of each month at 4:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Acting as an advisory body to the Council and Planning Commission, the group addresses issues relating to the identification, protection and preservation of historic sites and neighborhoods of the City.
-Housing Advisory Committee (three seats; two-year terms): This nine-member body is comprised of community stakeholders tasked with reviewing housing policies, programs and making recommendations to the City Council on housing-related matters. The committee meets quarterly on the second Wednesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. in council chambers.
-Library Commission (one seat; four-year terms): Comprised of five members, this Commission serves as an advisory and liaison body to the City Council, staff and the City Librarian on matters concerning the Library and meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Gilroy Library.
-Parks and Recreation Commission (two seats; four-year terms): This seven-member body is responsible for advising staff, the Planning Commission and City Council on matters pertaining to public parks, urban forestry and recreation in the advancement of park and recreation planning and programming. This Commission sits as a review body during public hearing processes for parks and recreation master planning, and related planning projects. Meetings are held the third Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in council chambers.
-Personnel Commission (two seats; four-year terms): The Personnel Commission is a five-member body that advises on, reviews job descriptions and classification recommendations for city positions, and serves as a neutral body to hear appeals of disciplinary matters. Periodically the Commission conducts comprehensive reviews of the human resources rules and regulations. Regular meetings are held the second Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall.
-Physically Challenged Board of Appeals (one seat; four-year terms): Comprised of five-members, this body conducts hearings regarding action taken by staff to enforce public accommodations for the physically challenged, and discusses items of interest to the physically challenged. Meetings are held at 9:00 a.m. on the second Tuesday of the months of January/April/July/October, in council chambers.
-Planning Commission (two seats; four-year terms): This seven-member body acts as an advisory body to the Council in the review of planning applications for land use entitlements including subdivisions, planned unit developments, zone changes, conditional use permits and variances and participates in comprehensive planning studies. Meetings are held the first Thursday of each month, at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers.
-Public Art Committee (one seat; four-year terms): Comprised of seven-members, this committee works in an advisory capacity to the Arts and Culture Commission in the development of public art to create an enhanced visual art environment within the community. The Committee meets the fourth Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. (*Public Art Committee applicants are also interviewed by the Arts and Culture Commission.)
-Source: City of Gilroy
