The City of Gilroy is looking for volunteers to fill 27 open seats on 13 different City boards, commissions and committees, according to City Clerk Shawna Freels. From the Arts and Culture Commission to the Open Government Commission to the Planning Commission, most positions have a term between two and four years of service.
“We’re trying to push how important it is for people to volunteer and give back,” Freels said. “Honestly, volunteers can be a part of what Gilroy looks and feels like.”
Each of the individual groups performs a very focused function, she added.
“For instance, the Planning Commission deals with the City’s zoning and land use approvals, recommendations about developments and those sorts of things,” she said. “You’ll see a Planning Commission in every single California city.”
And for the first time since the Open Government Commission was created in 2009 to oversee transparency in local government, the body will be made up entirely of citizens – no longer a body with seats filled by current Gilroy City Council members.
Freels said she recommends anyone interested in participating first attend a meeting of the body they are seeking to join.
“On the City’s website, we have minutes and packet materials for every single one of those groups so they can see what they do and what comes before them on a routine basis,” she said. “They are welcome to contact my office and we can connect them with a department liaison. I would suggest they attend one of the meetings of the board that they’re interested in, just to get a feel for it.”
Each of the 13 groups meets regularly and is a policy body that fulfills “very focused responsibilities” requiring a commitment to attend each meeting.
“Say the Arts and Culture Commission, for instance; they guide the City in our goal of promoting the arts in the community,” Freels said. “The Parks and Recreation Commission focuses on promoting parks, recreational facilities and programs within the City.”
Applications can be found on the city website, www.cityofgilroy.org, and at City Hall located at 7351 Rosanna St., and are due by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3. To submit an application, those interested must be registered voters within the City – with the exception of the Youth Commission.
According to Freels, interviews with City Council will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 9 in Council Chambers at City Hall. The Council is expected to make the official appointments on Jan. 6, 2014.
Applications may be submitted to City Clerk Shawna Freels, 7351 Rosanna St. Gilroy, CA 95020 or emailed to shawna.freels.cityofgilroy.org. For more information, or if applicants need help during the process, contact Freels at 408-846-0204.
Open positions
-Arts and Culture Commission (three open seats)
This seven-member body is responsible for advising City staff and City Council on matters pertaining to cultural and artistic activities to encourage, promote and stimulate broad-based arts in the community. The Arts and Culture Commission meets at 5 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month in Council Chambers.
-Bicycle Pedestrian Committee (one open seat)
This five-member commission advises staff and City Council on matters related to bicyclists and pedestrian activities and issues of concern. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee meets at 6 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month in Council Chambers.
-Building Board of Appeals (one open seat)
This five-member board addresses matters pertaining to building and construction and hears all building appeals. The Building Board of Appeals meets “as needed” according to Freels and is comprised of four persons with “experience and training” as well as one member of the public.
-Historic Heritage Committee (two open seats)
Acting as an advisory body to City Council and the Planning Commission, the (Historic Heritage Committee) addresses issues relating to identification, protection and preservation of historic sites and neighborhoods of the City. The committee meets at 4:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month in Council Chambers.
-Housing Advisory Committee (four open seats)
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 Housing Advisory Committee meets at 6 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month in Council Chambers.
-Library Commission (one open seat)
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 at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month in the Gilroy Library.
-Open Government Commission (two open seats)
This five-member commission is tasked with oversight in ensuring that citizens are provided with greater access to information and provided with governmental transparency by advising the City Council and staff on how to uphold Chapter 17A of the City Code, commonly known as the Gilroy Open Government Ordinance. The Open Government Commission also develops goals and proposes amendments, acting as an appeal body for public records requests that are denied by staff. Meetings are held quarterly in Council chambers.
-Parks and Recreation Commission (two open seats)
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 advancement of park and recreation planning and programming. The Parks and Recreation Commission acts as a review body during the public hearing process for master planning purposes and related planning projects, she said. The commission meets at 6 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month in Council Chambers.
-Personnel Commission (two open seats)
The Personnel Commission is a five-member body which advises on and reviews job descriptions and classification recommendations for City positions and serves as a neutral body to hear appeals of disciplinary matters. The commission also periodically reviews human resources rules and regulations within the City and meets at 5:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month in City Hall.
-Physically Challenged Board of Appeals (two open seats)
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. The board meets at 9 a.m. on the second Tuesday in January, April, July and October in Council Chambers.
-Planning Commission (two open seats)
This seven member body acts as an advisory body to the City Council in the review of planning applications for land use entitlements – including subdivisions, planned unit developments, zoning changes, conditional use permits and variances – and participates in comprehensive planning studies. The Planning Commission meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month in Council Chambers.
-Public Art Committee (four open seats)
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 at 5:30 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month in Council Chambers. Public Art Committee applicants are also interviewed by the Arts and Culture Commission, she added.
-Youth Commission (one open seat)
The Gilroy Youth Commission is an eleven member commission of youth between the ages of 12 and 18 who serve to advise City Council and staff on issues affecting youth,” Freels said. Applicants must reside within the boundaries of the Gilroy Unified School District and meetings are held at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of each month in the meeting room of the Gilroy Senior Center.
