Every project the Council will have to put off or check off the
list
– like sidewalk repair – should be accounted for and shared with
the residents
I’m writing about the potential purchase of land that includes Gilroy/Bonfante Gardens. We all know that the City Council has a very important decision ahead. I would like to ask councilmen to keep three things in mind as you determine whether and how the city should purchase the land.
They are: 1) Keep a list of projects or personnel actions not done or delayed due to the cost of purchasing the land and Gardens, 2) Demand flexible terms, and 3) Make no promises about not selling Gilroy Gardens. This purchase would impact Gilroy for decades. There appear to be solid reason both for and against this purchase. I hope this letter helps you sort through the reasons of whether or not to buy the land.
First, it is very important to have a complete and accurate list of projects or personnel actions that are delayed or not done due to the fact that the money was spent on the land. A generic list will not be sufficient for you nor the taxpayers of Gilroy to truly understand the actual cost. The type of details need to be, for example … the sidewalk repair on xxx street was delayed for xx months, the next police officer was hired xx months later, the project to improve xxx street was knocked off the planning list, a vehicle for xx department was nor purchased, etc. This list needs to be drafted before any decision is made so you can do a cost-benefit analysis. Then, if the purchase is made, the list should be updated regularly so future councils can determine on how to manage the assets (determine if it is time to sell part of the land).
In terms of demanding flexible terms, I ask the Council to go into this potential purchases with eyes wide open. Clearly there are benefits. The land is zoned wrong and the Council can correct that after the purchase. The land around Gilroy Gardens could become a terrible sight in the hands of certain businesses. The Council can prevent that. When Gilroy grows, the land will have great benefit to the city. The price appears to be at a great value. However, future costs may be greater than the benefits. I urge the Council to approach with an open mind.
Please do not allow yourself to think that any portion of the deal would not be for sale in the future. If the city doesn’t sell Gilroy Gardens it will be in the theme park business. Regardless of how the operational end works, if the finances of the city and Gilroy Gardens are connected in anyway there will be a problem.
When the Gardens have a good year and the city coffers need more money (especially after a few reminders of delayed projects due to the purchase of the land) … it will be natural to take from the Gardens’ profits and give to the city. When the Gardens have a bad year then the taxpayers will be expected to provide money to the Gardens. As long as the city owns Gilroy Gardens, the taxpayers can never, ever be promised that taxes will not be used to support the Gardens. Transfer payments to the Gardens could have numerous routes. For instance, a city maintenance worker being informally assigned to the Gardens (while that will not appear on any accountant’s sheet, there will be one less maintenance worker for the rest of the city, thus the taxpayers are paying expenses for the Gardens).
Another cost the city would naturally accrue is some type of advertising costs for the Gardens. To date the most inflammatory statement on this potential purchase has been the one statement inferring that no one on the Council thinks Gilroy Gardens would be sold by the city. I urge the Council to not make any promise that in any way hinders a future sale of the Gilroy Gardens.
Demand flexibility in all aspects of the land purchase. The great price is negated by any strings whatsoever. If the cost is not worth it, pass on the deal. The worst decision the Council could make is to purchase the land and tie the hands of future Councils.
All the best as you work through this. Thanks for all the time you spend on these decisions. We do appreciate it.
Guest columnist John Mummert is a Gilroy resident. Anyone interested in writing a guest column may contact Editor Mark Derry at ed****@****ic.com
