GILROY
– To help put faces to names and foster dialogue on regional
issues, Gilroy’s elected leaders have expressed interest in holding
regular powwows with their counterparts in neighboring
communities.
GILROY – To help put faces to names and foster dialogue on regional issues, Gilroy’s elected leaders have expressed interest in holding regular powwows with their counterparts in neighboring communities.
At their annual retreat, councilmembers expressed interest in the concept of occasionally meeting with other full City Councils to discuss common issues.
“It’s a chance to get to know each other a little bit to know who to (call) in case we ever need to get a hold of somebody,” said Councilman Al Pinheiro, who brought the idea to the retreat. “Second, it’s to share regional things that definitely impact these cities that are so close together.
“If something’s going to be happening in Gilroy, it will in most cases impact some of the other cities and vice versa.”
The meetings could include cities such as Morgan Hill, Hollister, San Juan and perhaps Salinas, Pinheiro said. Gilroy could host the initial round of gatherings, he said, with other cities following suit on a semi-annual or annual basis.
While regional groups already exist that bring together selected members of city governments – such as the South County Joint Planning Advisory Committee – Pinheiro said the idea here is to get entire councils together at the table.
“It’s to start having a dialogue where we’re not strangers to each other, but if there’s something in common we need to discuss we can have a venue to do so,” he said.
For example, officials could use the meetings to dialogue with Hollister about Highway 25 issues or Gilroy’s status as a place where many San Benito residents catch the train, Pinheiro said.
Morgan Hill and Gilroy especially are councils that should be very much “in touch” with each other, Pinheiro said. Morgan Hill Mayor Dennis Kennedy and Councilwoman Hedy Chang both expressed interest in the idea of gathering during a recent League of California Cities conference, he said.
“Morgan Hill and Gilroy definitely have the most impact on each other on any issues we deal with,” he said.
