Politics

The City of Gilroy will have its regular meeting at 6 p.m. Monday in Council Chambers, 7351 Rosanna St. Here are some of the upcoming items on the agenda.

The Black History Month exhibit in the Gilroy Library kids’ section offers a colorful and robust collection of books on the accomplishments of Americans of African descent.

 Four-year Gilroy resident and eBay executive, Daniel J. Harney, was selected to fill the city council seat left vacant by the resignation of former Mayor Don Gage in December at tonight’s city council meeting. After nearly two hours of discussion with questions from the council and comments from the public, Harney received the four votes needed from the six-member council to beat out the other seven applicants to garner his place on the dais. He beat seven other applicants. An eighth,  Harvard-educated lawyer, James Foy, dropped out of the running. Harney will serve out the 10-months left of Gage’s term. During his interview in front of the council, Harney said he and his wife, who is a nurse at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto, moved to Gilroy from Morgan Hill in 2011 with their children in part because of the city’s “sense of heritage” and focus on “smart growth.” When he lived in Morgan Hill, Harney served on the Board of Directors for the homeowners association of Creekside Village. When asked by Councilmember, Dion Bracco what sets him apart from the other applicants, Harney said he had a vision for Gilroy that he believes is shared by a lot of new people coming into the city and as a “Gen-Xer” has a strong connection with the rising “millennial” demographic. He wants to see a vibrant downtown with a variety of things to do.As a member of the city council, Harney will have to serve on a number of committees and commissions. He said he would like to serve on the VTA or transportation committees.Harney said his primary goals during his short term on the council is to work with his fellow council members to fill leadership positions in city hall, including a new city administrator and to make budget expenditure decisions.Harney said he intends to run for a permanent seat on the council during November elections.After receiving the oath, Harney took his place on the dais for his first action as council member. In a unanimous vote, Council member Peter Leroe-Munoz was selected as Mayor Pro Tempore.   

Despite a tremendous appearance of farmers and members of the public in opposition to new rules regarding water runoff, the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Board voted unanimously to pass the proposal that will require farmers to closely monitor their water runoff.

All five candidates running for City Council are scheduled to participate in a public forum on Oct. 4 at the Gilroy Public Library. Members of the public will have an opportunity to meet the candidates and ask them questions before the ballots are cast on Nov. 4—exactly one month after the event.

The City of Gilroy has posted a 4.4 percent increase in the City's sales tax revenues for the third quarter of 2012 - compared with the same time last year - according to figures released by Joe Kline, Public Information Officer for the City.