Politics

GILROY—Three private consulting firms assumed responsibility for checking all new major building plans earlier this month, a transition that could bring advantages and obstacles to Gilroy’s property developers.

City and county officials are asking Gilroy residents for their input on how best to spend more than $360,000 in federal funding dedicated to improving the community. In conjunction with the county and cities across the county, officials are hosting the last of three regional forums—this one in Gilroy—to ask locals how to address homelessness, affordable housing and community improvements with that funding.

After working in Gilroy for more than seven years, Gilroy Fire Department Chief Dale Foster announced his retirement Thursday.   This time, Foster is determined to "retire for real," referring to his retirement from San Jose Fire Department in 2003 before his move to Gilroy.    "I’ll miss being involved in so many things relating to public safety, and I'll miss the people I’ve worked with and dealt with in this job," Foster said.    Foster, a Morgan Hill resident, said he loves the Gilroy community and plans to stay involved with all things Gilroy and Morgan Hill.    As for the fire department, Foster believes they'll be just fine without him.   "I think the fire department is on a good track right now, and I think the future is good for the the department and the City," he said.    In his retirement, Foster plans to travel, enjoy time with his wife and "basically do whatever I want."   Foster's last day with the department is August 17.    Foster graduated from Oregon State University, where he worked part-time at a fire station in Oregon while going to school. Foster said in 2005 that the experience sparked a love for firefighting that has lasted more than 30 years.   He joined San Jose Fire Department in 1972 after fulfilling his U.S. Navy reserve commitment and stayed there 32 years.   He rose through the ranks to engineer, then captain then in 1996 to battalion chief in, then to deputy chief, and finally, in 2000 to assistant chief.

Mayor Don Gage has scheduled his next “Coffee with the Mayor” event for 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014 at City Hall, according to a press release from City staff.

With 100% of precinct ballots counted, Santa Clara County voters on Nov. 4 overwhelmingly supported adding 0.625% to the county sales tax rate for five years. As of 10am, the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters office reported 200,430 YES votes and 152,850 NO votes,...

Former Morgan Hill Community Development Director David Bischoff

C.J. Laizure, the first to fill the police chief position in

Last year alone, tourists spent more than $350 million in Gilroy, making the Garlic Capital of the World a major hub for tourism in the Silicon Valley. With the 38th annual Garlic Festival just around the corner, tourism in Gilroy is only going to get hotter as the summer approaches.