Politics

Salary and benefit hikes for Gilroy city employees were the highest among Santa Clara County municipalities in the first half of the decade, while earnings for regular workers were stagnant, according to data published online by the nonprofit watchdog group Transparent California.

Santa Clara firm, Guerra Construction was awarded $144,590 to complete Phase II of upgrades to San Ysidro Park. Out of five bids submitted to the city, Guerra’s came out the lowest, nearly $60,000 less than the top bid of $203,282. According to the staff report, the project includes a new concrete pathway along the southern edge of the 9.25 acre park, concrete and drainage improvements to picnic areas adjacent to the pathway, and ADA improvements to a drinking fountain.

Gilroyans who voted to tax themselves in November to improve local transportation may have a longer and trickier wait than they expected.

The California Supreme Court last week put a sock in the argument that it’s OK for elected officials and government employees to keep citizens out of the loop by using private email and texting accounts to conduct the public’s business.

What amounts to a quasi-gag order has been imposed on talks about building a multi-million dollar waterslide-themed resort at the Gilroy Gardens Family Park, which is facing financial issues of its own.

Families who buy California produce with federal food stamps will win a lottery of sorts, thanks to a new program that pays bonuses of up to $10 a day for buying local foods and is offered in one Gilroy supermarket.

After nearly three hours of discussions and public comments from a packed council chambers, the Gilroy City Council on Monday decided to keep controversial No Turn signs on Upper Welburn and Mantelli Drive and do further traffic studies on the fast-growing section of the city’s west side.

The City of Gilroy has announced Civic Voice, a new website where residents can learn about city projects, join online discussions and share ideas. Find updates on land use issues, development projects and important city news. Currently, residents can find the latest on the 2040 General Plan, High Speed Rail Station Area Plan, and current status 1st Street / State Route 152. Each project includes an area where users can post their views and opinions. Sign up and learn more at civicvoice.accela.com/gilroyca/index

With all the money that’s spent in our county on flood prevention and control, it’s reasonable to expect that there would be some good plans to prevent a Katrina-style urban flood. Judging by what occurred to residents in neighborhoods to the north—in a modern city of a million people—it’s safe to conclude that local communities are not well prepared for large-scale natural disasters.