Politics

A five-story apartment complex and the tallest building in the Garlic Capital—proposed to be 58 feet tall—is coming to downtown as soon as summer of 2016. The 263-unit affordable housing complex, developed by Idaho-based multifamily housing group Pacific Companies, is scheduled for construction on the southwest corner of 10th and Alexander streets.

The Gilroy Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors voted Tuesday night to oppose the half-cent general-purpose sales tax measure in a 9-1 vote, according to Chamber CEO and President Mark Turner. The City Council voted Aug. 4 to place the measure on the ballot.

A representative with the California High-Speed Rail Authority announced at the Aug. 26 Rotary Club meeting that the organization partnered with the City of Gilroy to plan for the Garlic Capital's very own station—preferably located downtown.

The City of Gilroy recently released its first quarter sales tax update for this fiscal year, demonstrating an 8 percent increase in cash receipts for the City and surpassing the average statewide gain of 3.7 percent. Growth was most pronounced in the new auto and miscellaneous vehicle sales sector with a 43.9 percent increase.

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.

City officials plan on turning up the heat on owners of buildings deemed unfit to survive a high magnitude earthquake, especially those who have not complied with Gilroy's unreinforced masonry ordinance. At the Aug. 18 City Council meeting, Mayor Don Gage advocated for increasing fines on delinquent property owners.

City Council overturned a controversial part of Gilroy's sign ordinance Aug. 18 and decided that A-frame signs are permitted downtown. Though the required size of the A-frame signs has yet to be determined, they must be constructed of a wrought iron frame. Handheld signs, including those twirled by advertisers promoting new housing developments, are prohibited within city limits.

After more than an hour of public comment Aug. 4, City Council approved putting a measure before voters that would increase the city’s sales tax by a half percent with a 5-1 vote. If approved by voters in November, Gilroy’s sales tax would jump from 8.75 to 9.25 percent and the city would have the highest sales tax in all of Santa Clara County.

Editor's note: for an updated version of this story, visit http://www.gilroydispatch.com/news/city_local_government/tax-hike-goes-to-voters/article_aee7795e-1e5b-11e4-b37f-0017a43b2370.html.

City Council will discuss Monday whether a measure to increase Gilroy’s sales tax rate from 8.75 to 9.25 percent should be added to the November ballot. If the council adopts the measure—and voters approve it during the election—Gilroy would have the highest sales tax rate of all cities in Santa Clara County.