Politics

The Gilroy City Council is adding teeth and toughening up Gilroy's sign ordinance to include a ban on a wide variety of signage, from prohibiting A-frame signs thoughout the city – including downtown – to axing costumed sign waving human advertisers on public property.

On the heels of a letter sent by City Council and the Cities Association of Santa Clara County, Assemblyman Luis Alejo recently met with local officials and listened to concerns about a double-digit increase in crime in Gilroy associated with Assembly Bill 109 – the Public Safety Realignment Act.

The City Council has hammered out their overarching goals over the next five years through nearly 15 hours of discussion at its annual retreat facilitated by a Florida-based consulting firm. No. 1: financial stability, followed by revamping downtown.

The commander of the Hollister-Gilroy Area of the California Highway Patrol, Capt. Allen Stallman, has retired. There was a celebration of his distinguished career of more than 25 years of service on Feb. 21 at the “Old City Hall” in Gilroy, according to an announcement from the CHP. A representative from Assemblyman Luis Alejo’s Office, Jaiver Gomez, was in attendance to present Stallman with an assembly resolution signed by Alejo and State Sen. Bill Monning. From the CHP’s Coastal Division, Chief Reggie Chappelle presented Stallman with his retirement certificate, and Assistant Chief Scott Howland presented him with his retired captain’s badge. He served as the commander of the Hollister-Gilroy CHP area for approximately two years. According to the CHP, under his command the Senior Volunteer program was implemented and the CHP has begun presenting the Age Well Drive Smart classes for Senior Drivers.   

City Council voted to form a committee to look for an in-house attorney Feb. 24 – a sea change from its position since the early 1990s of using the City’s contracted legal firm, San Jose-based Berliner Cohen.

City Council voted to form a committee to look for an in-house attorney Feb. 24 - a sea change from its position since the early 1990s of using the City’s contracted legal firm, San Jose-based Berliner Cohen.

The City of Bell, once marred by scandal following the 2010 indictment of a significant portion of city officials for corruption, released the names of its retired public safety employees who have claimed a work-related disability. Bell sent a list of the names within 10 business days in response to a Dispatch request filed under the California Public Records Act.

Gilroy is a regional destination “capturing” sales tax in excess of what residents alone typically spend, according to the City of Gilroy’s third quarter sales tax update.

A proposed “Quality of Life” sales tax or bond measure originally floated by Mayor Don Gage as a mechanism to fund city capital improvement projects has taken a turn to include funding for additional public safety positions and upgrades to emergency communications equipment.

City Council will be holding a special meeting/study session Monday night to discuss planned unit development regulations and potential amendments to existing sign ordinances: