The landscaping at Las Animas Elementary School has become very
bad. The field and all surrounding areas, including the strips
along side the adjacent streets, are a mess.
“The landscaping at Las Animas Elementary School has become very bad. The field and all surrounding areas, including the strips along side the adjacent streets, are a mess. I understand that there is construction happening, but this has become an eyesore. Is there something that can be done? There is no contact info on the GUSD Web site.”
Red Phone: Dear Rocky Footing, The project has been delayed by all the rain we’ve had, but it is scheduled to be completed later this spring, said Hardy Childers, Gilroy Unified School District interim deputy superintendent for business. Once it is completed, there will be additional landscaping done at the time, he said.
“Several of the issues raised by area residents have already been addressed by the district grounds crew,” Childers said. “There are a number of factors involved, including the construction project area, construction staging and traffic patterns, and, of course, the heavy periods of rainfall resulting in weed control issues everywhere.”
In the future, you can contact the school district at 847-2700.
Lights on at CHS on weekends
“I was wondering why the lights are always on at Christopher High School on weekends. It just seems like such a waste. Thanks.”
Red Phone: Dear Deer In The Headlights, The lights at CHS are on a timer and are usually turned on at 5 a.m. and off at 11 p.m., Childers said. In addition to providing illumination for the many activities at the school, the lights also help with security.
“Security lighting is important and we also have staff working at the school in the evening hours during the week,” he said. “There are often a lot of activities on the weekends, but of course that will vary from week to week.”
Since the school is in its first year, there is still a trial-and-error process to see what works. The district will continue to look at balancing the needs for security and the cost of lighting and is considering hiring an energy specialist to look at ways to save money, Childers said.
Signs on San Ysidro Avenue
“I was wondering about the golf course signs placed on San Ysidro Avenue between Leavesley Road and Home Depot. How can a private business place signs on public property – in this case on light poles? These are up 24/7.”
Red Phone: Dear Don’t Sign Me Up, Any business that wants to advertise on signs must have a permit filled out with the City of Gilroy, Code Enforcement Officer Scott Barron said. The city requires anyone who applies for a sign permit to turn in a drawing and specs of the proposed sign.
The city has regulations on what type of signs can be displayed and where they can be displayed in order to “ensure harmony with the existing or proposed architecture and landscape design of the property upon which the sign is to be situated.”
There are some exceptions, such as a developer being able to place signs on private property away from where the development is at. But generally, the city prohibits off-site signs.
“Regarding the signs you are asking about, it is unlikely the signs you are describing could ever be made legal,” Barron said.
That said, Barron encourages people that are truly concerned about the signs to file an official complaint at 846-0264.
“If they do report it, we will put it on our list and get to it as soon as we can,” Barron said. “Certainly it is not a life safety issue and as such would mean that other cases would take precedence.”
