Study session on habitat plan Monday

City Council plans to hold a special study session prior to their regular meeting Monday night to discuss the implementation of the final version of the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Plan – a sprawling, 50-year plan intended to identify land occupied by endangered or threatened species and streamline the process to obtain permits to build on them.
Monday’s discussion will include adopting an ordinance that authorizes compliance with the plan and assigning Council members to a new Joint Powers Authority to operate it. Because it is a study session, no votes will be made.
Council will tie up all the loose ends about the project by their Oct. 15 regular meeting.
If everything passes between all participating entities – the county, the water district, Valley Transportation Authority, and the cities of Gilroy, Morgan Hill and San Jose – the plan is on track to begin early summer 2013.
The budget for the plan is $660 million over 50 years and covers more than 8,000 acres in the county.
Also during Monday’s meeting:
Council will vote on the approval to demolish an unreinforced masonry building at 7453 Monterey St. in downtown, which the City plans to eventually use as a pedestrian paseo linking Monterey Street to Gourmet Alley.
The City bought the property in June and determined that the building fit their criteria for demolition – its destruction will not impact the historic character of the neighborhood, and the condition of the building is beyond repair.