Uvas Creek extension back on council’s agenda

After years of being on hold, the Uvas Creek Extension Project is back on City Council’s agenda Monday night, when they are scheduled to vote during their regular meeting to award a $312,632 contract with Guerra Construction to get the project started.
This project reflects phase one of the original plan to extend the Uvas Creek trail all the way to Santa Teresa Boulevard. Because of environmental issues, phase one will only extend the existing trail to Grenache Way and Club Drive, with a spur trail to Ascension Solorsano Middle School, as part of the Safer Routes to School project.
The second phase of the project will be completed at a later point, depending on the outcome of the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Conservation Plan, which will determine the environmental impact of the project.
“Current funding for phase two is likely to expire before the SCVHCP has been completed, but it may be possible to reapply for grant funding,” a staff report reads.
A California Resources Agency is providing a $299,574 grant for this project. The remaining $13,058 will come from the city’s approved budget for fiscal year 2013.
Also during Monday’s meeting:
Council is slated to review a recommendation from City staff to not create a gang injunction in Gilroy. During Council’s retreat in January, Council members instructed the City to explore the creation of a gang injunction ordinance, which could possibly prohibit gang members from certain activities such as wearing certain colors and making certain hand signs.
City staff reviewed the possibility, and is now recommending Council reject the idea, based on the fact that Gilroy gangs do not claim territory since the Gilroy Police Department’s two successful undercover operations a few years back, noting that enforcing gang injunctions in Gilroy could not be “legally upheld,” and that it would require “extensive” staff and city attorney time.
Also, Council will discuss plans to review their sign ordinance task force recruitment process. So far, only three members of the public have applied for spots on the task force. There are still four empty public seats.