GGS Minutes from March 23, 2024

Present: Tom Fischer, Craig and Chrys Diskowski, Carol Marques, Carolyn Tognetti, Steve Seebart and Connie Rogers.

Connie called the meeting to order shortly after 10 AM. 

Member Appointments

We then went around the room with each person present contributing some information or telling what they are involved in.

Caltrain

Steve Seebart is on the Caltrain Advisory Board which meets monthly and has direct input to management. They have been able to effect several positive changes, but a big challenge remains; increasing ridership which is now only at 30% of its pre-Covid levels.

Land Trust of Santa Clara Valley

Tom Fischer is the Chair of the Board of the Land Trust of Santa Clara Valley. GGS Member Dana Wolfe is also a member of this board. The Land Trust works with the Habitat Agency, Valley Water, County Planning, POST and MidPen open space authorities.  Due to a state law which prohibits property owners from holding conservation easements on their own land, the Land Trust has been able to step in and hold those easements for several others. The Land Trust is not tax supported and depends on donations of money and grants to pay their 3 employees.

Santa Clara County Open Space Authority

SCCOSA is considering the possibility of placing a fundraising measure on the Nov. ballot.  Their General Manager, Andrea Mackenzie, asked Connie if she would be willing to serve on a “kitchen cabinet” of advisors if they decide to do this.

Gilroy’s Downtown

Carol Marques initiated discussion about several downtown issues. Do we have too many bars/tap rooms? Can the City limit any particular type of business? Some other cities do that, but Gilroy has never done so.

Gilroy’s New Bridges and Fire Station

Carol said that negotiations with Glen Loma about the fire station and the 10th St. and Luchessa bridges are going well. The fire department has 38 positions but only 29 or 30 able to work due to Worker’s Comp issues. It is costing the city $2 million in overtime this year.

Protecting Open Space, Gilroy Gardens Area, Sargent Ranch

We also discussed the Builder’s Remedy in some detail.  There are 2 pending applications, one for the ag tourism property in Hecker Pass, the other for 500 dwelling units on Las Animas Ave. which is currently zoned Industrial. Carol stated that the City Attorney, Andy Faber, plans to fight these with the argument that Gilroy’s Housing Element was “substantially complete” before those applications were received last spring.

A great deal of time was spent discussing the negotiations the City is having with Bay Ecotarium right now regarding the possible sale of Gilroy Gardens and the rest of the 535 acres which belong to the City.  We are very concerned about a sale (rather than lease) because the City would lose control of the land. Tom said possibly the land could be protected by a conservation easement or a deed restriction. We would like to meet with the City’s ad hoc negotiating committee, Mayor Marie Blankley and council members Bracco and Cline soon to let them know about these ideas for protecting the city in the future. Connie will email all three of them and ask for an appointment, perhaps on April 2nd afternoon or on Friday, April 5th.

We did agree that when the sand mine application for the Sargent Ranch finally goes to the County Planning Commission we would support the City’s resolution opposing this project.

Mayoral and City Council Race 2024

We briefly discussed the City Council race this fall.  The only known candidates for sure are Mayor Blankley and Kelly Ramirez in addition to incumbents Tovar and Hilton. 

Respectfully submitted,

Connie Rogers, acting secretary