City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
February 28, 2022
City of Gilroy
City Council Meeting Minutes
February 28, 2022
1. OPENING
1.1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM by Mayor Marie Blankley. The Mayor read aloud a statement announcing that the meeting was being conducted by teleconference pursuant to the Brown Act waivers provided for under the Governor's Executive Order in response to the COVID-19 State of Emergency.
1. Pledge of Allegiance
Council Member Marques led the pledge of allegiance.
2. City Clerk's Report on Posting the Agenda
City Clerk Pham declared the posting of the agenda.
Attendee Name Title Status
Marie Blankley Mayor Remote
Rebeca Armendáriz Council Member Remote
Dion Bracco Council Member Remote
Zach Hilton Council Member Remote
Peter Leroe-Muñoz Vice Mayor Remote
Carol Marques Council Member Remote
Fred Tovar Council Member Remote
2. Orders of the Day
There were none.
3. Employee Introductions
There were none.
2. CEREMONIAL ITEMS
1. Proclamations, Awards, and Presentations
1. Proclamation: Proclaiming March as Youth Arts Month
Mayor Blankley read out the proclamation.
2. Proclamation: Proclaiming March as Red Cross Month
Mayor Blankley read out the proclamation.
3. Proclamation: Retirement of James Trujillo
Mayor Blankley read out the proclamation.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
February 28, 2022
3. PRESENTATIONS TO THE COUNCIL
3.1. Presentation from Gilroy Garlic Festival Association, Inc.
Jeff Speno from the Gilroy Garlic Festival provided an update and answered Council Member questions.
3.2. PUBLIC COMMENT BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS NOT ON
THE AGENDA BUT WITHIN THE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION OF
THE CITY COUNCIL
Mayor Blankley opened the Public Comment period.
There being no Public Comment, Mayor Blankley closed Public Comment.
4. REPORTS OF COUNCIL MEMBERS
Council Member Bracco had nothing to report.
Council Member Armendáriz recognized March as Women's History Month.
Council Member Marques reported on Gilroy Gardens Board of Directors.
Council Member Hilton reported on Visit Gilroy California Welcome Center Board and Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority JPA Board.
Council Member Tovar had nothing to report but wanted to send his prayers to the citizens of Ukraine.
Council Member Leroe-Muñoz reported on VTA Mobility Partnership meeting and thanked Mayor Blankley for attending the Cities Association of Santa Clara County Board of Directors meeting.
Mayor Blankley reported on VTA Mobility Partnership meeting, Cities Association of Santa Clara County Board of Directors meeting, VTA Policy Advisory Committee.
5. FUTURE COUNCIL INITIATED AGENDA ITEMS
Council Member Marques requested staff to bring back a report on banning any drive-throughs next to residential housing. City Administrator Forbis recommended to Council an update on the current rules and regulation are concerning drive- throughs near residential areas and taking council direction afterwards. Council Member Tovar requested the staff report to include current number of drive- throughs the City has and its location. Item received unanimous support.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR (ROLL CALL VOTE)
Mayor Blankley opened the Public Comment period.
There being no Public Comment, Mayor Blankley closed Public Comment.
Council Member Hilton requested Item 6.3 to be pulled.
A motion was made by Council Member Hilton, seconded by Council Member Tovar, to approve Items 6.1 and 6.2. The motion carried by the following vote:
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
February 28, 2022
RESULT: APPROVE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Zach Hilton, Council Member
SECONDER: Fred Tovar, Council Member
AYES: Blankley, Armendáriz, Bracco, Hilton, Leroe-Muñoz, Marques, Tovar
6.1. City Council - Regular Meeting - Feb 7, 2022 6:00 PM A motion was made to approve the minutes.
6.2. City Council - Special Meeting - Council Retreat - Feb 15, 2022 6:00 PM A motion was made to approve the minutes.
6.3. Adoption of the Revised Gilroy City Council Norms
Council discussion ensued with regards to the item.
Mayor Blankley opened Public Comment.
Joanne Fierro stated that norms are not consistent with other cities and would like for them to be rewritten in a professional manner.
Maria Aguilar does not know if there are any other bodies that a representative is shunned from speaking his or her own opinion. She feels that the norms are restricting individual council’s freedom of speech and ability to reach out to the rest of the community.
Vice Mayor Leroe-Muñoz briefly responded to the speakers’ comments.
There being no further comments, Mayor Blankley closed Public Comment.
A motion was made by Council Member Bracco, seconded by Vice Mayor Leroe- Muñoz, to adopt the revised Gilroy City Council Norms. The motion was carried by the following vote:
RESULT: ADOPT [5 to 2]
MOVER: Dion Bracco, Council Member
SECONDER: Peter Leroe-Muñoz, Vice Mayor
AYES: Blankley, Bracco, Leroe-Muñoz, Marques, Tovar
NAYES: Armendáriz, Hilton
7. BIDS AND PROPOSALS
There are none listed.
Possible Action:
8. PUBLIC HEARINGS
8.1. Tentative Map and Architectural & Site Review Permit for 4-lot Subdivision at 395 Lewis Street
Customer Services Manager McCormick gave staff presentation. Ms. McCormick, City Engineer Heap, and Interim Community Development Director Biggs responded to Council Member questions. Applicant Son also responded to council member questions.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
February 28, 2022
Mayor Blankley asked if there were any ex-parte communications. There were no ex-parte communications reported.
Mayor Blankley opened public hearing at 7:16 p.m.
City Clerk Pham reported that one written comment was received from Jonathan Fox.
Jonathan Fox spoke in support of the item with modifications and asked the item to be continued.
Carolyn Schimandle stated she it was wonderful that there will be a Class II bike-lane and brought concern about the street crossing as there are two schools near the project.
There being no further speakers, Mayor Blankley closed public hearing at 7:21 p.m.
Possible Action:
a. Adopt a Resolution approving a Tentative Map to Subdivide the property located at 395 Lewis Street (APN: 841-03-062) into four parcels (File Number TM 20-01).
A motion was made by Council Member Bracco, seconded by Vice Mayor Leroe-Muñoz, to approve the project with the added high visibility crosswalks with one across north to south on the eastside of the intersection and one east to west on the northside of the intersection. The motion was carried by the following vote:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
APPROVE [UNANIMOUS]
Dion Bracco, Council Member
Peter Leroe-Muñoz, Vice Mayor
Blankley, Bracco, Armendáriz, Hilton, Leroe-Muñoz,
Marques, Tovar
Enactment No.: Resolution No.: 2022-11
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February 28, 2022
b. Adopt a Resolution approving an Architectural and Site Review Permit to allow construction of four (4) two-story single-family homes on property located at 395 Lewis Street (APN: 841-03-062) following approval of Tentative Map File Number TM 20-01 to subdivide the property into four (4) single family parcels (File Number AS 20-02).
A motion was made by Council Member Hilton, seconded by Council Member Tovar, to adopt a resolution approving an Architectural and Site Review Permit to allow construction of four (4) two-story single-family homes on property located at 395 Lewis Street (APN: 841-03-062) following approval of Tentative Map File Number TM 20-01 to subdivide the property into four (4) single family parcels (File Number AS 20-02) with the amendment that the inspections of the crosswalks with the City Engineer is added within the Conditions of Approval.
The motion was carried by the following vote:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
APPROVE [UNANIMOUS]
Zach Hilton, Council Member
Fred Tovar, Vice Mayor
Blankley, Bracco, Armendáriz, Hilton, Leroe-Muñoz,
Marques, Tovar
Enactment No.: Resolution No.: 2022-12
9. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
There are none listed.
10. INTRODUCTION OF NEW BUSINESS
10.1. Introduction Of An Ordinance To Mandate Electronic And Paperless Filing of Fair Political Practices Commission Campaign Disclosure Statements City Clerk Pham gave staff presentation and responded to Council Member questions.
Mayor Blankley opened Public Comment.
There being no comments, Mayor Blankley closed Public Comment.
A motion was made by Council Member Armendáriz, seconded by Vice Mayor Leroe-Muñoz, to waive first reading and to read by title only of the ordinance. The motion was carried by the following vote:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
WAIVE FIRST READING AND READ BY TITLE ONLY
[UNANIMOUS]
Rebeca Armendáriz, Council Member
Peter Leroe-Muñoz, Vice Mayor
Blankley, Bracco, Armendáriz, Hilton, Leroe-Muñoz,
Marques, Tovar
City Clerk Pham read the ordinance title aloud.
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Leroe-Muñoz, seconded by Council Member Armendáriz, to waive first reading and to read by title only of the ordinance. The
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
February 28, 2022
motion was carried by the following vote:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
INTRODUCE ORDINANCE [UNANIMOUS]
Peter Leroe-Muñoz, Vice Mayor
Rebeca Armendáriz, Council Member
Blankley, Bracco, Armendáriz, Hilton, Leroe-Muñoz,
Marques, Tovar
10.2. Social Media Use Policy
Community Engagement Manager Bedell gave staff presentation and responded to Council Member questions.
Mayor Blankley opened Public Comment.
There being no speakers, Mayor Blankley closed Public Comment.
Possible Action:
Staff recommends approval and adoption of the Social Media Use Policy.
RESULT: APPROVE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Dion Bracco, Council Member
SECONDER: Peter Leroe-Muñoz, Vice Mayor
AYES: Blankley, Armendáriz, Bracco, Hilton, Leroe-Muñoz, Marques, Tovar
10.3. Council Discussion of Housing Trust Fund Fiscal Recommendations and Adopt a Resolution Amending the Operating Budget for Fiscal Years 2021- 22 and 2022-23 in the Los Arroyos Fund in the Amount of $100,800 in Each Fiscal Year.
Senior Management Analyst Atkins gave staff presentation and responded to Council Member questions.
Mayor Blankley opened Public Comment.
There being no further comments, Mayor Blankley closed Public Comment.
Possible Action:
Council:
a) Receive the report and provide direction, and
b) Adopt a resolution amending the operating budget for Fiscal Years 2021- 22 and 2022-23 in the Los Arroyos Fund in the amount of $100,800 in each fiscal year.
A motion was made by Council Member Hilton, seconded by Council Member Tovar, to adopt the resolution amending the operating budget for Fiscal Years 2021-22 and 2022-23 in the Los Arroyos Fund in the amount of $100,800 in each fiscal year; and
to direct staff to return the PHLA recommendations to include the use of PHLA funds to financially assist the Housing Trust Fund; and to direct staff to return to council with discussion on corporate and residential
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
February 28, 2022
linkage fees as a possible financial solution to the Housing Trust Fund.
RESULT: APPROVE [6 TO 1]
MOVER: Zach Hilton, Council Member
SECONDER: Fred Tovar, Council Member
AYES: Blankley, Armendáriz, Hilton, Leroe-Muñoz, Marques, Tovar NAYS: Dion Bracco
Enactment No.: Resolution No.: 2022-13
10.4. Council Discussion Regarding a Potential Policy for Receiving Donations for Display at City Facilities
Senior Management Analyst Atkins gave staff presentation and responded to Council Member questions.
Mayor Blankley opened Public Comment.
There being no further comments, Mayor Blankley closed Public Comment.
Possible Action:
Council discussion and provide direction.
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Leroe-Muñoz, seconded by Council Member Marques, of the following:
Any gift that is presented to the City for public display be first considered at a Public Hearing by the Arts and Culture Commission; and
should the recommendation be approved by the Arts and Culture Commission, it shall be presented at a Public Hearing to the City Council; and the Council’s decision will be informed by the forthcoming Diversity and Inclusion Policy; and
Gift from Sister Cities of the City shall be exempt from this new procedure.
RESULT: APPROVE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Peter Leroe-Muñoz, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: Carol Marques, Council Member
AYES: Blankley, Armendáriz, Bracco, Hilton, Leroe-Muñoz, Marques, Tovar
11. CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORTS
1. Catalytic Converter Theft. (Captain Jason Smith)
Captain Smith provided an update on the item and responded to Council Member questions.
2. Update on In-Person City Council / Board / Commission Meetings in March City Administrator Forbis stated that meetings for City Council and local boards and commissions will return to in-person in March and responded to Council Member questions. He also provided an update about the City Administrator Town Hall that was held on February 24, 2022.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
February 28, 2022
12. CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORTS
None provided.
13. CLOSED SESSION
There were no Closed Session items listed.
14. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting was adjourned at 9:00 P.M.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and regularly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Gilroy on March 7, 2022.
Thai Nam Pham, CMC, CPMC
City Clerk