January 23, 2023 | 6:00 PM Page 1 of 2
City Council
Strategic Planning Workshop Minutes
City of Gilroy
City Council Strategic Planning Workshop Minutes
Saturday, January 28, 2023 | 9:00 AM
1. OPENING
1.1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Blankley at 9:00 AM.
1.2. Roll Call
Attendee Name Title Status
Rebeca Armendariz Council Member Present
Dion Bracco Mayor Pro Tempore Present
Tom Cline Council Member Present
Zach Hilton Council Member Present
Carol Marques Council Member Present
Fred Tovar Council Member Present
Marie Blankley Mayor Present
2. MAYOR'S OPENING REMARKS
Mayor Blankley provided brief opening remarks.
3. COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS
Council Members provided brief opening remarks.
4. CITY ADMINISTRATOR INTRODUCTION AND REVIEW OF MEETING OBJECTIVES City Administrator Forbis facilitated the meeting.
5. STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP
Mayor Blankley opened 1st round of Public Comments at 9:30 AM.
Jeff Orth updated Gilroy Downtown Business Association and their request on the sign ordinance.
Peter Mandel advocated for the Council to fund the arts.
Marty Estrada advocated for the City to build a Youth Center.
Araceli Vaquera discussed the homelessness issue at Las Animas Park and the Armory.
Jennifer Del Bono advocated for the Council to build a Youth Center.
Maria Aguilar requested Council to look at new focusing on below-market-rate homes.
Gabriela Mendoza advocated for the Council to build a Youth Center.
Hazel Quintero advocated for the Council to build a Youth Center.
Mayor Blankley closed 1st round of Public Comment at 9:45 AM.
City Administrator Forbis continued facilitating the meeting.
January 23, 2023 | 6:00 PM Page 2 of 2
City Council
Strategic Planning Workshop Minutes
Mayor Blankley opened 2nd round of Public Comments at 11:16 AM.
Jacqueline Castillo advocated for the Council to build a Youth Center.
Isabella Santos advocated for the Council to build a Youth Center.
Xavier Garcia advocated for the Council to build a Youth Center.
Reymundo Armendariz advocated for the Council to build a Youth Center.
Ruben Dario Villa advocated for the Council to fund the arts.
Michaela Caracter advocated for the Council to build a Youth Center.
Leanna Mivera advocated for the Council to build a Youth Center.
Sally Armendariz advocated for the Council to build a Youth Center.
Mayor Blankley closed 2nd round of Public Comments at 11:31 AM.
City Administrator Forbis continued facilitating the meeting.
Mayor Blankley opened 3rd round of Public Comments at 12:31 PM.
Bob Weaver expressed concern about the Council micromanaging staff and requested Council to provide staff more freedom to do their job.
Charlie Morales advocated for the Council to build a Youth Center.
Connie Rogers thanked Council for their contributions to the Gilroy Historical Society.
Alicia Hernandez requested City Council meetings to be accessed via Zoom and for the public to listen to police scanners.
Terence Fugazzi requested for the City to enforce current ordinances in regard to blight.
David Leal requested a business liaison within City Hall.
Tina Charavia advocated for the Council to build a Youth Center.
Mayor Blankley closed 3rd round of Public Comments at 12:47 PM.
City Administrator Forbis continued facilitating the meeting.
6. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Blankley adjourned the meeting at 1:09 PM.
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.
/s/Thai Nam Pham, CMC, CPMC
City Clerk