Gilroy
Getting
Involved
It
would be hard not to know
that we are in an election
year. We are already being
bombarded with electioneering on every
front; national, state and even local.
City elections this year have several
open positions. Gilroy has a seven-
member council including the mayor.
In 2016, the mayoral seat as well as
three council seats will be available.
In Morgan Hill there are fi ve council
members, including the mayor. The
mayoral seat and two council positions
will be up for vote.
Running for a city seat may be
a little more than most might be
willing to take on, but there are other
opportunities for civic-minded folks.
Both Gilroy and Morgan Hill have
numerous boards and commissions
that need members, and both are either
in the process of filling current open
positions or somewhere in the cycle.
Many people have used participation
on one of these committees or
commissions as a testing ground for
their desire to be on city council.
In Morgan Hill, contact the City
Clerk’s office at 408.779.7259, or
[email protected] or download
our online application. In Gilroy the
city website has information on the
various openings. Check the Boards
& Commissions web page or contact
the City Clerk at 408.846.0204 or
[email protected] for
more information.
Arts and Culture Commissioners serve
a four-year term. The Arts and Culture
Commission is a seven-member body that
is responsible for advising the Recreation
Department and the City Council on all
matters pertaining to cultural and artistic
activities to encourage, promote and
stimulate the growth of broad based arts
in the community.
BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN
COMMISSION
Meets 4th Tuesday
Eldon Chappell, Chairperson
GENERAL PLAN ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
Meets 2nd Wednesday
Perry Woodward, Chairperson
Bicycle Pedestrian Commissioners serve
a four-year term. This fi ve-member
Commission advises staff and the City
Council on matters related to bicyclists and
pedestrians including studying problems,
activities and concerns of bicyclists and
pedestrians, and providing input on bicycle
and pedestrian issues in the community.
General Plan Advisory Committee is
a 22-member committee. They make
recommendations to the City Council
on issues related to the General Plan.
HISTORIC HERITAGE COMMITTEE
Meets 3rd Wednesday
Toby Echelberry, Chairperson
BUILDING BOARD OF APPEALS
Meets As Necessary
John Almash, Chairperson
Building Board of Appeals members serve
four-year terms. The Building Board of
Appeals is a fi ve-member Board which
meets as necessary to address matters
pertaining to building and construction
and hears all building appeals as set forth by
the City Charter. The Board is comprised
of four persons qualifi ed by experience and
training, and one public member.
COMMUNITY AND
NEIGHBORHOOD
REVITALIZATION COMMITTEE
Meets 3rd Wednesday
Patty Pena, Chairperson
The Community and Neighborhood
Revitalization Committee consists of seven
64
-members who serve four-year terms.
The committee acts in an advisory
capacity to the Housing and Community
Development Division of the Community
Development Department in matters
pertaining to CDBG and HTF funding
allocation; studies the needs of the
Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy;
annually recommends allocations of CDBG
and HTF program funding awards that are
forwarded to the City Council for approval;
and performs such other duties related
to CDBG and HTF matters as may be
proscribed by the City Council.
ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION
Meets 2nd Tuesday
L. Mattock Scariot, Chairperson
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
MARCH/APRIL 2016
Historic Heritage Committee consists
of fi ve members who serve a two-year
terms. The purpose and intent of the
Historic Heritage Committee is to act as
an advisory board to the City Council and
Planning Commission on issues relating to
the identifi cation, protection, retention and
preservation of historic sites and historic
neighborhoods in the City of Gilroy.
HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Meets 2nd Wednesday
Jan Bernstein Chargin, Chairperson
Housing Advisory Committee members
serve a two-year term. This nine member
body is comprised of community stakehold-
ers tasked with reviewing housing policies,
programs and making recommendations to
the City Council on housing-related matters.
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