On February 24, 2025 the Gilroy City Council held a public hearing in which we adopted a resolution declaring an intent to transition from an At-Large Election System to a District-Based Election System pursuant to California Elections Code Section 10010, with the transition taking effect in time for the November 2026 and 2028 Elections. I plan on requesting through the current stategic planning/budget process that we establish a policy and annual budget that provides basic constituent services and engagement in these new districts in order play an active role in civic engagement.
The City of Gilroy had employed an at-large elections system in which voters of the entire City elect six City Council Members and one Mayor. A district-based election is one in which the City is divided into separate districts, each with one City Council Member who resides in the district and is chosen by the voters in that particular district. For Gilroy, there are two district-based options to consider: the creation of six districts and the retention of the at-large mayor position; or, the creation of seven districts where one of the City Councilmembers serves as mayor on a rotating basis. The district-election system will be introduced for the 2026 election.
The transition to a district-based election system is an open, public process where public input is sought after and appreciated. California Elections Code Section 10010 mandates that five public hearings must be held throughout the transition process. The initial public hearings gather input from the community to better understand the distinct neighborhoods within Gilroy. This information is used to create the draft district maps that will be released in the near future.
The City of Gilroy established the following tentative timeline to complete the transition. These public hearings will take place as part of the Regular City Council Meetings scheduled for these dates. Get more info on communities of interest, public workshops, submit a district map, and FAQ's on the city webpage that's dedicated to this process. https://www.cityofgilroy.org/1069/Transition-to-District-Based-Elections
Monday, March 3, 2025 | First Public Hearing at 7 PM | Council Chambers
Monday, March 17, 2025 | Second Public Hearing at 7 PM | Council Chambers
Monday, April 7, 2025 | Third Public Hearing at 7 PM | Council Chambers
Monday, April 21, 2025 | Fourth Public Hearing at 7 PM | Council Chambers
Monday, May 5, 2025 | Fifth Public Hearing | Council Chambers
The public hearings on the above dates start at a time certain of 7 PM in Council Chambers at 7351 Rosanna Street. There are two Districting Community Workshops being provided below in addition to the public hearing schedule above.
Tuesday, March 25 Public Workshop at 7 PM (In Person) Presentation on districting and hands-on mapping activities. Location: South Valley Middle School Multi-Purpose Room
Saturday, March 29 Public Workshop at 9:30 AM (In Person) Presentation on districting and hands-on mapping activities. Location: Christopher High School Library
