Legislation Archives Before to 2025
Introduced Legislation 2025-2026 Session
Housing Element 2023-2031 Programs
I’d like to propose that we direct staff to provide an update on the status and what staff needs to complete in regards to the Housing Element Programs (Collaboration with Development Community, ADU Pre-Designed Plans, and Inclusionary Housing Policy) that were to be completed by the end of 2024.
Completion of these items needs to be included in our April 2025 Annual Progress Report (APR) to State HCD in order to ensure that we don’t lose our current Housing Element 2023-2031 state certification and open ourselves up for more Builder’s Remedy projects, while implementing our goals, policies, and programs that are consistent with the direction of the City’s other General Plan elements, specifically the Land Use Element, Potential Hazards Element, and the Environmental Justice Element.
The City must monitor and report on the results of these and other programs through the annual progress report. Government Code grants HCD authority to review any action or failure to act by a local government that it determines is inconsistent with an adopted housing element or housing element law. This includes failure to implement program actions included in the housing element. HCD may revoke housing element compliance if the local government’s actions do not comply with state law. I am requesting that this item be brought back by March 2025. Thank you to those that reached out to me in support of this. Memo failed to get a majority on January 6, 2025. https://youtu.be/UTFsVdwLL0I
Gilroy City Code Chapter 30 Zoning Ordinance Amendment to add Bicycle Parking
(Supported by- GilroyBPAC, Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition) I introduced this legislation in January 2020 (https://youtu.be/_8njb0P_RKQ?t=750), and will be asking the Council at our January 25, 2021 meeting to place it on the agenda now, rather than have it rolled into the overall Zoning Ordinance Amendment which is taking place over the course of a year. The City of Gilroy does not require bicycle parking in multi-family residential developments and the California Green Building Code states that it is voluntary unless that jurisdiction requires it by ordinance. Some developers have been willing to place it on site, but there are no standards on placement and objective designs established. That has left us with pockets of multi-family residential developments with no bike parking, and sub-standard parking. Since our Gilroy BPAC discovered this, we have had at least three multi-family residential developments that are not required to place bike parking, and several commercial developments that are required to meet the minimum standards required by the California Green Building Code. Read my blog post here. https://zachhiltonca.blogspot.com/2020/03/gilroys-bike-parking-ordinance.html Request denied at January 25, 2021 meeting by Council. It will be introduced during upcoming Zoning Code Amendment in 2025. https://youtu.be/p6vrc3ecf9k?t=5015
City Code Chapter 30 Zoning Ordinance-Section 41 Performance Standards-Noise
We will continue to develop more residential units that are mixed use and near existing commercial and industrial developments. There are objective standards that we can put in place to make it clear what noises are allowed and what noises are limited in “Commercial and Industrial Noise Impacting Residentially Zoned Properties”. I am proposing two separate changes to the code. I will be introducing a “City Code Chapter 30 Zoning Ordinance Performance Standards-Noise Amendment” under future council-initiated agenda items at our August 2, 2021 meeting. Language will be included in the Chapter 30 Zoning Ordinance code changes in late 2025.
Transit first priority policies are used by cities to improve the travel speed, reliability and overall appeal of public transit and make public transit operations more cost-effective, deriving more public value per dollar spent on transit service. VTA shared San Jose’s policy with Member Agencies and inquired if other cities are interested in their own policy or potentially a countywide policy. San Jose’s recently adopted Transit First Policy is an example of how cities can structure transit priority policies. https://www.vta.org/cdt/role-local-government-transit-first-policies-home-page/transit-first-policy
Travel speeds for public transit that operate at street level are generally in decline across the United States. Average VTA bus travel speeds have declined by about 20 percent (14.1 to 11.6 miles per hour) over the past three decades. That has resulted in service that is less useful for riders, has worsening on-time reliability and is less cost-effective for VTA to operate. When travel speeds decline, VTA must add additional buses to routes, which raises the operating cost. Three decades of adding buses to slowing routes amounts to a $70 million inefficiency that VTA bears annually. Growth and the resulting travel demand combined with heavy reliance upon automobiles for travel is causing congestion that slows down public transit, decreases ridership and generates less community value per public dollar spent. Reversing these trends can be initiated by cities through street design and traffic signal policy. Introduced March 13, 2023 https://youtu.be/_xpnySpGO7g. Updates on funding January 22, 2024 https://youtu.be/4RRdP1u5STI, Gilroy Dispatch Op-Ed
City Code Chapter 16 Offenses-Miscellaneous Amendment to add Safe Storage of Firearms
(Supported by- Moms Demand Action, Silicon Valley Alliance for Gun Safety, Santa Clara County Public Health Department, Santa Clara County Chapter Brady United to Prevent Gun Violence ) September 12, 2022- I am requesting to place the “City Code Chapter 16 Offenses-Miscellaneous Amendment to add Safe Storage of Firearms” with possible action to adopt by ordinance with a goal of reducing gun violence and improving gun safety for everyone on a future agenda. A safe storage ordinance would state that all firearms in homes be safely stored in a locked container or disabled with a locking device to prevent discharge unless it is being carried on the authorized individual’s person. Cities and towns across California are adopting safe storage ordinances due to deficiencies in the current California Penal Code 25100 which fails to define what “safe storage” is, while also failing to apply it to all homes (it only applies to homes where one might “reasonably expect” a child to enter). This has led to many small child unintentional deaths and teen gun suicides from unsecured firearms. It has also allowed easy access to stealing unsecured firearms in home burglaries (where guns then become crime guns) and it also increases the chances for school mass shootings. March 15th, 2021 Public Comment https://youtu.be/zBMAnd1rUuE?t=368 Request denied at the March 15, 2021 meeting. https://youtu.be/zBMAnd1rUuE?t=7177 Introduced on September 12, 2022 and denied. We will introduce again in 2025. https://youtu.be/p3yBg-Po2c8. Recent media- Gilroy Dispatch OpEd · Gilroy Life Editorial · Morgan Hill Life Editorial · San Jose Spotlight SCC BOS Article · Mountain View Voice Article · Santa Clara County Releases Cost of Gun Violence Report · SF Chronicle SJ Mercury OpEd
Budget Memo FY26 & FY27
Coming Soon- Budget Recommendations Memo for FY 26 & FY27 I look forward to working with my council colleagues, committee/commission members, staff, and the public with our shared goal of achieving a budget that serves the needs of all Gilroy residents, supports the future and aging city infrastructure, and funds the vibrant city that we are.
Moving Gilroy Forward 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 annual city vision statement. Full statements for both can be found in the home section.
There Ought to be a Law Program-
You’re invited to participate in "There Ought to be a Law." This program offers you the opportunity to propose new City legislation for the upcoming year.
As a City Council Member, I know that some of the best ideas we work on at City Hall come directly from constituents. When we work together as a community, we can produce better results.
Proposals can vary from local community improvements, make entirely new policies/ordinances, and revisions to existing ordinances/policies. To apply, fill out the form here and submit it now. Proposals are due January 17, 2025.
Gilroy City Council Voting Record (Data Collected From City of Gilroy)-
Voting Record Archives Before 2025
