High Speed Rail!At peak, about 100 trains per

Fast Facts

day through Gilroy

About 25% would stop at new Gilroy station, remaining will pass through Gilroy at high speed

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The California High-Speed Rail project is a planned high-speed rail system in the state of California and headed by California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA). The project was

Required Gilroy station parking structure would house 6,600-8,000 cars.

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approved by California voters on November 4, 2008 with the passage of Proposition 1Aauthorizing US$9.95 billion in general obligation bonds for the project. The CHSRA is currently tasked with completing final planning, design, and environmental efforts. When built, high-speed trains capable of 220 mph (350 km/h) are anticipated to link San Francisco and Los Angeles in as little as two and a half hours. The planned system would also serve other major California cities, such as Sacramento, San Jose, Fresno, Bakersfield, and San Diego. The City of Gilroy is located on the Merced to San Jose segment of the system Plans are to have a station located in Gilroy

SPR on the Merced to San Jose segment of the system. Plans are to have a station located in Gilroy,

with approximately 25 percent of the trains stopping at the Gilroy station, and the other 75 percent going through the Gilroy area at high speed. Construction efforts are anticipated to begin by 2011.An implementation plan approved in August 2005 estimates that it would take eight to eleven years to "develop and begin operation of an initial segment of the California high-speed train.”

Currently, intercity rail service does not directly serve the city of San Francisco (other than Caltrain, which connects San Francisco to various cities in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, such as San Jose, Gilroy, Palo Alto, and Belmont). Amtrak provides bus connections from various San Francisco locations to its stations in Oakland and Emeryville across the bay.The fastest Amtrak route from Oakland to Los Angeles is the state-sponsored San Joaquin train line to Bakersfield, and then a bus from Bakersfield to Los Angeles or various locations in Southern California. A trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles takes a little more than nine hours -- much slower than travel by private car. The San Joaquin route is not time-efficient as it takes a

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circuitous route north and east from Oakland through the Sacramento river delta to enter the Central Valley. The Coast Starlight (not state-sponsored) provides a direct rail trip from Oakland/Emeryville to Los Angeles along the Pacific Coast, but is even slower, taking more than 12 hours.

City Council Sets Goals for 2010 and 2011

The Gilroy City Council held it’s annual goalsetting session on March 12th and 13th, 2010. Items discussed included the community perception of the Council, review of goals and objectives identified in FY 10 and FY 11 budgets, Urban Service Area environmental review process, Residential Developmentreview process, Residential Development Ordinance review process, Neighborhood Park fee process, sidewalk funding ranking process, employee recognition, Gilroy Gardens, Wastewater Plant expansion, update on joint projects with Morgan Hill, Library project update, High Speed Rail, Shop Gilroy program, Economic Development, Council campaign income/expense disclosure, Planned Unit Development amenities and budget policies. Following are Council goals for 2010 and 2011:

Provide for Public Safety through Crime prevention, enforcement of laws and life safety services

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Offer Recreation for citizens to celebrate life and community through

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Provide Quality and efficient City Services including water and sewer services, finance and administration for the benefit of the community

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Ensure Building Safety and Preservation through enforcement of reg lations and modern b ilding standards

Maintain Sustainable Financial Structure and Promote Economic Development

regulations and modern building standards

Serve as a model of Environmental Stewardship

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Provide transparency in City’s operations through Open Governance

Meet YourCommunity Development

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The Community Development Department includes the city divisions which deal primarily with the development community These include Engineering Planning and the Building Life and EnvironmentalR

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development community. These include Engineering, Planning, and the Building, Life and Environmental Safety (BLES) divisions. BLES includes Chemical Control and hazardous materials, pre-treatment, plan check and inspection, and the Housing and Community Development office.

The Engineering Division is responsible for overseeing Engineering Standards, Permitting, design and the on-going improvements within the city right-of-way (i.e. city streets, curb, gutter, sidewalks, park strip/landscaping area, and sanitary sewer and storm drain collection systems) as well as the development f M t Pl th D l t I t F N St d d th i l t ti f th C it l

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of Master Plans; the Development Impact Fee Nexus Study; and the implementation of the Capital Improvement Budget (CIB), a schedule of capital improvement projects.

The Planning Division reviews all new development for both long range plans and current development. In June 2002 the City Council adopted its 2020 General Plan, the document from which all development decisions are ultimately made. Other responsibilities of the Planning Division include General Plan Implementation, Zoning Ordinance Implementation, Development Review and coordinating with the

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Planning Commission for public process regarding development within the City of Gilroy.

The Community Development Department works in conjunction with the Gilroy Economic Development Corporation to facilitate new and expanding commercial and industrial projects in Gilroy. The following link provides additional information. www.gilroyedc.org

Gilroy LibraryMoves to Temporary

LocationLocation

The Grand Opening Ceremony for the Temporary Gilroy Library was held Saturday, February 27th, 2010. The temporary site is located at 7652 Monterey Street, (between Third and Fourth Streets). The library will operate at this location for the next two years during the construction phase of the new library, which will be built on the current site at Sixth and Rosanna Streets. Demolition of the old library building is scheduled to take place between April 20th and

The newly remodeled 10,000 sq. ft. temporary facility is located close to Historic Downtown.

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p pJune 25th, 2010. For more information, please go to: www.santaclaracountylib.org/gilroy

Construction of the new, state-of-the-art building will begin this July, and take about two years to complete. The new building will be constructed to LEED Gold Plus standards. The Leadership in

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Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), provides a suite of standards for the environmentally sustainable design, construction and operation of buildings and neighborhoods. Since its inception in 1998 LEED has grown to encompass more

Gilroy Librarian Lani Yoshimura describes the move to the temporary location, and the building renovations, services and layout.

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than 14,000 projects in the United States and 30 countries .

Beginning with the demolition phase, a web cam will be installed at a high point which overlooks the entire construction site. In addition to allowing computer users to view constructionallowing computer users to view construction progress, the camera will also be a valuable security tool, and the archived images will provide a record of the entire construction process. The web cam will be accessible via the City website at www.cityofgilroy.org in April.

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Even on opening day, library patrons were busy using the computers, as well as other resources and services available.

Homebuyer Opportunities in the City of Gilroy

The City is offering several loan programs for first time homebuyers in the City through state and local funding and through connecting residents with programs that are offered by Santa Clara County and the Housing Trust of Santa Clara County.g y

Homebuyer Assistance Program offered by the City of Gilroy provides a down payment assistance loan program to first time homebuyers, or City of Gilroy and Gilroy Unified School District employees who have passed their probation period of employment and will be first time homebuyers in Gilroy. The program has income guidelines and requires homebuyer education certification as part of the application process. An orientation class for homebuyers is being offered on April 21, 2010 at 6 PM at the City Council Chambers.0 0 at 6 at t e C ty Cou c C a be s.The application and program guidelines can be downloaded from the city website: http://www.cityofgilroy.org/cityofgilroy/.As of March 2010 there are funds available for homebuyers who are in contract to purchase a home. Effective the first week of July, 2010, additional funds will be available for homebuyers. Watch the city website for details or contact Suzanne Burns-Tobin in mid to late June at (408) 846-0242 or suzanne.tobin@ci.gilroy.ca.us20

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The Veloz family in front of their new home, purchased with the Homebuyer Assistance Program.

More Homebuyer Opportunities

in the City of GilroyBEGIN loans for the Alexander Place brand new townhome development in downtown Gilroy are available from the City through South County Housing . The BEGIN loans are available for up to $30,000 to first time homebuyers and have a 3% interest rate and payments deferred for thirty years if the home is not sold or refinanced. Contact South County Housing‘s Loan Packaging Department for information on purchasing a home at (408) 778 0276 or visit their office located at 16500 Monterey Road #120 Morgan Hill Ca

in the City of Gilroy

at (408) 778-0276, or visit their office located at 16500 Monterey Road #120, Morgan Hill, Ca 95037.

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Housing Trust of Santa Clara County has several programs available to first time homebuyers in the County for which Gilroy residents can apply. Closing Cost Assistance Program provides a loan of up to $6,500 to help pay for closing costs and other expenses associated with purchasing a first home. Mortgage Assistance Program provides a second mortgage of up to $50,000 with a below market interest rate and payments of interest and principal are due monthly. The Equity Share Co-Investment(ESCO) assists with the down payment for a buyer who will make a down payment of at least 5% of the purchase price of the home. The Trust will match that down payment dollar for dollar up to a R

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maximum of $75,000. The ESCO loan will be repaid from the appreciation of the home when the homeowner sells or refinances their home within fifteen years.All Program income limits and guidelines can be obtained at the Housing Trust’s website: http://www.housingtrustscc.org/

Office of Affordable Housing Santa Clara County offers a Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) program that provides financial assistance to first-time homebuyers. The Santa Clara County MCC

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g y ytax credit reduces the federal income taxes of qualified borrowers purchasing qualified homes; thus having the effect of a mortgage subsidy. Program guidelines and income limits can be obtained at the county website; http://www.sccgov.org/portal/site/oah

First Time Homebuyer workshop programs sponsored by the city are available this spring on May 1 (Spanish) and May 15 (English) at the City Council Chambers at City Hall from 8:30 AM to 3 PM. These classes provide essential information on becoming a homeowner and provide a Fannie p g pMae certificate that can be used to meet educational requirements for first time home buyer programs. The classes are free for Gilroy residents and lunch will be provided for attendees. Advance enrollment is required; so please contact Sandra Nava at (408) 846-0290 or Email Sandra at: snava@ci.gilroy.ca.us

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The General Plan-What it is, and why it’s

importantimportant

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The Gilroy General Plan is a strategic tool for guiding the City’s physical development, and, in turn, its economic and social development. General Plans are required of all cities and counties by California State law. The current plan was adopted by the City Council in 2002 and will be in effect until 2020. The previous General Plan, which was adopted in 1979, was brought into conformance with changes in State law and other legal requirements with the 2002 update.

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The Gilroy General Plan is a statement of community values and priorities. It considers the issues and trends affecting the City today, and describes the type of community we want to be in the future. It can be considered a constitution of sorts, setting forth goals, policies and implementing actions across a wide range of areas to help us as a community achieve our aims. The General Plan also describes how it should be managed over time and identifies near-term priorities for putting the Plan into action. In total, the General Plan articulates our vision of the future and how we intend to realize itfuture and how we intend to realize it.

The General Plan is based on the premise that growth and change are inevitable. While it is understood that growth can have some undesirable impacts, it can also provide important community benefits. It has been developed with the extensive involvement of community members who have helped identify key issues; evaluated key challenges and opportunities, and developed goals and policies to guide the City’s growth and future development. It is based on a comprehensive understanding of the issues that we face today and the potential issues that we

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comprehensive understanding of the issues that we face today and the potential issues that we may face in the future.

In future newsletters, various sections of the General Plan will be reviewed and explained.The complete General Plan can be accessed via this link: http://www.cityofgilroy.org/cityofgilroy/city_hall/community_development/planning/general_plan/default.aspx

Social Media is Here!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gilroy-CA/City-of-Gilroy/314142866407 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gilroy-CA/City-of-Gilroy/314142866407#!/pages/City-of-Gilroy-Recreation/310491828332?ref=ts

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The City of Gilroy is excited about our latest outreach efforts. In an attempt to inform the community of new information, issues, local history, classes, program services, special events, potential class discounts and volunteer opportunities, two Facebook fan pages have been

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related information. As the pages develop, we will continue to post photos and highlight programming or special events. These media sites now invite and allow the community to post comments, which is creating and improving relationships between the city and community.

The use of social media has proven to be positive and beneficial in this short time. The city now has the ability to market to people everywhere and of all ages. So far, each fan page has almost 200 f i l hi i l F b 2010 W bl h f l h

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would not normally reach by following the traditional route of mailings and direct marketing. Fans appreciate postings, especially event reminders or extensions of registration. The city also has the ability to get real-time feedback and dialogue among the community. Another benefit is the invitation feature, which you can use to invite your community to events. Become a Fan of the “City of Gilroy” and “City of Gilroy Recreation” Fan Pages. Sign up to receive our E-Newsletter on the Fan Page or City of Gilroy website. We want to hear from you! Thank you for your continued support.

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The 2010 Census-why it’s Important

for GilroyYou Count! And, you can help Gilroy count too – with the Census that is. Help Gilroy qualify for hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal funding. It’s our money, let’s spend it here.The foundation of our American democracy is dependent on fair and equitable representation in Congress. In order to achieve an accurate assessment of the number and location of the people living within the nation’s borders the U S Constitution mandates a census of the population every 10 years

for Gilroy

within the nation s borders, the U.S. Constitution mandates a census of the population every 10 years.

The census population totals determine which states gain or lose representation in Congress. It also determines the amount of state and federal funding communities will receive over the course of the decade. The 2010 census data will directly affect how more than $4 trillion is allocated to local, state and tribal governments over the next 10 years. In order for this funding allocation to be accomplished fairly and accurately, the goal of the census is to count everybody, count them only once, and count th i th i ht l Th f t th d i th l h l h d i i f th t f ththem in the right place. The facts gathered in the census also help shape decisions for the rest of the decade about public health, neighborhood improvements, transportation, education, senior services and much more.

Reaching an increasingly Diverse PopulationThe goal of the 2010 census is to count all residents living in the United States on April 1, 2010. The Census Bureau does not ask about the legal status of residents in any of its surveys and census

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programs. To help ensure the nation’s increasingly diverse population can answer the questionnaire accurately and completely, about 13 million bilingual Spanish/English forms will be mailed to housing units in neighborhoods identified as requiring high levels of Spanish assistance. Additionally, questionnaires in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Russian – as well as language guides in 59 languages – will be available on request.

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By 2010, there will be an estimated 310 million people residing in the United States. Counting each person is one of the largest operations that the federal government undertakes. For example, the Census Bureau will recruit nearly 3.8 million applicants for 2010 census field operations. Of these applicants, the Census Bureau will hire about 1.4 million temporary employees. Some of these employees will be using GPS-equipped hand-held computers to update maps and ensure that there is an accurate address list for the mailing of the census questionnaires.

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10 Questions, 10 Minutes to CompleteWith one of the shortest questionnaires in history, the 2010 Census asks for name, gender, age, race, ethnicity, relationship, and whether you own or rent your home. It takes only about 10 minutes for the average household to complete. Questions about how we live as a nation – our diversity, education, housing, jobs and more – are now covered in the American Community Survey, which is conducted every year throughout the decade and replaces the Census 2000 long-form questionnaire.

Responses to the 2010 Census questionnaires are required by law. All responses are used for statistical purposes only, and all are strictly confidential.

For more information, visit the 2010 Census Website at http://www.census.gov/2010

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City Council and Planning Commission MeetingsCitizens are encouraged to attend these meetings at City Hall.Meeting schedules are listed on the City website and Channel 17. They can also be watched live on Cable Channel 17, or on your computer at the following link: http://www.cityofgilroy.org/cityofgilroy/online_services/web_casts/council_videos/default.aspxThis link also allows users to view archived meetings dating back to 2003.

Upcoming Meetings:April 1st – Planning Commission Meeting, 6:30 p.m.April 5th – Study Session – St. Louise Regional Hospital Expansion Presentation, 6:30 p.m.April 5th – Regular Council Meeting – 7:00 p.m.April 19th – Study Session – Utility Undergrounding Ordinance, 6:00 p.m.April 19th – Regular Meeting, 7:00 p.m.May 3rd – Study Session - High Speed Rail, 6:00 p.m.May 3rd – Regular Meeting, 7:00 p.m.May 6th – Planning Commission Meeting, 6:30 p.m.y g g, pMay 17th – Regular Meeting, 7:00 p.m.June 3rd – Planning Commission Meeting, 6:30 p.m.June 7th – Regular Meeting, 7:00 p.m.June 14th – Regular Meeting, 7:00 p.m.

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April1 – Planning Commission 6:30 pm

City Calendar

1 Planning Commission 6:30 pm2 - City Offices Closed3 – Old Gilroy Walking Tour 10:00 a.m.5 – City Council 7:00 pm10 – Auditions Disco Island Live 11:00 a.m.10 – Youth Spring Soccer League begins, 5:00 p.m.12 – Personnel Commission 5:30 pm12 – Youth Commission 6:00 pm13 SCRWA 7 3013– SCRWA 7:30 am13 – Physically Challenged Board of Appeals 9:00 am13– Arts & Culture Commission 5:30 pm14 – Library Commission 7:00 pm16– City Offices Closed19 – City Council 7:00 pm20– Parks & Rec Commission 6:00 pm24- Senior Ball, 5 pm to 10:00 pm, Christopher High24 Senior Ball, 5 pm to 10:00 pm, Christopher High27 – Bike Pedestrian Commission 6:00 pm28 – Public Art Committee 5:30 pm

May1 - Old Gilroy II Walking Tour, 10:00 a.m.3 – City Council 7:00 pm6 – Planning Commission 6:30 pm7 – City Offices Closed

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7 City Offices Closed10 – Personnel Commission 5:30 pm10 – Youth Commission 6:00 pm11 – SCRWA 7:30 am11 – Arts & Culture Commission 5:30 pm12 – Library Commission 7:00 pm15 – Creek Clean-up. 9:00 a.m.17 – City Council 7:00 pmR

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18 – Parks & Rec Commission 6:00 pm21– City Offices Closed25 – Bike Pedestrian Commission 6:00 pm26 – Public Art Committee 5:30 pm

June3 – Planning Commission 6:30 pm4 - City Offices Closed

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5 – Gavilan Hills Memorial walking tour 10:00 a.m.7 - City Council 7:00 pm8 – SCRWA 7:30 am9 – Library Commission, 7:00 p.m.14 – City Council 7:00 p.m.14 – Personnel Commission, 5:30 p.m.14 - Youth Commission, 6:00 p.m.15 Parks & Rec Commission 6:00 p m

Questions or comments regarding this publication may be addressed to:

Joe Kline Public Information Officer15 – Parks & Rec Commission, 6:00 p.m.18 – City Offices Closed22 – Bicycle Pedestrian Commission, 6:00 p.m.23 – Public Art Committee, 5:30 p.m.

Joe Kline, Public Information Officer, City of Gilroy,

7351 Rosanna Street, Gilroy, CA 95020joe.kline@ci.gilroy.ca.us

408-846-0254

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