YOUR GUIDE TO CITY-RELATED NEWS AND EVENTS | | |
November 2, 2026 City Council Meeting Recap:
- The Planning Commission gave its annual presentation outlining its efforts over the past year, including reviewing citywide policies such as the ADU Ordinance and Smoke Shop Ordinance, and providing feedback on plans for public infrastructure projects such as the Civic Center Master Plan.
- The Ad Hoc Committee on Homelessness provided a report outlining its research of other cities and their efforts to mitigate homelessness. Ultimately, the committee resolved that providing a stable, consistent location for an encampment while individuals wait for longer-term housing would carry a positive impact. Council directed the committee to continue its research and return with a plan for how to make this happen, including cost estimates, for Council consideration.
- The City Council introduced an ordinance to amend the City code, establishing permanent mobile vending regulations and consolidating permit procedures, prohibited locations, and operational standards. The new regulations include provisions for suspension and revocation for health and safety issues, and bolstered general requirements for structures, noise, displays, and signage.
- The City Council introduced an ordinance to amend the City code, prohibiting the use of potable water for irrigating non-functional turf as required by California state law (AB 1572). Non-functional turf is categorized as that which has no recreation use and is used as purely ornamental. This includes streetscape strips and ornamental lawns at office parks and storefronts. Exceptions include areas with trees, pet relief areas, and areas watered with non-potable water.
- The City Council extended the moratorium on new detention and custodial facilities in city limits for an additional 10 months and 15 days. The moratorium will give staff time to develop standards that address potential community impacts. Staff anticipates developing these standards as part of an overall zoning code update which will begin in the new year.
- Staff provided a report on the status of the Sixth Street encampment, including two cleanups at the camp, one arrest at the camp, and an overall fairly well volunteer-managed camp. Council directed staff to close the Sixth Street encampment by December 15. Those residing there will be provided with written notice and connected with resources and services available from service providers.
| | Council Meeting Highlight: November 2, 2026 | |
Homelessness Response and the Sixth Street Encampment
| | |
Council reviewed the Homelessness Ad Hoc Committee’s research on approaches used in Rohnert Park, Napa, San Jose, and Tulare. Over six meetings, the committee explored prevention efforts, outreach, enforcement, and managed encampments. The committee recommended pursuing a designated, managed site where people experiencing homelessness could have a stable place to stay, access basic services, and connect with service providers while awaiting interim or longer-term housing. The proposed approach would include clear rules and on-site oversight, with the goal of reducing unsanctioned encampments throughout Gilroy. Council directed the committee to continue its research and return with a more detailed plan, including cost estimates, for Council consideration.
In a separate discussion, Council received an update on the encampment near Sixth Street. Staff reported that two cleanups had occurred since the previous update and that, aside from recurring debris accumulation, the camp remained fairly well managed with volunteer support. Arrests and citations remained minimal. Following discussion, Council directed staff to close the encampment by December 15. People staying there will receive written notice and assistance connecting with available resources and services through service providers.
| | | | City Hall will be closed on Wednesday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day and will reopen for regular business at 8:30 AM on Thursday, November 12. | |
Mayor's Spotlight
Builder’s Remedy – Its Impact on Local Housing, Planning, and Communities
| | |
Housing development raises important questions about Gilroy’s future, from infrastructure needs to community character. California’s housing laws also play a role in how cities review and respond to proposed projects.
In this month’s Spotlight, Mayor Greg Bozzo discusses the Builder’s Remedy and what it means for housing development in Gilroy.
Additionally, join Mayor Bozzo for Coffee with the Mayor on Saturday, November 14, at 9:30 AM in Council Chambers to learn more, ask questions, and join the conversation.
To read the full Spotlight, visit the Monthly Spotlight with the Mayor: October 2026.
| | Coffee with the Mayor: Saturday, November 14 | | |
Join Mayor Greg Bozzo for coffee and conversation about the Builder’s Remedy and what it means for Gilroy.
Housing development raises important questions about our community’s future. Come learn more about the role of California’s housing laws, how they affect the City’s review of proposed projects, and the considerations involved in planning for Gilroy’s growth.
Coffee with the Mayor will take place on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 9:30 AM in Council Chambers, located at 7351 Rosanna Street.
✅ Coffee with the Mayor
✅ Date: Saturday, November 14
✅ Time: 9:30 AM
✅ Location: Council Chambers at Gilroy City Hall, located at 7351 Rosanna Street
For more background before the conversation, read this month’s Mayor’s Spotlight on the Builder’s Remedy.
| |
Votes Are Still Being Counted
Where to Find Election Results
| | |
The votes are in, and election workers are busy tallying the results.
To find official results for the City Council election, Measure B, and other County initiatives and elections, visit vote.santaclaracounty.gov.
| |
Homeownership Opportunities for Farmworkers
Community Workshop, November 12
| | |
The County of Santa Clara, in partnership with the Cities of Gilroy and Morgan Hill, is hosting a community workshop on expanding homeownership opportunities for farmworkers and their families through the County’s Manufactured Home Purchase Program.
About this program? The County received $2.2 million from the Joe Serna Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Program to help eligible low‑income agricultural workers purchase manufactured homes in Santa Clara County through down payment assistance.
Workshop Topics Include:
- Eligibility requirements
- Application process
- Financing options
Workshop Details:
When: Thursday, November 12, 2026, from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Where: San Martin Animal Shelter, 12425 Monterey Rd., San Martin
For additional information, please visit the City’s Housing and Community Services Division webpage.
Registration is encouraged but not required.
Register here: SCC Farmworker Homebuyer Workshop.
| |
Celebrate Gilroy's New Pickleball Courts
Join Us for a Ribbon-Cutting on Tuesday, November 10
| | |
Join us Tuesday, November 10, at 2:00 PM at Las Animas Veterans Park for a ribbon-cutting celebration for Gilroy’s six new lighted pickleball courts!
We’re excited to open up these courts to the community, providing more opportunities to get active, connect with neighbors, and enjoy our parks. The project also includes new trees at the dog park and accessible pathways connecting the courts to the parking lot. Some of these improvements may be completed after the pickleball courts open for play.
We look forward to celebrating with you!
Visit www.cityofgilroy.org/Pickleball to check out the live camera and follow along as the courts take shape!
| |
It's Simple
Please Pick Up Your Pet's Waste
| | |
Taking your dog for a walk is a great way to enjoy your community, but don’t forget to do your part and pick up after your pet and dispose of waste properly.
Pet waste left on the ground does not simply disappear. When it rains, waste can be carried into storm drains and flow directly into local creeks, rivers, and other waterways. This can introduce harmful bacteria and pollutants that affect water quality, wildlife, and public health.
Let’s help keep Gilroy’s neighborhoods, parks, and waterways clean and healthy for everyone.
For additional resources and ways to help protect our local environment, visit Gilroy's Storm Water Management webpage.
Thanks for doing your part to protect our local watershed.
| |
Don't Miss Out!
Register Today for the Youth Basketball League and Breakfast with Santa
| | |
The Recreation team is gearing up for a busy season with the Youth Basketball League and the annual Breakfast with Santa. Don't miss out on these popular programs. Register today to secure your spot!
Youth Basketball League
Registration is underway for the Youth Basketball League, a seven-game, non-competitive program for students in 1st through 6th grades. Games and practices are held at Solorsano Middle School. Limited space remains available.
The registration deadline is November 6 for in-person registrations and November 8 for online registrations. Register here.
Breakfast with Santa
Celebrate the holiday season at the annual Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 5, at the Gilroy Senior Center. Families can choose from two seatings, 8:30 a.m. or 10:30 a.m., and enjoy breakfast, arts and crafts, and a memorable photo with Santa. Register here.
Learn more about these and other activities by visiting the Recreation Division webpage.
| |
Santa Clara County
Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO) Program
| | |
Have a passion for cooking and want to turn it into a small business? The Santa Clara County Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO) program allows residents to prepare, cook and sell meals from their home kitchen with a permit from the County’s Department of Environmental Health, and a Home Occupation Permit and Business License from the City of Gilroy.
Once permitted, an operator can:
- Prepare and sell homemade meals from their home kitchen.
- Offer pickup, delivery, and, in some cases, on-site dining.
- Operate under specific limits and health requirements, including food safety certification and annual inspections.
City of Gilroy Requirements
Residents participating in the MEHKO program who operate within the City of Gilroy city limits must obtain:
About MEHKO:
Started as a pilot program on April 14, 2023, creating a legal pathway for residents to operate a small home-based business. In 2025, the program transitioned to a permanent program.
Learn more by visiting the Santa Clara County Environmental Health webpage.
| | Santa Teresa Fire Station Staffing Report | | |
Between October 23 and October 29, 2026, our firefighters staffed the Interim Santa Teresa Fire Station for 5 days.
We will staff the station as often as available personnel and responsible overtime practices allow.
When we have enough staffing, we will place the station in service with either:
- A Type 1 engine with three firefighters, or
- A Type 6 engine with two firefighters, depending on daily personnel availability.
On days when we do not have qualified personnel, we will leave the station unstaffed. This approach aligns with our seasonal operations.
We will continue to staff the station whenever heightened public safety concerns arise, including:
- State of emergency declarations
- Red Flag Warnings
- Fourth of July and surrounding weekends
- Potential flood conditions or other disasters
- Public events or gatherings where increased risk is identified
This weekly report is part of our ongoing commitment to transparency regarding the staffing status of the Santa Teresa Fire Station.
| | Families Gather for Spirits Night at San Ysidro Park | | |
Last weekend, families, friends, and neighbors gathered at San Ysidro Park for Spirits Night, a free community celebration featuring trunk-or-treating, a children’s costume contest, arts and crafts, a pumpkin giveaway, and local resources. The festive evening created opportunities for connection, laughter, and community spirit.
Thank you to all the families who joined us and to all our partners for making this event possible.
To explore upcoming community events, visit the Recreation Division webpage.
| | Development Activity in Gilroy | | Over the next few months, we're highlighting various development projects currently underway in Gilroy. For additional information about development activity in Gilroy, visit the Development Activity Projects webpage. | | |
New Apartments and Townhomes at 315 Las Animas Ave.
Construction is underway on Park 315, a 530-unit rental housing development on about 27.55 acres at 315 Las Animas Avenue (APN 835-05-006). Gandolfi Investments, LLC submitted the project under the "Builder's Remedy" provision of the Housing Accountability Act, and 106 of the units (20 percent) will be set aside as affordable housing for low-income households. The project includes 38 buildings: 33 townhouse buildings, three mid-rise apartment buildings, a clubhouse, and a mixed-use amenity building with apartments above. Residents will also have about 2.7 acres of green open space, with landscaped walking paths, a dog park, and a tot lot.
For additional details, please visit the Park 315 Multi-Family Development webpage.
| | |
Have you noticed any potholes, water leaks, streetlight outages, tree issues, or have a neighborhood or city-related concern?
Our online service request portal and mobile app (available for download in the App Store and Google Play), GilroyConnect, makes it easier than ever to report city-related concerns.
With just a few simple steps, you can submit your request, track your service request, and view other resident requests.
Once your request is submitted, you will have the option to create an account, which will give you access to additional features and to receive updates on your service request.
| | | Ask Gilroy: Your City, Your Questions! | | |
Thank you to everyone who submitted questions!
We've provided answers to some of the questions below, and look forward to more questions this week.
❓Is there a park planned for the site at Santiago Ct. and Lico Dr. next to Solorsano School? If so, what is the scheduled date for construction?
The site at Santiago Ct. and Lico Dr. was originally planned to include a small park (McCutchin Creek Park) to be constructed by the Glen Loma Ranch development project. However, the City and the developer subsequently entered into an agreement under which the developer agreed to pay the City $2,336,792 in lieu of constructing the park.
The City Council directed that these funds be reallocated from the park project to the Santa Teresa Fire Station project to help reduce the funding gap for the fire station.
As a result, the City intends to use the developer's payment toward the construction of the Santa Teresa Fire Station. The City will need to identify alternative funding sources in the future to develop the park.
❓Can residents save money by storing RVs, trailers, and boats in front of our homes on the public street? If no, then what is the city’s enforcement and penalties charged?
No. Public streets, including the street in front of your home, cannot be used for long-term storage of RVs, trailers, or boats. Gilroy’s Municipal Code includes several restrictions:
-
Oversized vehicles: Vehicles or vehicle-and-trailer combinations exceeding 22 feet in length, 7 feet in height, or 7 feet in width generally cannot park on public streets. A limited exception allows up to 48 consecutive hours for loading, unloading, cleaning, or routine maintenance and repair, no more than once in a 14-day period.
-
Trailers, including boat trailers: These must remain attached to a motor vehicle capable of towing them. Other parking restrictions still apply.
-
72-hour limit: Vehicles cannot remain parked on a public street for more than 72 consecutive hours. This does not override the stricter rules for oversized vehicles or unattached trailers.
The Police Department and authorized parking enforcement personnel may issue citations for violations. Vehicles may also be towed when authorized by law, with the registered owner responsible for applicable release, towing, and storage fees. Parking fines depend on the specific violation.
Residents may be able to store these vehicles on their own property, provided they comply with the City’s zoning and storage requirements.
| Have a question about Gilroy’s services, projects, or community happenings? Submit it through the "Submit a Question" button above. Each week, we'll answer one or two in our newsletter so you can stay informed and connected. | |
City of Gilroy
Office Hours
Gilroy City Hall is open to the public Monday through Thursday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, and on Friday by appointment only.
City of Gilroy
(408) 846-0219
7351 Rosanna Street, Gilroy, CA 95020
www.cityofgilroy.org
| | | | |
