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March 2026 Spotlight

Three Projects Coming Your Way

For this month’s Spotlight, I would like to draw the community's attention to a few topics of interest that I hope to go into much more detail later in the spring and early summer. 

Transition to District-Based Elections 

For over a year now, there has been discussion and action among the Council, City staff and members of the community regarding Gilroy's transition to a district-based election system. I’m hopeful everyone recently received mail sent out by our community engagement team, detailing the process. All prior City Council elections have been an at-large election system, where voters across the entire city elected six City Council Members and a Mayor. Under this system, every voter could vote for any council seat on the ballot. 

The City is now transitioning to a district-based election system, in which we are divided into geographic districts. Each district will elect one council member who lives in that district and is chosen only by voters who live there. This move is intended to strengthen localized representation, allowing neighborhoods and areas of the city with shared interests to have a stronger voice in city government and community decisions. Unlike some cities which rotate councilmembers to serve as their Mayor, Gilroy will retain an at-large mayoral position who will be elected by the entire city every four years. While council members will represent specific districts, the Mayor and all six Council Members shall remain committed to serving the entire Gilroy community. Together, we’ll continue to set policies, goals, and direction for the city as a whole.  

This new system will be instituted by the Registrar of Voters' office when the 2026 election kicks off on July 13th. Districts 4, 5, and 6 will appear on the ballot later this fall. Candidates may start declaring their intent to run before the July date. The remaining three districts won’t officially be recognized until the 2028 election. 

While new to the Gilroy City Council, district-based elections are already in practice at other local public agencies. This includes Gilroy Unified School District, Gavilan College, Santa Clara Valley Water District, and the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.  

Residents are encouraged to review the district maps and learn which district they live in. To see the maps and read more about the district election process, please visit the City’s website at the following link: www.cityofgilroy.org/1147/City-Council-Districts 

Civic Center Master Plan: Planning for Gilroy’s Future 

The City of Gilroy is taking an important step toward modernizing our public facilities by developing a new Civic Center Master Plan. The Civic Center area is comprised of City Hall, the Gilroy Library, Wheeler Auditorium, the Police Station, and the Senior Center. The proposed master plan is a bold conceptual vision for how our existing Civic Center campus could evolve in the future to modernize city facilities and create a civic space that better serves our community.  

As part of this process, the City has released environmental review documents under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). These documents are now available for public review during a 45-day comment period that runs through March 27. During this time, community members and interested parties are encouraged to review the materials and submit written feedback. All comments received will be carefully considered as part of the environmental review process before the project moves forward. 

It is important to emphasize that this plan represents a long-term vision, not an immediate construction project. Any improvements to the Civic Center would likely be completed in phases over time and would require voter-approved bond funding before major construction could occur. 

Community input is a critical part of this process, and we encourage residents to review the materials and share their perspectives as we plan for the future of Gilroy’s Civic Center: 

www.cityofgilroy.org/1063/Civic-Center-Master-Plan 

Blue Skies Initiative 

The Blue Skies Initiative is a City-led planning effort focused on improving air quality, transportation options, and long-term sustainability in Gilroy. The program is funded in part through a planning grant from the California Department of Transportation and is intended to explore strategies that could reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled while supporting a healthy local economy. 

It is important to emphasize that the Blue Skies Initiative is not a new regulation or a single project. At this stage, it is simply a planning process. The city is gathering feedback from residents, businesses, and community organizations to better understand community priorities before any recommendations are developed. 

As with many planning efforts, the initiative has generated both interest and questions. Some residents are concerned that the effort could eventually influence development patterns, transportation policies, or land use decisions. Others see it as an opportunity to improve air quality, expand transportation choices, and protect Gilroy’s long-term quality of life. 

Our goal is to ensure this remains a community-driven conversation. By listening carefully to residents and considering different perspectives, we can work together to shape a thoughtful path forward that reflects the values and priorities of Gilroy. 

https://ascent.mysocialpinpoint.com/gilroy-blue-skies-initiative

Sincerely,

Mayor Greg Bozzo