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As we head into the final two months of the year, I am proud of how much we’ve accomplished together as a community. This has been a year of progress, collaboration, and renewed optimism for Gilroy’s future.
What We’ve Accomplished
Our boards, commissions and valuable local non-profit organizations have been remarkably active, showing how important citizen leadership and engagement are to shaping Gilroy’s future. These groups are training grounds for the next generation of community leaders.
We’ve successfully renewed contracts with nearly all of our bargaining units, with the exception of our Gilroy Fire Fighters Association IAFF 2805, whose contract renewal is not until mid-2026. This continued partnership between labor and management reflects the professionalism and shared commitment that make our city workforce strong.
This year, we also completed the transition from an at-large election system to a district-based one, which will begin to take effect in the fall of 2026. This shift ensures more equitable representation opportunities across our community and provides every neighborhood with a direct voice in city government.
In the spring, we filled two long-vacant executive leadership positions by hiring Director of Public Works John Doughty and Fire Chief Rob Fleeup. Both bring decades of experience and a deep commitment to service, along with a sense of optimism and stability that strengthens our leadership team. Their roles are critical to maintaining Gilroy’s operations, development, and safety.
In May, with strong community input, we completed a bold and ambitious Civic Center Master Plan. This plan lays out a vision for the future of our City Hall campus, including enhanced city services and the potential addition of a recreation center, a new senior center and other facilities. Next year, we’ll begin discussions about how to responsibly fund construction and staffing. Fiscal responsibility will remain our guiding principle as we plan for the city’s growth.
In June, we finalized our two-year strategic plan and goals, along with a balanced budget for Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027. These achievements reflect the dedication of past and present Council and staff to long-term financial stability and thoughtful planning.
What We’re Currently Doing
The beginning of summer brought significant transitions for our leadership team, with the retirements of both our City Administrator and Police Chief. I want to express my sincere gratitude to Interim City Administrator Brad Kilger and Interim Police Chief Ken Binder for stepping into these critical roles during this period of transition.
The search for Gilroy’s next City Administrator is ongoing. In accordance with our City Charter and Council agreement, our new City Administrator will be selected before we move forward with the hiring of a permanent Police Chief. This approach ensures consistency and strong leadership alignment across our organization.
At the same time, we’re taking a close look at how we serve our community and where we can improve. Our GilroyConnect platform continues to be a valuable tool for residents to report issues, request services, and gauge progress. It’s also given us a clearer picture of where we can improve, which will help us become a more responsive, transparent, and proactive city government.
We are in the design phase of the Lions Creek Bike Trail, which will eventually connect the area of Church Street and Farrell Avenue to the northwest portion of the city and Christopher High School. This project represents another step toward creating a more accessible and sustainable community, expanding recreation opportunities for residents of all ages.
We’re also in the design phase of a new Pickleball facility on the eastern side of Las Animas Park, with an ambitious goal of completion toward the latter part of 2026. This project reflects the growing popularity of the sport and our investment in local recreation.
In addition, City Council has directed staff to begin the design of Gilroy’s fourth fire station, which will be located on the west side at the corner of Miller Avenue and W. Luchessa Avenue. This new station will strengthen emergency response times and ensure our growing city continues to receive the high level of public safety service our community deserves.
Another major milestone this year was the Council’s strong support for creating, for the first time, a Director of Economic Development position within City Hall. We are currently searching for the best possible candidate to fill this vital new role. Economic development is key to Gilroy’s long-term success—it will help us attract quality jobs, support local businesses, and build a sustainable tax base. Council’s vision is to one day provide city services not from a place of limited resources, but from a sense of abundance created by a thriving and diverse local economy.
Looking Ahead
I’m incredibly proud of what our Council, staff, and community have accomplished so far this year. The spirit of collaboration and commitment across Gilroy is stronger than ever.
To hear more about what’s happening in our city and the goals we’re pursuing for the future, I invite you to join me for the State of the City on November 5th at the Gavilan College Theater. This event will provide an in-depth look at our city’s priorities, progress, and the path ahead.
Please note that there will not be a Coffee with the Mayor in November. Instead, I hope you’ll attend the State of the City to hear directly about what’s happening in Gilroy.
Thank you for your continued support, trust, and partnership. Together, we’re building a Gilroy that is vibrant, safe, and full of opportunity for all who call it home.
Sincerely,
Mayor Greg Bozzo
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