Politics & Government

Council Wrap Up: 'Please, Take Our Money!'

Gilroy Tennis Club donated $6,400 to resurface city courts during a meeting that included a public hearing on properties that needed to pull weeds.

When Marco Renella, director of the Gilroy Tennis Club Charitable Trust, took to the podium at Monday night’s meeting of the Gilroy City Council, he began with a request.

“Please, take our money!” he said.

The donation of $6,400 to resurface two tennis courts at was unanimously approved during a regular council meeting that included a listing of properties that needed to remove weeds and an update on the city’s economic performance.

Find out what's happening in Gilroywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Is there anybody else in the audience who would like to make a donation to make something happen?” asked Councilman Bob Dillon after the vote.

The club also presented a projected timeline of maintenance for the courts, totaling $40,000 over the next five years.

Find out what's happening in Gilroywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

Contract Awarded to Repair Part of Gilroy Sports Park

Thieves made off with 22,000 feet of copper wire from the Gilroy Sports Park in October, and Gilroy Operations Manager David Stubchaer said in a report to the council that it wasn’t a matter of finesse.

“As far as we can tell, they just tied the wires to the bumper of a truck and tore them out," he said. "They didn’t take them out nicely.” 

The council awarded a $58,000 contract to Beltramo Electric Inc. to replace the wire, including the installation of “copper keepers” that Stubchaer said would help deter theft.

The high price of copper has driven theft over the past few years.

Note To Residents: Trim Your Weeds 

If you got a notice in the mail telling you to trim your weeds, you have two options: Do it yourself, or pay the big bucks when Santa Clara County sends someone to do it for you.

As fire season looms, the council heard the annual report of properties that feature the kind of weeds that could fuel a blaze. A county inspector will visit anyone who hasn’t given notice of a cleanup by May 15.

One Gilroy resident at the meeting, Jim Sullivan, said he had received a notice, despite being very attentive toward the half-acre vineyard on his property.

“Some properties get placed on the list before they’re developed … and then they’re developed,” said Fire Marshal Jacqueline Bretschneider, who presented the list to the council.

Bretschneider and a county representative determined that Sullivan’s notice had been a mistake.

Other residents who have issues can contact Moe Kumre, coordinator of the Santa Clara County Weed Abatement Program, at 408-282-3123.

Three Department Heads Made Official

Since the layoffs and restructuring caused by the recession two years ago, Gilroy has had three interim heads for its departments of community development, public works and recreation. Last night, each became official.

“Each has stepped up to the plate and has taken on additional responsibility at no additional compensation, and only to the benefit of this community,” said City Administrator Tom Haglund.

Rick Smelser will head the public works department, Maria Deleon will head recreation and Kristi Abrams will head community development.

Signs Of Recovery in Budget Update

Gilroy’s economy couldn’t match the strong growth it saw at the end of 2009, according to a presentation of sales tax revenue at the end of 2010

A decrease in the sale of raw materials, as well as business-to-business activity, lead to a 3.4 percent decrease in tax revenue compared with the same time last year.

However, business activity did rise by 1.4 percent, according to the presentation.

“We do see signs of recovery, both in development and consumer spending,” Christina Turner, city finance director, said during the presentation. 


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