Last Day to Apply for City Positions is Tuesday

Tuesday, Dec. 6 is the deadline for applicants to apply for any of the 10 vacant city positions. There are multiple board, commission and committee openings, ranging from seats on the Parks and Recreation Committee to the Physically Challenged Board of Appeals.

The City of Gilroy voted to open recruitment for these 10 positions on Nov. 7th, and will not be accepting any applications after 5 p.m., Tuesday.

The positions will be for the 2012 term and would be open after Dec. 31. Final applicant selections will take place Dec. 19, and will take effect January 1.

Interviews will begin Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. during the city council's special meeting.

Those interested in applying can submit applications via email to City Clerk Shawna Freels at shawna.freels@ci.gilroy.ca.us, or drop them off at City Hall.

Applications can be found online, and hard copies are also available at City Hall, located at 7351 Rosanna Street. Fill out the general application for all positions other than the Public Art Committee opening. A separate application needs to be filled out by those interested in applying for the Public Art Committee.

A description of each position is listed below, courtesy of City Clerk Shawna Freels:

• Arts and Culture Commission — one seat (4-year term)

This seven-member body is responsible for advising Recreation Department staff and the City Council on matters pertaining to cultural and artistic activities to encourage, promote and stimulate the growth of broad based arts in the community. The Commission meets the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

• Bicycle Pedestrian Commission — one seat (4-year term)  

This five-member Commission advises staff and the City Council on matters related to bicyclists and pedestrians. Members also study problems, activities and concerns of bicyclists and pedestrians, and provide input on bicycle and pedestrian issues in the community. Meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

• Building Board of Appeals — four seats (terms ending 12/31/2012, 12/31/2014 & 12/31/2015),

This five-member board addresses matters pertaining to building and construction, and hears all building appeals that are set forth by the City Charter. The board meets as needed and is comprised of four persons who are qualified by experience and training, with one public member.

• Historic Heritage Committee — two seats (2-year terms)

This five-member body meets the third Wednesday of each month at 4:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Members act as an advisory board to the City Council and Planning Commission on issues relating to the identification, protection, retention and preservation of historic sites and neighborhoods in the city.

• Housing Advisory Committee — two seats (2-year terms)

This nine-member body is comprised of community stakeholders tasked with reviewing housing policies, programs and making recommendations to the City Council on housing-related matters. The committee meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

• Library Commission — one seat (4-year term)

Comprised of five-members, this commission serves as an advisory/liaison body to the City Council, city staff and the city librarian on matters concerning the Gilroy Library, and meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the senior center meeting room.

• Parks and Recreation Commission — two seats (4-year terms)

This seven-member body is responsible for advising Recreation Department staff, the Planning Commission and City Council on matters pertaining to public parks, urban forestry and recreation in the advancement of park and recreation planning and programming. This Commission sits as a review body during public hearing processes for parks and recreation master planning, and related park planning projects. Meetings are held the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

• Physically Challenged Board of Appeals — one seat (4-year term)

Comprised of five members, this body conducts hearings regarding actions taken by city staff to enforce public accommodations for the physically challenged, and discusses items of interest to the physically challenged. Meetings are held at 9 a.m. on the second Tuesday during the months of January, April, July and October, in the engineering conference room at City Hall.

• Planning Commission – Two seats (4-year terms)

This seven-member body acts as an advisory body to the City Council in the review of planning applications for land use entitlements including subdivisions, planned unit developments, zone changes, conditional use permits and variances from the City’s development standards, as well as comprehensive planning studies and the zoning code. Meetings are held the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

• Public Art Committee — one seat  (unexpired term ending 12/31/2013)

Comprised of seven members, this committee works in an advisory capacity to the Arts and Culture Commission in the development of public art to create an enhanced visual art environment within the community. The committee meets the fourth Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

* Public Art Committee applicants are also interviewed by the Arts and Culture Commission.