City Council will vote Monday night on whether to support the Santa Clara Valley Water District’s ballot measure for Gilroy’s November election.
The measure, known as the Safe Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Plan, seeks to extend the special parcel tax established in 2000 that would otherwise expire in 2016 for another 15 years.
The measure would not increase tax rates but does require two-thirds voter support.
According to a report from the water district, funding for the measure would reduce toxins and contaminants such as mercury and pharmaceuticals, protect dams from earthquakes and natural disasters, restore wildlife habitats and provide flood protection to homes, business, schools streets and highways.
Two of the projects funded by the measure would provide “significant benefits to the South County,” according to a Gilroy City staff report such as the $45 million Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project in Morgan Hill, which is currently limited to 68 percent of its water capacity due to seismic concerns, and the $39.1 million Upper Llagas Creek Flood Control Project, which will help protect 5,000 homes, schools and businesses from flooding.
City staff recommends that Council support the measure. The measure is headed for November’s ballot with or without City support, however.
The Water District Board passed the ballot measure at their regular July 24 meeting with a unanimous 7-0 vote. Gilroy mayoral candidate Don Gage currently sits on that board.
