Planner Jonathan Alivas details Gilroy's "Blue Skies" climate, VMT and safety-element work

Jonathan Alivas, identified in the meeting as a Planner II with city planning staff, presented the Gilroy Blue Skies initiative and told the Youth Commission the project combines three workstreams: a Climate Action Plan, a vehicle‑miles‑traveled (VMT) reduction plan and an update to the general plan safety element.

Alivas said the initiative is funded through a Caltrans grant and aims to help the city address climate change, improve local air quality, support public health and strengthen community resilience. "The Gilroy Blue Skies initiative is a comprehensive planning effort funded through a Caltrans grant," he said.

Alivas outlined the three components. The Climate Action Plan will assess local conditions and identify strategies to reduce greenhouse‑gas emissions in alignment with state goals referenced in the presentation, including SB 32 and AB 1279. The VMT reduction plan will evaluate how residents, employees and visitors travel and identify strategies to reduce reliance on single‑occupancy vehicle trips by supporting walking, biking, transit and travel‑demand‑management guidelines. The safety‑element update will incorporate state‑required climate hazard information and summarize local vulnerabilities such as wildfire, flooding, drought, smoke and extreme heat to inform preparedness and response.

On outreach and schedule, Alivas said staff and the consulting team have met partner agencies and community groups, released a public survey and launched an interactive online mapping tool to gather input. He called out recent and planned engagement events including a Rebuilding Silicon Valley event, outreach at San Jacinto Park and activities during Public Works Week. "Community engagement is a major component of the Blue Skies Initiative," he said, urging commissioners and residents to participate in the survey and events.

When a commissioner asked about the project timeline, Alivas said outreach would be completed this year and staff hopes to finalize the plan next year. "This year, we're basically finishing up the community outreach portion," he said, adding that the three components would be combined into the long‑range planning product.

The presentation concluded with staff offering to answer questions and continue coordination as outreach proceeds. The Commission did not take action on the initiative during this meeting; the presentation was informational and staff described next steps for public engagement and plan development.