Residents urge Gilroy to tackle encampments, illegal dumping and cleanup resources

Residents used the public-comment period to press the council on homelessness, encampments and illegal dumping across the city, asking for more cleanup resources and better coordination with regional services.

Multiple speakers said encampments have appeared near overpasses and along corridors and described a rise in visible homelessness in recent years. One resident asked whether the city could provide dumpsters for encampment cleanups; staff responded that residents receive two free tags annually under the waste-disposal contract and encouraged people to report problem sites through the Gway Connect app so crews can respond.

Officials acknowledged the county-wide nature of illegal dumping, noted contractors sometimes dump to avoid disposal fees, and discussed apartment-complex strategies such as temporary on-site dumpsters to reduce street-side accumulation. Councilmembers and staff said they plan a higher-level conversation about homelessness, mental health and service coordination at an upcoming council meeting and urged residents to stay engaged.

No formal policy, program allocation or vote on homeless services or cleanup funding took place at this meeting; staff asked residents to document problem locations through the app to trigger targeted responses and follow-up.