ue O’ Strander is now in her third year as Planning Manager for the City of Gilroy, a position to which she brings more than two decades of related planning experience. O’ Strander leads the City’ s Planning and Code Enforcement team which works to streamline land entitlement permit processes and services, among other things. In January 2016, she took on an additional role as Gilroy’ s Interim Development Services Manager, supporting economic development activities, community engagement, and identifying opportunities to enhance customer services. Previously, she served in city planning departments in Santa Monica, Simi Valley, Oxnard, and the county planning department of Santa Barbara. Prior to joining the public sector she worked at a private consulting firm. O’ Strander holds a Bachelor’ s Degree in Social Ecology from the University of California, Irvine. She resides in Gilroy where she is a member of Leadership Gilroy( Class of 2014) and supports the Gilroy Downtown Business Association, the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce by providing updates on downtown issues.

“ Gilroy has wholeheartedly welcomed me and my family, and I have tremendous pride in our community. In 2017, I’ ll continue to be connected with the community to identify new opportunities to support and highlight Gilroy’ s Historic Downtown. I’ m also looking forward to contributing to our administration’ s resumed efforts on the 2040 General Plan update, which will clarify expectations and shape policies for the City’ s future growth and vitality.”

GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017 gmhtoday. com

33