Council seeks clearer framing of VMT and Climate Action Plan; staff says VMT is not a driver tax

Gilroy — During a review of the legislative agenda, council members sought clearer explanations of two related items on the list: a Climate Action Plan and a local Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) policy.

Staff told the council that VMT is the state‑adopted vehicle‑miles methodology used to assess project transportation impacts for CEQA purposes and to set local thresholds; it is not a tax on drivers. “VMT is not about taxing the driver,” staff said, explaining the policy would set local thresholds for how many vehicle miles a development is expected to generate and could include mitigation measures or impact fees for projects that exceed adopted thresholds.

Several council members said the public is confused about VMT and asked staff to translate technical terms into clear messaging. Council member 10 asked for a plain‑language explanation of what the label “mandated” means for specific items and what the minimum compliance would look like.

Staff also noted the VMT work is being advanced with grant funding and that a county fallback policy exists, but emphasized the city could adopt a tailored local policy to reflect Gilroy’s position at the southern edge of the county.

Council members urged staff to return with clearer descriptions of what is required by state law versus what is optional, and what potential mitigation costs — or fee programs — could mean for developers and the city’s ability to attract new investment. One council member suggested staff provide a simple list of “minimum necessary” actions to comply with mandates so the council can weigh trade‑offs between doing the minimum versus adopting a more ambitious local standard.