The City Council adopted its goals for the year during
Wednesday
’s council meeting, lining up a broad range of targets to reach
before year’s end.
The City Council adopted its goals for the year during Wednesday’s council meeting, lining up a broad range of targets to reach before year’s end.
To deal with the budget, by April a council subcommittee will report the results of a random sampling of Morgan Hill voters on ways to increase a lagging city budget, including tax or fee increases on all or some residents, to be followed by efforts to discuss the results with the entire community.
Council has repeatedly balanced budget shortfalls against its reluctance to cut vital city services, factoring in the need to use budget reserves slowly.
By May 15 the city manager will present a list of recommended investments to improve city income. By December the subcommittee will address using reserves above the council-approved 25 percent, along with the need to refill the reserve fund.
By June, council will end labor negotiations with city employees in line with new budget policies, while recognizing the important contributions of city employees.
Since virtually all the $147 million Redevelopment Agency funds are used up, the city manager and city attorney will report, by November, under what conditions it would be appropriate to extend the RDA beyond the date when the $147 million will be collected, expected in 2008 and, if extended, how the extra funds would be used to remove remaining blight.
Economic development – enticing more businesses to town – is a big interest. By April the council will discuss “inhibitors” to business; in the same month a subcommittees will look at possible revisions to the auto dealer strategy and, by December, another subcommittee will consider “community aggregation” as a way to reduce energy costs for residents and businesses.
Under public policy, council will adopt an ethics policy by April. Council has already reorganized its subcommittee system and will re-evaluate the system in December. Before the 2006 council retreat where goals are set, Councilman Mark Grzan will report on the pros and cons of becoming a Charter City.
By July Mayor Dennis Kennedy will suggest a way to build community consensus on future community goals.
On medical services: council will ask for semi-annual reports from the Morgan Hill Community Health Foundation on its use of the $500,000 council gave it to increase the the availability of services. The foundation was established after Saint Louise Hospital moved to Gilroy in 1999, taking many physicians and services with it.
