City Council has a briskly varied agenda for Wednesday, ranging
from The Institute Golf Course to funding a possible new library to
considering a medical office building, where doctors own the units,
that could compete with and possibly threaten the success of the
newly opened DePaul Health Center.
City Council has a briskly varied agenda for Wednesday, ranging from The Institute Golf Course to funding a possible new library to considering a medical office building, where doctors own the units, that could compete with and possibly threaten the success of the newly opened DePaul Health Center.
In between, council will hold public hearings on banning imitation firearms on public property, a plan to deal with water shortages, consider the high-speed bullet train and appoint a steering committee to beginning planning the city’s upcoming centennial. Morgan Hill’s charter was signed Nov. 10, 1906, and will be celebrated with a year-long celebration beginning in November 2005.
Before the public hears begin at 7:30pm, council and the public will hear from Kriss Costa, the county’s communication coordinator. Costa will report on what is being done about the presence of West Nile virus in South Valley. Several dead birds have been found carrying the virus and the county has been working on educating the public to remove standing water and other attractive mosquito habitats.
City staff is recommending that council approve the mitigation and monitoring plan worked out between the city and The Institute Golf Course, long a bone of contention over the course being constructed without proper permits or environmental investigation.
An ordinance against realistic, but toy, guns has been in the works since three teenage boys were almost shot by police when the boys appeared to be threatening a field full of children at Jackson School in April. At almost the last moment, one officer noticed a tell-tale white plastic handle, realized the guns weren’t real and called off the operation.
The guns, which look like assault rifles, shoot plastic projectiles and are commonly called “airsoft” weapons.
The ordinance is in response to a request by frightened citizens who thought the boys meant business and police who almost shot what would have been unarmed children.
On a less scary matter, council voted on July 28 to build a new library behind the current library and City Hall and must now find a way to finance the building, however small. While 40,000 square-feet was the recommended size for a city that will continue to grow, enough money could be found to build one at 28,000 square-feet.
Council will consider upping developers’ fees for new houses.
The complete Council agenda is available at the City Clerk’s desk in City Hall and on line. City Council and/or the Redevelopment Agency meets at 7 p.m. most Wednesdays in City Hall Chambers, 17555 Peak Ave. Details: www.morganhill.ca.gov or 779-7271. Council meetings are broadcast live on cable access channel 17.
Carol Holzgrafe covers City Hall for The Times. She can be reached by e-mail at cholzgrafe@ morganhilltimes.com or phoning (408) 779-4106 Ext. 201.
