Morgan Hill School Board trustees are considering an offer from
the City of Morgan Hill that would partially reimburse the district
costs associated with a traffic signal installed at Juan Hernandez
Drive and Tennant Avenue.
Morgan Hill School Board trustees are considering an offer from the City of Morgan Hill that would partially reimburse the district costs associated with a traffic signal installed at Juan Hernandez Drive and Tennant Avenue.
The city is offering to reimburse the district $75,000; the signal cost the district $205,843.
Before Barrett Elementary School, which opened in 2001, was built, an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was prepared, and one of the mitigation measures required in the report was the construction of the signal.
At the time the signal was installed, city representatives and district representatives discussed reimbursement for the signal possibly coming from the future development of property in the area. Because it is not clear when the property will be developed, the city is offering to pay the district the $75,000.
Deputy Superintendent Bonnie Tognazzini told trustees that the district’s share of the total cost is approximately $6,000.
School Board President Shellé Thomas said she would like to continue discussions with city officials.
“We also need to make copies of the Saylor report (an audit by a consultant of the costs to build Barrett Elementary) for all of the new trustees,” she said. “Among the reasons found for the high cost of Barrett is that we had incurred costs normally picked up by the city … We need to have a conversation about working together with the district and the city to make sure our children are safe, because that is the bottom line.”
The district’s budget for “off-site improvements” required to build Sobrato High on Burnett Avenue is $3,560,000. Costs include refurbishing a well, putting in a traffic signal at Burnett and Monterey Road, widening Burnett, purchasing property and reconfiguring utilities in the area.
Some trustees were surprised at the cost to the district for the Juan Hernandez signal.
“When I read this I was shocked that the district was responsible for charges like this,” Trustee Don Moody said.
Discussing a plan for the future would be a good idea, Trustee Amina Khemici said.
“I think we should have more discussions, talk about safety,” she said. “I know we’re going to have more lights in the future.”
Thomas said she agreed that ongoing discussions with the city are necessary for future planning. She also asked if there was a contract that said the district must pay these costs.
Because it was in the EIR as a mitigation measure, Tognazzini said, “the district could not have gone forward (with construction of Barrett) if we had not done this.”
This is the beginning of a discussion with the city, Tognazzini pointed out, not necessarily a take-it-or-leave-it proposition from the city.
She told trustees that should the area be developed, it is possible the district could recover more of its costs.
However, she said, “it could take many years, if at all, before we would get reimbursement (from developers).”
Thomas said she wants to focus discussions on safety.
“I don’t know that that’s the right argument; to me, you’re looking at making it (the intersection) safe for a larger area,” she said. “I don’t know if we’re looking at it right to think we will be reimbursed only if developers come in … Maybe that’s what sort of discussion should be taking place.”
Trustee Julia Hover-Smoot said the district should carefully consider the city’s offer.
“This is money to the good,” she said. “We might never get another opportunity … We should at least consider it.”
Thomas said she was concerned what kind or a precedent trustees might be setting for the district.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. She can be reached by e-mail at md****@mo*************.com or phoning (408) 779-4106 ext. 202.
