Mayor Dennis Kennedy gave the annual State of the City address
Monday night to a full house attended by council members, city
commissioners, school board members, Superior Court Judge Ron Dal
Pozzo, half the police department, city staff and quite a few
members of the public interested in what awaits them in 2005.
Mayor Dennis Kennedy gave the annual State of the City address Monday night to a full house attended by council members, city commissioners, school board members, Superior Court Judge Ron Dal Pozzo, half the police department, city staff and quite a few members of the public interested in what awaits them in 2005.
Kennedy arranged his talk at the Community Center around six New Year’s resolutions on dealing with Coyote Valley, finances, helping the schools, water quality, city entertainment and recreational facilities, burgeoning retail and the city’s active social life.
Shop Morgan Hill:
Citing “retail therapy” as the way to go, Kennedy called attention to many new businesses that opened or re-opened during 2004: Cinelux Theatres and Safeway at Tennant Station, the Harley Davidson House of Thunder, Courtesy Chevrolet and the Ford Store plus Home Depot. Johnson Lumber and Dan Gamel RV expanded.
“They have provided much-needed boosts to our sales tax revenue,” he said.
Sales taxes are the main source of funds for the general fund, which pays for police, fire and recreation services.
He mentioned a new shopping center planned for Cochrane Road east of Highway 101, the county courthouse coming along and helping the downtown to thrive again, with increased choices and safety.
Exercise more, the mayor said :
And people are, because the Aquatics Center that opened in June with attendance way beyond expectations ever since.
“It was instantly popular,” Kennedy said. The center is “where everyone can swim and play in the water, from tots with water wings to competitive athletes.”
The center is operating solely on what it earns from entrance fees, rentals and concession and retail income, unusual for a public recreational facility, he said.
Kennedy reported that the city will go out to bid in April on the indoor recreation center – with senior and youth centers, on West Edmundson Avenue, to open in August 2006. Plans are also under way for an outdoor sports center, also to open in 2006, next to the Aquatics Center on Condit Road, with the city possibly partnering with a private group for operations.
Book and magazine readers, plus those who borrow DVDs and videos, will be delighted to know, he said, that a new library will rise behind City Hall in 2007.
While Kennedy thanked the many volunteers who worked to make this possible, he said the library’s future was threatened by failure of a parcel tax in March. Voters will have another chance in April to show support for keeping the library open most of the week, at a cost of $33.66 or $45.66 a year.
“I strongly support this measure,” Kennedy said.
Drink plenty of water:
“Clean water is a foundation for good health,” he said. It is also endangered by that perchlorate has made its way into city wells, though at low levels. The city took immediate action, shutting down polluted wells, drilling new ones and installing treatment systems.
“The city of Morgan Hill will continue to press Olin (Corp.) to reimburse us for our perchlorate-related issu-es,” Kennedy said.
Spend time with friends:
Residents have many chances to spend time with friends, during the Taste of Morgan Hill, IDI July Fourth celebrations, Cool Brews (an aquatics fundraiser), Mushroom Mardi Gras, Sister City events, the first-ever Poppy Jasper Film Festival, and a parade and Hometown Holidays in December.
Kennedy also mentioned Haru Matsuri, Cinco de Mayo, Chinese New Year and Diwali, all celebrations of the community’s ethnic variety.
This year the city will add a regional swim meet and a downtown bicycle race.
“Morgan Hill ….. knows how to put on great events,” Kennedy said.
Noting the importance of schools, the mayor mentioned city-provided school resou-rces officers – police officers who patrol the Britton and Live Oak campuses. He wants to help fund the SRO for Sobrato, and he supports facility sharing and after school programs.
School board president Shellé Thomas said Kennedy’s speech was “positive” in tone.
“After school programs can make such a difference in students’ lives,” Thomas said.
Wrapping up, Kennedy sees a future “bright and full of promise.”
The mayor’s speech will be rebroadcast Wednesday, Feb. 9, at 6pm on cable Channel 17, and possibly again at a time to be announced.
Carol Holzgrafe covers City Hall for The Times. She can be reached by e-mail at ch********@*************es.com or phoning (408) 779-4106 Ext. 201.
