Every year, the city council meets in a retreat-type setting to
look back at what they accomplished, and set goals for the coming
year. The council has a tough task Friday and Saturday when it
meets in the Madrone Conference Room at the Morgan Hill Community
Center.
Council needs to be clear
Every year, the city council meets in a retreat-type setting to look back at what they accomplished, and set goals for the coming year.
The council has a tough task Friday and Saturday when it meets in the Madrone Conference Room at the Morgan Hill Community Center.
With a looming budget deficit, which the Council partially addressed last week, that portends additional layoffs and service cutbacks, concrete goals with attainable results need to be set.
Last year’s goals, outlined in January 2008 and formally adopted Feb. 7, centered on balancing the budget and boosting police and fire services as needed.
The council is still working on balancing the budget, which became much more difficult as the year progressed and the country’s financial meltdown became more obvious and more dire.
Adding additional officers is out of the question after Measure G – which would have raised about $1.5 million annually through a 2 percent utility tax – went down to defeat in November.
It’s the economy
This year, the council needs to focus on the economy. Plain and simple. They need to find sustainable ways to survive the economic meltdown. One way is to fasttrack both commercial and residential development projects. And just saying they’ll do it is not enough.
The city needs to qualify how they will accomplish that task. How long does the average project take to work its way through the system? Then, set concrete ways to reduce that time and goals to accomplish the task.
The city’s Economic Development Department needs to reach out to potential businesses. City leaders need to meet face-to-face with businesses leaders in an effort to pursued them to relocate to Morgan Hill, or in some instances, to stay here.
Finally, developing a strategy that addresses increasing the number of jobs that provide sustainable wages for Morgan Hill residents, reducing commercial and industrial vacancies and developing vacant commercial and industrial land within the urban service area are key goals.
It’s time to correct the image
These are just a few steps the city can take to survive and flourish in these tough economic times. They would also help correct an image – fairly or unfairly heaped upon the city – that it is not business friendly.
The word needs to get out, loud and clear.
Morgan Hill welcomes you to do business here.
Act now
You may send written correspondence to 17555 Peak Ave., Morgan Hill, CA 95037; or e-mail to
ge*****@mo********.gov
; or fax to (408) 779-3117; or phone (408) 779-7259. You may also attend the City Council meetings, fill out a speaker card and address the Mayor and the City Council.
