The first of Morgan Hill’s chain of new public facilities, the
Community and Cultural Center, has had two years to settle down,
work out the bugs and turn itself into gold.
The first of Morgan Hill’s chain of new public facilities, the Community and Cultural Center, has had two years to settle down, work out the bugs and turn itself into gold.
It has, according to the city’s head cheerleader, and recreation manager, the effervescent Julie Spier.
“Yes, it’s a success,” Spier said. “There are still challenges, but the center is doing well. As of December (2004) were breaking even and doing really well. The results are quarterly but we are on target to hit 70 percent.”
And 70 percent was the council’s goal for the center’s early self-sufficiency, working up to 100 percent as lucrative rentals increase and costs are controlled. Spier said they continually look at ways to reduce the utility bills and other operating costs.
Mayor Dennis Kennedy is also quite pleased with the center.
“It’s an overwhelming success,” Kennedy said. “I constantly hear comments from the community on how much they love the center, calling it a wonderful addition. It is certainly a great place for major events like Founders’ Dinners, leadership recognition dinners, the State of the City messages. It’s a place we’ve needed for many years.”
The $21 million center that opened in December 2002 isn’t just one building. It includes a separate building for Gavilan College, an eye-catching cube-shaped building with a blue tile roof with an outdoor play yard dedicated to the joys of childhood, an outdoor amphitheater, plenty of Sycamore-shaded lawn, a colorful and soft water feature, and the featured center building with three patio areas, an engaging fountain and a rose garden attractively fenced by Rotary Club of Morgan Hill.
Next door is a 1920s wooden church renovated into a 186-seat playhouse for an additional cost of $3.5 million.
Mostly, the center is working well, with rentals coming along nicely. People are encouraged to book well ahead for weekends and popular dates.
Fees depend on which room or building is rented, which special services are requested (kitchen, technology), when (prime time or not) how long, whether alcoholic beverages are served and whether the renter is a nonprofit, the community, a business or other.
And there are general fees and deposits that apply to all rentals. Morgan Hill residents rent the facility at a discount.
Costs for the Hiram Morgan Hill Room can be as high as $145 per hour (four hour minimum) for prime time standard use by nonresidents or as low as $50 an hour during nonprime time (no minimum time) for nonprofits or community use.
Three persistent problems have dogged Spier, her well-trained staff and, by association, members of the City Council who are ultimately in charge.
Problem number one is trying to achieve a balance between paying the bills and not charging so much that residents look elsewhere for a wedding, conference, concert or meeting site.
The second problem was insurance, which anyone renting a public facility must have, to protect city and renter alike. Before Sept. 11, 2001 and the advent of skyrocketing insurance costs, getting extra coverage for a day was as simple as adding a rider to a homeowner’s policy. Before Sept. 11, the cost was very low, sometimes even free.
After Sept. 11, a day’s insurance could cost $500, if you could find it. City Finance Director and Risk Manager Jack Dilles is still trying to find a viable provider for a liability package.
Insurance is required of large groups, those with dancing, serving alcohol or using the amphitheater, he said, but not smaller groups.
The third problem is the size of the largest room, the Hiram Morgan Hill Room, 4,030-square-feet, long and narrow. Originally designed to hold 400 at tables, a few residents objected to the size, claiming out of town convention organizers would use the room more than Morgan Hill folks and they, after all, were paying for it.
The room was downsized to seat 240 and, from the beginning, it was clear that wasn’t big enough. Plans are being kicked around to push out the long inside wall into the hallway, making the room a bit fatter and allow far larger and more frequent revenue-producing rentals.
However, Kennedy said any major renovation must wait for an extension of the Redevelopment Agency, if council asks for an extension and if the voters approve.
RDA funds are a small portion of property taxes, kept in the city for removing blight, helping support affordable housing and building public facilities. RDA funds paid for the community center, the Aquatics Center and will pay for upcoming indoor and outdoor recreation centers and part of the new library.
Instead, Kennedy said, he is considering doing what space-strappedFlint Center has done – installing a semi-permanent tent structure to allow for overflow crowds.
A tent, though temporary, would patch the problem and give the city time to get the new source of funding in place.
A second public room, called El Toro, is the octagonal, window-studded room that sits on the corner of Monterey and Dunne. The view of masked and padded fencers practicing, seen after dark through the windows, is memorable.
El Toro is 1,750-square-feet and comfortable for smaller gatherings, including arts receptions, the mayor’s state of the city address, lectures, smaller parties and even church services and funerals.
El Toro Room rentals range from $120/hour down to $30/hour.
Several smaller rooms are dedicated to dance, ceramics and art or meetings.
The Diana Murphy Hill Art Room can be rented for children’s parties, as can the Children’s Pavilion – the special kid-sized building with a whimsically painted interior, including the ceiling.
The center offers a party package program with a variety of kid-thrilling activities all at reasonable rates.
Reserve at least 30 days ahead.
Besides private rentals and hosting major civic dinners and events, the center frequently displays revolving art exhibits in the hallway or, with larger shows, in the various rooms.
A vast quilt show took over the entire center in September, to great acclaim, both for the show and for the center as a venue.
Outdoors the amphitheater has hosted concerts of music – of all kinds – dance, patriotic ceremonies and movie nights.
Gavilan College’ offers classes more convenient than driving to the south Gilroy campus and – an added benefit – the college pays rent and contributes to the center’s operating budget.
A stroll by the center on a warm day will convince almost any taxpayer that the RDA funds were well spent.
The parking lot is seldom empty.
Details: call 782-0008 or visit the Web site at www.mhcommunitycenter.com
