Morgan Hill Mayor Steve Tate delivered his annual “State of the City” address to an audience of regional and local partners in public service and interested residents at Council chambers Feb. 19.
“We have so many partners and teammates that I just have to recognize,” Tate said before individually welcoming representatives from the Morgan Hill Unified School District, Santa Clara County, City of Gilroy, Sister Cities Commission, Santa Clara Valley Habitat Plan, City of San Jose and Morgan Hill city staff.
The roughly 60-minute speech was big on the “enthusiasm” with which local residents and the city’s partners have approached the many large-scale projects that City Hall has taken on in the last year. These include long-awaited downtown redevelopment projects such as the Fourth Street Garage and property improvements, the Southeast Quadrant land use and agriculture preservation plan and the General Plan comprehensive update.
“That enthusiasm has spilled over into our own financial performance. (The city) ended up adding to our reserves last year,” Tate added. The city’s general fund today rests at about 33 percent of the fiscal year’s general fund expenditures, which total about $32 million.
The mayor also noted that the General Plan update is taking longer than expected, but is still on track to get a measure on the 2016 election ballot to revamp the city’s growth control ordinance. Proposed changes to that policy are currently being crafted by the GP update committee.
Tate’s speech also touched on each of the city’s goals and priorities for last year and for 2015, many of which are ongoing. These include support for the local youth, encouraging health and wellness, improving public safety, participation in regional efforts, commitment to environmental sustainability and promoting community engagement.
Just like in the mayor’s 2014 speech, the city’s deteriorating streets and infrastructure came up Feb. 19.
“We have a $4.5 million shortfall (in streets improvement expenses) and no identified source of income,” Tate said.
