Morgan Hill
’s population increased by 150 residents – or 0.4 percent –
during the year 2002, according to figures just released by the
state Department of Finance.
Morgan Hill’s population increased by 150 residents – or 0.4 percent – during the year 2002, according to figures just released by the state Department of Finance. That makes it number 365 in growth, percentagewise, increase in the state.
From 34,750 in 2001, the city grew to 34,900 by Jan. 1, 2003.
The smaller than usual increase is one result of Measure P, a voter-approved, residential growth-control ordinance, being in place.
“This is an indication that we are on the right track,” said Councilman Greg Sellers.
The 0.4 percent growth rate places the city eighth in Santa Clara County for population growth; in 2001 it was third with growth of more than 2 percent.
Gilroy was first and Cupertino second in 2001 but Gilroy fell to second in 2002 – Los Altos Hills was first – and Milpitas was third in growth rate. Gilroy’s change in 2002 was 2.6 percent, down from 2001’s 2.9.
Gilroy now has 45,000 residents.
Cupertino tied with Palo Alto for 10th. Gilroy was 98th in the state in 2002 and Hollister, at 1.2 percent growth, was 254th.
Hollister grew 1.2 percent, adding 450 residents to last year’s figure of 36,150. It was ranked 254th in the state. Its neighbor San Juan Bautista grew from 1,590 to 1,610 or 1.3 percent giving it number 251. San Benito County grew from 55,600 to 56,300 or 1.3 percent.
In comparison, the city of Hughson in Stanislaus county grew by 16 percent – or 680 people – during the same period, making it the fastest growing city in California.
Population numbers have meaning beyond statistics, according to City Manager Ed Tewes.
“Our population is a factor in one revenue source,” said Tewes, referring to the Vehicle License Fee. The formula for the VLF, Tewes said, involves a city’s percentage of the state’s population and the value of all cars registered in the state.
“If we grow faster than the state population, we get a bigger share,” he said. “If it is slower, we get less.”
Tewes said this year’s growth adjustment was so small if probably won’t change much. The state grew at 1.7 percent.
Population matters in another way, too.
“It is always a factor on the radar screens of retailers and restaurateurs – who count ‘rooftops’,” Tewes said.
Measure P allotments are also tied to population, said Ralph Lyle, a planning commissioner who is well-versed in the measure. An allotment allows a developer access to a definite number of building permits.
“Because of the increase in population,” he said, “the allotments we can give out in the fiscal years 2004-05 and 2005-06 will be 182, not 164.” Lyle qualified this by saying the numbers are not definite yet and some allotments have already been awarded.
In fiscal year 2002-03, the city, through Measure P, has authorized 179 single- and multi-family dwelling units.
The slowed population growth is one factor in declining enrollment in the Morgan Hill School District.
Santa Clara County, in the depths of economic slow down, grew by 13,100, from 1,716,800 to 1,729,900 – or .8 percent.
The state as a whole grew by 591,000 in the year 2002, to a total of 35,591,000, boosted by what the DOF refers to as “natural increase and net migration.” Numbers show a decrease in the upward pace of population growth compared to 2001 when 633,000 arrived in state – a 1.8 percent increase.
Of 476 incorporated California cities, 410 gained in population and 33 remained the same. Thirty-three other cities lost population, between .01 (Sunnyvale) and 2.2 percent (Holtville in Imperial County).
In the county three cities – Campbell, Los Altos and Sunnyvale registered slight population losses (down 0.1 to 0.5 percent). The city of Los Gatos had no change whatsoever. Unincorporated areas lost 0.03 in 2001 and 0.04 in 2002.
The complete population report can be found online at www.dof.ca.gov/ Click on “what’s new”
