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The Morgan Hill City Council has a busy evening lined up for April 19, with two workshops starting at 5 p.m. followed by a regular meeting that features discussions—and potential decisions—on such hot topics as residential development allowances, the long-planned Economic Blueprint and a review of the downtown Sunsweet mixed-use project.Toward the end of the lengthy meeting agenda, the council will consider how many total housing allotments to issue to developers for the 2019-20 fiscal year, under the city’s Residential Development Control System.The 2019-20 competition for housing units is the first under Measure S, the growth control update approved by voters in November 2016 that caps annual allotments at 215, and the city’s total population at 58,200, until 2035. The measure allows the council to set each year’s maximum housing units below 215. In fact, the Morgan Hill Planning Commission on March 14 recommended the maximum for 2019-20 be set at 200 units.At the April 19 meeting, the council will consider whether to approve the planning commission’s recommendation, or approve a higher or lower number (up to 215) of housing units for 2019-20. The council will also consider other policy changes to “non-voter approved” sections of Measure S. Sunsweet projectThe council will consider site, architectural and landscaping plans for the Sunsweet mixed-use, 83-unit residential and commercial project on East Third Street.Developer Republic Properties is requesting the approvals for the 1.65-acre site that stretches on the south side of Third Street from just east of the new downtown garage to Depot Street.The project plans include the residential apartments for rent, as well as more than 8,000 square feet of commercial space.In February, the council approved a planned development zoning for the property, which is owned by Rocke and Glenda Garcia.Settlement with LAFCOIn response to a settlement with an outside agency that threatened litigation against Morgan Hill, the council April 19 will also consider adopting a policy that adds an extra layer of review, beyond the Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan Update, for future annexation projects.In August 2016, the Santa Clara County Local Agency Formation Commission voted to pursue litigation against the City of Morgan Hill because LAFCO felt the Morgan Hill 2035 Environmental Impact Report was inadequate.The city and LAFCO entered discussions to avoid litigation, and came up with a settlement agreement that requires the city to implement an “Annexation EIR” before proposing any future annexation requests, according to a city staff report. The Annexation EIR would conduct further environmental review “prior to the consideration of Urban Service Area amendments and/or annexation of property located within the city’s Urban Growth Boundary.”The Annexation EIR also “shall not tier from, or rely in any way, on the Morgan Hill 2035 EIR,” the staff report continues. It will also be required to include a water supply assessment of potential annexed lands, as well as an assessment of the city’s water and wastewater infrastructure master plans.At the April 19 meeting, the council will consider adopting the Annexation EIR process. As an alternative, the council could decide to wait until the county’s Climate and Agricultural Protection Program is complete before adopting the Annexation EIR process.The only imminent annexation proposal identified in the April 19 council meeting staff report is that of the Catholic High School in the area of Tennant and Murphy avenues. The developer, the San Jose Diocese, will likely ask the city to annex the property “no later than early 2019.”Preparation of an Annexation EIR is estimated to cost $200,000 in consultants’ fees, and take at least eight months to complete.Economic BlueprintThe council will also consider passage of the Economic Blueprint draft released by city staff last week. This document, which will also be the subject of a 5:30 council workshop just before the regular meeting, is a long-term plan for how city staff and community members can work together to guide economic development and job creation efforts for the future.Other April 19 agenda items• Starting at 5 p.m., the council will conduct a workshop on the city’s Below Market Rate housing percentages, to “discuss how the city creates affordable housing through the (RDCS).” The workshop will also consider whether the council wants to modify the “8 percent on-site BMR provision in the RDCS,” according to the city staff report.• On the consent calendar of the 7 p.m. regular meeting, the council will consider adopting a resolution remembering the victims of the Holocaust and acknowledging the Days of Remembrance which fall on April 23 to April 30.• The council will also consider adopting a resolution “encouraging the celebration of the month of June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning Pride Month.”• A final map approval of the Dunne Murphy residential development is also on the consent calendar.To see the full April 19 council meeting agenda, visit morganhill.ca.gov. The BMR workshop will start at 5 p.m., followed by the Economic Blueprint workshop. The regular council meeting will start at 7 p.m. All proceedings will take place at 17575 Peak Ave.

The City of Morgan Hill is preparing to submit grant applications for tree planting and bike path projects, located primarily in the neighborhood surrounding Butterfield Boulevard from East Dunne to Railroad Avenue, according to an email from city staff.  Each project is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.In the process, the city invites the public to participate in the projects. Any Morgan Hill residents who want to know more about the projects can attend a community meeting from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 20 at Barrett Elementary School, 895 Barrett Ave., or contact Cynthia Iwanaga at [email protected] or (408) 776-7383.The city has proposed two projects to be completed if the city receives the grant funds: an Urban Forest Management Plan and the Butterfield Connector Path Project.  Urban Forest Management Plan and Associated Tree PlantingThis project focuses on the development of an Urban Forest Management Plan that would provide a guide to more effective tree planting and tree management in the city limits, according to city staff. As part of the Urban Forest Management Plan project, the city has also proposed to plant 473 new trees along Butterfield Boulevard, East Dunne Avenue and at the Outdoor Sports Center. If funded, the project would begin with community workshops in fall 2017/spring 2018 and be completed no later than March 30, 2020.Butterfield Connector Path Project and Associated Tree PlantingThis project focuses on the completion of the existing bike path along Butterfield Boulevard from East Central Avenue to San Pedro Avenue. The Butterfield Connector Path Project would extend the bike and walking path south of San Pedro to Fisher Avenue and go under the Railroad Avenue overpass connecting the bike path to the future site of the Community Garden. This project would enhance the ability of community residents to reach downtown and employment opportunities in the city's business parks to the north in addition to the new community garden located off Railroad Avenue.

Construction is about to begin on three new downtown parks, with an official groundbreaking ceremony scheduled by city officials for April 26.The Morgan Hill City Council approved the final design and construction of the three new parks at their Feb. 22 meeting, at a maximum cost of about $5.5 million. This week, the process started with crews’ mobilization of equipment and setting up of staging areas at the Depot Street parking lot just south of the train station, and at the West Little Llagas Creek park site between West Second and Third streets, according to city staff.The prep work also means the southern portion of the Depot Street parking lot—between Third and Fourth streets—will be closed to the public as of April 17, when construction crews set up a chain link fence around the construction site.The more visible and intensive construction work won’t begin until April 24, and city staff expect the parks to be complete by the end of 2017. In the meantime, residents and business owners can expect not only the loss of parking on Depot Street, but also occasional traffic disruptions.“There will be periodic roadway closures and detours that will affect both traffic and/or property access for all three sites,” Morgan Hill Senior Project Manager Yat Cho said. “We will further communicate with affected residents/business owners with advance notice to them throughout the project.”The city will host an official groundbreaking ceremony for the parks at the Creek Park site, just west of Monterey Road on Third Street (just past the one-lane bridge), starting at 5:30 p.m. April 26.The parks will be constructed with a variety of funds, including the city’s park impact and public facilities funds, leftover Redevelopment Agency money and about $2 million in grants, according to city staff. At the Feb. 22 meeting, the council approved a construction contract with Suarez and Munoz Construction, Inc., to build all three parks.The new parks, first conceptualized by city planners in 2014 and designed by Verde Design, will offer a variety of new casual recreational spaces for visitors and residents of downtown Morgan Hill, according to city staff.The Depot Park will be the most child-oriented of the three parks, with a wide variety of play equipment scattered throughout the site that sits along the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. That site also includes shade structures, a seven-foot sound wall, trees and other landscaping, colorful walkways and railroad-themed décor, art and play equipment. This site will include a public restroom.The Hilltop Park and Trail, at the top of the hill at the end of West Third Street, will open the area surrounding the city’s downtown water tank to the public. This park will be more fitness oriented, with paved pathways throughout the site, with exercise equipment, retaining walls, stairs and bike racks. A giant slide will be built into the steep hillside.The third downtown park is known as the Creek Park, located on a small, quiet stretch of West Little Llagas Creek on the west side of downtown, behind commercial businesses located on the 17300 block of Monterey Road, between Second and Third streets. This park will also provide new landscaping and walking/bicycle paths, with more play equipment, public art, a pedestrian bridge crossing the creek, bike racks and a bicycle “fix it” station with a kiosk illustrating a map of nearby bike paths.All three parks will include new lighting and security cameras, according to the project website.The city’s Parks & Recreation Commission scheduled a discussion on the possible names for the new parks for its April 18 meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. at council meeting chambers, 17575 Peak Ave. In recent weeks, the city has asked residents to submit names for the new parks, and the results of this request will be presented at the April 18 commission meeting.For more information about the parks project, visit the city’s website at morganhill.ca.gov/1248/Downtown-Parks-and-Trails.

DisturbanceAn angry customer at Taco Bell, 16900 Monterey Road, was warned by police not to return to the restaurant after angrily yelling at employees. The customer was reportedly upset with restaurant staff because her food did not look the same as it did in the picture of the item she ordered. The woman was “angry because she is paying for the meal and they aren’t making her the Beefy Frito Burrito the way they’re supposed to,” reads a police report. Eventually, the “burrito mystery was solved.” The incident was reported 11:38 a.m. April 11.Reckless vehicleA gray or white Toyota Tercel was seen spinning donuts in the middle of Tennant Avenue at the intersection of U.S. 101. The car was also seen running two red lights and speeding. The recklessness was reported 7:25 p.m. April 10.Hit and runA motorist crashed into a light pole and planter box on the corner of Monterey Road and Third Street, and fled the scene. The damage was reported 8:18 a.m. April 9.BrandishingTwo children were riding their bicycles in a parking lot near Hale and West Main avenues when a resident on the other side of a fence pointed what appeared to be a rifle or shotgun at them. The children reported the incident to their parents, who reported it to police. Officers determined some other children inside the fence pointed the weapon, which turned out to be a Red Rider BB gun. No arrests or citations were made. The incident was reported 3:21 p.m. April 8.AccidentPolice reported major injuries resulting from a head-on collision at the intersection of East Dunne Avenue and Church Street. A Honda Pilot and Dodge Caravan were involved in the accident, which was reported 10:12 a.m. April 12. One of the drivers complained of chest pain, and was transported to a nearby hospital.Oversized vehicle parkingSeveral motorhomes were reported parked on Vineyard Boulevard, obscuring the visibility of motorists exiting the parking lot of nearby businesses. Police told the caller that the vehicles are legally parked on the street. The oversized vehicles were reported 5:10 p.m. April 11.Municipal code violationA man was reportedly living in a blue van parked near the intersection of Keith Way and East Edmundson Avenue for three weeks. A witness called police to report the stationary vehicle, and an officer advised the man not to sleep in his vehicle in that area. The violation was reported 1:02 p.m. April 7.Petty theftSomeone stole “a lot of” baby formula from Safeway, 235 Tennant Station, and left in a green Acura Integra. The incident was reported 6:37 a.m. April 11.A thief or thieves stole about $600 worth of tools from a vehicle parked on Brookview Court. The theft was reported 6:30 a.m. April 12.Someone stole two license plates from a green Toyota Camry parked on the 200 block of Burnett Avenue. The theft was reported 1:31 p.m. April 7.A thief or thieves stole the front and rear license plates from a white Ford pickup parked at the City Ventures job site on the 18100 block of Old Monterey Road. The theft was reported 5:18 p.m. April 8. FraudA victim who lives in Morgan Hill reported he received two credit cards in the mail—one from Target and one from Nordstrom—that he did not apply for. He contacted Target, where a representative told him someone entered a store in San Francisco and applied for the card, using the victim’s name and Social Security number but a North Carolina ID. The fraud was reported 3:14 p.m. April 10.Someone stole a victim’s checkbook and used cashed three checks in the total amount of $800. The fraud was reported 6:52 a.m. April 12.Miscellaneous callA resident of Murphy Springs Drive reported that an unknown man opened his house door and yelled “Hello?” It was the second time in a week that the incident occurred at the home. The stranger did not take anything except a container of Altoids breath mints, “In case we find someone with Altoids,” a police report reads. The incident was reported 6:48 a.m. April 6.DisturbanceA man entered Wal-Mart, 170 Cochrane Plaza, “yelling and screaming” before he pulled a knife on employees who tried to escort him out of the store. The employees were able to remove the man from the store without any injuries occurring. Police responded and found the man standing in the parking lot next to his truck, and cited him on suspicion of drug violations. The incident was reported 4 p.m. April 6.All subjects are innocent until proven guilty. Information is compiled from public records.

Police seek possible hit-and-run suspectPolice are looking for a possible hit-and-run suspect after a young man was found lying face down in the middle of a Morgan Hill street Sunday night.About 11:20 p.m. April 16, Morgan Hill Police officers located a 19-year-old man lying in the middle of the roadway near 165 Spring Ave., according to a post on the MHPD Facebook page.The man had suffered multiple injuries, and could not explain how he ended up lying down in the middle of the street, according to the post.Based on the man’s injuries and other evidence at the scene, police think the subject had been struck by a vehicle. The man was transported to Saint Louise Regional Hospital, and later to San Jose Regional Hospital.Anyone with any information about this incident can contact MHPD at (408) 779-2101 or the anonymous tip line at (408) 947-7867.MHPD: Man arrested with 1.5 ounce of meth for saleMorgan Hill Police arrested a San Jose man Saturday night on suspicion of numerous narcotics charges following a traffic stop and vehicle search that yielded more than an ounce of methamphetamine, according to authorities.On the evening of April 15, an MHPD officer made a vehicle stop on Murphy Avenue, according to a post by MHPD on Facebook. The officer made contact with the people in the vehicle and confirmed multiple warrants for one of the occupants, Salvador Heredia, 44 of San Jose.Heredia was also in possession of about 1.5 ounces of methamphetamine, scales, baggies and other items indicating he intended to sell narcotics, police said. The estimated street value of the drugs was about $2,000.Heredia was booked at Santa Clara County Jail on the warrants and on suspicion of the narcotics offenses, police said.Anyone with information about this incident can contact MHPD at (408) 779-2101.

City Hall this week released a draft of its long-in-the-works Economic Blueprint, a document compiled with the help of Morgan Hill’s private businesses and residents that outlines how the city can grow its economy in the coming years.“From a thriving economy and highly inclusive community to a healthy environment, the community's long-term sustainability is the foundation for all policies, projects, programs, and initiatives,” reads a portion of the Blueprint draft. “The Economic Blueprint is a significant opportunity to advance this vision and all the benefits of a sustainable community.”In summary, the Economic Blueprint draft lists four key industries that planners expect to drive the economy and create jobs, revenues and a “fiscally sustainable future,” according to the press release:• Innovation and advanced manufacturing;• Retail;• Tourism, including leisure, agriculture, wine production and recreation;• Healthcare, particularly the medical service and diagnostics industries.“By articulating clear intentions with these industries, and developing implementation strategies, the city, the business community, businesses, developers, investors and other economic development partners will be better positioned to realize the dividends of a focused and collaborative effort,” the Blueprint adds. “From the city's perspective, a primary responsibility is to make land use and policy decisions that will attract investment, remove unnecessary barriers, achieve economic sustainability and in return enhance the community's quality of life.”The City Council will discuss and likely approve a final version of the Economic Blueprint at the April 19 meeting, starting at 5:30 p.m. at council meeting chambers, 1575 Peak Ave.The 59-page draft is full of financial and demographic data that illustrates the need for an ongoing focus on the four categories listed above. For example, residential properties in Morgan Hill generate about 67 percent of the city’s general fund revenue, but account for about 75 percent of general fund costs. By contrast, commercial properties contribute about 28 percent of general fund revenues, but only about 21 percent of the costs, page 16 of the Blueprint draft states.Manufacturing continues to make up the largest share (21 percent) of the roughly 16,000 jobs in Morgan Hill, followed by education and healthcare (14 percent of all employment), professional and scientific services (12 percent) and retail (12 percent).In addition to the four key industry sectors listed above, the Blueprint also establishes “four pillars” that align with the city’s General Plan 2035 priorities: maintain the quality of life, fiscal sustainability, job growth and tourism.The Blueprint establishes “benchmarks” that city planners and developers will be encouraged to meet along the way toward these goals. These include policies that facilitate zoning and General Plan allowances for certain types of new development, additional marketing for sports-related and lodging projects, potential new funding sources for property improvements, among many others.The Blueprint includes detailed “work programs” that gives a timeline of when these benchmarks should be completed, and which city department will take the lead on each strategy.Another key measurement for the success of the Economic Blueprint will be the frequent evaluation of “economic indicators” in Morgan Hill. These include:• The city’s unemployment rate (currently 4.1 percent)• Jobs/housing ratio (1.42 in 2010)• The number of retail businesses in town (112 in 2015)• Annual sales tax revenue ($8.8 million projected this year), property tax revenue ($6.3 million), transient occupancy (hotel) tax ($2.6 million)• Commercial vacancy rate (5.24 percent in 2016)• Total jobs in Morgan Hill (15,700 at the end of 2015)• Business to business revenue ($1.18 million in 2016)• Number of hotel rooms available in town (912 as of October 2016), and the vacancy rate of these rooms (now about 70 percent).The process of drafting the Economic Blueprint began in 2015, and has been led by city staff members Edith Ramirez and John Lang. It has also included input from the council and planning commission, as well as “thought leaders” and “pathfinders” from the private sector and neighboring public agencies.The Economic Blueprint draft can be viewed on the city’s website, morganhill.ca.gov.

Chris Enns and her husband were traveling from Grass Valley to Monterey March 28 to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary, when their luggage and a cache of valuable items were stolen from their car during a lunch stop in Morgan Hill.An unknown suspect smashed two windows of their vehicle while they were eating at Chili’s on Cochrane Road, said Enns, an author. Stolen were two laptop computers, iPads, irreplaceable work files and everything that was in the couple’s luggage.Enns called MHPD as soon as they noticed the damage and theft. The couple hasn’t heard any updates from police, and their stolen items have not been recovered, she said.Through her conversations with an officer and others associated with the parking lot property outside Chili’s, which is part of the Cochrane Commons shopping center anchored by Target, Enns learned that such vehicle break-ins are common on the commercial properties in the area where Cochrane Road intersects with U.S. 101.“It’s amazing your police department knows about these people, but doesn’t do anything about it,” Enns said. “There needs to be signage (in the parking lots) that says people leave their vehicles at their own risk.”Police have seen an “influx” of such crimes, known as theft from a vehicle, along the stretch of Cochrane Road from the Target shopping center, south to the parking lots of In N Out, Denny’s and a shopping center at the corner of Cochrane and Madrone Parkway that houses numerous tenants, according to MHPD Sgt. Carson Thomas.He noted that about half of the recent incidents are “crimes of opportunity” in which the vehicle owner has left the cars unlocked, and the other half result from “people leaving valuables in the front and back seat, visible.”The precise numbers of these crimes don’t show a plague of vehicle burglaries, but many who frequent these properties are aware of the incidents. Some have taken extra security precautions in recent weeks as a result.From October 2016 to March 2017, eleven theft from vehicle crimes were reported on these Cochrane Road properties, according to MHPD Crime Analyst Margarita Balagso.No arrests have been made in relation to these thefts, but Thomas suspects the thief or thieves are from out of town—“most likely from up north.” He noted that the location of these parking lots, with easy access to the freeway, makes it difficult to catch the suspects.“It’s a high concentrated area of people who are shopping or eating, so crooks figure people are going to be in those establishments for a while,” Thomas said.He added that MHPD is working with regional law enforcement task forces to investigate the crimes and identify a suspect or suspects.Thefts are bad for businessA handful of employees at the shopping center at Madrone and Cochrane, contacted by the Times April 11, were aware of the recent string of vehicle break-ins.Jared Stephen, manager of Anytime Fitness, said the center’s property manager recently beefed up security by making regular foot and vehicle patrols in the parking lot. He said there have been “no issues” since that started about two weeks ago.He added that customers of the 24-hour gym were “voicing their concerns” about the uptick in vehicle burglaries, prompting the additional security. Others were frequently posting about the incidents on Facebook and other social media.“That’s bad for business once stuff like that goes on (social media),” Stephen added.A few doors down at Peet’s Coffee, manager Amanda Dekelaita said she has heard from customers about the recent thefts. She also said she hasn’t heard of any further crimes since the increase in security a couple weeks ago.Managers of In N Out and Chili’s referred the Times to their corporate offices, which did not respond before press time.Enns added that since her car was broken into, she has been warning people she knows not to stop in Morgan Hill when they’re traveling through the area.Balagso, the city’s crime analyst, added that throughout Morgan Hill, a total of 55 theft from vehicle incidents have been reported from October to March.

Police arrested two people and recovered a handgun following a Morgan Hill traffic stop in which the driver gave police a false name and driver’s license, according to authorities.A Morgan Hill Police officer initiated the traffic stop in the area of Monterey Road and Berkshire Drive early in the morning April 8. The driver provided the officer with another person’s driver’s license, attempting to pass it off as his own, according to a post on the MHPD Facebook page.The officer thought something was suspicious about the ID and “peppered” both occupants of the vehicle with questions about where they lived, according to police. Despite saying they both live in Morgan Hill, they were “fuzzy” on their answers.During an initial DUI investigation of the vehicle and its driver, a MHPD dispatcher advised the officer that the owner of the vehicle had a warrant for his arrest, police said. An officer at the scene called the driver by the vehicle owner’s name, Todd Branon, and the driver responded.“Branon immediately realized his mistake and his head fell back as he explained that he had a warrant and lied about his name to avoid jail,” the Facebook post reads.Branon was arrested on suspicion of DUI, false ID to an officer, using another person’s license and suspicion of identity theft, police said.The passenger, Irene Camacho, was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of drugs, possession of drugs, possession of paraphernalia, felon in possession of a firearm and other charges.Anyone with information about this incident can call MHPD at (408) 779-2101.

Animal control

Purchases in Santa Clara County just became a little more expensive with the new half-cent Measure B sales tax going into effect April 1.Those funds will jumpstart the Valley Transportation Authority’s 30-year collection of more funds to fix potholes, upgrade highway interchanges, build expressways, improve bus and Caltrain service and complete other transportation efforts.In Morgan Hill, the biggest windfalls from the new sales tax—passed by voters in November 2016 as Measure B—will come in the form of $800,000 annually for basic roads and streets maintenance/upgrades, and about $9.5 million for the long-needed Santa Teresa Boulevard/Hale Avenue extension on the west side of town.Other Measure B funds potentially disbursed to Morgan Hill could help improve pedestrian/bicycle safety and mobility, add more bus lines to the area and bring more Caltrain service to local residents, according to city staff.But the funds won’t start rolling in for at least four months, as VTA staff and representatives, with the help of a citizens oversight committee and officials from 15 cities in the county who will benefit from the tax, will spend the next quarter drafting a detailed plan for the expenditure of the funds.“By the end of the quarter, we’ll be able to start getting money out to the cities so they can start using it on road repair,” said Morgan Hill Mayor Pro Tem Larry Carr, who sits on the VTA board of directors.VTA expects to receive its first payment of Measure B sales tax in June. The board is scheduled to adopt a “final draft program” for Measure B, as well as a budget allocation for 2018-19, by the end of June, according to the VTA website.Measure B is projected to raise between $6 billion and $6.5 billion countywide for transportation infrastructure improvements over the next 30 years. Funding is divided into nine categories, not all of which will directly impact Morgan Hill:• $1.5 billion for the BART extension to downtown San Jose;• $250 million for bicycle/pedestrian mobility and safety improvements;• $314 million for Caltrain capacity improvements;• $700 million for Caltrain grade separations;•  $750 million for county expressways (including the Santa Teresa/Hale extension in Morgan Hill);• $750 million for highway interchanges;• $1.2 billion for local streets and roads (including $800,000 annually for Morgan Hill);• $350 million for State Route 85 corridor congestion relief and noise abatement;• $500 million for public transit operations.Need is desperateThe drafters of Measure B used a formula based on each city’s population and roadway miles to determine their annual allocation from the new sales tax funds. In Morgan Hill, that amount comes to $800,000 annually, though the first full annual allocation likely won’t come until next fiscal year.The city currently spends just more than $2 million per year on street maintenance, but officials have declared they need to spend at least $5.8 million just to maintain roadway infrastructure in its current citywide condition.With Measure B and possible new gas tax funding proposed last week by the governor, city officials are optimistic about future pothole repair and other maintenance projects. The new gas taxes, which have yet to be approved by the state legislature, could bring another $1.4 million annually to Morgan Hill for streets infrastructure, Carr said.“That’s the closest we’ve come to the state doing something” to repair roads and streets, Carr added.Unexpectedly to Carr and other officials, shortly after Measure B was approved, VTA suggested the annual funds for maintenance and pothole repair could come in the form of a reimbursement, rather than an up-front distribution.“I’ve heard concerns about that,” Carr said. “It’s not the way most cities or I were thinking about it when supporting the measure last fall.”He added that he thinks the City of Morgan Hill can afford to work with that proposal if it becomes the rule, but admits it would be easier for cities to receive the funds before spending them.Westside bypass funding on the wayAnother vital transportation need in Morgan Hill is the extension of the Santa Teresa Boulevard/Hale Avenue corridor on the west side of town. This project has been in the pre-planning stages for decades, with viable funding having dried up over the years.The “county expressways” category of Measure B projects would provide about 70 percent of the city’s cost to extend Santa Teresa Boulevard from the intersection of Hale and West Main Avenues, to the intersection of Spring and DeWitt avenues. This funding amounts to about $9.5 million, with the city kicking in the remaining $4 million or so.Together, these sums will cover design, right-of-way acquisition, environmental studies and construction, according to Morgan Hill Public Works Director Karl Bjarke.When deciding how to spend these expressway funds countywide, the VTA board will give preference to projects that are “shovel ready,” added Morgan Hill Finance Director Christina Turner. She sits on the Measure B Technical Advisory Committee with Bjarke and representatives of the 15 other cities that are slated to benefit from Measure B.Bjarke added the city’s portion of the Santa Teresa/Hale extension will be “100 percent designed” in May. After that, private property purchases for the new roadway’s right-of-way will proceed, and Bjarke expects the project to be shovel ready by the middle of 2018.There is also a county portion of the Santa Teresa/Hale extension, which will extend the roadway from DeWitt and Spring Avenue to Sunnyside and West Edmundson Avenue. This project, projected to cost about $8 million, is also on the list of Measure B expressway projects.Together, these two extensions will create a seamless bypass around the west side of downtown Morgan Hill—something that residents and city planners have identified as key to solving the area’s worsening congestion problems.