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With overwhelming support from local business representatives, the Morgan Hill City Council April 19 approved the Economic Blueprint, which has been in the works since 2015.The Blueprint serves as a long-term guide for city planners and the private sector to grow Morgan Hill’s economy and public revenues by addressing current impediments to such growth and capitalizing on existing opportunities.The five-member council approved the Blueprint unanimously, after representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Association and Morgan Hill Tourism Alliance submitted their comments in support of the document draft released by city staff last week.In summary, the Economic Blueprint lists four key industries that planners expect to drive the economy and create jobs, revenues and a “fiscally sustainable future:”• 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 reads. “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.”Members of the public who spoke at the April 19 meeting urged the council to keep its eye on what they see as a top priority for the economic health of Morgan Hill: attracting more jobs to town.John Horner, President and CEO of the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce, noted the vast discrepancy between the number of working residents in town versus the number of jobs in the city limits.“From 2002 to 2014, if jobs growth had kept pace with resident growth, there would be another 3,500 to 4,000 jobs in Morgan Hill,” Horner said.In a letter to the council, Horner also emphasized the many roadblocks to business growth here that are listed in the Blueprint: higher city planning/building fee structures than neighboring cities, the absence of new commercial or industrial square footage in Morgan Hill and the conversion in recent years of hundreds of acres of undeveloped industrial land for residential uses.“The Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce has been very concerned about our city’s decade-plus history of adding working residents at more than 10 times the rate of local job creation,” Horner’s letter states. “Becoming ever more of a bedroom community is unhealthy and unsustainable from economic, environmental and quality of life viewpoints. Contrary to the arguments some have made in the past, adding more places for people to live has not resulted in more local jobs.”Councilmember Caitlin Jachimowicz commented that the effort to bring more jobs to Morgan Hill is not only a “quality of life” issue; it’s also a public safety concern because all the commuting creates more congestion and traffic hazards on the roads.“We have a moral imperative to help people with their safety and quality of life, to be able to work in the place that they live,” Jachimowicz said.Data and measurementsThe 59-page Blueprint 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.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 offer 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 occupancy 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.

Gary Harmon, a former Morgan Hill producer who is now accused of embezzling at least $500,000 from local victims, is out of custody as he awaits his arraignment May 9.Harmon was transported to Santa Clara County Jail April 7 from Clark County Detention Center in Nevada, according to Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Erica Engin. Police in Las Vegas arrested him March 23 in that city on suspicion of grand theft and securities fraud in relation to at least two victims in Morgan Hill. The arrest warrant was originally filed by MHPD.Specifically, Harmon faces two counts of grand theft and three counts of securities fraud (violations of the California corporations code), according to authorities.Harmon, formerly a Morgan Hill resident and local high school teacher, also faces an “aggravated white collar crime” enhancement to the charges, which means he is accused of stealing more than $500,000 from his victims, Engin added.He was released from Santa Clara County Jail on bail April 8, just a day after he was booked at the local facility, Engin said. He will appear for his arraignment May 9 at South County Courthouse in Morgan Hill.If convicted of all five charges, Harmon faces a maximum penalty of 16 years in prison.Harmon is the director of ARTTEC, a music and film production company now based in Nevada. Under Harmon’s leadership, ARTTEC produced a number of shows in Morgan Hill up until about 2014. These performances included Kiefer Sutherland and his band ZZ Lightfoot, SmashMouth, Queensryche, Survivor, Greg Kihn, Bret Michaels and others.

For the second time in less than a week, a motorcyclist died April 19 in a traffic collision at the intersection of Leavesley and Holsclaw roads in Gilroy, according to authorities.About 9:05 p.m., a Honda Accord was traveling northbound on Holsclaw Road, just south of Leavesley Road when the driver came to a stop at the intersection of the two roads, according to a press release from the California Highway Patrol.At the same time, a 62-year-old Los Banos man riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling eastbound on Leavesley Road. As the motorcycle approached the intersection of Holsclaw Road at an unknown rate of speed, the Honda proceeded from the stop sign directly into the path of the motorcyclist on Leavesley Road, according to police.The motorcycle collided into the left front fender of the Honda, which was driven by a 17-year-old Morgan Hill man. A 14-year-old passenger was also in the Honda.Fire and emergency personnel responded to the scene, where the motorcyclist was pronounced dead after paramedics attempted first-aid, police said. The motorcyclist has not been identified.Police do not think alcohol or drugs were a factor in the collision. An investigation into the accident is ongoing.Just five days earlier, on April 15, Richard “Ricky” Luciano Martinez, 53 of Gilroy, died after he collided with a vehicle at the same intersection. Martinez was riding his motorcycle eastbound on Leavesley Road when a 2000 Ford traveling westbound turned directly in front of him onto Holsclaw Road, according to police.Martinez was pronounced dead at the hospital, after he was transported from the scene, police said.Anyone with information about either of the fatal accidents can call CHP at (408) 848-2324.

Violent crime, robbery, burglary and auto theft are on the rise in Morgan Hill over the last year, according to a recent report from Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen’s office. However, a new countywide initiative to combat these trends—which are mirrored in other nearby cities—is being implemented by the D.A.On April 12, Rosen issued the office’s first report ever that compiles crime data from county law enforcement and judicial agencies, as well as figures from individual cities located within Santa Clara County.Spurred by this 32-page analysis, Rosen’s office will be launching initiatives targeting gun crime and residential burglaries. These efforts are intended to more quickly match weapons and ammunition with the criminals who used them, and to take serial home burglary gangs off the streets, according to DA’s Office staff.“Through a more data-driven approach to crime, our county law enforcement partners will be able to better utilize their limited resources for efficient and effective crime fighting,” Rosen said. “This recommitment to fighting crime with the latest and most comprehensive data will strengthen our collaboration for years to come.”The crime data analysis, titled “Crime in Santa Clara County,” details a historically safe county facing new criminal challenges—namely residential burglaries and a recent spike in violent crime—with a declining number of officers to address them, summarizes a press release on the report.The DA’s new Weapon Initiative will increase staffing at the DA’s Crime Laboratory in order to speed up the processing of guns and bullet casings collected as evidence in crimes. Rosen expects this effort to lead to “more arrests, and more prosecutions.”To combat residential burglaries, the DA’s Crime Strategies Unit will partner with local police task forces to identify and prosecute burglary crews. The DA’s report notes that a small number of “prolific burglars” are responsible for a large portion of the residential burglaries in the county each year.The DA’s Crime Strategies Unit uses data analysis to improve officials’ understanding of crime and the prosecution of crime in the county, according to the press release. The CSU shares that intelligence with local police departments, other units in the DA’s office and the public to help solve crimes and “promote fairness and equity in the criminal justice system.”The numbersThe recent trend of declining property crime and rising violent crime mirrors that of the nation as a whole, according to the report. Gun cases in particular have risen slowly, and slightly, in Santa Clara County in the last five years, from 974 in 2012 to 982 in 2016. Gun cases are defined as gun-related crimes (629 in 2016) and crimes with a gun enhancement (353 in 2016).The DA’s report also contains a number of charts and tables illustrating different incidents of crime and changes in each of the county’s cities. In Morgan Hill, three categories of crimes increased by double digits from 2015 to 2016: violent crime (15 percent increase), aggravated assault (16 percent), robbery (20 percent), burglary (11 percent) and auto theft (3 percent).Property crimes in general in Morgan Hill dropped by 12 percent from 2015 to 2016, according to the report.

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.