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The Morgan Hill City Council July 20 will talk about placing a $38 million general obligation bond for street infrastructure repairs and maintenance on the November ballot. If the bonds are approved by voters, they would be repaid with a parcel tax on local property owners.But the council might approve a new local sales tax instead, as they are awaiting results of a survey—currently being tabulated by consultant Godbe Research—on the question of which new funding source the voters might prefer. Those results will be presented to the council July 27, when the five-member body is scheduled to approve a local funding measure for the ballot.The bond could be used to fund basic city services such as parks, recreation and public facilities, according to a draft “Resolution of Necessity” for the bonds, which city staff is recommending the council approval.But the crucial need, as discussed by council members numerous times for the last three years, is funding for repair and maintenance of city streets and roads. Staff estimates that the city currently suffers a funding shortfall of about $5.8 million per year to maintain streets and roads at their current level.Councilman Rich Constantine said the choice between a general obligation bond and a sales tax is one of palatability to the voters. With the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s half-cent countywide sales tax for transportation infrastructure already approved for the Nov. 8 ballot, another such measure for Morgan Hill might get complicated.“If there are too many sales tax initiatives on the ballot, it may be confusing to voters, or it may turn off voters,” Constantine said.At least one resident wonders why the city is just now pursuing a new local tax or bonds when they have known about the inadequate funding for street and road repairs for several years.“Issuing a bond doesn't resolve the problem of city leaders not being more attentive to their fiscal responsibility. These funding gaps have been a known and ongoing issue for Morgan Hill for years, particularly with respect to street maintenance,” reads a letter from Morgan Hill resident Chris Monack to the council addressing the July 20 agenda item. “Every budget available on the City's website, from 2007-08 to the present, has identified funding for street maintenance and repair as insufficient. Those same budgets continually noted increases in street maintenance backlogs.”The two-year budget approved by the council in June designates about $2.06 million for street maintenance for 2016-17, and about $2.13 million for the same purpose for 2017-18—far short of what elected officials and city staff say they need. That budget also adds $250,000 in general fund dollars for capital street improvements for each of the next three years.A passage from the city’s current Capital Improvement Program adds, “The 2016 Pavement Management Program update recommends needed rehabilitation of $3.9 million per year to maintain the city’s current Pavement Condition Index of 67 (“good”), though the deferred maintenance backlog will increase from $25.2 million to $30.7 million. The latest PMP report indicated a need to invest $6 million annually to increase the PCI from 67 to 72 and stabilize the backlog at $22.9 million.”A city staff report for the July 20 meeting notes that City Hall and consultants have been conducting public outreach and surveys over the last several months in an effort to determine the public’s priorities, and their level of interest in taxing themselves for additional funds to pay for those priorities. A November/December 2015 scientific survey conducted by Godbe Research found that local residents’ top priorities for their city government include rapid response to 911 emergencies; maintaining the number of police officers on patrol; maintaining crime prevention and investigation programs; maintaining fire protection; and maintaining city streets and repairing potholes.The last page of the 771-page budget approved in June adds that the survey found that 58 percent of respondents said “yes” to the concept of a local funding ballot measure to maintain city services.If the council approves the resolution of necessity at the July 20 meeting, they will have to conduct another public meeting before sending a measure to Registrar of Voters to place on the Nov. 8 ballot. That second meeting will take place July 27.If approved, $38 million worth of bonds would be repaid by an annual property assessment of $29 per $100,000 of assessed (not fair market) value of each property.A sales tax measure only requires one public meeting before the council’s approval for the ballot. The council will also discuss this option at the July 27 meeting. City staff have not identified how much a potential local sales tax would cost the taxpayers.The VTA has already submitted its Nov. 8 ballot measure for a countywide half-cent sales tax, to raise $6 billion over the next 30 years for streets and roads projects and maintenance.Constantine added that even with those funds, about $23 million of which are earmarked for Morgan Hill street repairs, the city still won’t have enough money to meet its current and long-term transportation infrastructure needs.The deadline to submit a measure for the Nov. 8 ballot is Aug. 5.Also on the agenda for the July 20 council meeting:• Discussion on the Residential Development Control System and General Plan update. No action is recommended, but the council will likely continue to discuss both documents—and perhaps approve final drafts—at the July 27 meeting. The RDCS update requires voter approval in November.• Approve about $1 million in funding for the county’s DeWitt Avenue “S” curve realignment.• Purchase two Ford Explorer police vehicles—one for the K-9 unit—for about $114,000.

Morgan Hill police released a short video from a downtown surveillance camera that authorities say shows the July 16 shooting suspect running away from the scene after firing nine rounds from a handgun on the 17300 block of Monterey Road.The video shows the suspect—described as a white male about 5-feet 10-inches tall—running south on the Monterey Road sidewalk in front of Ladera Grill restaurant. MHPD is asking viewers to share the video on social media, and report any information they have about the incident to authorities.Officers investigating the July 16 shooting—which resulted in damage to two vehicles and no injuries—have spoken to employees of downtown businesses and other witnesses to the incident, and have not determined the suspect’s motive or identity. Police say they have also combed through numerous surveillance camera images, resulting in the release of the short clip Tuesday morning.About 11:15 p.m. July 16, Morgan Hill police responded to a call of shots fired on the 17300 block of Monterey Road, on the west side of the street. As police responded to the scene, officers were told a man fired a handgun toward two vehicles, which were parked on Monterey Road.When officers arrived they determined a taxi cab and a pickup truck—both parked in front of M&H Tavern, 17365 Monterey Road—had been damaged by the gunfire, Thomas said. The shooter fired the handgun while he was standing or running from the area in front of Ladera Grill restaurant, 17305 Monterey Road, just two doors down the street from the Tavern.“Based on the trajectory of the bullets, he…shot while he was running, because two or three shots skipped off the ground,” Thomas added.The suspect ran south toward Fifth Street after the shooting, according to police. He was wearing a black baseball cap, dark sweatshirt, red shirt, dark pants and white shoes.Police also took statements from staff at the businesses and other people who were in the area at the time of the shooting, and have been unable to determine the shooter’s motive. None of the witnesses saw or heard an argument or altercation of any kind preceding the shooting, Thomas said.Bob Allman, bartender at M&H Tavern, was working at the time of the shooting. He said it had been a mellow evening and the crowd was just starting to build up to a size more typical of a Saturday night. When the shooting happened, Allman said he heard the loud noise outside while he was behind the bar, but he thought it was fireworks. What followed next was a scene of panic and desperation.“It was like watching TV,” Allman said. “People were pushing each other, and falling all over each other and panicking,” as they ran from the front of the bar—which faces Monterey Road and the two vehicles that were shot—toward the rear door which empties into a parking lot.After the initial panic, Allman went out the front door. He saw a shattered window on the pickup truck that was hit. Still thinking it was fireworks, he spoke briefly to an officer who responded. He then walked toward Ladera Grill and almost stepped on a number of spent shell casings that remained on the sidewalk.He then realized a shooting had just occurred. “I was shocked,” Allman said. Moments later, he closed the bar for the evening.As of Monday, chalk markings from the police investigation remained on the sidewalk in front of Ladera Grill and M&H Tavern. Eight numbered circles were marked in front of Ladera Grill.Thomas added that police continue to review video from surveillance cameras in the area that might have caught a recording of the shooter or what led up to the July 16 incident.MHPD is asking anyone who witnessed the shooting or has information about the incident to call Det. Fernando Del Moral at (669) 253-4964 or the anonymous tip line at (408) 947-7867.

After speaking with downtown bartenders and other witnesses, Morgan Hill Police continue to search for clues as to why an unidentified man fired several gunshots into two parked vehicles late in the evening July 16.Officers have also reviewed surveillance video from local businesses in hopes of finding images of the alleged shooter—described as a white man about 5-feet, 10-inches tall—but so far haven’t been able to identify him, according to MHPD Sgt. Carson Thomas.“At this point, we don’t have anymore leads,” Thomas said Monday.About 11:15 p.m. July 16, Morgan Hill police responded to a call of shots fired on the 17300 block of Monterey Road, on the west side of the street. As police responded to the scene, officers were told a man fired a handgun toward two vehicles, which were parked on Monterey Road.No injuries were reported, police said.When officers arrived they determined a taxi cab and a pickup truck—both parked in front of M&H Tavern, 17365 Monterey Road—had been damaged by the gunfire, Thomas said. The shooter fired the handgun while he was standing or running from the area in front of Ladera Grill restaurant, 17305 Monterey Road, just two doors down the street from the Tavern.“Based on the trajectory of the bullets, he…shot while he was running, because two or three shots skipped off the ground,” Thomas added.He said based on the bullet holes found in the two vehicles, the shooter fired “between six and eight” rounds.The suspect ran south toward Fifth Street after the shooting, according to police. He was wearing a black baseball cap, dark sweatshirt, red shirt, dark pants and white shoes.Police also took statements from staff at the businesses and other people who were in the area at the time of the shooting, and have been unable to determine the shooter’s motive. None of the witnesses saw or heard an argument or altercation of any kind preceding the shooting, Thomas said.Bob Allman, bartender at M&H Tavern, was working at the time of the shooting. He said it had been a mellow evening and the crowd was just starting to build up to a size more typical of a Saturday night. When the shooting happened, Allman said he heard the loud noise outside while he was behind the bar, but he thought it was fireworks. What followed next was a scene of panic and desperation.“It was like watching TV,” Allman said. “People were pushing each other, and falling all over each other and panicking,” as they ran from the front of the bar—which faces Monterey Road and the two vehicles that were shot—toward the rear door which empties into a parking lot.After the initial panic, Allman went out the front door. He saw a shattered window on the pickup truck that was hit. Still thinking it was fireworks, he spoke briefly to an officer who responded. He then walked toward Ladera Grill and almost stepped on a number of spent shell casings that remained on the sidewalk.He then realized a shooting had just occurred. “I was shocked,” Allman said. Moments later, he closed the bar for the evening.As of Monday, chalk markings from the police investigation remained on the sidewalk in front of Ladera Grill and M&H Tavern. Eight numbered circles were marked in front of Ladera Grill.Thomas added that police continue to review video from surveillance cameras in the area that might have caught a recording of the shooter or what led up to the July 16 incident.MHPD is asking anyone who witnessed the shooting or has information about the incident to call Det. Fernando Del Moral at (669) 253-4964 or the anonymous tip line at (408) 947-7867.

Police are looking for a man who fired several gunshots toward a group of vehicles in downtown Morgan Hill July 16.

The South County Outlaws lacrosse team comes together after competing in the All West Lacrosse West Coast Showcase that brought in teams from across California and beyond. The young SC Outlaws had players who had just recently picked up the game, but still battled against more seasoned opponents. Collin Fisher scored a big goal for the Outlaws despite the locals going winless in the tournament.

The building that once housed Simple Beverages liquor store, and has sat vacant for the last six-plus years on the corner of Third Street and Monterey was reduced to a pile of rubble Thursday afternoon.Developers Ken Rodrigues and Don Imwalle, who purchased the property from a post-Redevelopment trust fund last year, plan to build two new buildings housing four restaurants with a strong emphasis on outdoor patio dining.The restaurants coming to the downtown site—which has been cited as one of the most important properties for the future of the neighborhood—are owned by The Opa! Group, and include Opa, a Greek restaurant; Mo’s…the Breakfast & Burger Joint; Willard Hicks (steaks and American food); and Tac-Oh. The restaurants have other locations in the South Bay. Three of the four restaurants (excluding Tac-Oh) are located in downtown Campbell in a project similar to that proposed in Morgan Hill.Rodrigues said construction of the two buildings will take about 10 months, and outfitting the new restaurants will take another two months. He said he plans to be able to open all four restaurants simultaneously by Aug. 1, 2017.At least one resident is upset that a mature coast redwood tree located in the middle of the parking area in front of the former liquor store building is tagged for removal. Scribbled in red magic-marker ink on the notice for removal, which was taped to the tree April 29, is the message, “Trees are our protectors” and “Move the concrete.” There is also a yellow ribbon tied around the tree, and another sheet of paper with the handwritten message, “Help save this tree.”When asked about the informal protest, Rodrigues replied, “Unfortunately, that’s not going to be possible” to leave the tree standing. “We looked really hard at it. Every tree is important to me as an architect. This one was right in the middle of the (proposed) patio and the main walkway coming from the garage.”The new Downtown Garage is located behind the property, and includes a pedestrian walkway leading directly into Opa! Group project.The city’s municipal code has a detailed process for the removal of “significant” trees on public and private property. Anyone seeking to remove such a tree or trees requires a permit, which can be gained only after the proposed removal has been posted and the public has been given a chance to formally comment.The Morgan Hill Redevelopment Agency purchased the .45-acre property for about $1.9 million in 2009, and since then City Hall has planned to work with a private developer to build a mixed-use or retail/dining project that will attract more visitors and sales to downtown. The state of California closed the RDA in 2012, and ultimately sold the Third Street property to Rodrigues/Imwalle for $525,000 in 2015.The parking lot located on the property is fenced off during construction and permanently closed to public vehicles. Customers for the new restaurants will be urged to park in the new garage.

Windows to nowhere, fireplaces without flues and pullout bookcases that reveal deep wall cavities are among the intriguing features of one of this year’s winners of the Gilroy Historical Society’s Architectural Awards. But the Gilroy Historical Society is not the only admirer of this building. Barbara and Jeffrey Orth admired the Holloway House for years, its charm and striking beauty hidden beneath a dilapidated exterior.

Roxanne Vinciguerra says she never thought she’d start her own artisanal biscotti business.

GILROY