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At its Feb. 18 meeting, the Morgan Hill City Council decided unanimously to ask its staff to look into an “economic development incentive program” for current downtown tenants who face potentially massive disruption of business due to forthcoming downtown development.The city’s preferred source for such a program would be leftover bond proceeds acquired by the Redevelopment Agency in 2008, according to Assistant City Manager Leslie Little.The same subcommittee that reviewed the downtown property proposals also brainstormed the incentive idea as a way to provide relocation assistance to local businesses, Councilmember Larry Carr explained. That subcommittee consisted of Carr, Councilmember Marilyn Librers, members of the Economic Development Corporation and representatives of the local business community.More than a dozen businesses lease space at the BookSmart and Downtown Mall sites, but they will have to move if the city’s negotiations with City Ventures on both properties are successful. City Ventures was selected as the city’s preferred developer for both sites at the same meeting, and the developer plans to build a mix of condominiums and retail/commercial space on the former RDA properties. (See related story.)With the private developers involved, there is no legal requirement for the city or anyone else to offer the tenants relocation assistance, Carr said. But councilmembers would like to help if possible.“The EDC was very clear there are businesses that could be harmed by construction,” Carr said. “Those are important businesses that are part of the fabric of Morgan Hill.”Tenants at the BookSmart property are not just the book store. Restaurants Jesus and Peking, as well as Cherisse’s Hair Salon, United Academy of Martial Arts, Continental Stitch, Marco Polo’s Eastern Treasures and the Morgan Hill Access Television studios also lease space at the shopping center.BookSmart co-owner Brad Jones said some of those tenants—especially the restaurants—face potentially exorbitant moving costs, if they can find a suitable new location before development starts.Jones said he is holding his breath until he sees “something in writing” from the city offering voluntary relocation benefits.“Generally, I’m in favor of redevelopment because the two properties—the Downtown Mall and BookSmart—are underutilized,” said Jones, who would prefer to keep his shop downtown. “But I also think the city has a responsibility to these businesses that have been here in this community for many years helping to support the economy, to do the ethical thing and supply a relocation package that is more than the minimum. And (the city) should try to return the businesses to some place where they can be healthy and thrive, rather than basically be cast aside.”Morgan Hill Cigar Company Manager Jeff Burrus, a tenant of the Granada Theater/Downtown Mall site, said he would also prefer to remain downtown. The shop’s owners have been looking for new digs, knowing for years that they will eventually be displaced by new development.“We would appreciate anything the city can do to help us,” Burrus said. “The city has a benefit in keeping us alive.”

TheftSomeone stole two bicycles between 4 p.m. Feb. 12 and 6:30 p.m. Feb. 16 from a residence on the 1600 block of Chris Lane in San Martin. The bikes were valued at approximately $800.Theft by false pretensesSomeone conned a victim over the phone between 1:30 and 3:06 p.m. Feb. 13 on the zero block of Chester Avenue in San Martin into obtaining $3,000 worth of Reloadit cards from Safeway, then provide them with the serial numbers or be arrested for failing to pay back taxes.Identity theftSomeone used and continues to use the victim’s Social Security number to gain and maintain employment at 2:40 p.m. Feb. 11 on the 12000 block of Sycamore Avenue in San Martin. The victim was unable to get full unemployment benefits because records show someone else using their Social Security number.Vehicle theftSomeone stole a victim’s vehicle between 4 and 5 p.m. Feb. 8 from a business on the 10000 block of Pacheco Pass Highway in Gilroy.BurglarySomeone pried open two doors at a business on the 1100 block of Day Road in Gilroy between 4 p.m. Feb. 13 and 5:30 a.m. Feb. 17, stealing power equipment, surveillance equipment and other items valued at $5,000.Someone forced entry into a residence on the 10000 block of Burchell Road in Gilroy between 5:30 and 8:25 p.m. Feb. 15 and stole cameras and jewelry worth $700.Auto BurglarySomeone forced entry into a trailer on the 13000 block of Sycamore Avenue in San Martin between midnight Aug. 1, 2014 and 1:45 p.m. Feb. 16 and stole more than $1,425 worth of items.VandalismSomeone shattered the driver’s side window of a vehicle on Tennant Avenue at Hill Road in Morgan Hill midnight Feb. 16, causing $500 in damage.Probation violationA 27-year-old man was charged with a probation violation and providing false information to a peace officer at 10:28 p.m. Feb. 10 on Tenth Street at Monterey Highway in Gilroy.DrugsA 46-year-old woman was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia at 2:45 a.m. Feb. 15 on Luchessa Avenue at Chestnut Avenue in Gilroy.A 29-year-old woman was charged with being under the influence of a controlled substance at 8:19 p.m. Feb. 12 on the 9400 block of Marcella Avenue in Gilroy.A 29-year-old man was charged with possession of a controlled substance and being under the influence of a controlled substance at 8:45 p.m. Feb. 11 on Castro Valley Road at Santa Teresa Boulevard in Gilroy.A 32-year-old man was charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia at 4:58 p.m. Feb. 9 on San Martin Avenue at Llagas Avenue in San Martin.—All subjects are innocent until proven guilty. Information is compiled from public records.

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. 

Owners of Anytime Fitness Russ and Jaime Allen celebrated the additional space they recently added to their Gilroy facility, nearly doubling the floor space. Additional new machines and a second classroom make it even more convenient and easier to use to achieve your workout goals. Located at 755 First St., managers Brad Gwinn and Christopher Madewell invite you to stop in for a tour.

AROMAS—Tucked away in a gym in Aromas, Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero is hard at work preparing for Keith “One Time” Thurman.