City Council has a light agenda Wednesday, with one exception,
but the Planning Commission tonight and Architectural Review Board
on Thursday will tackle a list of questions and changes.
City Council has a light agenda Wednesday, with one exception, but the Planning Commission tonight and Architectural Review Board on Thursday will tackle a list of questions and changes.
The council, at 6 p.m., will undergo a workshop, open to the public, to review the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for The Institute Golf Course, the course John Fry and friends built without sufficient and timely permits. The Institute and the city have been going round and round since 1998 over the need for permits and over the need for an EIR and Wednesday will be the latest showdown.
During its regular meeting, starting at 7 p.m., council will be asked to give final approval to a water rate increase with a perchlorate surcharge and an amendment to the contract with the law firm of Hatch and Parent to represent the city in its suit against Olin Corp. – recognized cause of the perchlorate problem. Public hearings and a workshop on the water rate increase have already been held.
Council will also be asked to approve several purchase orders allowing for tenant improvements to turn a new industrial building at 16200 Vineyard Ave. into the new Morgan Hill police station. The purchase orders totaling $89,766.99 would buy a generator, furniture, fixtures and equipment, an upgrade to existing dispatch consoles. A separate order would fund the design, purchase and installation of card readers, closed circuit TV, a new phone system and fire and security alarm systems for the new building.
The total project cost, including the purchase of the 43,300 sq-ft. building ($6.4 million), is budgeted at $9.45 million. Stevelle Construction of Emeryville was awarded the construction contract; work is expected to be complete by mid-May.
The Ford new car dealership, planned for Condit Road north of East Dunne Avenue, is asking for an ARB approval to revise landscape and lighting plans. Landscape plans call for the minimum 3-foot berms along Hwy 101 and Condit Road, and sweetgum trees on the freeway side and oleanders at Condit. Staff recommends adding English lavender and Cape plumbago shrubs on Condit to improve screening and replacing the sweetgums with evergreen trees.
ARB will also consider the lighting plans and a comparison between plans for the Ford store and the Chevrolet dealership across the freeway. Street light fixtures and street trees for The Granary project on Depot Street are also on the agenda.
Planning Commission will consider a use permit for a new art guild and gallery at 17265 Monterey Road, community activity signs and a change in Valley Transit Authority antennae west of West Dunne Avenue and next to the water tank site on El Toro mountain.
Complete agendas are available at the City Clerk’s desk in City Hall and on line. City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesdays and the Planning Commission on Tuesday, 7 p.m., both in City Hall Chambers, at 17555 Peak Ave. ARB meets Thursday in The Villas behind City Hall.
