Your Morgan Hill Weekly 411
Week of April 13, 2020
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Hello Morgan Hill!
Thank you to everyone in the community who stayed at home this weekend and continued to follow the shelter-in-place order. We understand how difficult this is especially on holidays usually marked by church services, picnics and family gatherings. Staying at home and sheltering in place continues to be our most effective way to stop the spread of COVID-19.
CRC Launches Virtual Membership
The City of Morgan Hill is committed to supporting our community’s health and wellness in partnership with the YMCA at the Centennial Recreation Center (CRC). To provide classes and resources to members during this challenging time, the CRC has launched a Virtual Membership. This virtual platform includes member-only access to on-demand classes taught by CRC instructors, written workouts, a private Facebook group with live classes, at home wellness sessions, and more!
If you’re a CRC member, you should have received an email with the password for the member-only content. If you’re not a member, you’re invited to participate by clicking the “Become a Member” tab on the website at
www.mhcrcmembers.com
. There is no charge to access the virtual membership during the coronavirus (Covid-19) shelter-in-place order. If you have any questions, please contact the CRC at 408-782-2128 or email Debbie Vasquez at
Debbie.Vasquez@mhcrc.com
.
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COVID-19 Virtual Town Hall Meetings
The City Leadership Team held its first virtual community COVID-19 town hall meeting last Thursday, April 9, 2020. Over 125 community members participated. Many great questions were asked and answered in this forum. You can watch the video from that meeting on
Youtube
, the
City website
, or the City
Facebook
page. We will continue to hold these virtual town hall meetings throughout the shelter in place as long as there continues to be community interest and participation.
This Thursday evening, April 16, the City of Morgan Hill Leadership Team will hold its second virtual community town hall meeting to provide community members an opportunity to ask questions about COVID-19 and its impacts to Morgan Hill. Questions will be answered during the public forum for the benefit of all. Please see details of how to join the meeting in the body of this email.
Morgan Hill Apartments (SR 2019-0015), a 389 unit project located on Jarvis Drive which is part of a 60-acre master planned site and is bordered on the east by Butterfield Blvd., the north by Jarvis Drive and the south by Digital Drive, will begin staging, and then construction of the extension of Sutter Rd., a 3 acre private park with public access, and 389 apartment units beginning Monday, April 13.
The project construction is permitted by the Santa Clara County Shelter In Place (SIP) Order, as the project contains 20% permanently restricted very-low income affordable units. The project is being developed by Braddock and Logan, a large home and apartment builder with corporate offices in Dublin, CA. Further information on this project is located on the
City’s website.
Make your own face covering
As has been previously shared, the CDC is now recommending that face coverings be worn every time you leave your home for essential business. If you have access to a sewing machine you can find simple instructions to make cloth face masks on the
CDC website.
It is also easy to make "no sew" cloth masks as shared by the US Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Adams, in the following video.
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Messages from our Elected Officials and Leadership Team
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A Message from Mayor Pro Tem Yvonne
Martínez Beltrán
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A message from City Attorney Don Larkin
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Meetings and Opportunities to Engage
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Planning Commission Meeting
(CANCELLED)
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Wednesday, April 15, 2020
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City Council Meeting
7:00 P.M.
Public Participation During COIVD-19 Pandemic
In accordance with Executive Orders N-25-20, N-29-20, and guidance from the California Department of Public Health on gatherings, remote public participation is allowed.
The Order will be addressed in the following ways:
- Members of the public may not physically attend meetings at the Morgan Hill City Council Chamber.
- The City Council meeting will be live-streamed on Channel 17 and on the City’s website.
- Members of the public may participate in the meeting remotely through an electronic meeting in the following ways;
- by either joining the electronic meeting at https://bit.ly/0415CityCouncilMeeting and enter ID: 512 830 012
- or by calling in (669) 900-9128 enter Meeting ID: 512 830 012#.
- Public comment for City Council meetings will be accepted via email to ccpubliccomment@morganhill.ca.gov .
- Members of the public participating in the electronic meeting wishing to speak may do so during public comment.
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Morgan Hill Community Town Hall Meeting Regarding COVID-19
5:30 P.M. - 6:30 P.M.
The community is invited to join the City Leadership Team for its second virtual town hall meeting regarding COVID-19 and Morgan Hill. This will be an opportunity for community members to ask questions regarding Morgan Hill's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the shelter-in-place order, local impacts, and resources currently available. To join the meeting please
use the following link:
bit.ly/Communitytownhall
We hope to see you there.
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Sharin' the Love During Shelter in Place
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As we continue to shelter in place, many are finding ways to be creative and share positivity and love in the community. Here are just a couple ideas we have become aware of. We'd love to hear other ideas from you.
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These neighborhood walks — inspired by Michael Rosen’s 1989 children’s book
“We’re Going on a Bear Hunt”
— are suddenly popping up everywhere in the COVID-19 age. Friendly neighbors put teddy bears in their front windows. Then families take walks through their neighborhood searching for bears. Take pictures of your hunt and post to social media using #GoingOnABearHunt.
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#MorganHillRocks Project
- Get some smaller rocks/stone
- Paint them and/or write some inspiration short quote on it
- Sign your name(s) on the back of each rock
- Seal them
- Take some photos and post them on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor) with the hashtag #morganhillrocks
- As you go out (if needed, while respecting social distancing) to walk your dog, for a short walk or to shop place each rock along a trail, in front of a small business, restaurant, church, a neighbors front yard in a way it can be found.
- If you find someone else’s rock, take a photo of it and post it on social media with the hashtag #morganhillrocks
- Most importantly, have fun doing so, whether you will do it by yourself or your kids!
Let’s have some fun together!
Join the #morganhillrocks projects
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This is a worldwide movement putting hearts in windows to share love and support while we are all sheltering in place.
- Place hearts in windows where they will be seen by those walking or driving by.
- When you see a heart in someone's window take a picture and post to social media.
- Share them with us @ https://www.facebook.com/morganhillengage/
A fun project for kids and adults alike.
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Stay Updated on the Coronavirus and
Local Sheltering in Place
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We encourage the community to stay calm, shelter-in-place, and share accurate information with your friends and neighbors who may not have access to social media or other local communication channels.
We are here for you! We will get through this together!
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While You Are Sheltering In Place
Take The Census Online
Using any device with an internet connection, you can visit the
Census Bureau website
to complete the questionnaire in your preferred language. The Census Bureau has also created a
how-to video
that gives step-by-step instructions to complete the 2020 Census questionnaire online.
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Make sure you are taking time to laugh during this stressful time. Remember that laughter is good medicine and boosts your immune system while reducing stress and anxiety.
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Stay Active and Healthy
While Sheltering in Place
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CRC Virtual Membership
The City of Morgan Hill is committed to supporting our community’s health and wellness in partnership with the YMCA at the Centennial Recreation Center (CRC). To provide classes and resources to members during this challenging time, the CRC has launched a Virtual Membership. This virtual platform includes member-only access to on-demand classes taught by CRC instructors, written workouts, a private Facebook group with live classes, at home wellness sessions, and more!
If you’re a CRC member, you should have received an email with the password for the member-only content. If you’re not a member, you’re invited to participate by clicking the “Become a Member” tab on the website at
www.mhcrcmembers.com
. There is no charge to access the virtual membership during the coronavirus (Covid-19) shelter-in-place order. If you have any questions, please contact the CRC at 408-782-2128 or email Debbie Vasquez at
Debbie.Vasquez@mhcrc.com
.
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Tips for Working from Home
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Are you a South County resident?
Do you need help finding crisis support resources?
Do you need mental health services?
Are you experiencing a crisis and need to talk with someone?
Community Solutions SOS Program can provide:
- Information and linkage to community resources
- Linkage to mental health services
- Support de-escalating crisis situations to restore family stability
This service is for South County residents (Gilroy, Morgan Hill, San Martin, and the surrounding areas). There are no fees or insurance required to call the crisis line!
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Help Keep Morgan Hill Parks and Public Spaces Safe and Open during Covid-19
Love your Parks 6 Feet Apart!
It is currently OK to go outside for exercise as long as you observe a minimum of 6 feet distance from others.
Santa Clara County
and City of Morgan Hill parks still remain open. Only playgrounds and picnic tables have been closed. Help us keep it that way!
The most effective way to stop the coronavirus and help ensure the safety of you, your family, and our community is to stay at home. Only go outside for food, essential work, and for your physical and mental health. Visiting parks and outdoor spaces is a health supporting activity allowed under State and County law, but when doing so you are required to comply with the following:
- Stay home if you are sick.
- Stay 6 feet away from others. If you cannot, you should leave the area.
- Use the parks in your neighborhood whenever possible. If you don’t live near nature or your local parks are too busy find a less crowded park or trail.
- Avoid busy times at parks.
- Respect all closed areas, including playgrounds, the dog park, and the Skate Park.
- Social gatherings are not allowed.
- Group and team sports are not allowed.
- For trails and walkways, walk single file maintaining appropriate distancing and yield to others trying to pass.
- Please be considerate and don’t stay too long, which will allow others to enjoy the space as well.
Disregard of the guidelines listed above will lead to the closure of Morgan Hill parks and public spaces. Please remember to wash your hands before and after activities and bring hand sanitizer with you when possible.
Thank you for doing your part to ensure our community and parks stay!
#LoveYourParks6feetApart
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Let's do our part to support our local restaurants & wineries during this difficult time.
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You may not know this, but sanitary wipes including flushable ones (toilet wipes/baby wipes/wet wipes/pet litter, etc.) damage pumps and treatment equipment, cause process performance problems, and clog sewer lines.
Flushable wipes are not really flushable!
Do your part...keep the wipes out of the pipes!
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ARE YOU AN ESSENTIAL SERVICES WORKER NEEDING CHILD CARE?
This childcare program is aimed at helping Essential Services Workers to continue to do their jobs without having to worry about childcare issues due to closing of schools and daycares around the County. The program will be held at Barrett Elementary School in Morgan Hill.
The current price is $200 with a 20% sibling discount, but donor funds are available NOW to help with costs for those who need it.
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PG&E Residential Customers Will Receive State-Mandated Climate Credit Reducing April Bills
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The Morgan Hill Library building may be closed temporarily due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the online library is open 24/7. The library has many online library services available through the
website
. These include things you may not expect to find such as
online story times
,
online homework help
,
streaming movies
,
online classes,
and much more. The library also has a robust collection of
eBooks, audiobooks
,
streaming music, tv and videos
,
eMagazines, and news
— available for every age and interest.
For those who do not have a library account, if you live within the Library District including Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Saratoga, or any of the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County, you can
apply for an eCard
from the website. If approved, the eCard gives you instant access to our entire online library
.
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Senior Take Out Lunch Service
The Centennial Recreation Senior Center has been successful in continuing the essential senior lunch services by turning it into a drive through pick up lunch service. For many of our seniors the lunch program is the only full nutritional meal they receive most weekdays.
A great big shout out to our own Morgan Hill heroes who are keeping this program running.
The program runs Monday-Friday 11:30 a.m -12:15 p.m.
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Silicon Valley Clean Energy
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic marks an unprecedented time in our modern history, impacting all aspects of our everyday lives.
Silicon Valley Clean Energy
(SVCE)
is taking special steps to support our customers and our strong and thoughtful local communities during this challenging time.
Maintaining a 4% Discount:
SVCE elected to maintain the 4% discount compared to PG&E electric generation service starting May 1, 2020, in spite of PG&E’s cost increases. Keeping the 4% discount to the customer will result in annualized savings of $18 million to the SVCE customer base, while still providing 100% carbon-free energy.
$10 Million COVID-19 Relief:
SVCE has allocated $10 million for programs to address customer relief and community resilience in response to COVID-19.
Read full press release
.
- Programs will provide assistance to financially vulnerable customers, workforce development, and increased community resilience through a grant program to member agencies. SVCE will bring specific programs to the Board in May.
New 40 MW Solar + Storage Project:
SVCE approved a 15-year contract with Rabbitbrush LLC, a large solar developer, to provide 40 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) supply with 8 MW of energy storage. This resource will serve approximately 3% of SVCE customer demand.
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Valley Water District News
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Check out the
most recent news
from Valley Water District's News & Events web page, plus highlights including:
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VTA News
COVID-19 Service Impa
cts
Check out the most recent news from Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)
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City of Morgan Hill Recreation Guide
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Irrigation Is Now Allowed 3 Days Per Week
April 1 - October 31
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Water is always a precious resource and the City's permanent watering restrictions have been designed to best manage our potable water supply. These restrictions help avoid or minimize the effects of drought, climate change, and the unreliability of the imported water infrastructure that serves the City of Morgan Hill.
Customers can report water waste
online
or by calling the Water Waste Hotline at 408-310-4195.
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Morgan Hill City Hall
Office Hours
City of Morgan Hill offices are closed due to the County shelter-in-place order.
If you have questions or concerns during this time please call our virtual call center.
408.767.6404
Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm
Messages will be returned within 24 hours.
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Elected Officials
County Supervisor
District 1:
California State Assembly District 30:
Robert Rivas
California State Senate District 17:
U.S. Congressional District 19:
City of Morgan Hill
Advisory Commissions:
City of Morgan Hill Advisory Committees:
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