Your Morgan Hill Weekly 411
Week of April 6, 2020
Happy Monday Morgan Hill!

Last Friday, we wished Police Chief David Swing well on his last day serving the Morgan Hill community sincerely thanking Chief Swing for his 25 years of service in Morgan Hill. Interim Police Chief Shane Palsgrove has now assumed this key leadership role for our community.

As Interim Chief Palsgrove takes the reigns in the midst of a global pandemic, here are a few facts that you might not know about him:
  • Interim Chief Palsgrove has served the City of Morgan Hill for almost 20 years.
  • He rose through the ranks of Morgan Hill Police Department and held many positions from officer, detective, corporal to sergeant and captain.
  • He is also a long time resident of Morgan Hill and is raising his family here with his wife.
Make sure to view Interim Chief Palsgrove's message of support to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic below.
A message from Interim Police Chief Shane Palsgrove
This Thursday evening, April 9, the City of Morgan Hill Leadership Team will hold an electronic 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.
As we continue to shelter in place, many are finding ways to be creative and share positivity in the community. Here are just a couple ideas we have become aware of. We'd love to hear other ideas from the community.
#MorganHillRocks Project

  1. Get some smaller rocks/stone
  2. Paint them and/or write some inspiration short quote on it
  3. Sign your name(s) on the back of each rock
  4. Seal them
  5. Take some photos and post them on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor) with the hashtag #morganhillrocks
  6. 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.
  7. If you find someone else’s rock, take a photo of it and post it on social media with the hashtag #morganhillrocks
  8. 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
Hearts in the Window

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.
A Message from Councilmember John McKay
Stay Updated on the Coronavirus and
Local Sheltering in Place
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!
Census 2020
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.
Just For A Laugh...
With so many of us spending our days in Zoom meetings right now, we thought this might make you laugh! Remember that laughter is good medicine and boosts your immune system while it reduces stress and anxiety.
Meetings and Opportunities to Engage
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Library, Culture and Arts Commission Meeting
(CANCELLED)

Thursday, April 9, 2020
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 an electronic 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

This electronic town hall meeting will also be streamed live on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/morganhillengage/

We hope to see you there.

Stay Active and Healthy
While Sheltering in Place
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 help! Please call 408-683-4118

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!
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
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. 
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. 


Let's do our part to support our local restaurants & wineries during this difficult time.

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!
Partner Agency News
PG&E
PG&E Residential Customers Will Receive State-Mandated Climate Credit Reducing April Bills

Morgan Hill Library
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 .
 
Valley Water District News
Check out the most recent news from Valley Water District's News & Events web page, plus highlights including:

VTA News COVID-19 Service Impa cts

Check out the most recent news from Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)

City of Morgan Hill Recreation Guide
Irrigation Is Now Allowed 3 Days Per Week
April 1 - October 31
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.

New watering schedules can be found on the City website .

Complete rules and restrictions can be found in  Water Waste Ordinance No. 2236 .

Customers can report water waste  online  or by calling the Water Waste Hotline at 408-310-4195.

For more information, visit  mhvalueswater.com , email Environmental Services , or call 408-310-4169. Thank you for conserving water! 
Your Morgan Hill
City hall
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.
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:
Quick Links