City of Morgan Hill Weekly 411 - News for the Week of December 7, 2020 (corrected)

Your Morgan Hill Weekly 411

News for the Week of December 7, 2020

Happy Holiday Season Morgan Hill!

It is hard to believe that December is here, and the holidays are upon us. At the same time, we are moving into the most critical time we have experienced to date in relation to the pandemic, including the very real possibility that we may overwhelm the intensive care unit (ICU) bed capacity. Lack of ICU capacity means that you and your loved ones may not receive the care you need if you fall seriously ill.

The new restrictions that go into effect tonight, Sunday, December 6 at 10 p.m. are challenging for all and devastating to many of our local businesses. That being said, it is imperative that we all do our part and strictly adhere to the Regional Stay Home Order.

Congratulations to Randy Christensen!

Please join us in congratulating long time Morgan Hill resident and Morgan Hill Police Department (MHPD)/Office of Emergency Services (OES) volunteer, Randy Christensen, as this year’s Santa Clara County Emergency Manager’s Association Volunteer of the Year recipient for Morgan Hill.

Randy's contributions are too numerous to list in this forum, but we have provided some highlights below.

Randy oversaw enhancing our video display capabilities throughout the Emergency Operations Center (EOC)/Police Department(PD) with a video switch project that now allows us to display multiple sources (video, maps, cable, 911 CAD, and more) during large scale events.

Randy worked many hours in 2020 ensuring that our Mobile Command Vehicle (MCV) was ready and deployable at all times, a capability that proved necessary throughout the year. Randy delivered, maintained, and returned the MCV to these events.

The SCU Lightening Fire Complex Fire Incident Command Post (ICP) located at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. The MCV served as the Command Post for MHPD, the SO, County OES, and Milpitas Fire. Critical information was coordinated from the ICP/MCV to our Emergency Operations Center leading to a successful evacuation, solid public information, and timely/sensitive information.
An offsite ICP for two non-violent protests in Morgan Hill providing intelligence to multiple first responder agencies and public information officer.
Several SWAT callouts and SWAT exercises.

On behalf of the City of Morgan Hill please join us in congratulating and thanking

Randy Christensen for his incredible contributions!

Exciting Update About DePaul Health Center

As most of you are aware, the DePaul Health Center has been in the process of being renovated. Urgent Care and additional services will be available at DePaul beginning in February 2021. The County is working very intentionally to improve access to health care services in Morgan Hill and all of South County. Please take a moment to view the video below providing a tour of the renovated DePaul Health Center prepared specifically for our community.

Stay Updated on the Coronavirus and

Local Sheltering in Place

Santa Clara County Implements Regional Stay Home Order – Effective December 6^th at 10pm

The Order results in significant changes, including:

All gatherings with members of other households are prohibited, except outdoor gatherings for worship services or political expression.
Restaurants, bars, and wineries are allowed only for take-out service. Outdoor dining is now prohibited.
Personal care services (e.g. hair salons, barbershops, nail salons, etc.) are prohibited both indoors and outdoors.
Movie theatres and family entertainment centers are prohibited outdoors (already closed indoors).
Museums, Zoos, and Aquariums are prohibited outdoors (already closed indoors).
Playgrounds are prohibited outdoors (already closed indoors).
Outdoor recreational facilities are allowed, but overnight stays at campgrounds are prohibited. (Note: Gyms, including group fitness classes, continue to be allowed outdoors).
With limited exceptions, all individuals must stay home except as necessary to support or use critical infrastructure. However, people from the same household are allowed to leave their residence as long as they don’t interact with individuals from other households.
Guidance related to schools remains in effect and unchanged. Schools that have previously reopened for in-person instruction may remain open and schools can continue to bring students back under the Elementary School Waiver Process.

With implementation of the State Order, local capacity restrictions announced last week on retail and other spaces open to the public are being updated to align with the State Order. All retail (including grocery stores and pharmacies) will now be subject to a 20% capacity limit. See the County’s updated mandatory directive on Capacity Limitations for more information. All other restrictions announced by Santa Clara County last week remain in effect, including the mandatory 14-day quarantine for travelers coming from more than 150 miles away, and mandatory directives related to collegiate and professional athletics, and lodging facilities.

As numbers of cases of COVID-19 continue to increase and stricter orders are put in place, so does the associated anxiety, feelings of fear and uncertainty, and other mental health concerns around the developing situation.

We want to remind everyone that the mental health effects of COVID-19 are just as important to address as are the physical health effects.

The County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services Department (BHSD) and our Community Based Organizations continue to provide services and support. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you are in need.

Important numbers to keep handy:

Mental Health Services 1(800)704-0900
Substance Use Services 1(800)488-9919
Suicide and Crisis Hotline 24/7 1(855)278-4204 Or Text RENEW to 741741

Meetings and Opportunities to Engage

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Free COVID-19 Testing

Council Chamber Building

9:30 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.

Testing will be by appointment only. This testing site is not designed to test individuals with symptoms of COVID-19. Individuals with symptoms should contact their healthcare provider for evaluation and testing.

To make an appointment:

Visit https://scl.fulgentgenetics.com/appointment.

Once all appointments are filled, this location will no longer appear for scheduling on the website. You can schedule from your phone or from a computer using a web browser other than Internet Explorer.

We invite you to visit sccfreetest.org for additional testing locations.

Planning Commission Meeting

7:00 pm

View complete agenda

The City Council Meeting will be live-streamed on Channel 17 and on the City’s website.

Those members of the public wishing to participate remotely may do so via the electronic meeting at: https://bit.ly/12820PlanningCommissionMtg or by calling in to: (669) 900-9128, then enter the meeting id: 897 9313 4726

Public comment for this meeting will be accepted via email to pcpubliccomment@morganhill.ca.gov. Members of the public participating in the electronic meeting wishing to speak may do so during public comment.

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Special City Council Meeting - Certification of Election Results

7:00 P.M.

View complete agenda

At this meeting we will say farewell to departing elected officials, and welcome our new City Council Member Gino Borgioli, City Treasurer Caitlin Robinett Jachimowicz, as well as our returning Mayor Rich Constantine and City Council Member Rene Spring.

The City Council Meeting will be live-streamed on Channel 17 and on the City’s website.

Those members of the public wishing to participate remotely may do so via the electronic meeting at: https://bit.ly/120920CityCouncilMtg

Or by calling in to: (669) 900-9128 and entering webinar ID: 815 9976 5665 .

Public comment for this workshop 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.