City Council
Meeting Minutes
Mark Turner - Mayor
Yvonne Martínez Beltrán - Mayor Pro Tem
Soraida Iwanaga - Council Member
Marilyn Librers - Council Member
Miriam Vega - Council Member
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 6:00 PM
Council Chamber Building
17555 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Turner called the City Council meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL ATTENDANCE
City Clerk Michelle Bigelow called the roll.
PRESENT Mark Turner, Yvonne Martinez Beltran, Soraida Iwanaga, Marilyn Librers, Miriam Vega
ABSENT None
DECLARATION OF POSTING AGENDA
City Clerk Michelle Bigelow declared the posting of the agenda.
SILENT INVOCATION
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
PROCLAMATIONS
Youth Arts Month
March 5, 2025
2 PRESENTATIONS
YAC Presentation
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
Council Member Vega shared that she attended the Advent Group Ministry grand opening of their new building in San Jose. She also attended Coffee with the Mayor where City staff talked about housing and development projects. She also attended the Sutter Health Care Center Grand opening.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Christina Turner provided the following updates:
Morgan Hill welcomes its newest team member, K9 Marco Polo. This 2-year-old German Shepherd from the Czech Republic will undergo extensive training with K9 Officer Matt Gallagher for patrol and explosive detection. Once training is complete, you can expect to see them out in the community.
On February 23rd, the City discovered thieves had stolen copper wiring from streetlights along Butterfield Boulevard. The theft caused several streetlights to lose power, though traffic signals remained unaffected. Thanks to a City employee’s quick actions on February 25th, police arrested two suspects linked to the crime. The estimated damage exceeds $20,000. In a separate incident, officers responded to suspicious activity near NAPA Auto and arrested two suspects attempting a break-in.
They were found hiding nearby, covered in soot, with evidence connecting them to the crime.
The community is invited to attend Mayor Turner's State of the City Address on March 12th at the Granada Theater. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the program beginning at 6 p.m. For those unable to attend in person, a recording will be available on the City’s YouTube channel.
With the arrival of March, the City reminds residents that lawn watering is now limited to three days per week through October. Details on the watering schedule can be found on the City’s water conservation website. Meanwhile, road closures on Hale Avenue began on March 3rd as part of the Upper Llagas Flood Protection Project. This construction will impact traffic for the next eight months, with closures affecting Hale Avenue, Spring Avenue, and Cosmo Avenue. More information is available on the City’s CIP website.
Looking ahead, the Community Drop-Off Day is set for March 8th. Residents and businesses can dispose of electronic waste, mattresses, and tires for free. The event, hosted in partnership with the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce and Zero Waste Silicon Valley, will take place at the Community & Cultural Center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
More details are available at ZeroWasteSV.org.
Finally, Morgan Hill’s Parks & Recreation summer activity guide will be available online March 5, 2025
3 starting March 21st. Registration for camps and programs opens on March 24th, followed by swim lesson sign-ups on March 26th. Residents are encouraged to explore the many fun and healthy opportunities for youth, adults, and seniors.
CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT
None.
OTHER REPORTS
Mayor Pro Tem Martinez Beltran shared that she attended the Cal Cities Board of Directors meeting in Ontario. She shared that there was discussion on legislation regarding copper wire theft that is happening throughout the state. She also attended the Latino Caucus meeting, the Chamber Board of Directors meeting for the Morgan Hill Chamber, a Silicon Valley Clean Energy executive meeting, the Sutter Health grand opening, and a play in pure sign language this weekend. She worked with Nueva Esperanza on another Know Your Rights workshop.
Council Member Librers shared that she participated in the Chamber of Commerce's Rock the Mock event.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment opened at 6:24 p.m. The following people were called to speak:
Kathy Chavez Napoli
Steve Chappell
There were no further requests to speak, so the public comment was closed.
Public Comment Supplements
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
MOTION:
Adopting the agenda as posted.
RESULT: Passed
MOVER: Council Member Librers
SECONDER: Council Member Iwanaga
AYES: Mayor Turner, Mayor Pro Tem Martinez Beltran, Council Member Iwanaga, Council Member Librers, Council Member Vega
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
March 5, 2025
4 CONSENT CALENDAR
Items appearing on the Consent Calendar are considered routine and may be approved by one motion. Pursuant to City Council Policies and Procedures (CP 97-01), any member of the Council or public may request to have an item removed from the Consent Calendar for comment and action.
MOTION:
Approving the consent calendar items 1, 2, and 4 through 8.
RESULT: Passed
MOVER: Mayor Pro Tem Martinez Beltran
SECONDER: Council Member Librers
AYES: Mayor Turner, Mayor Pro Tem Martinez Beltran, Council Member Iwanaga, Council Member Librers, Council Member Vega
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
1. ACCEPTANCE OF THE CONDIT ROAD SEWER CAPACITY UPGRADE PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,895,930
Recommendation:
1. Accept as complete the Condit Road Sewer Capacity Upgrade Project;
2. Authorize the City Engineer to sign the Notice of Completion; and
3. Direct the City Clerk to file said Notice of Completion with the County Recorder's Office.
2. ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR
GRANT FUNDS FROM VALLEY WATER'S SAFE, CLEAN WATER AND
NATURAL FLOOD PROTECTION PROGRAM
Recommendation:
Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit grant applications for grant funds from Valley Water's Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program.
4. ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 2363, NEW SERIES AMENDING CHAPTER 12.32 (RESTRICTIONS ON REMOVAL OF SIGNIFICANT TREES) WITHIN TITLE 12 (STREET, SIDEWALKS, AND PUBLIC PLACES) OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF MORGAN HILL, AMENDING SECTION 17.20.040 (FORM AND CONTENTS) OF CHAPTER 17.20 (MAP REQUIREMENTS-FIVE OR MORE PARCELS) AND SECTION 17.24.030 (FORM AND CONTENT) OF March 5, 2025
5 CHAPTER 17.24 (MAP REQUIREMENTS-FOUR OR LESS PARCELS) WITHIN TITLE 17 (SUBDIVISIONS) OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF
MORGAN HILL IMPLEMENTING MINOR AMENDMENTS DUE TO
INCONSISTENCIES, AND AMENDING TABLE 18.22-2 (DEVELOPMENT
STANDARDS IN MIXED USE ZONING DISTRICTS) WITHIN SECTION
18.22.040 (DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS) OF CHAPTER 18.22 (MIXED USE ZONING DISTRICTS) WITHIN TITLE 18 (ZONING) OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE
OF THE CITY OF MORGAN HILL TO REMOVE THE MAXIMUM FLOOR AREA
RATIO (FAR) AND BUILDING COVERAGE WITHIN THE (MIXED USE FLEX)
MU-F ZONING DISTRICT
Recommendation:
Waive the reading, adopt Ordinance No. 2363, New Series, and declare that said title, which appears on the agenda, shall be determined to have been read by title and further reading waived.
5. APPROVE REVISIONS TO CITY COUNCIL POLICY CP 94-04, THE CITY'S
INVESTMENT POLICY
Recommendation:
Approve revisions to City Council Policy CP 94-04, the City's Investment Policy.
6. APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 7, 2025 GOAL REVIEW WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES AND THE FEBRUARY 19, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
Recommendation:
Approve minutes.
7. AWARD ON-CALL GENERAL CONTRACTOR SERVICES CONTRACTS
Recommendation:
1. Award two-year on-call public works contracts for general contractor services to Castlewood Construction Company, Inc., Pueblo Construction, Inc. and Tucker Construction, Inc. in a not-to-exceed amount of $220,000 each; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute and administer the contracts.
8. RECEIVE MONTHLY BUDGET UPDATE AND JANUARY 2025 FINANCIAL
AND INVESTMENT REPORTS
Recommendation:
Receive and file reports.
March 5, 2025
6 ITEM PULLED FOR DISCUSSION
3. ADOPT EDITS TO THE SUSTAINABLE MORGAN HILL DOCUMENT
Recommendation:
Adopt edits to the Sustainable Morgan Hill document.
City Manager Christina Turner provided the report.
Public comment opened at 6:39 p.m. There were no requests to speak, so public comment was closed.
MOTION:
Adopting the updated Sustainable Morgan Hill Document with the addition of electricity to the second bullet of the healthy communities definition.
RESULT: Passed
MOVER: Mayor Pro Tem Martinez Beltran
SECONDER: Council Member Vega
AYES: Mayor Turner, Mayor Pro Tem Martinez Beltran, Council Member Iwanaga, Council Member Librers, Council Member Vega
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
OTHER BUSINESS
9. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DISPLAY
OF THE DONATE LIFE FLAG
Recommendation:
Adopt or do not adopt a resolution authorizing the display of the Donate Life Flag for the month of April.
Assistant City Manager/Public Services Director Chris Ghione provided the report.
Public comment opened at 6:43 pm. There were no requests to speak, and public comment was closed.
MOTION:
Adopting the resolution.
RESULT: Passed
MOVER: Mayor Pro Tem Martinez Beltran
March 5, 2025
7 SECONDER: Council Member Iwanaga
AYES: Mayor Turner, Mayor Pro Tem Martinez Beltran, Council Member Iwanaga, Council Member Librers, Council Member Vega
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
10. ADOPT RESOLUTION FURTHER REAFFIRMING THE CITY’S COMMITMENT
TO A DIVERSE, SUPPORTIVE, INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY AND PROTECTING
THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF ITS RESIDENTS
Recommendation:
Adopt resolution further reaffirming the City's commitment to a diverse, supportive, inclusive community and protecting its residents' constitutional rights.
City Attorney Donald Larkin provided the report.
Public comment opened at 7:04 p.m. The following people were called to speak:
Kathy Chavez Napoli
Victoria Lam, Office of Supervisor Sylvia Arenas
Greer Rolin
Julee Klein
Armando Benavides
Sally Casas
Zain Yamma
Sarah Miller
Deborah Africa
Jeremy Barousse (Zoom)
Noshaba Afzal (Zoom)
Huy Tran (Zoom)
Wendy Greenfield (Zoom)
Najma Bachelani (Zoom)
There were no further requests to speak, so the public comment was closed.
MOTION:
Continue the item to the next meeting and direct staff to update the resolution incorporating changes proposed in writing by Mayor Pro Tem Martinez Beltran.
RESULT: Failed for lack of a second
MOVER: Mayor Pro Tem Martinez Beltran
SECONDER: None
MOTION:
Adopting the resolution, incorporating the following change proposed by Council Member Vega: "hereby reaffirms all previous resolutions, policies, and actions approved by past City Councils regarding the protection of immigrants, and they remain in full force." March 5, 2025
8 RESULT: Substituted
MOVER: Council Member Vega
SECONDER: Council Member Iwanaga
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:
Continue the item to the next meeting and direct staff to update the resolution incorporating changes proposed in writing by Mayor Pro Tem Martinez Beltran and Council Member Vega.
RESULT: Passed
MOVER: Mayor Pro Tem Martinez Beltran
SECONDER: Council Member Librers
AYES: Mayor Pro Tem Martinez Beltran, Council Member Vega, Council Member Librers
NAYS: Mayor Turner, Council Member Iwanaga
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
The meeting recessed at 7:59 p.m. and reconvened at 8:08 p.m.
11. PROVIDE DIRECTION TO STAFF ON PROPOSED FUTURE COUNCIL
INITIATED AGENDA ITEM REGARDING USE OF CELL PHONES DURING
COUNCIL MEETINGS
Recommendation:
Determine if the majority of the City Council wants the following item agendized at a future meeting for discussion:
Prohibiting the use of cell phones by Council Members during Council meetings.
City Manager Christina Turner provided the report.
Public comment opened at 8:28 p.m. The following people were called to speak:
Julee Klein
Deborah Africa
Armando Benavides
Kathy Chavez Napoli
There were no further requests to speak, so the public comment was closed.
MOTION:
Review the policy and spell out texting during the meeting.
RESULT: Failed
MOVER: Council Member Librers
March 5, 2025
9 SECONDER: None
AYES: None
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
FUTURE COUNCIL INITIATED AGENDA ITEMS
Mayor Pro Tem Martinez Beltran requested a conversation about land acknowledgment statement during City Council Meetings.
Mayor Pro Tem Martinez Beltran requested a Know Your Rights event partnering with the City and Nueva Esperanza.
Mayor Pro Tem Martinez Beltran requested a proclamation for the April 2nd City Council meeting to mark Women's History Month.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Turner adjourned the meeting at 8:42 p.m. in honor of former Mayor and Council Woman Lorraine Barke.
Minutes Prepared by:
Michelle Bigelow, City Clerk