City Council
Meeting Minutes
Mark Turner - Mayor
Marilyn Librers - Mayor Pro Tem
Soraida Iwanaga - Council Member
Yvonne Martínez Beltrán - Council Member
Miriam Vega - Council Member
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
6:00 p.m.
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
Deputy City Clerk Rossi called the roll.
PRESENT Mark Turner, Marilyn Librers, Soraida Iwanaga, Yvonne Martinez Beltran, Miriam Vega
ABSENT None
DECLARATION OF POSTING AGENDA
Deputy City Clerk Rossi declared the posting of the agenda.
SILENT INVOCATION
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
PROCLAMATIONS
Youth Arts Month
March 18, 2026
2 Women’s History Month
PRESENTATIONS
YAC Presentation - Developmental Asset #17: Creative Activities
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
Council Member Iwanaga shared attending the State of the City, noting her appreciation for the event, the strong community engagement, and her continued deeper understanding of City initiatives through her service on City Council. She also shared that her upcoming committee meetings are scheduled for April.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Turner shared that the Dispatchers of the Year recognition was awarded to Andrea Deplazes and Stormi Gessell of the Morgan Hill Police Department, recognized for their calm, composed, and attentive response during an officer-involved shooting incident, and noted they will be honored at the Annual Dispatcher Recognition Banquet on April 9. She also reported a milestone for the South County Restorative Justice Youth Diversion Program, sharing that two additional youth graduated, bringing the total to 101 participants, and noted the program’s continued success in diverting youth from the juvenile justice system, supporting accountability, and achieving a high completion rate. Lastly, she invited the community to attend the Budget Roundtable on March 25, 2026, to learn about the City’s budget process, ask questions, and share feedback as staff prepares for the upcoming fiscal years and addresses the structural deficit.
CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT
None.
OTHER REPORTS
Council Member Vega thanked students from Everette Alvarez High School and expressed her appreciation for their attendance at the meeting.
Council Member Martinez Beltran shared her participation in a League of Cities Peninsula Division meeting, the “Rock the Mock” event, an ABAG housing-related meeting, and the State of the County. She also participated in a Roundtable discussion with Senators Padilla and Schiff alongside Cal Cities leadership and colleagues, and had the opportunity to meet with Congresswoman Lofgren.
Mayor Turner thanked the community for attending Wednesday night’s State of the City and expressed his appreciation for their participation.
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Public comment opened at 6:23 p.m. The following people were called to speak:
March 18, 2026
3 Krista Rupp
Suman Ganapathy
With no further requests to speak, public comment closed.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
MOTION:
Adopting the agenda as posted.
RESULT: Passed
MOVER: Council Member Martinez Beltran
SECONDER: Council Member Vega
AYES: Mayor Turner, Mayor Pro Tem Librers, Council Member Iwanaga, Council Member Martinez Beltran, Council Member Vega
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: None
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.
RESULT: Passed
MOVER: Council Member Vega
SECONDER: Council Member Martinez Beltran
AYES: Mayor Turner, Mayor Pro Tem Librers, Council Member Iwanaga, Council Member Martinez Beltran, Council Member Vega
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: None
1. ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 2375, NEW SERIES, ROSEWOOD MEDICAL
CAMPUS ZONING MAP AND PLANNED DEVELOPMENT (PD) MASTER
PLAN AMENDMENT
Recommendation:
Waive the reading, adopt Ordinance No. 2375, New Series, and declare that said title, which appears on the agenda, shall be determined to have been read by title March 18, 2026
4 and further reading waived.
2. APPROVE AGREEMENT FOR ANNUAL WELL SITE AND BOOSTER
STATION PAINTING
Recommendation:
1. Award a Maintenance Service Agreement to Vivid-Accent Painting Co. in the not to exceed amount of $180,000 for annual painting of the City’s well sites and booster stations; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute and administer an agreement with Vivid-Accent Painting Co.
3. APPROVE THIRD AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT WITH LUHDORFF AND
SCALMANINI FOR TWO TEST WELLS
Recommendation:
Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute and administer the third Amendment to Agreement with Luhdorff and Scalmanini Consulting Engineers to add $68,000, for a new total not to exceed contract amount of $415,100.
4. APPROVE THE MARCH 4, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Recommendation:
Approve the March 4, 2026 City Council Meeting Minutes.
5. AUTHORIZE A LEASE AMENDMENT WITH COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN FOR
THE FORMER EL TORO YOUTH CENTER BUILDING
Recommendation:
Authorize the City Manager to execute a lease amendment with Community Christian for the use of the El Toro Building.
OTHER BUSINESS
6. APPOINT ELISA TOLENTINO AS CITY ATTORNEY
Recommendation:
Approve employment agreement, appointing Elisa Tolentino as City Attorney for the City of Morgan Hill.
Human Resources Director Horta provided a report.
Public comment opened at 6:32 p.m. With no requests to speak, public comment closed.
March 18, 2026
5 MOTION:
Approving the recommended actions.
RESULT: Passed
MOVER: Mayor Pro Tem Librers
SECONDER: Council Member Vega
AYES: Mayor Turner, Mayor Pro Tem Librers, Council Member Iwanaga, Council Member Martinez Beltran, Council Member Vega
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: None
7. PROVIDE DIRECTION ON MAKING TEMPORARY DOWNTOWN DOG PARK
PERMANENT
Recommendation:
1. Receive update referred from the Parks and Recreation Commission on Downtown Dog Park trial; and
2. Provide direction on making the temporary Downtown Dog Park permanent.
Maintenance Manager Russell and Public Services Director Ghione provided a presentation and report.
Public comment opened at 6:51 p.m.
Ben Bogert was called to speak.
With no further requests to speak, public comment closed.
MOTION:
Directing staff to bring the item back to City Council for further discussion.
RESULT: Passed
MOVER: Council Member Martinez Beltran
SECONDER: Council Member Vega
AYES: Mayor Turner, Mayor Pro Tem Librers, Council Member Iwanaga, Council Member Martinez Beltran, Council Member Vega
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: None
8. PROVIDE DIRECTION REGARDING COMMUNITY FUNDING REQUESTS March 18, 2026
6 Recommendation:
1. Review applications submitted for FY 2026-27 funding cycle; and
2. Provide staff direction on funding awards to be incorporated within the City’s FY 2026-27 Operating Budget.
Community Services Supervisor Martin and Public Service Director Ghione provided a presentation and report.
Public comment opened at 7:37 p.m. The following people were called to speak:
Karen Crane (yield time to Matthew Stein)
Matthew Stein
Nick Gaich
Kathy Sullivan
Ernesto Gomez
Sally Casas
Dennis Bettencourt
Armando Benavides (Zoom)
Suman Ganapathy
With no further requests to speak, public comment closed.
Directing staff to bring the item back at the April 1, 2026 City Council meeting for further discussion.
FUTURE COUNCIL INITIATED AGENDA ITEMS
Mayor Pro Tem Librers and Council Member Martinez Beltran requested a discussion on bringing forward procurement policies that provide a preference for local and women-owned businesses.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Turner adjourned the meeting at 8:31 p.m.
Minutes Prepared by:
Vicky Rossi, Deputy City Clerk