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, August 26, 2026
5:30 p.m.
Council Chamber Building
17555 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
SPECIAL/REGULAR MEETING
A special meeting of the City Council was called at 5:30 p.m. for the purpose of conducting a closed session.
SPECIAL MEETING
5:30 p.m. Closed Session
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Turner called the City Council meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL ATTENDANCE
City Clerk Bigelow called the roll.
PRESENT Mark Turner, Marilyn Librers, Soraida Iwanaga, Yvonne Martinez Beltran, Miriam Vega
ABSENT None
DECLARATION OF POSTING AGENDA
August 26, 2026
2 City Clerk Bigelow declared the posting of the agenda.
SILENT INVOCATION
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Tolentino announced the closed session item.
OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION
Public comment opened at 5:31 p.m. With no requests to speak, public comment closed.
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
The meeting adjourned to closed session at 5:31 p.m.
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION
[Government Code section 54956.9(d)(4)]
Initiation of Litigation
One case
REGULAR MEETING
The regular meeting convened at 6:02 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT OUT
City Attorney Tolentino reported that the City Council authorized the initiation of litigation in one action and stated that the action, defendants, and other information would be disclosed upon inquiry following the filing of the lawsuit, pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.1.
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Public comment opened at 6:05 p.m.
Daniel Cloutier was called to speak.
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
August 26, 2026
3 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
ABSENT: None
CONSENT
MOTION:
Approving the consent calendar.
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
ABSENT: None
1. AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AND ADMINISTER AN
AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA
FOR SOUTH COUNTY YOUTH TASK FORCE FUNDING
Recommendation:
Authorize the City Manager to further execute and administer an amendment to service agreement with the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office to receive and administer grant funding in support of the South County Youth Task Force.
OTHER BUSINESS
2. CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE AN INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE IMPOSING A 45-DAY TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON THE PROCESSING
AND APPROVAL OF NEW LAND USE APPLICATIONS FOR FREE
STANDING DATA CENTERS AND GRID-SCALE BATTERY ENERGY
STORAGE SYSTEMS (BESS) WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS DURING THE CITY'S
REVIEW AND ADOPTION OF REGULATIONS FOR SUCH USES
Recommendation:
August 26, 2026
4 1. Determine the adoption of this Urgency Ordinance is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3);
2. Introduce by title only, and waive further reading of Urgency Ordinance, imposing a 45-day moratorium prohibiting processing, approval, and acceptance of new Data Center and Grid-Scale Battery Energy Storage Systems land use applications;
3. Direct staff to develop policy and regulations relating to data centers and grid-scale battery energy storage; and
4. Direct the Planning Commission to review draft policies and regulations and make recommendations to City Council in accordance with the Morgan Hill Municipal Code.
City Manager Turner introduced the item.
Development Services Director Carman provided the report.
Public comment opened at 6:22 p.m. The following people were called to speak:
Dan Cloutier
Lauren Howsman
Greg Felios
Deborah Africa
With no further requests to speak, public comment closed.
MOTION:
Determining that the adoption of this Urgency Ordinance is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
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
ABSENT: None
MOTION:
Introducing by title only, and waive further reading of Urgency Ordinance, imposing a 45-day moratorium prohibiting processing, approval, and acceptance of new Data Center and Grid-Scale Battery Energy Storage Systems land use applications.
August 26, 2026
5 RESULT: Passed
MOVER: Council Member Martinez Beltran
SECONDER: Council Member Iwanaga
AYES: Mayor Turner, Mayor Pro Tem Librers, Council Member Iwanaga, Council Member Martinez Beltran, Council Member Vega
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
MOTION:
Directing staff to develop policy and regulations relating to data centers and gridscale battery energy storage and directing the Planning Commission to review draft policies and regulations and make recommendations to City Council in accordance with the Morgan Hill Municipal Code.
RESULT: Passed
MOVER: Council Member Martinez Beltran
SECONDER: Council Member Iwanaga
AYES: Mayor Turner, Mayor Pro Tem Librers, Council Member Iwanaga, Council Member Martinez Beltran, Council Member Vega
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
The meeting recessed at 6:32 p.m. and reconvened at 6:39 p.m.
WORKSHOP
3. CITY COUNCIL MID-YEAR GOAL CHECK-IN
Recommendation:
Receive and review the Sustainable Morgan Hill ongoing and strategic priorities, departmental updates, workplan status updates, economic development and housing updates, and discuss emergency preparedness.
City Manager Turner reviewed the City's Sustainable Morgan Hill Ongoing and Strategic Priorities. She then highlighted some department updates. After the updates, she reviewed the Department Workplan items.
Economic Development Director Mahood provided an economic development update including the Economic Blueprint, jobs and revenue, and fiscal August 26, 2026
6 sustainability and quality of life in Morgan Hill.
Housing and Economic Mobility Director Lang provided an overview of the Housing Policy Updates the team will be bringing forward.
Emergency Operations Coordinator Ponce provided an update on the City's Emergency Operations and the City Council's role in an emergency.
Public comment opened at 8:22 p.m. The following people were called to speak:
Elizabeth Stone
Doug Muirhead (Zoom)
With no further requests to speak, public comment closed.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Turner adjourned the meeting at 8:29 p.m.
Minutes Prepared by:
Michelle Bigelow, City Clerk