City looking at reinstating development impact to help pay for additions

Published in the November 27, 2013 issue of Morgan Hill Life

By Maureen Tobin

Maureen Tobin

Maureen Tobin

Morgan Hill has become nationally known for its amazing recreation facilities and the highly successful partnership between the city and the Mount Madonna YMCA. Locally, the Morgan Hill community enjoys beautiful recreation facilities as a regular part of community life. Recreation, and the facilities that provide those opportunities, have become part of the fabric of the active Morgan Hill life.

What many residents might not know is that Morgan Hill’s recreation facilities are a result of a well thought out Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The plan was created after a successful community visioning process in 1996. Through that visioning process the community identified the need and desire for the recreation facilities we now have in Morgan Hill.

“Morgan Hill has something to be very proud of,” said Morgan Hill Community Services Director Chris Ghione. “Nearly all of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan has been completed and implemented. That’s something our community can really feel good about. In the past 17 years, Morgan Hill has succeeded in providing to the community exactly what the community asked for in relation to recreation needs and facilities.”

At this juncture, the community is asked to once again look at the needs and desires in relation to our recreation facilities. Morgan Hill’s Community Services Department is asking the community: “What do you love about Morgan Hill’s recreation/community center facilities and how would like to build upon that for the future?”

Beginning in December, the Community Services Department will embark upon a community engagement process asking the community to share their vision for the future in relation to Morgan Hill’s recreation facilities.

The results of this effort will provide a wide range of valuable information to guide Community Services operations. The Parks and Recreation Master Plan has guided the construction of new recreation facilities for the past decade, and this new effort will result in a plan that will guide the department into the future.

Also, the results of this engagement process will be used as the foundation in the re-establishment of the Community Recreation Centers Development Impact Fee. The purpose of this fee will be to fund the construction of new recreation facilities or the expansion of existing community recreation facilities to support the needs of the growing population.

During the fiscal year 2013/2014 budget process, the City Council expressed interest in reinstating the Community/Recreation Centers development impact fee, a fee that was abolished in 2010. The council asked city staff to study this proposal.

In September, the City Council directed the Community Services Department to identity and put together a rough cost estimate for potential construction of a new recreation/community center facility or the expansion to existing facilities providing a foundation for the public hearing at which council could consider adopting/reinstating the fee.

The theme for the survey effort is “I Love Morgan Hill Recreation.” It will ask the community first to consider what they love about Morgan Hill’s recreation facilities and then to share what is needed for the future. There will be many opportunities for the community to engage and provide input including both an online survey and an in-person survey at city facilities.

The surveys will be simple and quick to respond to, asking two open ended questions: 1.) What facilities, amenities and/or features should be added to existing facilities? 2.) What new recreation or community centers will be needed in the future?

Maureen Tobin is the Morgan Hill Community Services Manager. Maureen has lived in Morgan Hill for 22 years. She loves spending time in nature and frequently walks/hikes in the surrounding hills with her faithful companion, Sophie, her very cute and rather crazy dog. Contact her at (408) 310-4277 or at [email protected] or visit www.mhrecreation.com.