Published in the Oct. 29 – Nov. 11, 2014 issue of Morgan Hill Life

It’s been almost five months since the new Council Chamber opened with a June 4 ribbon cutting. We at Morgan Hill Life want to say that the upgrade, which cost nearly $2 million, has made a huge difference in adding a great new facility to engage more interest in city government.

At the Oct. 2 Candidate Forum that Morgan Hill Life co-sponsored with the American Association of University Women, the Council Chambers provided a much more comfortable environment for the various candidates — as well as citizens who attended — compared with the Community Playhouse. Our publisher Marty Cheek ran for the school board two years ago and recalls how, while sitting shoulder to shoulder on the stage at a crowded table with other candidates under bright and hot stage lights, he felt like he was getting the third degree as the questions were asked. The audience from that vantage point became dim silhouettes in their seats, making it difficult to see their faces and adding to the nervousness for the candidates. And the awkwardness of having to keep passing a microphone on a cord between the candidates didn’t make things any easier.

On the other hand, holding the forum in the Council Chambers this year provided a venue where the candidates could sit at the dais in comfortable chairs with built-in microphones for each individual. And they could clearly see the audience, making it easier to connect with them. Audience members sitting in ergonomically-designed chairs could easily see the candidates on the three large projection video screens.

The new Council Chambers, designed by locally-owned Weston Miles Architects, allows for a more engaging civic experience for the public as well as elected and appointed officials. It is a much more welcoming environment than the antiquated former chambers which was built in the early 1970s. The stiff chairs in that room were placed so closely together that during crowded meetings, citizens felt like they were packed in a can of sardines. The more spacious new chamber measures 3,750 square feet compared with 1,125 square feet for the old chamber and is able to seat 280 people, compared with 85 in the old chamber. Morgan Hill’s population has more than quadrupled in 40 years, so it makes sense for a 21st-century city to have a 21st-century venue to hold public meetings.

And with Morgan Hill being a part of Silicon Valley, it made sense to provide the public and officials with high-tech equipment to share information and ideas. The new “smart lectern” system gives presenters the ability to view a monitor that can be connected to digital equipment such as a laptop computer, smart phone or Blu-Ray/DVD player. A touch-screen enables speakers to provide annotation of maps, photos or documents during a presentation to highlight key points.

Information on the podium monitor is shared with the public on the three video-projection screens as well as a LCD panel so people sitting at the dais can easily see the presentation. The updated technology also helps with the broadcasting of what’s going on at the council meeting to the public on channel 17.

Overall, we’re pleased with the new Council Chambers and see it adding to the quality of civic engagement in our community.