City of Morgan Hill Communications Assessment

(RWMP). All of these documents required public meetings and public hearings. The RWMP was a joint effort with Santa Clara Valley Water District, which led on most of the external communication process. At the public meetings, the public had the opportunity to review plans and submit comments. The Public Works Department worked with Maureen to coordinate announcements in the local newspaper about public meetings, announce meetings on the City’s social media channels, and add events to the City Calendar. The Department also updated appropriate sections of the website with occasional updates. The Water Division also manages the annual Water Quality Reports. The City mails the entire Water Quality Report (a four-page brochure) to all its customers and also includes it as a bill stuffer in Utility Bills. Historically, the Public Works Department has not issued any Press Releases or let the community know when a newWater Quality Report is available. Partner Agencies and Outside Perspectives Chamber of Commerce The Economic Development Department works with the Chamber on communications and sometimes asks the Chamber to email its member base (530 members) on the City’s behalf. A couple of the largest events the Chamber manages are the Friday Night Music Series and the Taste of Morgan Hill. The Taste of Morgan Hill festival each September usually draws 40,000 to 50,000 visitors over a single weekend. The City will cross-promote communications about these events through its own official channels and lets the Chamber submit event information for the City’s official Event Calendar as well. Similar to the MHDA, the Chamber uses a website ( http://www.morganhill.org ), social media— a Facebook Page ( https://www.facebook.com/MorganHillChamber ) and LinkedIn Company Page ( https://www.linkedin.com/company/morganhill-chamber-of-commerce )—and email to promote its messaging. Chamber Board Chair Robert Airoldi is also the owner of Morgan Hill Life—the Life typically includes one piece of content promoting the Chamber on a monthly basis. The Chamber produces a Quarterly Newsletter and uses its ChamberMaster website management platform to send this to approximately 1,100 email subscribers. By comparison, the Chamber’s Facebook Page has over 3,200 Page Likes/Fans, its LinkedIn Company Page has approximately 130 Followers, and its website receives approximately 10,000 hits per month. Morgan Hill Downtown Association The Morgan Hill Downtown Association (MHDA)is a 501(c)(6) tax exempt corporation “with the mission to make Downtown Morgan Hill the ‘Heart of the Community’.” 24 Given the City’s priority of developing its Downtown area, their relationship with the MHDA is strong. The City’s Economic Development Department has produced multiple short videos that feature Downtown businesses and business owners. The parking garage and its unique features have generated press for the City as well. Maureen Tobin will frequently cross-promote the MHDA’s social media posts (especially Events) on the City’s official social media sites. The City also

24 http://www.morganhilldowntown.org/about-us

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