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be a powerful communication tool as well. At the time of this report, the City is actively
working to ensure this new resource is an asset for residents and developers. Community
members can submit requests and conduct searches online at
https://permits.morganhill.ca.gov .Each month, Leslie’s team produces the Monthly Permit
Issuance Report and posts it on the City’s website at
http://www.morganhill.ca.gov/161/Monthly-Permit-Issuance-Report .Housing
Per Rebecca, the City’s website is the primary way to communicate about housing (particularly
affordable housing). The Housing team also fields inquiries via phone on a regular basis. The
City contracts with a service called HouseKeys
(
http://www.housekeys.org)
to provide an up-
to-date database on Below Market Rate (BMR) housing. Residents can sign up for a HouseKeys
website account and HouseKeys independently manages communication with account
holders, mostly via email. There are currently 642 total email addresses in that database: 499
from BMR Program participants, 112 from general inquiries, and 31 from Housing
professionals.
The School District invited Rebecca to new teacher orientation at the beginning of the school
year to talk about opportunities for housing in the City. Rebecca will also occasionally share
information about the BMR program at local businesses, the Public Library, and has been
asked to educate the School Board on this topic as well.
The Housing and Planning teams are collaboratively working on a color-coded map for
different properties (RV parks, rental properties, affordable homes, converted motels, etc).
The team will coordinate with Maureen Tobin and John Lang (Economic Development) on
messaging to ensure the tool helps the City maintain a consistent story about affordable
housing and economic development efforts.
Community Services Department
A city’s Community Services Department often has the most touchpoints within a community,
and Morgan Hill is no exception with its multiple areas of service. The Community Services
Department consists of three divisions responsible for public service delivery. The
department’s Recreation and Community Services Division operates the Centennial Recreation
Center, Dennis Kennedy Aquatics Center, Outdoor Sports Center, Community & Cultural
Center, Downtown Amphitheater, Community Playhouse, Friendly Inn Non-Profit Service
Center, Skate Board/BMX Park, and associated services. The Maintenance Division maintains
125 street miles; 125 sidewalk miles; 8 trail miles; 3,700 street lights; 470 open space/park
acres; urban forestry; and a landscaping assessment district. The Environmental Services
Division manages the Environmental Agenda, water conservation, stormwater pollution
prevention, solid waste management and recycling, and telecommunications regulation. The
three divisions were consolidated in to one department in FY 11-12 as a part of the
organization’s effort to streamline service delivery so that the Morgan Hill Community
continues to receive the highest level of service possible.
During our on-site interviews, Tripepi Smith spoke with multiple teammates frommultiple
Divisions within the Community Services Department. Department Director Chris Ghione
oversees all Divisions and teammembers. The Department’s Community Services
Coordinator, Nichole Martin, is largely responsible for coordinating the Department’s external
communications as well as supporting permit requests and special events.