Morgan Hill Comms. Assessment-v3

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11. Evaluate a Changed Model for Staff Support of City Communications
Maureen Tobin is the central figure responsible for overseeing the City’s communication
efforts across multiple Departments, a role similar to a Public Information Officer in other
cities. Tripepi Smith noted that, given her role, Maureen spends a large amount of her day-to-
day hours on tasks and efforts that could just as easily be completed by a more junior resource.
Previously, Maureen had a part-time temporary employee assisting her; the hours for this
position are currently budgeted, but the position is unfilled at this time. Filling this position
would better leverage Maureen’s experience and skills to bring a more uniform voice to the
City’s communications.
About Morgan Hill
Morgan Hill is a thirteen-square-mile residential community in Santa Clara County, California.
Morgan Hill is a General Law city with a Council/Manager form of government. The City
Council consists of a directly elected Mayor and four Council Members. The City offers its
residents a high quality of life, access to the outdoors, regional recreation amenities, and jobs
in a number of industries, with a strong focus on manufacturing of electronic components,
food and sports recreation. The Downtown area is burgeoning with exciting redevelopment.
The City recognizes its roots as an agricultural center while also touting its transformation into
a progressive residential community in ‘Silicon Valley.’ Morgan Hill is especially known for its
Centennial Recreation Center, its “small-town” charm, “El Toro”/”Murphy’s Peak,” wineries,
Gavilan College, and a growing swath of Downtown restaurants.
The City was incorporated on November 10, 1906 as the Town of Morgan Hill. By the 1920s,
the city was known for its agricultural products including prunes, apricots, peaches, pears,
apples, walnuts, and almonds. In the 1950s, Morgan Hill experienced an economic
transformation from an agricultural center to a suburban residential community. Growth
began to accelerate rapidly in the 1970s as Silicon Valley developed and workers moved to
Morgan Hill. By 1980, the population had increased to approximately 18,000 residents; by
2010, that number had more than doubled. Morgan Hill residents have enjoyed numerous
benefits from its voter approved Residential Development Control System (RDCS) since the
1970s. The community’s growth management system was recently extended until 2035 with
the passage of Measure S in November 2016.
Today, Morgan Hill is primarily a residential community for Silicon Valley, as well as the seat
for several high-tech companies, such as Anritsu (telecommunications) and Flextronics
(electronics manufacturing). All the while, the City’s Downtown area continues to attract new
eateries and shops, making it a prime destination for residents and Santa Clara County visitors
alike.
Per the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau, Morgan Hill had a population of 37,882 and the projected
2015 population was 42,948. The current population is approximately 44,000. At the time of the
2010 Census, the ethnic makeup of Morgan Hill was: