gmhTODAY 06 gmhToday Jan Feb 2016 | Page 27

City Beat Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan Update The Draft General Plan was released at the end of November. This draft is the culmination of two years of meetings and workshops and will guide development, land use, growth and conservation in Morgan Hill for the next 20 years. The publication of the Draft General Plan marks a new phase of the 2035 project with even more community input to refine and improve the plan. On January 20, 2016 at 5:30 pm the City Council and Planning Commission will host a Joint Study Session open to the public.    Downtown Public Art, including the “Dear” Family and the Gateway Art was scheduled for completion in December. Downtown Parks Two downtown parks and one trail are planned for Morgan Hill’s downtown. After significant community outreach, design concepts were presented to the City Council on Oct. 21, 2015. It is anticipated that the construction on the parks and trail will begin early in the summer of 2016.   Water and Wastewater Rate Increase Process  The City of Morgan Hill is in the midst of a water and wastewater rate increase process. Morgan Hill’s top priority is to ensure safe, healthy, and reliable water and wastewater systems. Based on revised information in the 2015 Comprehensive Water and Wastewater Rate Study, second draft report (2015 Rate Study) and careful consideration of costs for lift and booster station services, Council approved a proposed rate structure intended to fairly and equitably allocate costs of service among customers. As required by law Prop 218 Notices were mailed to all Morgan Hill Water and Wastewater Customers on December 5, 2015. A Public Hearing on the setting of new water and wastewater rates is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at City Hall on January 20, 2016.   Bikeways, Trails, Parks and Recreation Master Morgan Hill Community Services department is in the process of creating a new Master Plan. The Bikeways, Trails, Parks and Recreation Master Plan will guide the improvement and future development of robust bikeways, trail parks and recreation system in Morgan Hill. The next community meeting will be held on January 28, 2016 For more information: Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan Update morganhill2035.org/ Gateway Art morgan-hill.ca.gov/1403/Gateway-Public-Art • Downtown Parks morgan-hill.ca.gov/1248/Downtown-Parks-and-Trails Bikeways, Trails, Parks and Recreation Master morganhill.ca.gov/1429/Master-Plan-for-Parks-Trails-and-Bikeway  Water  and Wastewater Rate Increase Process morgan-hill.ca.gov/1450/Rate-Adjustments GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 gmhtoday.com 27