Tyler Comerford gets a lick from Gus, Gilroy Police Department's K-9 unit German Shepherd during last year's Public Safety Day event in Morgan Hill. The event this year is next Saturday beginning at noon at the Morgan Hill Police Department, 16200 Vineyard Blvd.
Public safety services are the order of the day on Saturday, with two events geared toward helping the public understand the services provided in Morgan Hill and gathering information from the public about what they think is important for the future of the city.
From 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., the City of Morgan Hill is holding the first of two town hall meetings to educate the public about a proposal to increase public safety services. City staff and city council members will also discuss a potential utility tax to fund the increased services and other proposed solutions. The meeting will be held at Paradise Valley Elementary School, 1400 La Crosse Drive.
Morgan Hill residents can continue their foray into public safety by visiting Public Safety Day at the Morgan Hill Police Department, 16400 Vineyard Boulevard from noon to 4 p.m.
The event, which offers tours of the police station, the opportunity to view a SWAT vehicle, a K-9 unit and fire and emergency vehicles, is sponsored by the Community Law Enforcement Foundation.
Residents can also take advantage of child seat installation checks and a bicycle safety station, as well as free refreshments.
The second town hall meeting will be held on June 11 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Jackson Elementary School, 2700 Fountain Oaks Drive.
Morgan Hill police Chief Bruce Cumming and the city's Public Safety and Community Services committee have prepared reports for the city about the need for increased services. The committee also commissioned a survey of public opinion about methods of paying for additional services. City council talked about the survey and the recommendation from the committee during their April 23 and seemed to favor a general utility tax to pay for nine additional police officers and two support staff.
Cumming noted in his report and has told council members that even if voters approve a tax in November, the additional officers won't be on staff right away. First, he said, the tax money has to flow into city coffers, and he is not sure how long that will take once the tax passes. Then the department has to recruit, hire and train the new officers, which could take up to a year.
Marilyn Dubil Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or send her an email.
Although the Morgan Hill Times does not have any obligation to monitor this board, the Morgan Hill Times reserves the right at all times to check this board and to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to the Morgan Hill Times in our sole discretion and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. The Morgan Hill Times also reserves the right to permanently block any user who violates these terms and conditions. All threats to systems or site infrastructure shall be assumed genuine in nature and will be reported to the appropriate law enforcement authorities. Submission of any comments will be considered permission to use online or in print.
Plastic, paper bag ban considered
Plastic, paper bag ban considered
