Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Hollister public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
7 issues with critical priority
Layoff notices and union negotiations
Three employees have already been released and about 25 more positions are slated for elimination. Union members warned that losing institutional knowledge and contracting out services would hurt accountability — the council heard them but hasn't formally ruled out layoffs.
SEIU Local 521 labor agreement
SEIU members and city employees described stress, outsourcing rumors, and what they called disrespect from the city manager, and asked council members to meet with them directly.
City of Hollister financial emergency
The commission's core mission: with California facing a projected $60 billion deficit, the council created this commission to shore up the city's sales tax and property tax base by supporting small business and attracting new industry.
Termination of City Manager Anna Cortez
Speaker after speaker demanded the council terminate City Manager Ana Cortez for cause, citing alleged union-busting, failure to meet and confer, transparency failures, and questionable hires. SEIU and the police union delivered a unanimous no-confidence statement. The council will formally agendize the matter at Wednesday's special meeting.
Police department staffing crisis
Police sworn positions sit at a 19.23% vacancy rate and fire recruitment is struggling; the HR department is only 2.5 people. Morales wants quarterly reporting, and the city manager pledged recruitment overhauls and six new firefighters by December.
Public Utility Concessionaire for Water and Sewer
The water fund has been insolvent since 2018 and rates haven't been raised since then; rate increases are coming, and residents reported bills already jumping — one from $40 to $217 over six years. A $200 million pipe repair backlog looms.
HR1 federal cuts hit local families
Over 1,000 residents already lost CalFresh; Medi-Cal restrictions, nonprofit funding losses, and possible sewer and water rate hikes could create a 'triple whammy' for low-income households. A Health Trust grant will fund a strategic plan work group.