Dolores Morales

City of Hollister financial emergency

The city needs stronger sales and property tax revenue to keep services running as state funding tightens.

Layoff notices and union negotiations

Cutting positions is the city's main lever to shrink the $56 million spending total.

Animal Care, Control and Services

Speakers cited a proposed $80,000-per-year unrepresented advocate position and raised the possibility of outsourcing shelter services.

Public Utility Concessionaire for Water and Sewer

Residents are already seeing sharply higher water bills, with a roughly 30% rate increase cited.

Termination of City Manager Anna Cortez

Speakers warned a termination without cause could trigger a costly severance payout the city's depleted reserves can't afford.

Nash Road right-of-way vacation

The district will pay the city for the right-of-way; no net cost to residents was cited.

Local emergency for anticipated winter storms and flooding

Could unlock state emergency assistance funding for storm response.

Accessory dwelling unit ordinance update (Ordinance 1277)

The city can no longer charge impact fees on ADUs under 750 square feet, and proportional fees apply above that threshold.

Financial Oversight Task Force

Stipends could cost up to about $3,600 over six months, which Resendiz argued against; the council kept them but pays only after a full term.

SEIU Local 521 labor agreement

Tied to the reported $21 million budget deficit and last year's 0% wage increases.

Helen Ross Fund Use

The fund reportedly holds roughly $480,000, and the proposed animal advocate position would consume about $160,000 over two years.

Storm drain funding gap

General fund money is covering storm drain maintenance with no dedicated revenue stream.

Brigantino/San Felipe Road annexation and prezoning

Annexed land eventually brings property tax and service fees to the city, plus infrastructure costs.

Police department staffing crisis

Recruitment and retention bonuses for sworn officers are funded in the budget; fire is proposed to add 11 positions.

2026 Hollister Independence Rally improvements

No rally budget planned for next fiscal year; the proposal defers major spending until 2028.

Potential spay/neuter and breeding ordinance

Pierson noted city money spent on the case that he argued could have gone to spay/neuter programs.

San Juan Crossings housing and retail on the west side

Falcon Nano drone and bird detection field testing

The agreements will bring a modest usage-fee revenue stream to the airport.

Making downtown a fall destination

Low-cost fixes like light bulb replacement were floated, plus possible tax breaks for building beautification.

Hollister Police Department staffing and retention

Taxpayers funded a 14-month investigation plus recruiting and hiring 12 replacement employees, with costs undisclosed.

Rescission of layoff notices

Emergency addition of closed session item: union negotiations update

Termination of City Manager Anna Cortez

Consent agenda: minutes, Ordinance 1277 (ADUs), ratifying rescission of Resolution 2026-111

Item 6.5 pulled: letter from Mayor to Sunnyslope Water District

Resolution proclaiming local emergency for anticipated 2026-2027 winter storms and flooding

Initiation of GPA 2026-4 for 7 Brews site (Maple and San Felipe)

Initiation of GPA 2026-1 and Prezone 2026-1 for Abela property (Fairview Avenue/Hwy 25)

Warrant Register October 19, 2026

OCTOBER 2, 2026 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

OCTOBER 5, 2026 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

Add two emergency agenda items

Return laid-off employees to work and rescind fiscal emergency resolution

May 13, 2026 Regular Meeting Minutes

Archer Aviation propeller testing recommendation

Falcon Nano drone and bird detection testing recommendation

Consent Agenda (Items 6.1–6.4)

Firefighters Union MOU (HFFU Local 3395) and IAFF MERP Contributions

ADU Zoning Ordinance Amendment (Repeal and Replace Chapter 17.32)

Helen Ross Fund Report (Item 8.2)

Emergency addition of closed session item: union negotiations update

Termination of City Manager Anna Cortez

Consent agenda: minutes, Ordinance 1277 (ADUs), ratifying rescission of Resolution 2026-111

Resolution proclaiming local emergency for anticipated 2026-2027 winter storms and flooding

Initiation of GPA 2026-4 for 7 Brews site (Maple and San Felipe)

Initiation of GPA 2026-1 and Prezone 2026-1 for Abela property (Fairview Avenue/Hwy 25)

Consent Agenda Item Nos. 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, and 6.4

Adopt resolutions approving and authorizing the City Manager to execute the amended MOU between the City of Hollister and HFFU Local 3395 and authorizing mandatory contributions to the IAFF Medical Ex

Waive the First Reading and Adopt an Ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance to repeal and replace Chapter 17.32, Accessory Dwelling Units.

Consent Agenda (Items 6.1–6.4)

1. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to pursue special state legislation that would permit the City of Hollister to impose, subject to future City Council action and voter

Adopt a resolution authorizing a short-term interfund loan of $18M from the City's Impact Fee Funds (Fund 304 – AB 1600 Traffic Impact Fee and Fund 205-Park Dedication Impact Fee) to the General Fund

Approve a declaration of financial emergency that documents financial challenges and organizational elements that have created a financial crisis for FY26-27 and important next steps necessary to prot

Approve the appointment of Charles Tumbaga to the Financial Oversight Task Force.

Consent items 6.1, 6.2, 6.4, 6.5, and 6.6

Consent items 6.1, 6.2, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6 (minutes, EMS contract, warrant register, Prop 64 grant)

Appointment of Charles Tumbaga to the Financial Oversight Task Force (Item 6.3)

Approving the consent calendar.

Rescind Resolution 2025-127 which approved a five-year loan from the Sewer Expansion Fund (fund 661) to the General Fund (fund 101) to repay historic negative fund balances in funds 206, 229, 241, 249

Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Professional Service Agreement with Hanson Bridgett LLP for City Attorney/Legal Services

Consent calendar, including Warrant Register September 8, 2026

Rescind Resolution 2025-127 (five-year loan from Sewer Expansion Fund to General Fund)

Resolution authorizing professional services agreement with Hanson Bridgett LLP for city attorney/legal services

Valenzuela Water Service Upgrade Project funding application (9.2)

League of California Cities voting delegates (9.3)

Approving the Consent Agenda as presented.

Adopt a resolution approving the initiation of General Plan Amendment 2026-1 and Prezone 2026-1 for a 1.9-acre parcel located at the northwest corner of Fairview Road and HWY 25 (APN 020-330-003)- Vak

Conduct a public hearing, adopt a Resolution authorizing the City of Hollister’s continued participation in the Statewide Community Infrastructure Program (SCIP), and authorize the City Manager to exe

Extending the meeting past 10:00 p.m.

Adopt a resolution approving the initiation of General Plan Amendment 2026-3 and Prezone 2026-3 for a 40.03-acre parcel located between Highway 25 and the City of Hollister Municipal Airport (APN 014-

Adopt a resolution designating Council Member Dolores Morales as voting delegate and Vice Mayor Priscila de Anda and Council Member Rudy Picha as alternate voting delegates for the League of Californi

Adopt a resolution approving the initiation of Prezone 2026-2 for the 12.9-acre parcel located in the unincorporated area of the County of San Benito, Northwest of Wright Road and San Felipe Road and

Adopt a resolution designating the City Manager, or their designee, as the City’s Authorized Representative for the Valenzuela Water Service Upgrade Project, and authorize them to apply for and execut

Consent agenda (items 7.1–7.15)

SCIP continued participation (8.1)

General Plan Amendment/Prezone 2026-1 — Vakili parcel (8.2)

GP/PZ 2026-2 — Brigantino property (8.2)

GP/PZ 2026-3 — Wynn/Clearist Park (8.2)

Approving the consent calendar with the modification to item 6.2. Council approved appointments to the Financial Oversight Task Force for Council Member Dolores Morales, Omar Rosa, and Julie Roybal.

Adopt a resolution approving the creation of the Deputy Finance Officer – Construction and Capital Management position and establishing its place on the City’s compensation plan.

Approving Consent Calendar items 7.1 through 7.10.

Hold a Public Hearing to: 1. Accept public input and testimony regarding the proposed annual adjustment to the maximum allowable solid waste collection rates, effective July 1, 2026; and 2. Adopt a re

Adopt a resolution approving the Service Employees’ International Union, Local 521 Memorandum of Understanding for a term from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, and authorize the City Manager to execute

Accept presentation, provide direction to staff on its implementation and adopt a resolution approving the formation of a Financial Oversight Task Force.

Adopt a resolution approving the appointment of an interim Parks and Recreation Director.

Adopt an amended resolution authorizing the Mayor or their designee as the Authorized Representative, to execute and sign PLHA related documents.

SEIU Local 521 Memorandum of Understanding (Resolution)

Financial Oversight Task Force Formation (Resolution)

Interim Parks & Recreation Director Appointment (Resolution)

PLHA Authorized Representative Amendment (Resolution)