Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in San Benito County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
32 issues with medium priority
Wildfire preparedness and Firewise communities
After months of scrutiny, the solar farm showed progress on weed abatement, fire safety training, and CDFW permit amendments — enough for the commission to find it in compliance, with the warning that any future fires will trigger another look.
Tres Pinos Water Project Pass-Through Funding
The county passed through $549,101 in state money to Sunnyslope Water District after a supervisor questioned the thin invoice documentation.
SB 255 Recorder Notification Program and $5 Fee
Starting February 25, 2027, recorded deeds and mortgages trigger a mailed fraud alert to property owners, funded by a new $5 per-document fee.
Allium Solar and Storage project permitting delay
Longroad Energy says its Allium project application, deemed complete in August 2025, has gone 14 months without progress due in part to the BESS moratorium. The developer asked the county to allow the CEQA process to continue while approvals stay frozen — but the commission couldn't act because the topic wasn't on the agenda.
New budget and emergency management leadership positions
The county has struggled for a year to fill its top budget job, so it's boosting pay ~25% and retitling the position to chief budget officer. It's also adding a deputy director of emergency services to better prep for storms, fires, and earthquakes — and to recover overdue disaster reimbursements.
$500,000 Emergency Fund From Disaster Reserves
The CEO asked for quick access to reserves so contracts can start immediately; the board amended its motion to set aside $500,000, with ratification documents due back the following week and fuller funding discussion at the September 28 budget meeting.
Declining recorder's fee and property tax revenue
High interest rates are slowing real estate sales, cutting recording fees and likely reducing property transfer tax revenue countywide. Recordings are down to about 17-30 per day.
CIP list cleanup and Fire Station 5 / San Juan Oaks
The county agreed to be a host site for potential state-funded EV fast chargers at the San Juan Oaks parking lot with Citizen Energy, pending a California Energy Commission grant award.
Unpermitted dwellings in flood-prone Lovers Lane area
Planning Director Prado said the county is working on a compassionate approach to unpermitted structures and RVs in flood zones — encouraging owners to legalize units rather than forcing displacement before the storms.
Shelter capacity and displaced residents
HHSA lined up shelter sites (San Benito Farm Housing with 288 beds, Veterans Hall with 75-100 beds), hotels for medically vulnerable residents, and partnerships with the Red Cross, Food Bank and local nonprofits. The board also discussed repairing 11 idle RVs (~$10,000-13,000) and using vacant migrant housing units for displaced families.
Extreme heat and community resilience grant
A nonprofit wants county help on a heat-resilience hub grant, but the application listed the county as a co-applicant with staffing and infrastructure obligations. Supervisors voted to support the project — but only as a non-binding supporter, not a co-applicant.
Speeding and school-zone safety on Tevis Trail
A District 1 resident reported speeding, stolen 25-mph signs, and double parking near a full-capacity school, and asked for help. Supervisors discussed speed humps and a pending public works speed bump policy.
HOA vs. CSA/CFD model for new development
Several supervisors said the county should get out of the business of managing subdivision services, favoring HOAs for large new developments — though Curro cautioned some buyers refuse to live in HOAs. The board wants options brought back for future policy.
Two-hearing requirement for CFD annexations
An engineering consultant argued the county's requirement that annexations come before the board twice, 60 days apart, needlessly delays small lot splits and costs applicants over $5,000 and six months. Supervisors asked staff to investigate why the 2017 change exists.
Proposed hemp cultivation ban
Supervisor Sotelo wants hemp banned in the county, arguing it conflicts with cannabis grows through cross-pollination and has mainly attracted rule-breakers. The Ag Commissioner agreed the program has been a time sink, and the Board will take it up with the code amendments.
County vehicle leasing program
A 2015 six-vehicle pilot with Enterprise quietly grew to 33 vehicles with no board approval or required cost analysis. The board wants a leasing-vs-buying study and will consider local dealers and NACo procurement.
Fairview Road median island maintenance
The developer's landscape median was accidentally left out of the subdivision's CFD, leaving maintenance to the county. Supervisors deadlocked 2-2 twice over cobblestone-only versus drought-tolerant planting and who pays, and the item returns June 30.
AB109 public safety realignment funding
The county's AB109 trust fund holds nearly $11.9 million and pays for 22.5 county positions plus jail programs, DA and public defender case management systems. The board ratified the annual plan.
County Leadership Performance Evaluations
The Board privately evaluated both the County Executive Officer and the County Counsel. State law lets personnel evaluations stay confidential, so residents won't learn how those reviews went unless there's a personnel action later.
Lawsuit against Sunny Slope Water District
The county is suing the Sunny Slope Water District for ignoring a public records request since May — and wants its attorney fees back.
SB 707 Brown Act changes, translation and public access
Commissioners complained they're still getting hefty agendas on Fridays despite a rule requiring Wednesday delivery, and warned they'll continue items "out of protest" unless internal deadlines move up.
Retiree Health Care Obligations (OPEB)
A presentation on the county's retiree health care liabilities and its prefunding trust. Keeping up with the recommended contributions protects both retirees' benefits and the county's long-term finances.
Sheriff's Department Cost Savings Proposal
A supporting document outlined roughly $1.04 million in potential savings if several Sheriff's positions go unfunded, alongside retention bonus and longevity pay proposals for law enforcement and probation staff — a staffing-versus-budget question with public safety implications.
Federal Budget Impacts (HR-1)
A look at how the federal budget law (HR-1) could hit local revenue and services, against a backdrop of rising federal deficits and funding uncertainty for counties.
GHAD budget and reserve adequacy for Ridgemark
The Geologic Hazard Abatement District's $133,906 budget passed, funded by a $45 annual increase per Ridgemark Promontory home. Supervisors flagged that thin reserves — roughly $300,000 — wouldn't cover major slope repairs if a bad winter hits.
Williamson Act cannabis cultivation compatible uses
Supervisors paused three cannabis compatible-use requests after Curro questioned whether approvals could conflict with the county's cannabis exclusion zones; County Counsel recommended continuing to June 23.
County travel policy tightening
A new policy requiring CEO review of every staff travel request passed 3-2. Supporters call it fiscal discipline during a budget crunch; dissenters say it overloads the CEO and micromanages department heads.
Animal control services overhaul
The county pays more than the city of Hollister for shelter services that supervisors say have degraded — limited hours, no large-animal capacity. The ad hoc will explore partnerships with Pet Friends, other nonprofits, or a San Martin/Santa Clara County facility.
Esperanza Wellness Center repurposing
Prop 1 means the county can no longer fund the downtown wellness center as a standalone drop-in site; it will now host treatment screening, therapy, forensic court teams and a new housing navigation team to justify its ~$203,000 annual cost.
Library expansion grant delays
Friends of the Library pressed supervisors to move the RFQ for the library expansion design-build out, noting 15 months left on a $10 million grant and a year of waiting.
Kennels and pet shops near farmland — CUP trigger at 2,500 feet
Staff met with stakeholders after the last meeting's kennel ordinance discussion and are revising potential amendments based on the feedback received.
EMS Billing with City of Hollister
The Board was scheduled to act on a resolution involving City of Hollister emergency medical services invoices, which touches on how ambulance service costs are shared between the county and the city.