CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF HOLLISTER
Minutes of Regular Meeting
February 22, 2022
REMOTE PARTICIPATION DURING THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY
CALL TO ORDER
CLOSED SESSION - 5:00 P.M.
Public Comment (limited to any item listed on the Closed Session agenda)
None.
Closed Session will be held by the City Council of the City of Hollister to discuss the following matters:
City Attorney Epperson stated that if the Council so moves, they will go to closed session to discuss the items agendized for closed session.
Council Member Resendiz motioned to move to closed session. Motion seconded by Vice Mayor Perez.
City Clerk Black called the vote with the following results: Council Member Resendiz voted Yes, Council Member Burns voted Yes, Vice Mayor Perez voted Yes, and Mayor Velazquez voted Yes. Motion carried by a 4-0-0-1 vote. Council Member Morales was absent.
1. Public Employee Evaluation per Government Code section 54957 Title: City Clerk
2. Public Employee Evaluation per Government Code section 54957 Title: City Manager
3. Conference with Legal Counsel, Anticipated Litigation, Pursuant to Government Code section 54566.9(b)
Two (2) potential cases
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Council Member Burns.
ROLL CALL
The Regular Meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Ignacio Velazquez on February, 22, 2022 at 6:30 PM in the City Council Chambers at 375 Fifth Street, Hollister, CA 95023.
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Ignacio Velazquez Mayor Present
Rick Perez District 1 Present
Rolan Resendiz District 2 Present
Dolores Morales District 3 Present
Tim Burns District 4 Present
Jason S. Epperson City Attorney Present
Christine Black City Clerk Present
Carlos Reynoso Police Chief Present
Brett Miller City Manager Present
Council Member Morales arrived in Council Chambers and moved to closed session at 5:55 p.m.
VERIFICATION OF AGENDA POSTING
The Agenda for the City of Hollister City Council meeting of February 22, 2022, was posted on the bulletin board at City Hall on February 16, 2022, at 3:05 p.m. per Government Code section 54954.2.
CLOSED SESSION - REPORT OUT
City Attorney Epperson stated that City Council discussed in Closed Session those items that appeared on the agenda which was read into the record before closed session. Direction was given to staff, no other reportable action. City Council recessed from closed session at 6:34 p.m.
BOY SCOUT TROUP 455
Mayor Velazquez welcomed Boy Scout Troup 455, and thanked them for attending.
A. CONSENT ITEMS
All items listed under the Consent Resolution will be enacted in one motion authorizing the actions indicated for those items so designated.
All items were approved with the exception of Item A2 which was pulled by Council member Morales and moved to Items pulled from consent.
RESULT: Adopted [Unanimous]
MOTION: Rolan Resendiz
SECOND: Dolores Morales
AYES: Velazquez, Perez, Resendiz, Morales, Burns
NOES:
RECUSED:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
Consent items are numbers: Al, A2, and A3
1. City Council - Special Meeting - Jan 22, 2022 9:00 AM - -- Pa e2of11
City Council Tuesday, February 22, 2022 9
2. has been moved to Items Pulled From Consent Agenda
3. Resolution No. 2022-18 a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hollister Authorizing Remote Teleconference Meetings of the Legislative Bodies of the City of Hollister During a Declared State of Emergency and Pursuant to Government Code Section 54953 (AB 361)
ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT AGENDA
City Council - Regular Meeting - Feb 7, 2022 6:30 PM
Item A2. pulled from consent by Council Member Morales.
Requested on page 17, of the agenda packet the word responsible to be changed to irresponsible.
RESULT: Accepted as Amended [Unanimous]
MOTION: Rolan Resendiz
SECOND: Dolores Morales
AYES: Velazquez, Perez, Resendiz, Morales, Burns
NOES:
RECUSED:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
B. CITY OF HOLLISTER AS THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY OF THE
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
None.
C. PUBLIC INPUT
The following members of our community addressed the Council.
Anne Hall
Mia Casey
Robin Pollard
Susan Logue
Randy Logue
Elia Salinas
Robb Rodriquez
D. PETITIONS, REMONSTRANCES AND COMMUNICATIONS
1. City Manager Report
None.
2. Trainings and Conferences
City Manager Miller attended the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers Training last week.
City Council Tuesday, February 22, 2022 Page 3 of 11
Police Chief Reynoso attended along with Captain Olson, the California Police Chief's Association Symposium in Sacramento last week, received training and attended the Expo with the equipment for Police Departments.
E. PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Ordinance No. 1207 an Ordinance of the City of Hollister Amending Chapter 8.28 (Noise Ordinance) Restrictions on Noise Levels in Residential and Adding Section 8.28.025 Downtown Mixed Use District Noise Standards
Received report from Chief of Police Reynoso.
Opened Public Hearing at 7:09 p.m.
Jennifer Coile, addressed the Council.
Closed Public Hearing at 7:11 p.m.
RESULT: First Reading [Unanimous]
MOTION: Tim Burns
SECOND: Rolan Resendiz
AYES: Velazquez, Perez, Resendiz, Morales, Burns
NOES:
RECUSED:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
F. INTRODUCTION AND ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES
1. Ordinance No. 1206 an Ordinance of the City of Hollister Adjusting Council District Boundaries in Accordance with the Results of the 2020 Federal Decennial Census per California State Law AB 1276, and Amending Municipal Code Chapter 2.04
Received report from City Clerk Black.
Council Member Morales stated that she is voting no and wanted to restate her reasons. The Redistricting, we asked for input, and received one email by one of her residents in District 3, which had thoughtful analysis on why Plan #1 would work best for the City. Considerations made here on the dais were for a future growth plan and recommendations for future housing over 5000 and that will not happen in one area of District 4, it would happen in a broad area of various districts. Other maps had moved some of the Council Members to other Districts so they would have to run against an incumbent. She believes that Plan #1 was a reflection of what the community is in terms of the representation of the purpose of the redistricting process.
Elia Salinas, addressed the Council.
City Council Tuesday, February 22, 2022 Page 4 of 11
RESULT: Adopted [3 to 2]
MOTION: Rolan Resendiz
SECOND: Tim Burns
AYES: Velazquez, Resendiz, Burns
NOES: Perez, Morales
RECUSED:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
2. Resolution No. 2022-19 a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hollister to allow the Hollister Fire Department to apply for the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) California Climate Investments Grant FY 2021-2022
Received report from Fire Chief Martin Del Campo.
RESULT: Adopted [Unanimous]
MOTION: Rolan Resendiz
SECOND: Tim Burns
AYES: Velazquez, Perez, Resendiz, Morales, Burns
NOES:
RECUSED:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
3. Resolution No. 2022-20 a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hollister to allow the Hollister Fire Department to submit a 2022 Senate District 12 Budget Request to the office of Senator Anna M. Caballero Received report from Fire Chief Martin Del Campo.
Elia Salinas addressed the Council.
RESULT: Adopted [Unanimous]
MOTION: Tim Burns
SECOND: Dolores Morales
AYES: Velazquez, Perez, Resendiz, Morales, Burns
NOES:
RECUSED:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
City Council Tuesday, February 22, 2022 Page 5 of 11
4. Resolution No. 2022-21 a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hollister to allow the Hollister Fire Department to apply for the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services - Hazard Mitigation Assistance - Prepare CA Match - FEMA HMGP and Prepare CA Jumpstart Funding Opportunity
Received report from Fire Chief Martin Del Campo.
RESULT: Adopted [Unanimous]
MOTION: Tim Burns
SECOND: Rick Perez
AYES: Velazquez, Perez, Resendiz, Morales, Burns
NOES:
RECUSED:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
5. Resolution No. 2022-22 a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hollister adding Veteran Preference in Police Officer hiring process Received report from Police Chief Reynoso.
Council Member Resendiz supported this and would like to see what/if other cities have a policy and would like this not just for the Police Department, but as a policy throughout the City in general.
Council Member Burns supported Council Member Resendiz, and would like to see it happen as soon as possible. Requested from Police Chief Reynoso and City Manager the current statistics on how many police officers are veterans in the City of Hollister and other City departments, including the Fire Department.
Police Chief Reynoso stated he could formulate that information for the Police Department.
RESULT: Adopted [Unanimous]
MOTION: Tim Burns
SECOND: Rick Perez
AYES: Velazquez, Perez, Resendiz, Morales, Burns
NOES:
RECUSED:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
6. Resolution No. 2022-23 a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hollister Adopting the Job Description for the Position of Assistant City Manager
Received report from City Manager Miller.
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Council Member Burns requested we consider one of the duties listed to be to work as a Council liaison.
Council Member Resendiz questioned if they may assist or help with public records requests, and if not, if we could place some type of language in there, as short term.
RESULT: Adopted [Unanimous]
MOTION: Tim Burns
SECOND: Dolores Morales
AYES: Velazquez, Perez, Resendiz, Morales, Burns
NOES:
RECUSED:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
G. REPORTS OF CITY COUNCIL, OFFICERS, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
1. Reports from City Council Members regarding Committees on which they serve
Council Member Burns - attended the AdHoc Committee for Campaign Finance along with our City Clerk and City Attorney. We held a zoom meeting with outside Council and are looking forward to bringing something to Council when we are prepared.
Council Member Resendiz - Council of Governments (COG) - discussions on the Highway 156 expansion and CALTrans presented the turbo round-a-bout at Highways 25 and 156.
Vice Mayor Perez - met with Area Aging Agency and welcomed Bea Gonzales onto the committee. He looks forward to bringing more information back on meals on wheels.
Council Member Morales - met with Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) very interesting meeting the Policy board had changes to their bylaws to eliminate public input, or bringing anything forth from the community, with only staff bringing forward items to the board. The Policy Board requested an Adhoc committee to resolve the issues between staff and the CAC (Community Advisory Council). She was appreciative of San Benito County Supervisor Kollin Kosmicki for his comments and keeping lines of communication open.
Mayor Velazquez - attended Council of Governments (COG) and the turbo round-a- bout does not mean you go faster through it, it means it is a more efficient design, with less conflict points. This is a CALTrans project funded by them 100%. We have been clear that we are not happy about the whole project, but Cal Trans had to do this, due to the number of fatalities at that intersection. The overpass is still moving forward and it will phase out the round-a-bout with a permanent overpass on the Highway 156 side going over Highway 25. Highway 156 between San Juan Bautista and Hollister should start construction around May or June. He will meet with the Mobility Partners which includes VTA (Valley Transit Authority), and Santa Clara Page City Council Tuesday, February 22, 2022 Pa 9
County where they will discuss the new interchange on Highways 101 and 25, which is scheduled to start in 2023.
2. Informational Reports from City Council, City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk and Staff
Council Member Burns - Received information about Catalytic converters being stolen in the Sunnyslope area. Requested cameras to be placed in that area to come back on a future agenda. There was a fire in the County off of John Smith Road and there are some K-Rails blocking Union Avenue. If they have to remain in place, may we look at that, as minutes count significantly with Fire, and Police response. Recognized and thanked Parks and Recreation Department and the City Manager for the reopening of Klauer Park. Invited the public to please come, enjoy your park, celebrate, have fun and play. He has been walking and cleaning the neighborhoods and purchased a grabber, and challenged other Council Members to go out and clean their neighborhoods. Requested Council consensus to consider purchasing 400-500 of these grabbers to give away at the park reopening, and have each Council member receive 100 each to give out to the community to help.
Requested again a detailed conversation about the Safer Grant. If it is not renewed, and he understands that it will not be. He requested an update on the Appeal Costs related to someone who is not a developer or builder or contractor wanting to appeal a planning commission decision. With the Redistricting, he believes, if our Parks Manager would confirm, the Skate Park will be in District 4. He has pictures and great ideas in mind, and would like to have an engaged conversation on that. He would like us to invest more into the park and clean it up, it is a great resource.
Requested on a future agenda conversation on salary increases for Council Members, per Government Code. Requested on a future agenda Charter City and Term Limits and would like to have that conversation. We do have time to place that on the ballot and would like to have that conversation. Requested a report on what the Cities intention and ideas are for the property on Park Hill. He would like placed on the agenda a discussion on acquiring a commercial vacant parcel on Sunnyslope, east of Airline Highway and South of Memorial on the South side of the road, which is commercially zoned, and believes it would be an amazing location for community park. Included in or in addition to the vacant lot downtown San Benito at 7th Street, across the street from the Memorial Building be a park for green space downtown.
Questioned the City Attorney and that public comment was stopped, and he would like to allow it to go forward. He requested a legal opinion provided to us at the next meeting.
Council Member Resendiz - nothing to report.
Vice Mayor Perez - Thanked Anne Hall for beating him to the punch, on the parking on 5th street across from Court House and library. He would like to see the parking Ordinance revamped, taking into account the changes in our city. He would like that brought back before Council and requested the parking enforcement be suspended until we are able to place this on the agenda.
Police Chief Reynoso - stated not enforcing (parking) is not the answer. We may come back with Council consensus and discuss options to amend the Parking Ordinance.
Vice Mayor Perez - stated the public should be allowed to talk. We should not shut them down. We should explain to them what the process is if they have a complaint.
City Council Tuesday, February 22, 2022 Page 8 of 11
Requested an update on the ARPA funds and when it will come back, and received the email on the tree beautification process, and the tree ordinance, and requested what may we do to replace the trees.
Council Member Morales - She is in agreement with the ARPA funds, Safer Grants, the appeals, parking, and Park Hill. Requested a report on our 2021 goals and accomplishments and what is our road map for 2022. She is in support of bringing back the discussion on the pay for Council and requested a report on the Planning Department and projects significantly delayed and what the problems are. She requested a report on Measure G that lists the projects, and dollar amounts.
Supports term limits to be on the ballot. Requested the percent of our budget that are grants and what the grants are (for), and if they are recurring. These should be separated by entitlement grants, those are just pass through money and that should not count. Requested an update on her request for a study for speed bumps on San Benito Street and 7/11. She is interested in the receipts for our budget. Requested the Ordinance of Code of Conduct brought back for review if there are concerns from our residents. Report update on 311 application update.
Information Systems and Technology Director Da Silva - stated there is still much to be worked on with other Departments before it is finalized and is looking at probably the next three or four months.
Council Member Morales - requested a list of the IT projects that we have to help with streamlining.
Mayor Velaquez - he looks forward to going out along with Mr. Burns to pick up trash. They have done it before and these are conversations we have been having with the Beatification Ad Hoc. He specially thanked our Parks department that have been on a roll getting things done, and Recreation, there are some bigger projects coming up and the community will be very excited once they see some of these plans for the near future. He thanked Engineering for their work and plans that are being done to repair our streets. Our road index is 74 which is actually pretty good and higher than most communities. On the issue of public comments, every election year there is a tendency for certain groups to make accusations of Council Members, whether true or not, without explaining background. Council Chambers should not be a place for running campaigns, it should be a place where we do our business.
He encourages anybody outside of here to do it if they want, against people they don't favor in office. But not here. You hear only one side of a story and usually that is not correct. This is not the place for that. We may not agree, but we have accomplished a lot. If we have rules for ourselves we need to be sure that the public is held to the same standards.
City Manager Miller - Requested consensus on items to bring back for
1. Cameras at Sunnyslope area. Consensus received.
2. Trash Grabbers - we will find room (in the budget) to accommodate those.
Consensus received.
3. Park Hill burn area and what council would like for a goal. Consensus to have Parks and Recreation Commission bring us a recommendation.
4. Vacant lots in town to purchase for parks. Consensus received.
5. Parking on Fifth Street and in the city, parking garage, permits to be purchased for long term. Consensus received.
6. ARPA will be brought back by April 1.
7. Ad Hoc will bring back review of HMC 2.04.
City Council Tuesday, February 22, 2022 Page 9 of 11
8. Beautification AdHoc committee to bring an update in March. Consensus.
9. Increase on Council salaries. Consensus.
10. Term limits be included with Charter City. Direction to City Clerk to find out how much it costs to add items to the ballot.
City Attorney Epperson - nothing to report.
Police Chief Reynoso - during December we were in a routine audit from the Department of Justice to verify that we are using appropriately our automated criminal history system of Federal Bureau of Investigation Interstate and Indemnification index. Of all the random samples, 71 inquiries and several others from the other categories, they sent us a letter commending our Department in compliance with statues and regulations governing these highly restricted systems.
He thanked Administrative Supervisor Valerie Reyna for her assistance, she was very helpful through the audit. One of our graveyard teams have taken it upon themselves for parking enforcement and have been ticketing and tagging abandoned vehicles. They tagged over 50 vehicles. Anyone in the community who would like to report abandoned vehicles, please call our regular line (831) 636-4330.
City Clerk Black - nothing to report.
3. Update on Public Records Act Requests and authorize staff to discuss a possible MOU with San Benito County to share costs for a paralegal Received a report from City Clerk Black.
Council direction to staff was:
• Implement our system to obtain a true number of public records requests. • Requested if we do hire a paralegal, to hire them in house under the City only, working for either City Clerk or City Attorney.
• If there is a relationship between the County and City what the privacy component is and how privacy will be addressed. They will need access to emails and some of those may be confidential. When you are reviewing the information, not just providing the information.
We need more information on what the requests are about, if this is temporary or a new trend.
H. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
None.
J. MISCELLANEOUS
None.
City Council Tuesday, February 22, 2022 Page 10 of 11
K. CITY OF HOLLISTER AS THE SUCCESSOR HOUSING AGENCY OF THE
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
None.
L. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to discuss Council Member Resendiz moved to adjourn at 8:47 p.m. Motion seconded by Council Member Morales and carried by a unanimous vote.
Respectfully submitted,
!'
Christine Black, MMC
City Clerk
City Council Tuesday, February 22, 2022 Page 11 of 11