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Action NRC-5.2 Pesticide and Fertilizer Management. Encourage the appropriate reduction of pesticides and fertilizers to the maximum extent feasible on City property. Ensure that the application of pesticides on City property is accomplished in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations.
(Implementation Measure CSF.L)
Action NRC-5.3 Water Quality Source Control Program. Develop guidelines for a water quality source control program that incorporates public education, planning, management, material use and disposal controls, spill prevention and cleanup, street sweeping, and sewer maintenance. (Implementation Measure CSF.S)
Action NRC-5.4 Water Quality Education Programs. Develop a public information and education program to enhance water quality.
Such a program may include storm drain stenciling,
presentations to schools and community groups, and watershed planning efforts. (Implementation Measure CSF.T)
Action NRC-5.5 Water Pollution Prevention Program. Develop an illicit discharge elimination program that will seek to eliminate illegal connections to the storm drain system and the illegal dumping of toxic materials into the storm drain system. Include requirements for contractors to comply with accepted
stormwater pollution prevention planning practices for all projects subject to erosion potential, and continue to require the proper use, storage, and disposal of on -site materials. (Implementation Measure CSF.U)
7.2.6 MINERAL RESOURCES
POLICIES
Policy NRC-6.1 Mineral Resource Conservation. Use land use controls and other appropriate measures to preserve regionally significant mineral resources in the Planning Area identified by the State Division of Mining and Geology. (new)
Photo by Kent Rossi
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Policy NRC-6.2 Mineral Resource Impact Review. Review impacts on mineral resources and other natural resources prior to the issuance of any building permit. (Implementation Measure NRC.W)
Policy NRC-6.3 Mineral Resource Management. Manage mineral resource extraction to ensure that this activity results in the fewest possible environmental impacts. Require preparation and assured
implementation of a rehabilitation plan for mineral extraction sites as a condition of mining approval. The mineral resource extraction plan shall address the protection and restoration of biotic resources. (new)
Policy NRC-6.4
Expansion of Mining Sites. New or expanded mining operations in the Hollister Planning Area shall adhere to the following guidelines:
> Demonstrate no significant adverse impacts from the
mining operations on adjoining areas and uses, including, but not limited to, those associated with noise, dust, and vibration.
> Demonstrate no substantial increase in hazards to
neighboring uses, water quality, air quality, agricultural resources, or biological resources.
> Demonstrate that the proposed plan complies with
existing applicable County and State waste management
standards.
> Incorporate sufficient buffering between mining
operations and adjacent non -mining uses to minimize
noise.
> Incorporate landscaping buffers and other measures to minimize visual impacts to the extent possible. (new)
Policy NRC-6.5 Land Use Compatibility. Restrict permitted uses on lands containing important mineral resources to those compatible with mineral extraction, except in cases where such uses offer public benefits that outweigh those of resource extraction. (new) NRC-34
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Policy NRC-6.6
Reclamation of Mining Sites. Reclaim former mining sites to a condition that is readily adaptable for alternative land uses, consistent with the Land Use Map and other applicable policies, in accordance with the California Surface Mining and
Reclamation Act (SMARA). (new)
Policy NRC-6.7 Union Road Mineral Resources. Preserve aggregate mineral resources in the Union Road Special Planning Area that are of known value to the region. (new)
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NRC-36
8. HEALTH AND SAFETY
ELEMENT
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This section of the General Plan covers two of the eight State -mandated General Plan elements: Safety and Noise. The purpose of this Health and Safety Element is to identify and evaluate natural and human -caused hazards that could affect the City of Hollister's residents, businesses, and services. The Health and Safety Element establishes a framework that anticipates these hazards and prepares the community to mitigate exposure to these risks.
Safety issues have been required to be addressed as part of local general plans since 1971. The San Fernando earthquake of February 1971, which claimed 64 lives and resulted in over $500 million in property damage, and the devastating wildland fires in September and October 1970, were largely responsible for prompting the Legislature to pass this requirement.
8 Photo by Jaquelyn Scimeca
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California Government Code Section 65302(g) requires Safety Elements to address the following:
> Protect the community from risks associated with a variety of hazards, including seismic activity, landslides, flooding, and wildfire, as required by the California Government Code Section 65302(g)(1).
> Map and assess the risk associated with flood hazards, develop policies to minimize the flood risk to new development and essential public facilities, and establish effective working relationships among agencies with flood protection responsibilities, as required by California Government Code Section 65302(g)(2).
> Map and assess the risk associated with wildfire hazards, develop policies to reduce the wildfire risk to new land uses and essential facilities, ensure there is adequate road and water infrastructure to respond to wildfire emergencies, and establish cooperative relationships between wildfire protection agencies, as required by California Government Code Section 65302(g)(3). > Assess the risks associated with climate change on local assets, populations, and resources. Note existing and planned development in at -risk areas and identify agencies responsible for providing public health and safety and environmental protection. Develop goals, policies, and objectives to reduce the risks associated with climate change impacts, including locating new public facilities outside of at -risk areas, providing adequate infrastructure in at -risk areas, and supporting natural infrastructure for climate adaptation, as required by California Government Code Section 65302(g)(4).
> Identify residential developments in any hazard area identified that do not have at least two emergency evacuation routes, as required by California Government Code Section 65302(g)(5).
> Identify evacuation routes and assess the capacity, safety, and viability of those routes and emergency shelters under a range of emergency scenarios, as required by California Government Code Section 65302.15(a).
The Health and Safety Element can meet some of the requirements of the California government through incorporation of the San Benito County Multi -Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP). The MJHMP identifies and profiles hazard conditions, analyzes risk to people and facilities, and develops mitigation actions to reduce or eliminate hazard risks in Hollister. The City prepared a Jurisdictional Annex to the MJHMP in accordance with the federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) Local Hazard Mitigation Plan HS -2
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guidance. The mitigation actions in the MJHMP include both short-term and long-term strategies, and involve planning, policy changes, programs, projects, and other activities. The MJHMP and Health and Safety Element address similar issues, but the Health and Safety Element provides a higher -level framework and set of policies, while the MJHMP focuses on more specific mitigation, often short-term actions. The MJHMP, as its name implies, focuses on mitigation -related actions, while the Health and Safety Element also includes policies related to emergency response, recovery, and preparation activities. The current MJHMP, certified by FEMA, is incorporated into this Health and Safety Element by reference, as permitted by California Government Code Section 65302.6. The current MJHMP and the Hollister Jurisdictional Annex can be found on the County of San Benito's website at
https://www.sanbenitocountyca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/10834/638181 251398570000.
Various health and safety hazards are to be considered in planning the location, design, intensity, density, and type of land uses in and surrounding the city. Long-term costs to the City, such as maintenance, liability exposure, and emergency services, are greater where high hazards exist or are projected to worsen.
Information on health and safety issues contained in this dement has been coordinated with the other elements of the City's General Plan, particularly Land Use and Community Design, Natural Resources and Conservation, and Open Space and Agriculture.
Noise issues are most closely associated with the Land Use and Community Design and Circulation Elements of the Hollister General Plan. Specific concerns addressed are: (1) establishment of noise -compatible land uses, (2) regulation of new development to limit noise impacts on noise -sensitive uses, (3) minimization of traffic noise, (4) enforcement of noise standards to protect the existing quality of life, and (5) insulation of residences exposed to excessive levels of noise.
HEALTH AND4
SAFETY CONDITIONS IN HOLLISTER
TODAY
This section describes existing conditions related to health and safety issues in Hollister today. It provides the background information to support the goals, policies, and actions later in this element.
8.1.1 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperature, precipitation patterns, and other atmospheric conditions that occur over extended periods, typically spanning decades or longer. As global temperatures continue to rise, California communities like Hollister are experiencing significant changes in weather patterns, including
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increased frequency and intensity of extreme events, prolonged drought conditions, and long-term environmental shifts that affect public health, safety, infrastructure, and the local economy.
In Hollister, average temperatures, including both daytime highs and nighttime lows, are projected to increase through the remainder of the century. This is likely to lead to more frequent and severe extreme heat days, when temperatures rise to dangerous levels. While overall annual precipitation may not change dramatically, the timing and intensity of rainfall are changing, with more precipitation falling during fewer, more intense storms and greater year-to-year variability. These changes are increasing the risk of both flooding during extreme weather events and water scarcity during extended dry periods. These shifting climate conditions create additional hazardous conditions and cascading effects throughout the community, as discussed further in Section 8.1.2, Vulnerability Assessment Results, and hazards sections that follow.
8.1.2 VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT RESULTS
Under California law, the Safety Element is required to include a vulnerability assessment that looks at how people, buildings, infrastructure, and other key community assets may be affected by climate change. The City conducted a Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment in the fall of 2021 to analyze Hollister's susceptibility to climate -related hazards. The City of Hollister's vulnerability assessment, prepared in accordance with the most recent available guidance in the California Adaptation Planning Guide, assesses how seven different climate -related hazards (agriculture and ecosystem pests and diseases, drought, extreme heat and warm nights, flooding, human health hazards, severe storms, and wildfire and smoke) may affect 59 different population groups and community assets. Each population or asset received a score of low, medium, or high for each climate -related hazard. The City assessed 286 different pairings for vulnerability, 99 of which scored as highly vulnerable. The Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment indicates that Hollister's populations and assets are most vulnerable to wildfire and smoke, severe storms, and extreme heat and warm nights.
Populations in Hollister tend to be vulnerable to extreme heat, flooding, human health hazards, severe storms, and wildfire smoke, which directly affect health outcomes. The most vulnerable communities include people experiencing homelessness, seniors, persons with chronic health conditions or access and functional needs, outdoor workers, households in poverty, immigrant communities, and low-resourced people of color.
HS -4
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Citywide, energy delivery is vulnerable to multiple hazards, including severe storms, such as high winds that could disrupt energy service due to public safety power shutoff (PSPS) events. These conditions can damage communication infrastructure, decreasing network capacity. There may be a higher demand for communication services during severe weather, potentially putting stress on the network and increasing the risk of service interruptions. Furthermore, electricity delivery services are subject to harm during extreme heat events. Extreme heat can lead to power outages by causing mechanical failure of grid equipment, heat damage to power lines, and by creating a high demand for electricity to power air conditioners, all of which place stress on the network. This is likely to lead to greater service disruptions. Other highly vulnerable buildings and infrastructure include bridges, homes, and major roads, which can be damaged or become unusable due to flooding events.
The agriculture industry, which the City and surrounding areas depend on for economic activity, is highly vulnerable to all hazards. Crops, vineyards, and livestock can be harmed or strained by extreme heat and drought conditions, which can prevent agricultural operations from effectively controlling agricultural pests and diseases.
These conditions may also make it more difficult for the agriculture industry to recover from flooding, severe storms, and wildfire events. Outdoor workers in this industry can face negative health outcomes due to human health hazards and smoke from wildfires, further harming the agriculture economy.
The Health and Safety Element includes goals, policies, and actions to increase community resilience and help lower vulnerability, particularly for the populations and assets that scored as highly vulnerable in the Vulnerability Assessment. A full list of the Vulnerability Assessment results can be found in Appendix A of this General Plan.
8.1.3 SEISMIC AND GEOLOGIC HAZARDS
Seismic and geologic hazards are risks caused by the movement of different parts of the Earth's crust, or surface. Seismic hazards include earthquakes and hazardous events caused by them. Geologic hazards are other hazards involving land movements that are not linked to seismic activity and are capable of inflicting harm on people or property.
8.1.3.1 SEISMIC HAZARDS
Seismic activity occurs along boundaries in the Earth's crust, called faults. Pressure along the faults build over time and is ultimately released, resulting in ground shaking that we refer to as an earthquake. Earthquakes can also trigger other hazards, including surface rupture (cracks in the ground surface), liquefaction (causing loose soil to lose its strength), landslides, subsidence (sinking of the ground surface), and seiches (the oscillation of water in an enclosed body of water, typically due to ground shaking).
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Earthquakes and other seismic hazards often damage or destroy property and public infrastructure, including utility lines, and cause falling objects or structures, which pose a risk of injury or death.
While Hollister is at risk from many natural and human -caused hazards, the event with the greatest potential for loss of life or property and economic damage is an earthquake. This is true for most of California, since damaging earthquakes affect widespread areas and trigger many secondary effects that can overwhelm the ability of local jurisdictions to respond. In Hollister, earthquake effects include ground shaking, fault rupture, liquefaction, subsidence, and seiches. Earthquakes can also cause human -caused hazards such as urban fires, dam failures, and toxic chemical releases.
Earthquake risk is very high in northern San Benito County, including the City of Hollister, due to the presence of several active faults in the region, including the San Andreas Fault, Tres Pinos Fault, Calaveras Fault, Quien Sabe Fault, and Sargent Fault.
These faults are all capable of producing earthquakes in the magnitude 5.5 to 8+ range. However, the four active faults that could potentially cause serious damage to the city are the San Andreas Fault, Calaveras Fault, Quien Sabe Fault, and Sargent Fault.
A major earthquake along any of these four faults could result in substantial casualties and damage resulting from collapsed buildings, damaged roads and bridges, fires, flooding, and other threats to life and property.
Historically, several earthquakes have affected the City of Hollister, including the following:
> 1906 San Francisco Earthquake approximately 84 miles to the north with a magnitude of 7.9 moment magnitude (Mw).
> 1927 Lompoc Earthquake approximately 160 miles to the south with a magnitude of 7.3 Mw.
> 1929 Santa Barbara Earthquake approximately 190 miles to the south with a magnitude of 6.8 Mw.
> 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake approximately 30 miles to the northwest with a magnitude of 6.9 Mw.
> 2003 San Simeon Earthquake approximately 85 miles to the southwest with a magnitude of 6.6 Mw.
HS -6
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Most loss of life and injuries from earthquakes are due to damage and collapse of buildings and structures. Building codes for new construction have generally been made more stringent following damaging earthquakes. However, in Hollister, structures built prior to the enactment of these improved building codes have generally not been upgraded to current standards and are vulnerable during an earthquake. Comprehensive hazard mitigation programs that include the identification and mapping of hazards, prudent planning and enforcement of building codes, and expedient retrofitting and rehabilitation of weak structures can significantly reduce the scope of an earthquake disaster. Given Hollister's large inventory of historic buildings, structural collapse of unreinforced buildings poses a significant threat to the community.
Earthquake shaking at a particular site is a function of both distance to the fault and site geology. Hollister has a high potential for ground failure, including liquefaction due to the close proximity of the San Benito River, Pacheco Creek, and Santa Ana Creek. The City could suffer ground shaking strong enough to cause severe structural damage from several faults that run directly through the city. Most of these events have been attributed to the San Andreas and Sargent Faults, located within two miles of the city boundaries to the west and north, respectively. The Calaveras Fault, a branch of the San Andreas Fault Zone, experiences fault creep of approximately seven millimeters per year. Fault creep is when faults continuously move, instead of only moving during a major earthquake. In Hollister, this has caused cracks and the offset of infrastructure and buildings, such as sidewalks, walls, streets, and alleys. Figure HS - 1 shows fault lines in and surrounding the city.
In the event of an earthquake, the location of the epicenter, as well as the time of day and season of the year, would have a profound effect on the number of deaths, injuries, and property damage. There are a number of small-scale earthquakes that happen weekly, but larger -scale or catastrophic shaking is less likely. Property and human life in Hollister are at risk from a significant earthquake causing catastrophic damage and strains on response and recovery resources.
Portions of the city are susceptible to liquefaction, which is a potentially destructive secondary effect of strong seismic shaking. Liquefaction occurs primarily in saturated, loose, fine- to medium -grained soils in areas where the groundwater table is within approximately 50 feet of the surface. Shaking causes the soils to lose strength and behave as liquid. Excess water pressure is vented upward through fissures and soil cracks and can result in a water -soil slurry flowing onto the ground surface. This subsurface process can lead to near -surface or surface ground failure that can result in property damage and structural failure. Figure HS -2 shows liquefaction susceptibility
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in and surrounding the city. The areas most susceptible to liquefaction include areas along the San Benito River and the northern portion of Hollister.
Liquefaction -related effects include loss of bearing strength, ground oscillations, lateral spreading, and flow failures or slumping. Site -specific geotechnical studies are the only practical and reliable way of determining the specific liquefaction potential of a site; however, a determination of general risk potential can be provided based on soil type and depth of groundwater. In most cases, proper design and construction of subgrade soils and building foundations provides a mechanism to mitigate the risk of seismic hazards to an acceptable level in conformance with the California Building Code. The designation of areas having a liquefaction potential is only intended as notification to seek further site -specific information and analysis of this potential hazard as part of future site development. It should not be solely relied on without site -specific information and analysis for design or decision -making purposes.
Seismic seiches are waves that can occur in a body of water as a result of seismic shaking. A seiche has been known to occur in storage tanks and reservoirs near a fault.
In extreme cases, such waves can rupture a water tank or damage dams holding back reservoirs. Hollister has a wastewater treatment facility in its City Limits that could be damaged and/or shutdown during a seiche event, although this is considered unlikely.
A seiche may also occur at the nearby San Justo Reservoir.
HS -8
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Figure HS -1 Fault Lines
• San just°
• Reservoir
© Planning Area
Q Urban Service Area
Existing Sphere of
Q Influence
Proposed Sphere of
Influence Expansion
© City Limit
Creeks and Waterways
Parks
Linear Faults
Less than 130,000 years
--- Less than 15,000 years
-- Less than I50 years
Alquist Priolo Fault Zones
Source:, ESRI, 2020; PlaceWorks, 2025; San Benito County, 2020; USGS, 2019
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Figure HS -2
Liquefaction Susceptibility
San Justo
Reservoir
Planning Area
Urban Service Area
Existing Sphere of Influence
Proposed Sphere of
Influence Expansion
City Limit
Creeks and Waterways
Hollister Industrial
Wastewater Treatment Plant
Hollister Water Reclamation
Facility
Liquefaction Susceptibility
Very High
High
edium
Low
Very Low
Source: ESRI, 2020; PlaceWorks, 2025; San Benito County, 2020; USGS, 2019 HS -10
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8.1.3.2 GEOLOGIC HAZARDS
Geologic hazards, such as landslides and subsidence, depend on the geologic composition of the area. Landslides may occur in sloped areas in the southwest and southeast portion of the Planning Area, especially areas on hillsides, and usually in areas of loose and fragmented soil. Landslides and mudflows occur continuously on all slopes; some processes act very slowly, while others occur very suddenly, often with disastrous results. They often occur as a consequence of seismic activity or heavy rainfall, either of which may cause slopes to lose structural integrity and slide. There are predictable relationships between local geology and landslides and mudflows.
Slope stability depends on many factors and interrelationships, including rock type, pore water pressure, slope steepness, and natural or human -made undercutting. Due to the level or nearly level terrain within the City Limits, there are few areas in Hollister vulnerable to earthquake -induced landslides. These areas are concentrated in the southeast and southwest portions of the Planning Area.
Subsidence refers to the sudden sinking or gradual downward settling and compaction of soil and other surface material with little or no horizontal motion. It may be caused by a variety of human and natural activities, including groundwater pumping, sinkholes, or drainage and decomposition of organic soils. Most of the early documented cases of subsidence affected only agricultural land or open space. As urban areas have expanded, so too have the impacts of subsidence on structures for human occupancy. Although there is no data currently available documenting the precise areas where subsidence could occur, it is most likely to occur over the North San Benito Groundwater Basin.
8.1.3.3 CLIMATE CHANGE AND SEISMIC AND GEOLOGIC HAZARDS There is no evidence of a link between climate change and seismic activity, so climate change is not expected to change the frequency or intensity of hazards associated with seismic activity. However, drought conditions and heavier reliance on groundwater can increase subsidence surrounding the city. An increase in heavy precipitation events due to climate change could lead to an increase in moisture -induced landslides.
8.1 .4 FLOOD HAZARDS
Flooding is the rising and overflowing of a body of water onto normally dry land.
Floods are among the costliest natural disasters in terms of human hardship and economic loss nationwide, causing substantial damage to structures, landscapes, and utilities, as well as life -safety issues. Flooding can be extremely dangerous, and even six inches of moving water can knock a person over given a strong current. Other hazards created by flooding include ground saturation that leads to instability or collapse of buildings and infrastructure; standing water that can damage foundations Photo by Jaquelyn Scimeca
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and electrical circuits; as well as erosion, sedimentation, degradation of water quality, losses of environmental resources, and certain health hazards.
In the past 18 years, there have been four notable flood events in Hollister. The following list summarizes these events:
> 2004: A storm event brought 4 inches of rain to San Benito County and winds up to 10 miles per hour, causing flooding along East and Second Streets. > 2010: A storm overwhelmed the storm drain system, flooding San Benito Street near Nash Road.
> 2014: A large storm brought 3.8 inches of rain to San Benito County, causing flooding, mudslides, and knocking over trees. Landslides and flooding caused Southside School to close along Southside Road.
> 2017: A storm brought 2.37 inches of rain over a week-long period, causing flooding along Pacheco Creek. Approximately 59 people evacuated from their homes and a state of emergency was declared in San Benito County.
As shown in Figure HS -3, several areas in and surrounding Hollister are in the 100 - year and 500 -year floodplain, which have an elevated risk of flooding. A 100 -year flood zone has a 1 -percent chance of experiencing a major flood in any given year and a 500 -year flood zone has a 0.2 -percent chance of flooding in any given year. Few areas in the City Limits are in a flood zone; however, areas adjacent to the San Benito River, Pacheco Creek, and Santa Ana Creek are in the 100 -year flood zone. During heavy rainfall events, the city is subject to flooding of the airport, commercial areas, agricultural areas, and few residential areas.
Agencies responsible for flood control in Hollister include FEMA, the Federal Insurance Administration (FIA), and the Department of Water Resources (DWR). > FEMA: FEMA manages the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), providing insurance to the public in communities that participate in the program. FEMA is the main federal government agency contact during natural disasters and publishes the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM), which identify the extent of flood potential in flood -prone communities based on a 100 -year flood (or base flood) event.
> FIA: FIA is the primary agency that delineates potential flood hazard areas and floodways through the FIRMs and the Flood Boundary and Floodway Map.
Flood insurance is required of all homeowners who have federally subsidized loans.
HS -12
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Figure HS -3 Flood Zones
A
156
Planning Area
Urban Service Area
Existing Sphere of Influence
Proposed Sphere of
Influence Expansion
City Limit
Hollister Industrial
Wastewater Treatment Plant
Holllister Water Reclamation
Facility
Levees
FEMA Flood Zones
100 -Year Flood Zone
500 -Year Flood Zone
DWR Awareness 100 -Year '
Floodplain
Source: ESRI, 2020; FEMA, 2020; PlaceWorks, 2025; San Benito County, 2020; USGS, 2019 Tres (Pines
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> DWR: DWR is responsible for managing and protecting California's water. DWR works with other agencies to benefit the state's people, and to protect, restore, and enhance the natural and human environments. DWR also works to prevent and respond to floods, droughts, and catastrophic events that would threaten public safety, water resources and management systems, the environment, and property.
The design standards for flood protection are established by FEMA, which the City has adopted in the Hollister Municipal Code. FEMA standards regulate development in designated floodways and the 100 -year floodplains, which are considered areas that have a 1 -in -100 chance of flooding in any given year. The City will support efforts to minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions.
8.1.4.1 CLIMATE CHANGE AND FLOODING
Although climate change may not change average precipitation levels significantly, scientists expect that it will cause more years with extreme precipitation events. This means that more years are likely to see intense storm systems that drop precipitation over a short enough period that overwhelms storm drain systems and flood protection infrastructure. Many of these storms are more likely to occur in the form of atmospheric rivers, which are channels of moist air high in the atmosphere.
Because of this, floods are expected to occur more often in Hollister and climate change may expand the parts of the city that are considered prone to flood. Floods are expected to occur more frequently because of climate change, affecting what the community understands as a "normal" flood. For example, what is currently considered a 100 -year flood, or a flood that has a 1 -percent chance of occurring annually, may occur with greater frequency (such as a 2- or 5 -percent chance each year). There are some indirect effects of climate change that may also increase flooding in the city. Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and severity of droughts that cause soil to dry out and compact. When precipitation does return, more water runs off the surface than is absorbed into the ground, which can increase flooding.
While the risk and associated short- and long-term impacts of climate change are uncertain, experts in this field tend to agree that among the most significant impacts include those resulting from increased heat and precipitation events that cause increased frequency and magnitude of flooding. Increases in damaging flood events will cause greater property damage, public health and safety concerns, displacement, and loss of life. Displacement of residents can include both temporary and long-term displacement, increase in home and renters' insurance rates, or restriction of insurance coverage in vulnerable areas.
HS -14
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8.1.5 WILDLAND AND URBAN FIRE HAZARDS
Wildfires burn in many types of vegetation —forest, woodland, scrub (including chaparral and sage scrub), and grassland. The Planning Area is in the Hollister Valley, a largely flat region abutting the Diablo and Gabilan Ranges to the west and southwest, respectively. Vegetation, wind, temperature, humidity, and slope are all factors that affect how these fires spread. Although the topography of the Planning Area is relatively flat, the neighboring foothills, rangelands, and generally dry vegetation conditions pose a threat of wildfire.
As shown in Figure HS -4, while most of the City of Hollister is not in a fire hazard severity zone, approximately 11 acres of a drainage basin, south of the developed areas of Hollister, has been designated as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) by CAL FIRE, and officially adopted by the City. Another 439 acres of the city, mostly along the southwestern border and in the neighborhood east of Calistoga Drive, has been designated as a Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Additionally, the Planning Area contains land in the State Responsibility Area, designated as Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. The General Plan Land Use Element identifies the land uses in the Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
According to CAL FIRE data, there have been 175 wildfires in San Benito County since records began in 1931, including 71 since 2000. While historic wildfires have not burned through the City Limits, the 1981 Herbert Fire burned through a small portion of the Sphere of Influence. Most recently, the 2020 Coyote Fire burned 1,500 acres, approximately 20 miles southeast of Hollister. These fires created indirect effects, such as poor air quality from smoke and ash, which caused illnesses for vulnerable populations, including outdoor workers, seniors, people with chronic health conditions, and children. Maps and data on areas burned in past fires are available from CAL FIRE's Fire Resource Assessment Program at www.fire.ca.gov/what-we- do/fire-resource-assessment-program/fire-perimeters.
Additional recent wildfires in other regions of California that have affected air quality in Hollister include the following:
> 2018 Camp Fire in Butte County
> 2020 CZU Lighting Complex in Santa Cruz County
> 2020 SCU Lighting Complex in Santa Clara County
> 2021 Dixie Fire in Plumas National Forest, Lassen National Forest, Lassen Volcanic National Park
Photo by David Mirrione
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Figure HS -4
Fire Hazard Severity Zones
CD Planning Area
0 Urban Service Area
Existing Sphere of Influence
Proposed Sphere of
Influence Expansion
�...�J City Limit
Creeks and Waterways
. Hollister Industrial (Local
Wastewater Tr'eatment. Plant Nis
. Hollister Water Reclamation
Facility
Fire Hazard Severity Zones
(State Responsibility Area)
Very High
High
Moderate
Responsibility Area)
Very High
High
Moderate
Source: CAL FIRE, 2025; ESRI, 2020; PlaceWorks, 2025; San Benito County, 2020; USGS, 2019 HS -16
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The primary risk in the City of Hollister has historically been from urban fires, which occur in built-up environments, destroying buildings and other human -made structures. These disasters are often due to faulty wiring or mechanical equipment, combustible construction materials, or the absence of fire alarms and fire sprinkler systems. Structural fires are largely from human accidents, although deliberate fires (arson) may be a cause of some events. Drier weather is expected to lead to an increase in wildfires in Hollister, in the surrounding area, and across San Benito County. Even if wildfires do not occur in Hollister itself, more frequent and intense wildfires across the region may increase severe smoke days in Hollister, creating a significant health risk for residents and visitors. Older buildings that lack modern fire safety features may face greater risk of damage from fires. To minimize fire damage and loss, the City's Fire and Building Codes, based on the California Fire and Building Codes, set standards for building and construction. It requires the provision of adequate water supply for firefighting, fire -retardant construction, and minimum street widths, among other things.
8.1 e6 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
8.1.6.1 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
The Hollister Fire Department and Hollister Police Department conduct emergency preparedness and response activities in Hollister. The City is prepared to meet emergency situations, such as fire, medical, or hazardous events.
The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) provides a centralized focus of emergency management in the event of a major emergency or disaster in the c6/. The EOC operations are directed by the County of San Benito, Hollister Police and Fire Departments, emergency management staff (City department heads), and representatives from organizations who are assigned emergency responsibilities (Red Cross, schools, hospitals, etc.). The EOC is equipped with essential administrative supplies to sustain operations for an extended period. In addition, all necessary forms, i.e., communications message forms, separate journals for each emergency service, shelter registration cards, volunteer registration forms, emergency requisition forms, and damage assessment survey sheets for all possible contingencies are stocked in the EOC.
The City of Hollister uses Nixle, a mass notification system, to notify the community and distribute emergency information and instructions before, during, and after a disaster. The San Benito County Office of Emergency Services also uses CodeRed to alert residents of emergency events in both San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties. This system alerts about disasters, major emergencies, and other urgent information via text messages, email, phone, landline, and other means of communication.
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Other emergency alert systems include the Emergency Alert Systems (EAS) and the Emergency Digital Information System (EDIS). The EAS is a national public warning system commonly used by state and local authorities to deliver important emergency information, such as weather and AMBER alerts, to affected communities. EAS participants — radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers, and wireline video providers. FEMA, the Federal Communications System, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) National Weather Service work collaboratively to maintain the EAS and Wireless Emergency Alerts, which are the two main components of the national public warning system and enable authorities at all levels of government to send urgent emergency information to the public. The EDIS is a wireless emergency and disaster information service operated by the State of California Governor's Office of Emergency Services and is an enhancement to the EAS. These systems are available in multiple languages.
8.1.6.2 EMERGENCY EVACUATION
With advanced warning, evacuation can be effective in reducing injury and loss of life during a catastrophic event. Figure HS -5 shows residential parcels with evacuation constraints as required by California Government Code Section 65302(g)(5), also known as Senate Bill 99. All parcels with an evacuation constraint are in at least one hazard -prone area and do not have at least two emergency evacuation routes. The lack of multiple emergency access points limits roadway access for these properties, which may create difficulties if there is a need to evacuate.
Figure HS -6 shows the evacuation routes throughout the city. Primary emergency access and evacuation routes include State Route (SR) 25, SR -156, and SR -156B, which generally intersect the city from north to south; Buena Vista Road, Santa Ana Road, Meridian Street, Sunnyslope Road, Nash Road, and Union Road (east -west roadways); and San Benito Street, Westside Boulevard, and Fairview Road (north - south roadways). All evacuation routes in Hollister face a potential disruption from a flood, wildfire, or earthquake event, which may block roadways, damage the roadway surface, or collapse bridges and overpasses. In the event of widespread disruption to local evacuation routes, remaining evacuation routes may become congested, slowing down evacuation of the community or specific neighborhoods. This issue may be compounded since evacuation routes for Hollister will also likely serve as evacuation routes for surrounding communities, such as Tres Pinos and San Juan Bautista, so potential disruptions may have regional effects.
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The City assessed emergency evacuation roadway capabilities and travel times, consistent with California Government Code Section 65302.15, also known as Assembly Bill 747, which requires the General Plan to identify evacuation routes and their capacity, safety, and viability under a range of emergency scenarios. The evacuation study is included as Appendix B of this General Plan.
The evacuation study modeled evacuations from two representative scenarios:
flooding along the San Benito River affecting the southwest portion of Hollister, and an earthquake along the Calaveras Fault affecting a north -south corridor through most of the city. These scenarios were chosen to represent high likelihood emergencies that may stress different parts of the road system.
For the flooding scenario, the study found that evacuations would primarily impact San Benito Street from Nash Road to Union Road, with travel time increases ranging from less than 1 minute to approximately 26 minutes depending on origin and destination. For the earthquake scenario, which would affect a much larger area including downtown Hollister, the study identified more widespread congestion on evacuation routes, including SR -25, SR -156, SR -156B, and other major routes, with travel time increases ranging from less than 1 minute to approximately 107 minutes (over an hour and a half) along particular roadways. These are general estimates that would be affected by numerous factors in an actual emergency, including the specific nature and location of the hazard, time of day, and evacuation strategies employed.
The study identified several categories of recommendations to improve evacuation effectiveness, including roadway management strategies such as exploring contraflow operations and traffic signal adjustments; enhanced communication systems and public alerts; assistance for vulnerable populations, including those with limited mobility, non-English speakers, and people without vehicles; expanded public education on evacuation procedures; and resource management coordination with neighboring jurisdictions and private -sector entities. This Safety Element incorporates many of these recommendations into the goals and policies in Section 8.2.5.
8.1.6.3 FIRE PROTECTION
Fire protection in the Hollister Planning Area is provided by the Hollister Fire Department (HFD). HFD provides fire protection, emergency medical services, rescue, and fire prevention services in City Limits, as well as providing services to the City of San Juan Bautista. All of the Planning Area is covered by HFD's service area, and there are no parts of the Planning Area that lack fire protection services. HFD contracts with the County of San Benito to provide firefighting services to the unincorporated areas of the county.
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Figure HS -5 Evacuation -Constrained Areas
156.
San Justo
Reservoir
Planning Area
Urban Service Area
Existing Sphere of Influence
Proposed Sphere of
Influence Expansion
City Limit
Creeks and Waterways
Hollister Industrial
Wastewater Treatment Plant
Hollister Water Reclamation
Facility
Residential Parcels with
Evacuation Constraint and
Hazard Risk.
Residential Parcels with
Evacuation Constraint
Primary Emergency Access
Routes
Source ESRI, 2022; San Benito County, 2022; PlaceWorks, 2025 HS -20
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Figure HS -6 Evacuation Routes
San Justo
Reservoir
Planning Area
Urban Service Area
Existing Sphere of Influence
Proposed Sphere of
Influence Expansion
City Limit
Creeks and Waterways
Hollister Industrial
Wastewater Treatment Plant tr
Hollister Water Reclamation
Facility
Primary Emergency Access
Routes
Source: ESRI, 2022; San Benito County, 2022; PlaceWorks, 2025
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HFD has two automatic -aid agreements with the South Santa Clara County Fire District and Aromas Tri-County Fire District. South Santa Clara County Fire District contracts with the Santa Clara County Fire Department, while the Aromas Tri-County Fire District contracts with CAL FIRE for service. Both automatic -aid agreements encompass reciprocal responses with each agency. Agencies in California must provide mutual - aid assistance to each other when requested and available.
In addition, the HFD and CAL FIRE San Benito -Monterey Unit (BEU), which services the State Responsibility Areas in San Benito and Monterey Counties, have an established Annual Operating Plan that delegates operation responsibilities, relationships, and expectations at the field unit level. CAL FIRE BEU does not operate year-round, and typically operates from late spring to late fall during wildfire season, so the Annual Operating Plan clearly designates both agencies' service responsibilities and fire operations in San Benito County. During operation, CAL FIRE BEU has responsibility for the State Responsibility Areas for wildland fires, and HFD has responsibility for the Local Response Area. State Responsibility Areas are areas where the State is financially responsible for wildland fire protection and prevention, although HFD responds to non-wildland fires in this area and at minimum sends a representative to respond to wildland fires. In San Benito County, the State Responsibility Areas include lands owned or regulated by State agencies and most of the unincorporated area. Alternatively, Local Responsibility Areas include lands where local agencies are responsible for fire protection and prevention, including land in incorporated cities such as Hollister. When CAL FIRE BEU is not in operation, HFD assumes full responsibility of fire protection services in San Benito County.
8.1.7 EXTREME HEAT HAZARDS
Extreme heat affects public health, infrastructure, and the environment, and poses an increasingly serious threat to residents of Hollister.
Warmer temperatures are projected to cause an increase in extreme heat events in Hollister. The number of extreme heat days, defined in Hollister as a day when the high temperature is at least 96.6 degrees Fahrenheit (°F), is expected to rise from a historical annual average of 4 days per year, to an annual average of 14 days per year by midcentury, and to an average of 24 days per year by the end of the century. In addition to the increases in extreme heat events, Hollister is expected to see an increase in the average daily high temperatures.
Extreme heat poses a significant human health risk, especially to those with sensitive or compromised immune systems, persons living in mobile homes, low-resourced people of color, persons with chronic health conditions, and seniors. Some buildings and infrastructure systems may be damaged by very high temperatures, constraining HS -22
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their ability to meet community needs. Additionally, higher temperatures increase demand for air conditioning, straining the electrical grid and potentially causing power outages during peak demand periods.
8.1 .8 OTHER HAZARDS
Changes to the global climate system are expected to affect future occurrences of natural hazards in and around Hollister. Many hazards are projected to become more frequent and intense in coming years and decades, and in some cases, these changes have already begun. According to California's Fourth Climate Change Assessment,' Hollister can expect to experience various changes to climate -related hazard events. > Agricultural Pests and Diseases. Agricultural pests and diseases can affect crop plants, vineyards, and livestock throughout and surrounding Hollister. These pests and diseases, such as the Asian citrus psyllid, European pine shoot moth, Japanese beetle, melon fruit fly, Mexican fruit fly, European corn borer, and glassy -winged sharpshooter, can slow the growth of plants and animals, damage them so that their products are less appealing and harder to sell, or even kill them. Though there are treatment options for many agricultural pests and diseases, some have no cure. Many pests and organisms that carry diseases are most active during warmer months, so the threat of infection or infestation is higher during that time of year. Projection trends show temperatures getting warmer earlier in the year and remaining warmer until later in the year due to increases in air temperature, which creates a wider activity window for pests and diseases.
> Drought. A drought occurs when conditions are drier than normal for an extended period. Although a regular occurrence in California, climate change will lead to more frequent and severe droughts. Water supplies in Hollister rely heavily on water from the Central Valley Project, which obtains water from the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada. Snowpack levels in the Sierra Nevada dropped by 25 percent during the 2011 to 2016 drought, and average springtime snowpack is expected to drop 64 percent by 2100. In the 2021 water -year (October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021), the snowpack in the Northern Sierra was 70 percent of the average, and the precipitation was less than 50 percent of the annual average, making it the third -driest water year on record. During drought conditions, water stored in the Central Valley Project's primary Thorne, James H., Joseph Wraithwall, Guido Franco. 2018. "California's Changing Climate 2018." California's Fourth Climate Change Assessment, California Natural Resources Agency. https://climateassessment.ca.gov/ .
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reservoirs could decrease due to lack of rainfall and reduction in snowpack due to higher temperatures.
> Infectious Diseases: Climate change can increase the rates of infection for various diseases because many of the animals that carry diseases are more active during warmer weather. There are a number of diseases that are linked to climate change and can be harmful to the health of Hollister community members, such as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, Lyme disease, and West Nile fever. Many of these diseases are carried by animals, such as mice and rats, ticks, and mosquitoes, which are usually seen as pests even if they do not cause infections. Warmer temperatures earlier in the spring and later in the autumn can cause these animals to be active for longer periods, increasing the time that these diseases can be transmitted.
> Severe Weather Events: Severe weather events, such as windstorms, hail, and lightning, may become more frequent and intense due to climate change.
Climate change is expected to cause an increase in intense rainfall, which is usually associated with strong storm systems. In San Benito County, most severe weather is linked to high winds. The types of dangers posed by severe weather vary widely and include injuries or deaths, damage to buildings and structures, fallen trees, roads blocked by debris, and fires sparked by lightning.
8.1 .9 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
Some businesses and activities in the city involve the transport, storage, or use of toxic or hazardous chemicals, which are carefully regulated by State and federal agencies.
Hazardous materials that pose a potential threat to human health include paint solvents, refrigerants, gasoline, pesticides, and household cleaning products, which can be transported on SR -25 and local roadways. The City seeks to protect citizens as much as possible from hazardous materials by reducing the potential for incidence or damage in the event of accidents or spills and ensuring that the appropriate agencies are adequately prepared to deal with a hazardous material emergency.
Hazardous materials and waste in Hollister are managed by the Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA), a local administrative agency in the San Benito County Health and Human Services Agency. The CUPA consolidates, coordinates, and makes consistent the regulatory activities of several hazardous materials and hazardous waste programs, including Hazardous Materials Unit Programs and the California Accidental Release Program. The San Benito County Resource Management Agency provides hazardous waste disposal programs for Hollister and the greater county region.
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If a hazardous material spill poses an imminent public health threat, the City will support local regulating agencies in notifying the public. The transport of hazardous materials/wastes and explosives through the city is regulated by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). SR -25 is open to vehicles carrying hazardous materials/wastes. Transporters of hazardous waste are required to be certified by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) and manifests are required to track the hazardous waste during transport. The danger of hazardous materials/waste spills during transport does exist and will potentially increase as transportation of these materials increase on SR -25. The HFD and San Benito County Fire Department are responsible for hazardous materials accidents at all locations in the city.
8.1.10 NOISE
A Noise Element has been required as part of local General Plans since 1971. The State Legislature adopted the California Noise Control Act of 1973, which defined the following findings and policy:
1. Excessive noise is a serious hazard to the public health and welfare.
2. Exposure to certain levels of noise can result in physiological, psychological, and economic damage.
3. There is a continuous and increasing bombardment of noise in urban, suburban, and rural areas.
4. Government has, by and large, not taken the steps necessary to provide for the control, abatement, and prevention of unwanted and hazardous noise.
5. It is the policy of the State to provide an environment for all Californians free from noise that jeopardizes their health or welfare.
To implement this policy, Section 65302(f) of the California Government Code requires each city to have a Noise Element as part of its General Plan. The Government Code states that the Noise Element should be prepared according to guidelines established by the State Department of Health Services, Office of Noise Control.
Primary noise sources in the Hollister Sphere of Influence include traffic from surrounding highways, major roadways, residential streets, Hollister Municipal Airport, local railroad activity, and outdoor recreational uses, as shown in Figure HS -7 and Figure HS -9. Some of these land uses and transportation activities can produce noise levels that may disturb sensitive receptors in close proximity. Homes, schools, hospitals, and individuals living near railroad crossings may be vulnerable to the noise.
While on -road vehicles represent the most prominent source of noise in Hollister, as shown in Figure HS -7 and Figure HS -8, commercial and retail areas with truck loading docks can also be a significant noise source.
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Figure HS -7 Existing Transportation Noise Contours
1 Planning Area
Urban Service Area
L Existing Sphere of Influence
kM. Proposed Sphere of
— Influence Expansion
Q City Limit
Creeks and Waterways
' III' Railway
60 dBA (DNL)
65 dBA (DNL)
70 dBA (DNL)
Source: ESRI, 2020; PlaceWorks, 2025; San Benito County, 2020; USGS, 2019 HS -26
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Figure HS -8 2040 Transportation Noise Contours
eerVi o
Planning Area
Q Urban Service Area
Existing Sphere of Influence
Proposed Sphere of
Influence Expansion
City Limit
Creeks and Waterways
III" Railway
60 dBA (DNL)
65 dBA (DNL)
70 dBA (DNL)
Source: ESRI, 2020; PlaceWorks, 2025; San Benito County, 2020; USGS, 2019 Tres Pinos
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8.1,1 1 AIRPORT HAZARDS
A portion of Hollister and its Sphere of Influence extends into the Airport Influence Area (AIA) of the Hollister Municipal Airport (HMA), as shown on Figure HS -9. The airport is operated by the City of Hollister, and is used for general aviation, which includes all aviation activities other than commercial passenger flights, commuter/air taxi, and military uses. General aviation activity typically includes single -engine and small twin -engine aircrafts holding six or fewer people.
The AIA includes all areas surrounding the airport that are affected by noise, height, and safety considerations. All development projects in the AIA must be reviewed by the San Benito County Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) to ensure consistency with the Hollister Municipal Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan (ALUCP). The ALUCP establishes height restrictions for structures in the portion of the Hollister City Limits and Sphere of Influence that extends into the AIA.
HS -28
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Figure HS -9 Airport Influence Areas
Source: San Benito County Airport Land Use Commission,
Hollister Municipal Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan, June 21, 2412,, page 2-51.,
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AN. BElITO COUNTY
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8.2 Health and Safety Element
Goals, Policies, and Actions
The following section provides goals, policies, and actions relating to health and safety.
8.2.1 OVERALL HAZARD PLANNING
POLICIES
Policy HS -1.1
Policy HS -1.2
Location of Future Development. Permit development only in areas where potential danger to the health, safety, and welfare of the community can be adequately mitigated. This includes prohibiting development that would be subject to severe flood damage or geological hazard because of its location and/or design and that cannot be mitigated to safe levels.
Development shall also be prohibited where emergency services, including fire protection, cannot be provided. (Policy HS1.1) Safety Considerations in Development Review. Require project applicants to prepare appropriate studies to assess identified hazards and ensure that impacts are adequately mitigated prior to project approval. (Policy HS1.2)
Policy HS -1.3 Coordination with the County of San Benito and Other Agencies on Safety Matters. Cooperate with the County of San Benito and other government agencies in all matters related to safety, hazardous waste management, and emergency planning. (Policy HS1.3)
Policy HS -1.4
Airport Safety. Avoid residential dwellings in the Aircraft Flight Zones and establish compatible land use zones around the airport consistent with the Hollister Municipal Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan. (Policy HS].] 1)
Policy HS -1.5 Undergrounding Utilities. Require the undergrounding of utility lines in existing and new development, where feasible.
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Policy HS -1.6 Climate Change Collaboration. Collaborate with local governments and special districts in San Benito County and the Central Coast Climate Collaborative to develop and implement regional climate change adaptation and resilience initiatives. (new)
Policy HS -1.7
Policy HS -1.8
Hazard Data. Use the reported data and findings of applicable local, regional, or State documents or plans pertaining to climate - related hazards that could impact the City of Hollister, including the California Climate Change Assessment, the California Adaptation Planning Guide, and the Safeguarding California Plan, in the development review, capital improvement program, and decision -making processes. (new)
Homelessness. Support regional efforts to ensure that persons experiencing homelessness in the Hollister Planning Area have access to temporary and/or emergency housing, food, and other essential living materials to keep them safe during hazard events. (new)
Policy HS -1.9 Weatherization. Ensure that lower -income households have access to information about low-cost programs (e.g., subsidies for the National Flood Insurance Program, air-conditioning, low- cost weatherization) to protect their homes and well-being from climate change hazards, including flooding, extreme heat, and severe wind. (new)
Policy HS -1.10 Resilience Hubs. Develop equitably located Community Resilience Hubs throughout Hollister, outside of any areas of elevated hazard risk to the greatest extent possible, that can serve as shelters and resource centers during and after hazard events (e.g., flood inundation, wildfire and wildfire smoke, extreme heat days). Such facilities should be in easily accessible locations and available to all community members, as needed. Resilience hubs consist of well -used, existing community -serving facilities that are upgraded to provide local communities with shelter and water. (new)
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ACTIONS
Action HS -1.1 Geologic, Flooding, Fire, and Other Hazard Mapping. Upon each update of the Safety Element, update hazard maps for use in development review. Use this mapping data to inform
decisions about existing risk and future land uses throughout the city. (Implementation Measure HS.G)
Action HS -1.2 Development Review for Compatibility with the Hollister Municipal Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan. Review all development proposals in the Airport Influence Area to verify that the proposed development would not conflict with the land use guidelines established in the Hollister Municipal Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan or subsequent updates. (Implementation Measure HS.U)
Action HS -1.3
Coordination with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).
Coordinate with PG&E to prepare and implement a program to underground existing electrical transmission lines throughout the city. (new)
Action HS -1.4 Undergrounding Utilities in New Development. Review and amend the Hollister Municipal Code to include undergrounding utility requirements for new development to underground electric utilities. (new)
8.2.2 SEISMIC AND GEOLOGIC HAZARDS
POLICIES
Policy HS -2.1 Seismic Hazards. Ensure existing and new structures are designed to protect people and property from seismic hazards.
Review all development proposals for compliance with the Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act and the Uniform Building Code as a way to reduce the risk of exposure to seismic hazards for those who will be living and working in the Hollister Planning Area. (Policy HS1 .4)
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Policy HS -2.2 Geotechnical and Geologic Review. Require all geologic hazards to be adequately addressed and mitigated prior to the issuance of certificate of occupancy through project
development. Development proposed in areas of potential geological hazards shall not be endangered by, nor contribute to, the hazardous conditions on the site or on adjoining properties. (Policy HS1.5)
Policy HS -2.3 Engineering Tests for Geologic Conditions. Require engineering tests prior to issuance of building permits for those development projects that may be exposed to impacts associated with expansive soils, so that building foundation footings, utility lines, roadways, and sidewalks can be designed to accept the estimated degree of soil contraction, expansion, and settlement, according to the standards of the Uniform Building Code. (Policy HS1.6)
Policy HS -2.4
Policy HS -2.5
ACTIONS
Action HS -2.1
High -Occupancy Structures. High -occupancy structures (such as schools, hospitals, office buildings, and multifamily housing) or critical emergency facilities (such as fire and police stations, emergency relief storage facilities, and water storage tanks) should not be located in an active fault's "zone of potential surface deformation." In addition, high -occupancy structures should be designed or redesigned to protect human life to the highest degree possible during the "maximum probable event" of seismic activity. Existing and new high -occupancy structures should also have emergency plans approved by the City. (Policy HS2.1)
Design of Safe Structures and Utilities. Require new roads, bridges, and utility lines be constructed to accommodate possible fault movement and withstand the expected ground motion induced during an earthquake. (Policy HS1 .7)
Building Code Updates. Regularly adopt updates to the Building Code and other essential codes as necessary to address
earthquake, fire, and other hazards and support programs for the identification, abatement, or mitigation of existing hazardous structures. (Implementation Measure HS.Q)
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Action HS -2.2
Unreinforced Masonry Building Improvements. Continue to implement actions to address safety issues related to
Unreinforced Masonry Buildings and other buildings as
conditions are discovered. (Implementation Measure HS.L)
8.2.3 FLOOD HAZARDS
POLICIES
Policy HS -3.1
Policy HS -3.2
Policy HS -3.3
ACTIONS
Flood Hazards. Review all development proposals to verify that either no portion of the proposed development lies in the 100 - year floodplain or that the applicant has taken adequate measures to eliminate the risk of flood damage in a 100 -year storm consistent with the City of Hollister Flood Damage Prevention Regulations as amended from time to time. (Policy HS1.9)
Floodplain Uses. Encourage developers to dedicate identified lands in floodplains that are unsuitable for development to the City for use as parks or for preservation as open space, consistent with the City of Hollister Parks and Recreation Master Plan or other infrastructure plan developed for a given area.
Development of these identified lands as community recreation amenities should be economically feasible to build and maintain. (Policy HS1.10)
Flood Control Coordination. Coordinate with the San Benito County Water District and other State agencies to maintain flood - control infrastructure to minimize flood damage. (new)
Action HS -3.1 Flood Control Requirements in New Development. Update and apply flood control requirements to regulate construction in flood zones. (Implementation Measure HS.H)
Action HS -3.2 Areas of Poor Drainage. Identify areas of poor drainage and install new or upgrade existing drainage systems to
accommodate drainage needs. Use natural infrastructure to the extent feasible. (new)
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Action HS -3.3
Floodplain Use Assessment. Identify those areas with natural hazards that are unsuitable for development, but which may be suitable for public recreational uses. (new)
8.2.4 WILDLAND AND URBAN FIRE HAZARDS
POLICIES
Policy HS -4.1 Development in Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Coordinate between the Building and Fire Departments to ensure that new development in High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones is in full compliance with all applicable sections of the Building Code and meets or exceeds the standards in Title 14 State Responsibility Area Fire Safe Regulations and Fire Hazard Reduction Around Buildings and Structures Regulations. (new) Policy HS -4.2 Firefighting Infrastructure. Ensure adequate firefighting infrastructure, including water and fire -flow capacity, visible street signage meeting California Fire Safe Regulations standards, roads and building clearance for firefighting vehicles, adequate road widths, and clear and legible street signage are available throughout the community. (new)
Policy HS -4.3
Fire Protection Master Plan. Ensure that all new development will be adequately designed to minimize risks to life and property through the implementation of the Fire Protection Master Plan. (Policy CSF4.12)
Policy HS -4.4 Fire Safety Requirements. Require new development to be protected from fire hazards through the provision of peak load water supply systems capable of providing the flow required for fire suppression, the design of roads with adequate widths and turning radii, and adequate separation between buildings, prior to project approval. Coordinate with the Hollister Fire Department and water service providers to ensure the ongoing maintenance and long-term integrity of water supply and associated infrastructure for fire suppression purposes. (Policy CSF4.12)
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Policy HS -4.5 Facilities Planning. Place all new public facilities outside of identified fire hazard risk areas as feasible. Appropriately retrofit or, if necessary, relocate existing public facilities outside of identified fire hazard areas. (new)
Policy HS -4.6
Policy HS -4.7
Land Use Management for Fire Risks. Maintain all City -owned public lands to clear them of fuel loads, establish appropriately placed fire breaks, and educate all property owners in the city on proper landscape maintenance and fire-scaping standards to reduce the risk of fire hazards. (new)
Retrofitting of Existing Buildings. Encourage the retrofitting of older buildings and properties to meet current fire safety standards in coordination with proposed major remodeling or additions. (new)
Policy HS -4.8 Mutual -Aid Agreements. Maintain inter -jurisdictional cooperation and coordination, including automatic -aid
agreements with fire protection/suppression agencies in San Benito County. (new)
Policy HS -4.9 Defensible Space and Fuel Modification. Minimize future development in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ).
Require property owners of any future development in Very High FHSZ to create and maintain defensible space around structures, consistent with Public Resources Code Section 4291 and
Government Code Section 51182, including the 100 -foot
defensible space requirement. Ensure long-term maintenance of fuel modification areas through property owner education and code enforcement. (new)
Policy HS -4.10
Fire Protection Plans. Require fire protection plans for any new development proposed in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones that include risk analysis, fire response capabilities, fire safety requirements, mitigation measures, wildfire education, and evacuation planning. (new)
Policy HS -4.11 Post -Fire Re-evaluation. Following large wildfires, re-evaluate development standards to meet current safety standards and ensure consistency with State requirements. (new)
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ACTIONS
Action HS -4.1
Requirements for Development in High Fire Hazard Areas.
Require project -level development in the High and Very High Fire Hazard Zone in the Planning Area to occur in accordance with the California Building Standards Code and adopt local ordinances that meet or exceed the minimum statewide standards in Title 14 State Responsibility Area Fire Safe Regulations and Fire Hazard Reduction Around Buildings and Structures Regulations to provide needed safeguards and facilities to control the spread of fire in any fire hazardous area. Provisions shall include, but are not limited to, the following: (a) require spark arresters for any chimney; (b) prohibit open -flame devices; (c) clear brush or vegetative growth 100 feet from structures; and (d) clear brush 10 feet from roadways; (e) ensure adequate road access for emergency vehicles; (f) provide water supply and fire flow capacity for fire suppression; and (g) provide visible street signage. (new)
Action HS -4.2 Tree Trimming. Trim all public trees and other vegetation in Hollister on a regular basis to clear them of any loose branches or debris that could serve as fuel in a fire event. (new) Action HS -4.3
Action HS -4.4
Pilot Clean Air Center Program. Implement the State's Wildfire Smoke Clean Air Centers for Vulnerable Populations Incentive Pilot Program and apply for grants to retrofit ventilation systems at certain public buildings to provide refuge for residents during periods of unhealthy air quality caused by excessive smoke from wildfires. (new)
Fire Safety Education. Develop new and expand existing public fire safety education programs (including disaster preparedness, defensible space requirements, evacuation routes, and wildfire prevention) and continue to be proactive in public safety education. (new)
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8.2.5 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
POLICIES
Policy HS -5.1
Policy HS -5.2
Emergency Planning Document Coordination. Integrate the City's safety and emergency management documents, including this Health and Safety Element, the San Benito County Multi - Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, and other related documents. (new)
San Benito County Multi -Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Incorporate the current San Benito County Multi -Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan into this Safety Element by reference, as permitted by California Government Code Section 65302.6 to ensure that emergency response and evacuation routes are accessible throughout the city. (new)
Policy HS -5.3 Emergency Infrastructure and Equipment. Ensure the emergency operations center maintains a full functional state of readiness. (Policy HS2.2)
Policy HS -5.4
Policy HS -5.5
Neighborhood Disaster Preparedness. Locate volunteer centers for emergency coordination in neighborhoods with potential for being isolated due to road closures or Public Safety Power Shutoff events. (Policy HS2.5)
Local Utility Cooperation. Work with local utility operators to identify if and when a Public Safety Power Shutoff event may be necessary to reduce hazard risks in Hollister and/or the surrounding area and provide due notice and resources to residents in the city to help them prepare. (new)
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Policy HS -5.6
Disaster Recovery. Ensure that the City government continues to operate during and after hazard events and is able to provide resources and guidance to people and institutions in Hollister to aid them in recovery and reconstruction following the end of the hazard event. (new)
Policy HS -5.7 Access for Emergency Vehicles and Evacuations. Provide adequate access for emergency vehicles and equipment and evacuating community members, including providing a second means of ingress and egress to all development. (Policy HS2.4) Policy HS -5.8
Policy HS -5.9
Policy HS -5.10
Emergency Management Coordination. Coordinate and share experience and strategies with State, regional, and private sector emergency management agencies on disaster preparedness and disaster response procedures. Cooperate with emergency
management partners to assess and project future emergency service needs, and to conduct joint preparedness and training activities. (new)
Emergency Alerts. Continue to work with the County of San Benito to participate in providing alerts about potential, developing, and ongoing emergency situations through extensive early -warning and notification systems that convey information to all residents, in multiple languages and formats, to ensure it is widely accessible. (new)
Communication Systems. Ensure that communication systems used by emergency responders and key City staff have sufficient redundancy and resiliency to meet City needs during and after a hazard event. (new)
Policy HS -5.11 Energy Backups. As feasible, install solar energy and battery backup systems at critical public and private facilities to ensure continuation of services if the power grid is disrupted. (new) Policy HS -5.12 Public Information on Safety and Emergency Preparedness Issues. Support public education programs for the public and City staff in emergency preparedness and disaster response in cooperation with the County of San Benito. (new)
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Policy HS -5.13 Evacuation Route Capacity and Resilience. Coordinate with Caltrans, San Benito County, and neighboring jurisdictions to maintain the capacity and enhance resilience of designated evacuation routes to support effective emergency evacuations through ongoing maintenance and evaluation of appropriate infrastructure improvements. These improvements may include implementing traffic management strategies during evacuations, installing signal battery backups at critical intersections along evacuation routes, adding secondary access routes to evacuation - constrained areas without physical or environmental constraints, and considering the use of contra -flow operations on major evacuation routes to increase capacity. (new)
Policy HS -5.14
ACTIONS
Action HS -5.1
Action HS -5.2
Evacuation Assistance for Vulnerable Populations. Support and coordinate evacuation assistance programs for vulnerable populations. Work with San Benito County, neighboring
jurisdictions, transit and paratransit providers, medical facilities, and community -based organizations to identify the locations of and provide accessible communication and transit services to vulnerable populations. (new)
Regular Updates. Update the Health and Safety Element and any other documents as necessary with each Housing Element
update, or every eight years, whichever comes first. (new) Resilient Power Systems. Explore the feasibility of microgrids and portable batteries to provide localized energy supplies to neighborhood blocks to reduce reliance on regional power infrastructure in case of a hazard -caused power outage. (new) Action HS -5.3 Emergency Evacuation Routes. Conduct comprehensive education and outreach in conjunction with the County of San Benito, through multiple formats and media, on evacuation procedures, including evacuation routes, evacuation order types, evacuation maps, available transportation options, advance preparation measures, and evacuation shelters and support services. (Implementation Measure HS.M)
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Action HS -5.4
County Emergency Plan Update. Coordinate with the County of San Benito to prepare a Hollister Emergency Operations Plan as an annex to the County's Emergency Operations Plan and
coordinate updates no less than every five years.
(Implementation Measure HS.S)
Action HS -5.5 Periodic Emergency Preparedness Exercises. Participate with the County of San Benito in disaster preparedness planning and exercises. Continue providing emergency preparedness trainings to maintain and expand existing Community Emergency
Response Teams (CERTs). (Implementation Measure HS.J)
Action HS -5.6 Emergency Centers. Collaborate with property owners of privately owned community gathering places (e.g., meeting houses, lodges, faith -based buildings, community centers) to evaluate which of these facilities could become cooling centers, resilience hubs, or emergency shelters that provide safe places for residents during hazard events or emergency conditions.
Cooling centers and emergency shelters shall remain operational both during and after the hazard event, as needed. (new) Action HS -5.7 Emergency Operations Center. Maintain the local government's emergency operations center in a full functional state of readiness. (new)
Action HS -5.8 Back-up Emergency Operations Center. Designate a back-up Emergency Operations Center with communications
redundancies. (new)
Action HS -5.9 Emergency Infrastructure. Ensure that traffic lights at major intersections continue to function in the event of localized power outage. Repair any damaged sets of infrastructure or equipment as needed to continue City operations. (new)
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Action HS -5.10 Disaster Preparedness Training and Planning. Continue to provide essential emergency public services during natural catastrophes and build the capacity of resilience hubs and community -based organizations. Undertake disaster
preparedness training and planning in cooperation with other public agencies and appropriate public -interest organizations, ensuring that all training is provided in English, Spanish, and other relevant languages in the community and at accessible locations. (new)
Action HS -5.11 Hazard Awareness. Publicize disaster plans and promote resident awareness and caution regarding hazards, including soil instability, earthquakes, flooding, and fire. (new)
Action HS -5.12 Funding Energy Backups. Seek grants and other funding sources for the installation of backup energy systems at critical facilities. (new)
Action HS -5.13 Emergency Communication Infrastructure. Work with Caltrans and San Benito County to install and maintain emergency communication infrastructure along evacuation routes. (new) Action HS -5.14 Evacuation Resource Coordination. Work with San Benito County, neighboring jurisdictions, and private -sector entities (including utility companies, towing services, and ambulance operators) to identify resource gaps and establish agreements for mutual support during evacuation events. (new)
8.2.6 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
POLICIES
Policy HS -6.1 Hazardous Waste Management. Support measures to responsibly manage hazardous waste to protect public health, safety, and the environment, and support State and federal safety legislation to strengthen requirements for hazardous materials transport. (Policy HS1.13)
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Policy HS -6.2
Hazardous Materials Storage and Disposal. Require proper storage and disposal of hazardous materials to prevent leakage, potential explosions, fires, or the escape of harmful gases, and to prevent individually innocuous materials from combining to form hazardous substances, especially at the time of disposal. Provide the public, industry, agriculture, and local government with the available information needed to enable them to take rational and cost-effective actions to minimize, recycle, treat, dispose of, or otherwise manage hazardous wastes in the Hollister Planning Area. (Policy HS1.14)
Policy HS -6.3 Potential Hazardous Soils Conditions. Evaluate new development prior to development approvals on sites that may contain hazardous materials. (Policy HS1.12)
Policy HS -6.4
ACTIONS
Clean-up of Sites with Hazardous Soils. Require clean-up of sites in Hollister that are contaminated with hazardous substances be cleaned through decontamination of soils and filtration of groundwater. (Implementation Measure HS.R) Action HS -6.1 San Benito County on Hazardous Waste Management Planning Coordination. Cooperate with the County of San Benito in implementation of the Hazardous Waste Management Plan. (Implementation Measure HS.I)
Action HS -6.2 Travel Routes for Hazardous Materials. Establish, in coordination with the County of San Benito and other
government agencies, designated travel routes through Hollister for vehicles transporting hazardous materials, in accordance with State and federal regulations. (Implementation Measure HS.A)
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8.2.7 EXTREME HEAT
POLICIES
Policy HS -7.1
Policy HS -7.2
Public Transit Coordination. Coordinate with San Benito County Express to improve heat resilience at transit stops through shading structures, heat -mitigating materials, and other cooling strategies to protect transit users from extreme heat. (new) Community Shading and Heat Mitigation. Increase shading and incorporate heat -mitigating materials on pedestrian walkways, public spaces, and other community gathering areas throughout the city, prioritizing areas with high pedestrian activity and vulnerable populations. (new)
Policy HS -7.3 Outdoor Workers. Look for opportunities to ensure that employers and workers in outdoor industries have the training and resources to be adequately protected from environmental hazards, including extreme heat, poor air quality, and diseases. (new)
Policy HS -7.4
Policy HS -7.5
Drought -Tolerant Native Landscaping. Promote and expand the use of drought -tolerant green infrastructure, including native vegetation, street trees, and landscaped areas, as part of cooling strategies in public and private spaces. (new)
Tree Planting. Promote tree planting and preserve existing tree canopy to increase the tree canopy cover and help shade and cool the community. (new)
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8.2.8 OTHER HAZARDS
POLICIES
Policy HS -8.1
Water Agencies. Coordinate with the Sunnyslope County Water District and San Benito County Water District to prepare for a reduced, long-term water supply resulting from more frequent and severe drought events. Implement extensive water
conservation measures to ensure sustainable water supply. (new)
Policy HS -8.2 Sustainability Features. Encourage new developments and existing property owners to incorporate sustainable, energy - efficient, and environmentally regenerative features into their facilities, landscapes, and structures to reduce energy demands and improve on -site resilience. Support financing efforts to increase community access to these features. (new)
Policy HS -8.3
Natural Infrastructure. Use and protect natural resources and infrastructure to absorb the impacts of climate -related hazards and associated natural hazards, as feasible. (new)
Policy HS -8.4 Vector -Borne Diseases. Work with healthcare providers to support free or reduced -cost vaccinations for vector -borne diseases that are widely available for Hollister residents. (new) Policy HS -8.5
ACTIONS
Action HS -8.1
Medical Providers. Coordinate with local medical providers and the San Benito County Public Health Services to prepare for disasters and health emergencies and minimize disruptions to medical services and reduce impacts to medical facilities in Hollister. (new)
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment. Update the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment with new climate projections and data from Cal -Adapt and the California Climate Change Assessment during each update to the Health and Safety
Element. (new)
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8.2.9 NOISE
POLICIES
Policy HS -9.1
Policy HS -9.2
Protect Noise Sensitive Areas from Unacceptable Traffic Noise Levels. Protect the noise environment in existing residential areas by requiring mitigation measures be identified prior to project approval for the operational phase of projects under the following circumstances: (a) the project would cause the day - night average sound level (Ldn) to increase 5 dB(A) where ambient noise is below 60 dB(A); (b) the project would cause the Ldn to increase 3 dB(A) where ambient noise is between 60 dB(A) and 70 dB(A); or (c) the project would cause the Ldn to increase 1.5 dB(A) where ambient noise is 70 dB(A) or greater. (Policy HS3.1)
Noise Source Control. Work with property owners to control noise at its source, maintaining existing noise levels and ensuring that noise levels do not exceed acceptable noise standards as established in the Hollister Noise Ordinance. (Policy HS3.2) Policy HS -9.3 Construction Noise. Regulate construction activity to reduce noise as established in the Hollister Noise Ordinance. (Policy HS33)
Policy HS -9.4
Policy HS -9.5
Vehicle Noise. Strive to reduce traffic noise levels, especially as they impact residential areas, and continue enforcement of vehicle noise standards through noise readings and enforcement actions. In particular, strive to minimize truck traffic in residential areas and ensure enforcement of Vehicle Code provisions that prohibit alteration of vehicular exhaust systems in a way that increases noise emissions. (Policy HS3.4)
Site Planning and Design. Require attention to site planning and design techniques other than sound walls to reduce noise impacts, including: (a) installing earth berms; (b) increasing the distance between the noise source and the receiver; (c) using HS -46
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non -sensitive structures, such as parking lots, utility areas, and garages to shield noise -sensitive areas; (d) orienting buildings to shield outdoor spaces from the noise source; and (e) minimizing the noise at its source. (new)
Policy HS -9.6
Policy HS -9.7
Policy HS -9.8
ACTIONS
Airport Noise. Review all proposed development in the Airport Influence Area to ensure that it will be compatible with operations at the Hollister Municipal Airport and applicable noise standards and regulations. (Policy HS3.7)
Techniques to Reduce Traffic Noise. Use roadway design, traffic signalization, and other traffic planning techniques (such as limiting truck traffic in residential areas and installing rubberized asphalt) to reduce noise caused by speed or acceleration of vehicles. Work with the State to address noise impacts from highway traffic. (Policy HS3.5)
Noise Standards Enforcement. Administer the noise policies identified in the Health and Safety Element and comply with State requirements for certain other noise -control programs through specific local enforcement programs. (Policy HS3.6)
Action HS -9.1 Review New Development for Potential Noise Impacts.
Require review of all development proposals prior to project approval to verify that the proposed development would not increase noise beyond the City's established thresholds and that it would not generate noise that would be incompatible with existing uses in the vicinity of the proposed development. (Implementation Measure HS.T)
Action HS -9.2 Periodic Noise Monitoring. Amend the Noise Ordinance to require periodic monitoring of residential noise generators. The Noise Ordinance shall identify who is responsible for the noise monitoring and require property owners to develop noise reduction and abatement measures that can be applied to limit noise, phasing in appropriate mitigation measures.
(Implementation Measure HS.K)
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Action HS -9.3
Action HS -9.4
Action HS -9.5
Public Awareness and Education about Noise Issues. Provide publicity regarding the Noise Ordinance, encouraging residents to be aware of noise issues and to do their part towards creating a quiet ambience in Hollister's neighborhoods. (Implementation Measure HS.D)
Noise Complaint Enforcement. Develop capabilities to compile data as part of the Code Enforcement/police records on noise - related complaints. (Implementation Measure HS.F)
Traffic Noise Mitigation. Continue to enforce City Ordinances, which restrict through truck traffic to approved truck routes only and prohibit the parking and maintenance of trucks in residential districts. (Implementation Measure HS.N)
Action HS -9.6 Periodic Updates to Noise Ordinance. Require the Noise Ordinance to incorporate the noise -related policies presented in the Hollister General Plan and to develop a procedure for handling noise complaints. (Implementation Measure HS.0) Action HS -9.7
Action HS -9.8
Staff Training on Noise Enforcement. Train Police, Public Works, and Development Services Department personnel as needed in the use of noise measurement equipment to enforce the Noise Ordinance and vehicular noise standards, and to monitor noise levels throughout the c6/. (Implementation Measure HS.P) Noise and Vibration Thresholds. Require the adoption of the noise and vibration thresholds applied in the General Plan Environmental Impact Report into the Noise Ordinance. For noise thresholds, this shall include the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) criteria for acceptable levels of construction noise as well as Construction Equipment Noise Emission Levels based on a distance of 50 feet between the equipment and noise receptor.
For vibration thresholds, this shall include FTA criteria for acceptable levels of groundborne vibration during operation of commercial or industrial uses and groundborne vibration for various types of construction equipment. If vibration levels exceed the FTA limits for construction, alternative
methods/equipment shall be used. (new)
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Action HS -9.9
Construction Best Management Practices. Require the adoption of the construction best management practices outlined in the General Plan Environmental Impact Report to be incorporated into the Noise Ordinance to minimize construction noise to the extent feasible. (new)
8.2.10 AIRPORT HAZARDS
Policy HS -10.1 Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan. Work closely with appropriate agencies, including the San Benito County Airport Land Use Commission, to ensure compatibility of land uses with airport facilities and operations. (new)
Policy HS -10.2 Airspace Protection. Limit building heights for airspace protection in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations Part
77. (new)
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HS -50
9. OPEN SPACE AND
AGRICULTURE
ELEMENT
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HOLLISTER TODAY
Preservation of open space and the natural environment has been a priority for Hollister residents for many years. Recognizing the importance of agriculture to the community, the City will protect agricultural lands by maintaining parcels large enough to sustain agricultural production, preventing conversion to nonagricultural uses, and prohibiting uses that are incompatible with long-term agricultural production.
9.1.1 TOPOGRAPHY
The Hollister Planning Area generally slopes upward from north to south, with elevations of approximately 210 feet near the Hollister Municipal Airport, 290 feet near City Hall, and 500 feet near the intersection of Fairview Road and Airline Highway (State Route 25). Although the topography is relatively flat in most areas, the terrain is hilly near the San Benito River, west of the Southern Pacific Railroad line northwest of Hollister and in the eastern portion of the Planning Area.
9.1.2_ OPEN SPACE
Open space areas in Hollister include public and privately owned lands used for low - intensity, open space activities such as hiking, walking, or picnicking. Environmentally sensitive areas, such as rivers and creeks, plant and animal habitats, City parks, and recreation facilities are also considered open space.
According to State law, the General Plan must analyze barriers to wildlife movement.
To this end, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife identified 61 barriers to wildlife movement in California in its 2022 report entitled Restoring California's Wildlife Connectivity. None of these identified barriers are within or adjacent to Hollister; in 9 Photo by Sabrina Stark
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9. OPEN SPACE AND AGRICULTURE ELEMENT
fact, none were identified in San Benito County. In and around Hollister, large roadways such as State highways could be barriers to wildlife connectivity, but most roads and highways in areas with wildlife habitat are at grade with relatively little traffic at night so it should be possible for wildlife to cross them.
Photo by Sabrina Stark
913 AGRICULTURAL LAND
When the State of California evaluates agricultural land, areas are designated as Prime Farmland when they are found to have the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for crop production, and have the soil quality, growing season, and moisture supply needed to produce sustained yields of crops when treated and managed. Lands identified as Prime Farmland must have been used for the production of irrigated crops in the last three years. Areas designated as Farmland of Statewide Importance represent land other than Prime Farmland that has a good combination of physical and chemical characteristics for the production of crops. As in the case of Prime Farmland, these areas must have been used for the production of irrigated crops in the last three years. Lands identified as Unique Farmland consists of lesser -quality soils used for agricultural production.
The San Benito Valley, which includes the City of Hollister, is generally considered a prime agricultural area due to its favorable soil types and climate. There is a significant amount of agricultural land both inside and outside of the General Plan Planning Area.
As seen in Figure OS -1, the Planning Area includes Prime Farmland, Farmland of Statewide Importance, and Unique Farmland, as classified by the State Department of Conservation, and as protected by the California Environmental Quality Act.
The City has an Agriculture land use designation that encompasses lands with continuing commercial agriculture potential. The intent of this category is to retain primary agricultural use to the greatest extent practical. These areas should be kept free of any urban -type development and annexations. Allowed uses include orchards, row crops, nurseries, grazing lands, open space, farm services, and parks.
The most prevalent type of agriculture in San Benito County is vegetable and irrigated row crops, largely spinach, lettuce, wine grapes, broccoli, celery, and tomatoes, which are arranged in rows. Common orchard crops in San Benito County include apples, walnuts, cherries, and apricot trees. Wine grapes are also plentiful and profitable.
Standard field crops include grains, hay, nursery plants, and seeds that cover the entire field in which the crops are planted.
Agricultural operations are an important source of local farm -fresh food in San Benito County and are transported throughout the United States and to several other countries on most continents, including South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
os-2
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There are three soil associations in the Hollister Planning Area under the classification system of the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture:
> Soils of the Sorrento-Yolo Mocho association consist of nearly level to sloping soils that formed in very deep alluvium derived from sedimentary rocks and underlie the central and western portions of the Planning Area. The dominant soils in this association are very deep and well drained and include some of the most productive soils in the country.
> Soils of the Rincon-Antioch-Cropley association consist of nearly level to strongly sloping soils on fans and terraces and underlie the southeastern quadrant of the Planning Area. These soils are very well drained, although erosion is a problem on the more sloping soils.
> Soils of the Clear Lake -Pacheco -Willows association consist of nearly level and gently sloping soils that formed in alluvium derived from sedimentary rocks and underlie the northern portion of the Planning Area. For these soils to support agricultural activity, drainage is needed in most areas, and reclamation may be necessary in those areas affected by salts and alkali.
Photo by Nicole Larusso
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Figure OS -1: Important Farmland and Williamson Act Contracts Planning Area
Q Urban Service Area
mm] Existing Sphere of Influence
Proposed Sphere of Influence
., Expansion
El City Limit
Creeks and Waterways
Source: ESRI, 2020; PlaceWorks, 2025; San Benito County, 2020; USGS, 2019; CA Dept. of Agriculture, 2020.
Williamson Act
Properties, 2019
Urban or Developed
Land (D)
Grazing Land (G)
Farmland of Local
Importance (L)
Prime Farmland (P)
Farmland of
Statewide
Importance (5)
Unique Farmland
(U)
Other Land (X)
OS -4
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9.2 OPEN SPACE AND AGRICULTURE ELEMENT GOALS.
POLICIES, AND ACTIONS
The following section provides goals, policies, and actions relating to open space and agriculture in Hollister.
9.2.1 OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION
POLICIES
Policy OS -1.1
Policy OS -1.2
Open Space Preservation. Retain and protect open space areas through the protection of prime farmlands, the prevention of new development in areas subject to natural and human -caused hazards, that serve as wildlife habitat or as visual assets for the community, and where the development of additional parks and trails is possible. Open space areas can also function as connections between neighborhoods, for example with the creation of pedestrian pathways in environmentally appropriate areas. (Policy OS1.1)
Access to Open Space. Encourage access to open space areas in the design of adjacent development. Secure access paths as part of subdivision approvals and design access paths to avoid or minimize neighborhood and user conflicts with sensitive wildlife habitat areas. (Policy OS1.8)
Policy OS -1.3 Cluster Development. Wherever feasible, encourage those proposing development to cluster planned residential
development, leaving open space buffers in proposed site plans, particularly on the borders of development facing agricultural uses and State Routes 25 and 156. This will diminish the potential for land use conflicts and improve opportunities for visual harmonization between agricultural and urban activities. (Policy OS1.2)
Policy OS -1.4
Utilities in Open Space. Discourage utilities in open space areas.
Necessary utilities in open space should be located and designed to minimize harm to the area's environmental and visual quality. (Policy OS1.6)
Photo byJaquelyn Scimeca
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Policy 0S-1.5
Photo by Kent Rossi
Policy 05-1.6
Policy 05-1.7
Policy 05-1.8
Policy 05-1.9
ACTIONS
Action OS -1.1
Open Space Use. Protect and preserve the natural value of open space and wildlife habitat areas while permitting educational and recreational uses compatible with these resources. Uses of open space areas shall be secondary to open space preservation. (Policy OS1.5)
Site Planning to Preserve Open Space. Consider the use of creative site planning in a way that is responsive to open space values. Require those proposing new development to design open spaces to minimize paved areas and to maximize
landscaping to reduce outdoor air temperatures around
buildings in warm weather. (Policy OS1.3)
Coordination with Other Jurisdictions. Coordinate Hollister's open space preservation and enhancement with other County of San Benito, regional, and state open space preservation efforts. (Policy OS1.7)
Private Open Space Uses. In designating open space as part of a development project or with the dedication of land for open space, identify limitations to uses in those areas, such as restrictions on ornamental landscaping, structures, and fences. (Implementation Measure OS.F)
Impacts of Development on Wildlife. Consider the impacts of new and existing development in creating barriers to wildlife passage and habitat connectivity, and avoid, minimize, or mitigate such impacts and barriers to the extent feasible. (new) Open Space Management Plan(s). Prepare one or more Open Space Management Plan(s) and zoning amendments that
address the following:
> Use and ongoing maintenance of open space areas.
> Appropriate access points, parking areas, public
information signage, and trail extensions.
> Restoration of erosion and other degraded areas.
> Guidelines for the location of amenities, such as picnic tables and benches.
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> Activities harmful to the open space environment,
including illegal camping and campfires and disease
control, urban/wildlife interface, recreation, and other uses.
> Vegetation management and protection issues.
> Impacts of development and barriers caused by
development to wildlife and habitat connectivity.
This work should be accomplished with guidance by a
committee with representatives from neighborhood
associations, environmental organizations, user groups, and other stakeholders. (Implementation Measure OS.B)
9.2.2 AGRICULTURE PRESERVATION
POLICIES
Policy OS -2.1 Offsets for Loss of Agricultural Land. Require that all new developments that convert agricultural land to urban uses provide for preservation of the same amount of agricultural land in perpetuity. (new)
Policy OS -2.2 Agricultural Buffers. Require that developers of all new developments adjoining agricultural land provide a 200 -foot buffer to ensure that agricultural practices will not be adversely affected, and that developers also pay a fee adequate to allow the City to maintain this buffer land. (new)
Policy OS -2.3
Policy OS -2.4
San Benito County Future Development Areas. Encourage the County of San Benito to focus future development in the areas identified for development in this City of Hollister General Plan, so as to help protect agricultural lands and preserve open space areas in the other portions of the Hollister Planning Area. (Part of Policy O52.2)
Coordinate with San Benito County to Preserve Important Farmlands. Coordinate with the County of San Benito in efforts to maintain prime farmlands, unique farmlands, and farmlands of statewide significance in active agricultural use and in all efforts Photo by Jenny Knerr
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to maintain the continued economic viability of agriculture in the Hollister Planning Area. (Part of Policy OS2.2)
Photo by Sabrina Stark
Policy OS -2.5 Residential Development Near Agricultural Areas. Require developers to inform potential buyers of homes near agricultural areas of the possible hazards associated with the application of pesticides/herbicides and nuisances from other cultivation practices. In those cases where the County of San Benito's Right - to -Farm Ordinance applies to the City review of projects, homeowners shall also be informed of this ordinance by
developers. (Policy OS2.4)
ACTIONS
Action OS -2.1
Offsets for Agricultural Land Conversion. Create and adopt an agricultural preservation program to address the conversion of land classified as Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance in the City Limits and Sphere of Influence to nonagricultural uses. (new)
Action OS -2.2 Agricultural Buffer Ordinance. Adopt a zoning program that requires developers of new projects adjoining agricultural land to provide, fund, and maintain a 200 -foot buffer to ensure that agricultural practices will not be adversely affected. (new) The ordinance shall include agricultural buffer guidelines, including, but not limited to, the following:
> Buffers shall be on the parcel for which a permit is sought and shall protect the maximum amount of farmable land.
> Buffers shall be physically and biologically designed to avoid conflicts between agriculture and nonagricultural uses.
> Appropriate types of land use for buffers include
compatible agriculture, open space, landscaping, and
recreational uses, such as parks, industrial uses, and
cemeteries.
> The buffer may include spatial separations (e.g.,
greenbelts, open space setbacks), fencing, and/or
berming.
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> The City or County will condition the approval of a project on the ongoing maintenance of buffers.
> A homeowner's association, agricultural land trusts, or other appropriate entity shall be required to maintain
buffers to control litter, fire hazards, pests, and other maintenance problems.
> Buffer restrictions may be removed if agricultural uses on all adjacent parcels have permanently ceased.
Action OS -2.3
Urban Growth Boundary. Work with the County of San Benito and the City of San Juan Bautista to establish and maintain an Urban Growth Boundary that delineates future urbanization from areas in which urbanization will not occur, so as to protect agricultural and open space uses. Lands outside of the Urban Growth Boundary shall only be designated for agriculture, park, open space, public facility, and utility uses. When establishing the Urban Growth Boundary, the following qualities should be taken into consideration: access to infrastructure, public services, transit, healthcare, and commercial uses; preserving farmland; and establishing a buffer between urban and rural uses. (new) Action OS -2.4 Agricultural Community Disclosure Ordinance. Develop, adopt, and enforce an Agricultural Community Disclosure Ordinance (similar to the County of San Benito's Right -to -Farm Ordinance No. 577) that applies to all future subdivisions adjacent to or incorporating agricultural operations.
(Implementation Measure OS.A)
Photo by Sabrina Stark
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10. ARTS AND CULTURE
ELEMENT
10.1 HOLLISTER TODAY
Hollister's cultural life is rooted in the traditions, interests, and practices of the community. Almost every creative activity imaginable — visual art, music, dance, performance, poetry, fabric arts — can be found here. These art forms embody the ways that people tell their stories, sustain their culture, do their everyday work, and strive for a better future. People in Hollister have a thirst for learning about and participating in the arts — in their schools, in classes, in informal organizations, and in community activities.
Hollister's fundamental goal for arts and culture is to sustain this cultural framework as the heart and soul of the community for generations to come. In addition, Hollister aspires to build on this foundation, particularly by expanding the presence of art throughout the city and by cultivating creative activities that can draw visitors to the city.
Photo by San Benito County Arts Council
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Photo by Jaquelyn Scimeca
Photo by San Benito County Arts Council
Photo by Jaquelyn Scimeca
Hollister has the following core components of an arts and culture ecosystem:
> The San Benito County Arts Council (SBCAC) is a focused but nimble nonprofit organization that provides leadership, services, and programming to the entire county, with the main arts hubs being Hollister, Aromas, and San Juan Bautista.
SBCAC does not receive any City or County funding; its income comes from the State, foundations, and contracted services, primarily with the local school districts.
SBCAC provides and coordinates a range of programming, including mini - grants for artists and arts organizations, general arts classes for youth and adults, special art classes for at -risk youth, professional development classes for teachers, and exhibitions in its gallery. Events include an arts month, dance week, and open studio tours. SBCAC has also coordinated public art installations in Dunne Park and on bus shelters.
> Hollister's Arts and Culture Commission, established by City Council in 2021, advises Council on matters related to arts and culture in the city. The Arts and Culture Commission subsumed the City's Public Art Review Committee (PARC), which was established in 2016 to promote public art and advise the City on public art projects.
> Hollister adopted a Public Art Policy in 2016. The policy outlines the process by which the City, under the guidance of PARC, can acquire, install, maintain, and de -accession artworks on public property.
> The Hollister School District, in collaboration with SBCAC, has made innovative commitments to art education and Gavilan College, the local community college, which provides access to art history and studio art courses.
Hollister also has a rich cross-section of practicing artists as well as community arts activities, both organized and informal:
> Cultural forms traditional to the Mexican community, such as ballet folklorico and mariachi, are especially popular. Narratives related to Hollister's agricultural history and efforts to organize agricultural workers are common. > There are also people who cross over between car, motorcycle, and cruising culture, including people who work in related businesses, such as detailing and body work, and art forms such as muralism, sculpture, and clothing design.
Motorcycle culture is also a common theme of murals.
> Public art ranges from small-scale sculpture and community murals to the artistic glass canopy of the San Benito County Superior Court building.
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Hollister has been a niche tourist destination for many decades, particularly because of its association with motorcycle and car culture. This dates back to the motorcycle tours that made their way to Hollister in the 1930s and were later popularized in the film The Wild Ones. With the increasing popularity of agritourism and the designation of nearby Pinnacles National Park in 2013, Hollister now has the opportunity to expand its tourist base in hopes that its unique cultural life can be part of what attracts visitors.
This General Plan seeks to ensure that arts and culture will be a fundamental contributor to the well-being of Hollister's residents and to the city overall — supporting people's unique forms of self-expression, forging connections throughout the community and across time, making Hollister a desirable place to live and work, and strengthening its attraction to visitors.
0.2 ARTS AND CULTURE ELEMENT
GOALS, POLICIES, AND ACTIONS
10.2.1 ARTS LEADERSHIP
POLICIES
Policy AC -1.1
Policy AC -1.2
ACTIONS
Action AC -1.1
Arts and Culture Commission. Use the City's Arts and Culture Commission as the primary advisor to the City Council on priorities for arts and culture planning, public art, programming, and investments.
Partnerships with Regional Artists. Support regional artists, arts organizations, and arts leaders through partnerships with City events, programs, and projects.
Arts and Culture Staff Liaison. Designate a City staff member to serve as a liaison to arts and culture organizations and creative enterprises, focusing on matters such as funding, event coordination, and promotion.
Photo by PlaceWorks
Photo by San Benito County Arts Council
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Action AC -1.2 Implementation of Projects Related to Arts and Culture.
Implement arts and culture projects through agreements or partnerships with experienced artists, arts professionals, or arts organizations in the city.
10.2.2 CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT
POLICIES
Policy AC -2.1 City -Supported Arts and Culture Activities. Structure City - supported arts and culture activities, such as programs and public art projects, to reflect the full breadth of the community's traditional cultural practices and creative enterprises.
Policy AC -2.2 Cultural Diversity and Creative Practices. Cultivate arts and culture leadership (individual, business, organizational) that is reflective of the city's cultural diversity and creative practices.
Policy AC -2.3
Public Art Projects. Organize public art projects and calls to artists so that they are open to creative practices that are not traditional for public art, such as poetry and fabric arts.
Policy AC -2.4 Permitting and Funding for Arts and Culture. Support exhibitions, presentations, and performances that highlight Hollister's creative community in the city's public spaces through permitting and funding.
10.2.3 ARTS EVERY DAY
POLICIES
Policy AC -3.1
City Operations that Support Arts and Culture. Include public art, placemaking, cultural programming, and festival production in basic City operations to sustain Hollister's creative life and its cultural resources, including artists, businesses, and
organizations.
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ACTION
Action AC -3.1
10.2.4 PLACE
POLICIES
Policy AC -4.1
Mini -Grants for Small -Scale Creative Activations. Establish a program to provide mini -grants for small-scale creative activations, such as presentations and performances in public spaces and murals and exhibitions in indoor spaces that are open to the general public (such as libraries, parks, recreation centers, and coffee shops).
Art in Public Space and City Infrastructure. Incorporate public art into City infrastructure and public space projects, including small-scale enhancements of existing infrastructure.
Policy AC -4.2 Art as Part of Downtown Revitalization. Incorporate art and culture actions into downtown revitalization efforts.
Policy AC -4.3
Public Art in Major Private Developments. Incorporate public art into major new private development, especially downtown projects and civic/institutional projects elsewhere in the city.
Policy AC -4.4 Temporary Art Projects. Encourage community -initiated temporary art projects in public spaces.
Policy AC -4.5
Policy AC -4.6
Management of City -Owned Public Art. Develop strategies for managing public art that the City owns, including documentation, interpretation, maintenance, and conservation.
Public Art Funding. Consider funding for public art in capital budgets and grant requests for public projects, such as parks, recreation facilities, and streetscapes.
Policy AC -4.7 Maintenance and Conservation Assessment. Ensure that a maintenance and conservation assessment is conducted before new artworks are commissioned, acquired, or accepted as donations.
Photo by PlaceWorks
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ACTIONS
Action AC -4.1 Placemaking Plan. Create a "placemaking" plan for arts and culture -related programming and physical investments in Hollister; involve the breadth of the city's creative community and focus on how art and design can leverage the city's diverse cultural and historic resources and its unique urban —rural economy.
Photo by San Benito County Arts Council
Action AC -4.2
Public Art Fee. Prepare a study that evaluates and compares potential public art fee programs to be paid by new development that establish new publicly accessible art.
Action AC -4.3 Incentives for Art in New Private Development. Conduct a study to explore incentives that would encourage new private development to incorporate public art or similar creative enhancements.
Action AC -4.4 Community -Initiated Temporary Art Installations. Develop guidelines for proposing, reviewing, and approving community - initiated temporary art installations on public property.
10.2.5 ART FACILITIES
POLICIES
Policy AC -5.1
Policy AC -5.2
Shared -Use Arts and Culture Arrangements. Encourage shared - use arrangements between arts and culture entities with a need for space, and public agencies, nonprofits, and private entities with space that is available for use.
Adaptive Reuse for Creative Enterprises. Support the adaptive reuse of historic buildings for arts, culture, and creative enterprises.
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ACTIONS
Action AC -5.1
Action AC -5.2
Action AC -5.3
Arts and Culture Facilities Needs Assessment. Retain a cultural facilities planning consultant to conduct a study of the need for arts and culture facilities and the opportunities for providing such facilities. Include an assessment of the need for a community arts center, including an evaluation of the center's potential mission, audience, function/facility requirements, operating structure, and funding, so as to determine whether to move forward. Consider the potential for the arts center to include historical displays and exhibits.
Art in Historical Resources. Assess, on an as -needed and case - by -case basis, how Hollister's historical assets can be repurposed for arts, culture, and creative enterprises.
Live/Work Units for Artists. Conduct a study to assess the need, opportunities, and strategies for creating artist living and working space.
10.2.6 DESTINATION IDENTITY
POLICIES
Policy AC -6.1 Arts and Culture Strategies. Pursue strategies that raise Hollister's creative profile — building on its arts, culture, and historic preservation assets — and strengthen Hollister as a destination for visitors.
Policy AC -6.2
Programs for Arts and Culture. Support programs that promote Hollister's artists, creative traditions, and historic resources, including events and interpretive materials.
Photo by San Benito County Arts Council
Photo by San Benito County Arts Council
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Photo by PlaceWorks
ACTIONS
Action AC -6.1
Action AC -6.2
10.2.7 Annual Arts Festival. Establish an annual arts festival that highlights Hollister's culture and creativity.
Arts and Culture District Study. Conduct a study to evaluate the potential for an arts and culture district in Hollister, building consensus on location, needs, goals, and actions; consider both a downtown destination -oriented district and a broader "naturally occurring cultural district" that supports the traditional cultural practices of Hollister's residents.
ARTS ECOSYSTEM
POLICIES
Policy AC -7.1
Policy AC -7.2
ACTION
Action AC -7.1
Murals on Private Property. Continue to allow free expression through murals on private property, while prohibiting murals for advertising.
Placemaking, Creativity, and Activities. Support placemaking, creative enterprises, and destination arts and culture activities.
Development Process Study. Conduct a study to identify, explore, and resolve permitting, zoning, and licensing issues that affect arts, culture, and entertainment activities downtown; including indoor and outdoor business spaces, public spaces, vacant spaces, artist living and work spaces, and pop-up activities.
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10.2.8 SUSTAINABLE RESOURCES
POLICIES
Policy AC -8.1
ACTIONS
Action AC -8.1
Action AC -8.2
Sustainable Funding for Arts and Culture. Support efforts to develop sustainable funding streams for arts and culture activities in Hollister.
Public and Private Funding Sources. Conduct a study to identify public and private funding sources, including impact and permit fees, that can fund arts and culture activities (such as events and programs) and long-term cultural investments (such as facilities).
Collaboration with Arts and Culture Organizations. Assign staff to work collaboratively with arts and culture organizations to seek support from regional, state, and national funders for strategic arts and culture programs and projects.
Photo by San Benito County Arts Council
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11. ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE ELEMENT
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STER TODAY
Throughout California and the United States, low-income communities and communities of color have experienced a combination of historic discrimination, negligence, and political and economic disempowerment. Today, these communities are struggling with both a disproportionate burden of pollution and health impacts as well as disproportionate social and economic disadvantages, such as poverty or housing instability. The City of Hollister seeks to minimize these effects in the entire community through the goals, policies, and actions called out in this Environmental Justice Element.
11 Photo by Jenny Knerr
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1 1 . 1 .1 OVERVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Environmental justice is defined in California law as the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Environmental justice includes, but is not limited to, the following:
> The availability of a healthy environment for all people. > The deterrence, reduction, and elimination of pollution burdens for populations and communities experiencing the adverse effects of that pollution, so that the effects of the pollution are not disproportionately borne by those populations and communities.
> Governmental entities engaging and providing technical assistance to populations and communities most impacted by pollution to promote their meaningful participation in all phases of the environmental and land use decision -making process.
> The meaningful consideration of recommendations from populations and communities most impacted by pollution in making environmental and land use decisions.
Environmental justice issues often emerge from structural or geographic inequities that negatively affect disadvantaged communities. "Impacted communities" are low- income areas that are disproportionately affected by environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative health effects, exposure, or environmental degradation. Structural inequity arises from a neighborhood's ongoing lack of representation and participation in the City's decision -making process, despite direct impacts on their neighborhood. This embeds bias in the decision -making process and marginalizes the neighborhoods that must overcome barriers to entry. Geographic inequities may arise in neighborhoods with higher percentages of racial or ethnic minority households and lower -income households when those residents bear a disproportionate burden of the region's environmental hazards and corollary health conditions.
An Environmental Justice Element must address public health risks, focusing on minimizing the burdens disproportionately borne by impacted communities.
Environmental justice goals, policies, and objectives must do the following:
> Reduce the unique or compounded health risks in impacted communities by reducing pollution exposure and promoting public improvements, public services, community amenities, food access, safe and sanitary homes, and physical activity.
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> Promote civic engagement in the public decision -making process. > Prioritize improvements and programs that address the needs of impacted communities.
State law allows environmental justice issues to be incorporated in a stand-alone Environmental Justice Element, or in the various elements of a General Plan. The City of Hollister has elected to emphasize the importance of environmental justice by preparing a separate element rather than integrating environmental justice policies into existing General Plan elements. Other General Plan elements also contain policies and actions that support environmental justice, for example by supporting the creation of walkable communities to ensure that all needed services are in close proximity to residents in all neighborhoods and by minimizing exposure to hazardous materials. 1 1.1.2 IMPACTED COMMUNITIES IN HOLLISTER
Senate Bill (SB) 1000 takes its definition of impacted communities from Health and Safety Code Section 39711 and allows the use of the State's CalEnviroScreen tool as the primary screening method for identifying impacted communities. CalEnviroScreen quantifies a range of factors related to the combination of pollution burden and population characteristics (such as poverty, educational attainment, or age) and arrives at a score for every census tract. In general, the higher the score, the more impacted a community is. Census tracts in the highest quartile of scores (75 to 100) are considered to be impacted communities under SB 1000. In Hollister, no Census tracts are categorized by CalEnviroScreen 4.0 as impacted communities based on their cumulative score as shown in Figure El -1.
However, there are three census tracts in the city, mapped in Figure EJ-2, that have a CalEnviroScreen 4.0 "population characteristic score" over 75 percent. The population characteristic score is a relative percentile score of the eight health and socioeconomic indicator scores that appear in the CalEnviroScreen model: asthma, cardiovascular disease, low birth weight, poverty, housing burden, unemployment, educational attainment, and linguistic isolation. Thus, the population characteristic score omits the pollution exposure indicators (which is included in the overall CalEnviroScreen analysis) because there were no areas in the city that had a pollution burden score over 75 percent, but it considers all of the sensitive and socioeconomic population metrics that are included in CalEnviroScreen. The three census tracts in Hollister with a population characteristic score over 75 percent are:
> Buena Visa Road Corridor (Census Tract 6069000300) Score: 84 percent > South of San Juan Hollister Road (Census Tract 6069000701) Score: 82 percent > Old Town/Downtown Hollister (Census Tract 6069000400) Score: 79 percent Photo by San Benito County Arts Council
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Figure EJ-1 CalEnviroScreen 4.0 Overall Percentiles
CalEnviroScreen 4.0 Results
Overall Percentile
0-10
>10-20
>20-30
>30-40
>40-50
>50-60
>60-70
>70-80
80-90
>90-100
Planning Area
II Urban Service Area
Existing Sphere of Influence
Proposed Sphere of
Influence Expansion
III City Limit
Creeks and Waterways
Source: ESRI, 2020; PlaceWorks, 2025; San Benito County, 2020; OEHHA 2021 EJ-4
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Figure EJ-2 CalEnviroScreen 4.0 Population Characteristics CalEnviroScreen 4.0
Population Characteristics Percentile
0.% - 10%
10% - 20%
20% - 30%
0% - 40%
40% - 50%
50% - 60%
60% - 70%
70% - 80%
80% - 90%
90% - 100%
Planning Area
I= Urban Service Area
Existing Sphere of Influence
Proposed Sphere of
Influence Expansion
City Limit
Creeks and Waterways
Source: ESRI, 2020; PlaceWorks, 2025; San Benito County, 2020; OEHHA 2021 Tres Pinos
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As shown in Table EJ-1, the Buena Vista Road Corridor has a high score for low birth weight, cardiovascular disease, education, and unemployment. The area south of San Juan Hollister Road has a high score for cardiovascular disease, unemployment, education, and linguistic isolation. The Old Town/Downtown Hollister area has a high score for cardiovascular disease and education. All census tracts in Hollister ranked at 94 percent or higher for cardiovascular disease, meaning that the entire city has a concentration of cardiovascular disease that is worse than at least 94 percent of the state.
Photo by Hollister Parks and Recreation Staff
TABLE EJ-1 CALENVIROSCREEN POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS SCORES
BY FACTOR
Asthma 73
Low Birth Weight 90
Cardiovascular 98
Educational Attainment 90
Linguistic Isolation 49 80
Poverty 44 66
Unemployment 87 98
Housing Burden 22 51
Percentile 84 82
Source: CalEnviroScreen 4.0 Population Characteristics Indicator Map, April 2022. 73 31
98 86
73 37
98 76
73 68
65 64
79 Although the City of Hollister is not required to prepare an Environmental Justice Element per SB 1000 (since there are no census tracts in the city that exceed the 75 percent cumulative CalEnviroScreen threshold), the City would like to ensure that this General Plan gives appropriate consideration to any impacted community in Hollister.
This Environmental Justice Element has been prepared to help improve the socioeconomic and sensitive population indicators identified in the three census tracts with population characteristic scores of 75 or higher. Therefore, this element includes policy direction for:
> Healthy neighborhoods
> Healthy homes
> Physical activity
> Access to healthy food
> Safe and sustainable transportation system
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> Just and equitable public facilities
> Just and equitable parks and recreation access
> Air quality in impacted communities
> Access to healthcare
> Civic engagement in impacted communities
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ELEMENT GOALS,
POLICIES, AND ACTIONS
The following section provides goals, policies, and actions relating to environmental justice.
1 1.2.1 HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS
POLICIES
Policy EJ-1.1 Exposure to Pollutants. Reduce exposure to pollutants in impacted communities by prohibiting the co -location of incompatible land uses.
Policy EJ-1.2
Community Benefits Agreements. Pursue community benefits agreements (CBAs) for projects negatively affecting an impacted community, negotiated with input from both the community and the project applicant. The primary objective of these CBAs is to mitigate project impacts to the greatest extent possible, which could include mitigations exceeding the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act. Secondarily, to compensate for impacts that cannot be fully mitigated, these CBAs should secure community benefits that exceed the value of the project impacts and support the community vision.
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Policy EJ-1.3
ACTIONS
Action EJ-1.1
Action EJ-1.2
Action EJ-1.3
New Developments. To support the findings necessary to
approve all residential developments greater than 40 units and nonresidential development greater than 10,000 square feet, require applicants to submit documentation demonstrating how the project will promote environmental justice and health, including how the project will ensure the following:
> It will not adversely impact the community or place
undue burden of development impacts on the
community;
> It will provide benefits that support the community goals, as expressed directly by the community;
> It will provide economic opportunities for the community, for example if the project requires prevailing wage, hires locally, creates high -quality jobs, adds tax revenue, etc.; > It will provide infrastructure necessary to support the population increase;
> It will neither directly nor indirectly cause unwelcome, permanent displacement of existing residents or
businesses in the community; and
> It will avoid direct and indirect negative impacts on health and the quality of life and health of residents in the
community.
Community Benefits Agreements Process. Establish the process to implement a community benefits program.
Project Review Criteria. With input from residents of impacted communities, develop criteria to be used in the project review process to evaluate how new development supports the City's environmental justice and health goals.
CalEnviroScreen Review. Review CalEnviroScreen upon each update to determine if there are impacted communities in Hollister. If CalEnviroScreen identifies new impacted
communities, this element shall be updated accordingly.
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1 1.2.2 HEALTHY HOMES
POLICIES
Policy EJ-2.1 No Net Loss of Affordable Housing. Ensure that future improvements in impacted communities will not result in a net loss of affordable housing or significant displacement of residents.
Policy EJ-2.2
Policy El -2.3
ACTION
Action EJ-2.1
Housing Repair and Rehabilitation. Expand efforts to prompt repair and rehabilitation of all substandard housing in impacted comm unities.
Affordable and Transitional Housing. Coordinate with residents of impacted communities, Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz, affordable housing developers, and other
organizations to transition vacant, unentitled land in impacted communities into affordable and transitional housing and shared equity models, which could include many types of innovative housing products. This should include homeownership
opportunities to help residents build intergenerational wealth.
First -Time Homebuyer Program. Expand the City's first-time homebuyer program to provide more information and
assistance, prioritizing outreach in impacted communities to spread awareness of the program.
1 1,2,3 PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
POLICIES
Policy EJ-3.1 Physical Activity. Support safe and well -maintained neighborhood fitness centers, open spaces, and parks to encourage residents to participate in fitness activities.
Photo by David Mirrione
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Photo by PlaceWorks
Policy EJ-3.2 Health Fairs. Support health fairs and other events that promote active living, healthy habits, and physical activity.
ACTIONS
Action EJ-3.1
Action EJ-3.2
Accessible Design. Update the project review process to require principles of universal and barrier -free design so that people of all physical abilities can enjoy mobility and accessibility in their communities.
City -Supported Fitness Programs. Identify ways the City can support fitness programs, such as subsidized City recreation program fees, providing free childcare at City recreation programs, etc.
1 1.2.4 ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD
POLICIES
Policy EJ-4.1
Policy EJ-4.2
ACTIONS
Action EJ-4.1
Affordable and Nutritious Food. Promote projects that would improve access to affordable and nutritious food by allowing and encouraging local food production, micro agriculture, edible landscapes in public and private areas, rooftop gardens, community gardens, urban farms, farmers' markets, food
banks/pantries, and community kitchens on vacant or
underutilized lands, including City -owned land.
Food Access. Maximize multimodal access to fresh food in Hollister, prioritizing bicycle and pedestrian access, by encouraging grocery stores, healthy corner stores, community gardens, and outdoor markets at locations throughout Hollister.
Food Resources Inventory. Inventory and map food resources in the city. As part of the inventory, account for walking, bicycling, and transit access.
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Action EJ-4.2 Food Deserts. Identify food deserts in Hollister and establish incentives to locate food markets and related uses in these areas.
Action EJ-4.3 Streamlined Permitting Process. Update the Zoning Code to streamline permitting of grocery stores and markets.
Action EJ-4.4 Urban Gardening Ordinance. Establish an urban gardening ordinance that identifies where commercial and private urban gardening are allowed in Hollister and the allowed agricultural uses permitted to occur in these areas.
1 1.2.5 SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
POLICIES
Policy EJ-5.1 Truck Routes. Reduce exposure to pollutants in impacted communities by restricting truck routes in these communities where feasible.
Policy EJ-5.2
Policy El -5.3
Policy EJ-5.4
Transportation Improvements. Prioritize transportation projects and programming, especially traffic -calming measures, in areas where they will be most impactful.
Energy -Efficient Street Lighting. Prioritize provision of energy - efficient street lighting for traveler safety and comfort in impacted communities, consistent with community desires.
Safe Transportation to School. Work with school districts, neighborhood groups, and the County's Safe Routes to School Program to prioritize safe and active modes of transportation to schools and related facilities in impacted communities.
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Photo by Hollister Parks and Recreation Staff
ACTIONS
Action EJ-5.1
Action EJ-5.2
Maintenance of Transit Facilities. Develop a system to allow residents, particularly in impacted communities, to notify the City and other responsible agencies when transit shelters and amenities, other transportation infrastructure, and street furniture (i.e., benches, garbage cans, and water fountains) are in a state of disrepair. Encourage and promote use of this reporting program in impacted communities.
Citywide Transit Shelter Program. Develop a uniform citywide transit shelter program in collaboration with transit providers, including maintenance and best practices in accessibility.
Action EJ-5.3 Accessible Transit. Pursue funding and other resources to implement plans or initiatives that expand the hours of operation, operational boundaries, convenience, and quality of accessible transit to improve mobility for seniors, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations.
1 1.2.6 JUST AND EQUITABLE PUBLIC FACILITIES
POLICIES
Policy EJ-6.1 Public Facilities for All Users. Ensure facilities and services, including open space, meet the needs of all users.
Policy EJ-6.2
Policy EJ-6.3
Prioritization of Infrastructure Improvements and Recreational Programs. Systematically prioritize infrastructure improvements, including those increasing accessibility to open space, that serve impacted communities and respond to the needs identified by those communities.
Code Enforcement and Building Maintenance. Prioritize code enforcement resources to keep impacted communities safe and clean, emphasizing enforcement actions on issues identified by the community.
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Policy EJ-6.4
Safe Neighborhoods. Undertake community planning efforts that improve personal and property safety in impacted
communities.
Policy EJ-6.5 Coordination with Service Providers. Advocate for and coordinate with various service providers (e.g., water, sewer, transit, and recreation districts) for proper planning, maintenance, and implementation of services and infrastructure to ensure efficient and effective service delivery in impacted communities.
Policy El -6.6
Policy El -6.7
ACTIONS
Action EJ-6.1
Urban Greening in Public Projects. Seek opportunities for urban greening and green infrastructure in public projects, including sustainable/green street projects in impacted communities that support the community's goals.
Community Clean -Up. Partner with community organizations and solid waste franchise collection haulers to maximize participation in community clean-up days and residential on -call garbage pick-ups in impacted communities. Encourage
community participation by holding these events in conjunction with other community events.
Community -Desired Public Facilities and Services. Conduct a study to consider establishing funding and financing mechanisms in impacted communities to provide and maintain community - desired public facilities and services. These could be City- or community -initiated, and include business improvement districts, green benefit districts, and similar mechanisms.
CITY OF HOLLISTER 2 0 4 0 DRAFT GENERAL PLAN
11 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ELEMENT
1 1.2.7 JUST AND EQUITABLE PARKS AND RECREATION ACCESS
POLICIES
Photo by Hollister Parks and Recreation Staff
Photo by David Mirrione
DInrritr^.
„oriar Park
Policy EJ-7.1
Policy EJ-7.2
Policy EJ-7.3
Policy EJ-7.4
Policy EJ-7.5
ACTIONS
Action EJ-7.1
Equitable Distribution of Parks. Ensure that all areas of the city are within a half -mile radius of a City park.
Outdoor Physical Activity Barriers. Work to remove barriers to outdoor physical activity in impacted communities.
Multi -Modal Connections to Parks and Recreational Facilities.
Provide multi -modal connections to parks, green space, recreational facilities, trails, and natural environments for residents of impacted communities.
Maintenance of Local Parks. Support local community groups and volunteer organizations in efforts to improve and maintain local parks, trails, and other public spaces in impacted communities, for example through an Adopt -A -Trail program.
Access to Open Space. Provide access to open space for all residents in a manner that considers social, economic, and racial equity.
Park and Recreational Facility Improvements. Establish a program to improve parks and recreational facilities in impacted communities and seek funding to support this program.
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1 1 . ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ELEMENT
1 1.2.8 AIR QUALITY IN IMPACTED COMMUNITIES
POLICIES
Policy EJ-8.1 Health Impact Assessment. Require a Health Impact Assessment, including consideration of truck traffic impacts, for any project that could potentially affect health conditions for sensitive receptors and/or in impacted communities, and require appropriate mitigation based on the findings of the assessment.
Policy EJ-8.2 Natural Landscapes in Impacted Communities. Support protection, restoration, and enhancement of natural landscapes in and near impacted communities.
Policy EJ-8.3
Offsetting Benefits. Require that any mitigation of air quality impacts on an impacted community that relies on offsets obtains the offsets from sources as near to the project site as possible. 1 1.2.9 ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE
POLICIES
Policy EJ-9.1
Policy El -9.2
Policy El -9.3
Health Centers and Providers. Support the development of healthcare centers and healthcare providers, including mental health specialists, and avoid the concentration of health centers in any one neighborhood.
Health Service Access. Work with San Benito County Public Health and local providers to enhance access to and information about all forms of health services for residents of impacted communities.
Transit. Work with healthcare providers and transit agencies to ensure that there are transit stops within a quarter -mile of all medical facilities.
CITY OF HOLLISTER 2 0 4 0 DRAFT GENERAL PLAN
1 1 . ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ELEMENT
Photo by PlaceWorks
Policy EJ-9.4
ACTIONS
Action EJ-9.1
Preventative Healthcare. Work with San Benito County Public Health on preventative healthcare initiatives, such as nutrition education, promoting fitness, and limiting the concentration of tobacco and liquor stores in any one neighborhood.
Development Review Process for Healthcare Facilities. Review the development review process for medical facilities and identify strategies to streamline the permitting process for healthcare facilities.
1 1.2.10 CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN IMPACTED COMMUNITIES
POLICIES
Policy EJ-10.1
Community Vision. Support community -driven or community - led initiatives in impacted communities that work toward establishing and realizing the community's vision.
Policy EJ-10.2 Community Outreach. Conduct meaningful outreach and engagement early in the planning process for projects that would affect impacted communities, as follows:
> Prepare public notices in the predominant language(s) spoken in the community and provide interpretation
services at meetings as needed.
> Make public notices and other important documents easy to understand and available in print at local libraries, community centers, or other gathering places.
> Use a wide array of methods to inform community
members of opportunities to participate, such as the City website, social media, texts, banners, mailers, and flyers. > Use supplemental outreach approaches that are
appropriate for the participating community.
> Schedule, format, and locate community workshops and
meetings to be convenient for community members —
both in -person and online.
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> Use social media, virtual meeting platforms, recorded meetings, and other communication techniques for those
without time or ability to attend public meetings.
> Consider data that reflects the economic, gender, age, and racial diversity of the affected population.
> Clearly explain potential adverse impacts of a proposed project in plain language that is easily understood by the participating community.
Policy EJ-10.3
Policy EJ-10.4
Policy EJ-10.5
ACTIONS
Action EJ-10.1
Action EJ-10.2
Action EJ-10.3
Information Access Options. Provide community engagement and information access options for those without access to computers or internet. Use public libraries and community centers as a resource for making information available.
Community -Driven Events. Support community -driven events, such as festivals, farmers' markets, block parties, the local artist community, and community service days, that support social connections, neighborhood identity, and environmental
stewardship.
Applicant -Led Public Meetings. Require project applicants of projects with 40 units or more or larger than 10,000 square feet of nonresidential uses to hold a community meeting to seek input on the proposed project.
Public Participation. Establish a public participation process in City planning projects that focuses on impacted communities.
Notification of Major Projects. Establish a process to notify and engage community members, organizations, and leaders when City planning decisions on major projects are being considered in or adjacent to impacted communities.
Staff Liaison. Designate a particular City staff person to serve as a City liaison to impacted communities.
Photo by Hollister Parks and Recreation Staff
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1 1 . ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ELEMENT
Action EJ-10.4 Outreach Services. Develop a centralized outreach services department for the City to support all City departments with language interpretation, translation services for written documents, and sign language services for public meetings and interacting with the public.
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I 2.ABBREVIATIONS AND
GLOSSARY
The following list includes acronyms and abbreviations used in this General Plan. The list of definitions that follows serves as a glossary to explain the technical terms used in this General Plan. Definitions come from several sources, including the California Office of Planning and Research, the California Institute for Local Government, and the American Planning Association's Glossary of Zoning, Development, and Planning Terms.
ABBREVIATIONS
AB
ADA
ADU
AIA
ALUC
ALUCP
AM BAG
AV
BEU
CAL FIRE
CalEnviroScreen
CalOES
Caltrans
CAPCOA
CBA
CCCE
CDFW
CEQA
CERT
CFD
CIP
Assembly Bill
Americans with Disabilities Act
accessory dwelling unit
Airport Influence Area
Airport Land Use Commission
Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan
Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments
autonomous vehicle
CAL FIRE San Benito -Monterey Unit
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
California Communities Environmental Health Screening Tool California Governor's Office of Emergency Services
California Department of Transportation
California Air Pollution Control Officers Association
Community Benefits Agreements
Central Coast Community Energy
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
California Environmental Quality Act
Community Emergency Response Team
Community Facilities District
Capital Improvement Program
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ABBREVIATIONS AND GLOSSARY
CNDDB California Natural Diversity Database
CUPA Certified Unified Program Agency
CVP Central Valley Project
dB decibel
dBA decibel "A -Weighted"
DOT United States Department of Transportation
du/ac dwelling units per acre
DWR Department of Water Resources
EAS Emergency Alert System
EBT Electronic Benefit Transfer
EDD California Employment Development Department
EDIS Emergency Digital Information System
EIR Environmental Impact Report
EMS Emergency Medical Service
EOC Emergency Operations Center
EV electric vehicle
FAR floor -area ratio
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
FHSZ Fire Hazard Severity Zone
FIA Federal Insurance Administration
FIRM Flood Insurance Rate Map
FTA Federal Transit Administration
GHG greenhouse gas
GIS geographic information system
GPS General Plan Subcommittee
HFD Hollister Fire Department
HMA Hollister Municipal Airport
HPD Hollister Police Department
HRA health risk assessment
LAFCO Local Agency Formation Commission
Ldn day/night average sound level
LOS level of service
LRA Local Responsibility Area
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ABBREVIATIONS AND GLOSSARY
LSRP Local Streets and Roads Program
MBARD Monterey Bay Air Resources District
MGD million gallons per day
MJHMP Multi -Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
MPH miles per hour
Mw moment magnitude
NFIP National Flood Insurance Program
NOM National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
ODS Objective Design Standards
OPR Governor's Office of Planning and Research
PARC Public Art Review Committee
PG&E Pacific Gas and Electric Company
PSPS public safety power shutoff
PV photovoltaic
RHNA Regional Housing Needs Allocation
RRFB Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
RV recreational vehicle
SB Senate Bill
SBCAC San Benito County Arts Council
SBCIWM San Benito County Integrated Waste Management
SBCOG San Benito Council of Governments
SBLTA San Benito Local Transportation Authority
SMARA California Surface Mining and Reclamation Act
SMGB State Mining and Geology Board
SO1 sphere of influence
SR- State Route
SRA State Responsibility Area
SSCWD Sunnyslope County Water District
SVRA State Vehicular Recreation Area
TDA Transportation Development Act
TDM Transportation Demand Management
TIMF Traffic Impact Mitigation Fee
CITY OF HOLLISTER 2 0 4 0 DRAFT GENERAL PLAN
ABBREVIATIONS AND GLOSSARY
UGB Urban Growth Boundary
USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service
VMT vehicle miles traveled
WUI wildland-urban interface
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ABBREVIATIONS AND GLOSSARY
TERMINOLOGY
Acreage. The land area that exists prior to any dedications for public use, health, and/or safety purposes.
Action. A measure, procedure, or technique that helps the City achieve a specific goal.
An action is something concrete that can and will be completed. (see "Goal") Adaptation. Making changes in response to current or future conditions (such as the increased frequency and intensity of climate -related hazards), usually to reduce harm and take advantage of new opportunities.
Adaptive Management. A flexible, iterative decision -making process that can be adjusted in the face of uncertainties as outcomes from management actions and other events become better understood.)
Adverse Impact. A negative consequence for the physical, social, or economic environment resulting from an action or project.
Affordability, Housing. The relation of housing costs to household income.
Affordable Housing. An affordable for -sale housing or affordable rental housing affordable to households whose incomes do not exceed one hundred twenty percent (120%) of the area median income (moderate — or lower — income households).
Archaeological Resource. Material evidence of past human activity found below the surface of ground or water, portions of which may be visible above the surface.
Arterial. Arterial streets connect the regional roadway network with the city street network. Most intersections along arterials are signalized, often with a coordinated and interconnected signal system.
Asset. A valued feature of a community that may be harmed by climate change. Assets may include buildings, infrastructure, community services, ecosystems, and economic drivers.
Atmospheric River. Long, narrow band of tropical moisture that gets carried along mid- and upper- parts of the atmosphere. These "rivers in the sky" can transport significant amounts of water vapor from tropical regions near the equator to mid - latitude locations like northern California.
U.S. Department of the Interior, 2009. Adaptive Management The U.S. Department of the Interior Technical Guide, page 5.
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ABBREVIATIONS AND GLOSSARY
Bicycle Class Facilities: A classification system for bicycle paths and roadways identified in the California Highway Design Manual.
Class I Bike Bath. Shared -use paths provide a completely separate right-of- way and is designated for the exclusive use of bicycles and pedestrians with vehicle and pedestrian crossflow minimized.
Class II Bike Lane. Standard bike lanes are lanes for bicyclists adjacent to the outer vehicle travel lanes. These lanes have special lane markings, pavement legends, and signage. Bike lanes can be enhanced with green paint or a buffer and are generally five feet wide.
Class III Bicycle Route. Shared lanes or bicycle routes are designated by signs or pavement markings for shared use between cyclists and motor vehicles. Bike routes serve either to provide continuity to the bicycle facilities or designate preferred routes for cyclists through high -demand corridors.
These facilities can incorporate traffic -calming elements that prioritize bicycle traffic to allow for a more comfortable cycling experience.
Class IV Cycle Track. Cycle Tracks provide a right-of-way designated exclusively for bicycle travel within the roadway and which are protected from other vehicle traffic with devices, including, but not limited to, grade separation, flexible posts, inflexible physical barrier, or parked cars.
Buffer. An area established between potentially conflicting land uses, which, depending on the potential impact, may use landscaping or structural barriers such as setbacks or roads.
Building. A habitable structure. (see "Structure")
Building Code. Standards adopted by the State governing the construction, alteration, demolition, occupancy, or other use of buildings used for human habitation. The State regulations are substantially the same as those contained in the most recent editions of the Uniform Building Code, Uniform Housing Code, Uniform Plumbing Code, Uniform Mechanical Code, and the National Electric Code. Local governments may have stricter standards under certain circumstances.
California Environmental Quality Act. Legislation and corresponding procedural components established in 1970 by the State of California to require environmental review for projects anticipated to result in adverse impacts to the environment. (see "Environmental Impact Report")
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ABBREVIATIONS AND GLOSSARY
Capital Improvement Program. A program that schedules permanent improvements, usually for a minimum of five years in the future, that fits the projected fiscal capability of the local jurisdiction. The program generally is reviewed on an annual basis for conformance to and consistency with the General Plan.
Carbon Neutral. Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to zero, either by entirely eliminating all GHG emissions or by balancing out all remaining GHG emissions through carbon removal practices so that the "net" emissions are zero.
City. City with a capital "C" generally refers to the City government or administration.
City with a lower case "c" may mean any city or may refer to the geographical area.
City Limits. The legal boundaries of the geographical area subject to the jurisdiction of the City of Hollister's government. For example, development applications for properties located within the City Limits must be reviewed by the City.
Climate Change. A change in the state of the climate that can be identified by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties, and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer. In the context of this plan, this term refers to changes brought on by human activities.
Collectors. Collectors link neighborhoods together and allow travelers to reach places outside of their neighborhoods. They have higher speeds than local streets and can handle more traffic volume. Collectors are often important segments of bikeway networks.
Compatible. Capable of existing together without conflict or ill effects.
Complete Street. A transportation facility that is planned, designed, constructed, operated, and maintained to provide comfortable and convenient mobility, and improve accessibility and connectivity to essential community destinations for all users and abilities, regardless of whether they are travelling as pedestrians, bicyclists, wheelchair users, public transportation riders, or drivers. Complete streets are especially attuned to the needs of people walking, using assistive mobility devices, rolling, biking, and riding transit.
Community Benefits Agreement. A Community Benefits Agreement is a contract between a developer and community -based organizations representing residents' interests. The agreement spells out the benefits the community will receive in return for supporting the developer's project in their neighborhood.
Community Facilities District (CFD). A special district that is formed to offset the costs of providing public safety services to areas of new development through the levy of special taxes.
CITY OF HOLLISTER 2 0 4 0 DRAFT GENERAL PLAN
ABBREVIATIONS AND GLOSSARY
Conservation. The management and use of natural resources in a sustainable manner. Conservation results in land and water areas that are durably protected and managed to sustain functional ecosystems, both intact and restored, and the diversity of life they support.
Cultural Resource. A historic, archaeological, tribal, or paleontological resource or human remains. Cultural resources include tribal cultural resources, as defined in California Public Resources Code Section 21074, regardless of whether a tribe is federally recognized.
Decibel. A unit used to express the relative intensity of a sound as it is heard by the human ear. The lowest volume a normal ear can detect under laboratory conditions is 0 decibel (dB), the threshold of human hearing. Since the decibel scale is logarithmic, 10 decibels are 10 times more intense, and 20 decibels are 100 times more intense than 1 db.
dBA. The "A -weighted" scale for measuring sound in decibels, which weighs or reduces the effects of low and high frequencies to simulate human hearing. Every increase of 10 dBA doubles the perceived loudness, even though the noise is actually 10 times more intense.
Dedication. The turning over by an owner or developer of private land for public use, and the acceptance of land for such use by the governmental agency having jurisdiction over the public function for which it will be used. Dedications for roads, parks, school sites, or other public uses are often required by a city or county as conditions for approval of a development. (see "In -Lieu Fee") Density. The number of permanent residential dwelling units per acre of land (du/acre). Densities specified in this General Plan are expressed in dwelling units per gross acreage, excluding land area which may be devoted to public right of way including roadways.
Development Review. The comprehensive evaluation of a development and its impact on neighboring properties and the community as a whole, from the standpoint of site and landscape design, architecture, materials, colors, lighting, and signs, in accordance with a set of adopted criteria and standards.
Development. The physical extension and/or construction of non -farm land uses.
Development activities include subdivision of land; construction or alteration of structures, roads, utilities, and other facilities; installation of septic systems; grading; deposit of refuse, debris, or fill materials; and clearing of natural vegetative cover (with the exception of agricultural activities). The construction of a single-family home on an G-8
CITY OF HOLLISTER 2 0 4 0 DRAFT GENERAL PLAN
ABBREVIATIONS AND GLOSSARY
existing lot, and routine repair and maintenance activities, are not considered development.
Development Fees. Direct charges or dedications collected on a one-time basis for a service provided or as a condition of approval being granted by the local government.
The purpose of the fee or exaction must directly relate to the need created by the development. In addition, its amount must be proportional to the cost of the service or improvement. Fees can be broken down into two major classes: 1) service charges such as permit fees covering the cost of processing development plans, connection or standby fees for installing utilities, or application fees for reviewing and considering development proposals; and 2) "impact" fees levied on new development to cover the cost of infrastructure or facilities necessitated by development. (See "Impact fee") Duplex. A free-standing house divided into two separate living units or residences, usually having separate entrances.
Dwelling Unit. The place of customary abode of a person or household, which is either considered to be real property under State law or cannot be easily moved.
Electric Vehicle. A zero -emission vehicle that uses electricity stored in a battery to power one or more electric motors and can be plugged in at home, work, fleet, or public charging stations.
Endangered Species, California. A native species or sub -species of a bird, mammal, fish, amphibian, reptile, or plant, which is in serious danger of becoming extinct throughout all or a significant portion of its range, due to one or more factors, including loss in habitat, change in habitat, over -exploitation, predation, competition, or disease. The status is determined by the State Department of Fish and Game together with the State Fish and Game Commission.
Endangered Species, Federal. A species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. The status is determined by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of the Interior.
Environmental Impact Report. A study required pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act that assesses all the environmental characteristics of an area, determines what effects or impacts will result if the area is altered or disturbed by a proposed action, and identifies alternatives or other measures to avoid or reduce those impacts. (see "California Environmental Quality Act") Equity. The state in which each individual or group is allocated or has access to the resources needed to reach an equal or fair outcome.
Erosion. The process by which soil and rock are detached and moved by running water, wind, ice, and gravity.
CITY OF HOLLISTER 2 0 4 0 DRAFT GENERAL PLAN
ABBREVIATIONS AND GLOSSARY
Evacuation Route. A roadway designated in the General Plan as a potential recommended route to travel when evacuating from a hazardous condition.
Evacuation -Constrained Areas. Areas that do not have at least two ingress/egress routes and are located on a single access road.
Exposure. The presence of people, infrastructure, natural systems, and economic, cultural, and social resources in areas that are subject to harm.
Farmers' Market. A mobile or non -mobile market: (1) operated by a local government agency, one or more certified producers, or a nonprofit organization; (2) certified by and operating in a location approved by the County Agricultural Commissioner; and (3) where farmers sell directly to consumers agricultural products or processed products made from agricultural products that the farmers grow themselves.
Farmland, Prime. Land that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for the production of crops. It has the soil quality, growing season, and moisture supply needed to produce sustained high yields of crops when treated and managed, including water management, according to current farming methods. Prime Farmland must have been used for the production of irrigated crops within the last 3 years.
Farmland of Statewide Importance. Land other than Prime Farmland which has a good combination of physical and chemical characteristics for the production of crops.
It must have been used for the production of irrigated crops within the last 3 years.
Farmland, Unique. Land which does not meet the criteria for Prime Farmland or Farmland of Statewide Importance that is currently used for the production of specific high economic value crops. It has the special combination of soil quality, location, growing season, and moisture supply needed to produce sustained high quality or high yields of a specific crop when treated and managed according to current farming methods. Examples of such crops may include oranges, olives, avocados, rice, grapes, and cut flowers.
Fault. A fracture in the earth's crust that forms a boundary between rock masses that have shifted.
Fire Hazard Severity Zone. An area of significant fire hazard based on fuels, terrain, weather, and other relevant hazards.
Flood, 100 -Year. In any given year, a flood that has a 1 percent likelihood (a 1 in 100 chance) of occurring, and is recognized as a standard for acceptable risk.
Flood, 500 -Year. In any given year, a flood that has a 0.2 percent likelihood (a 1 in 500 chance) of occurring.
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ABBREVIATIONS AND GLOSSARY
Floodplain. The relatively level land area on either side of the banks of a stream regularly subject to flooding.
Floor Area Ratio. The size of a building in square feet (gross floor area) divided by gross land area, expressed as a decimal number. For example, a 60,000 -square -foot building on a 120,000 -square -foot parcel would have a floor area ratio of 0.50. The FAR is used in calculating the building intensity of nonresidential development.
Freeway. Freeways are high-speed roadways that allow residents to reach destinations outside of the city, either by car or transit. US 101 and SR 92 run through the city, while 1-280 is located just west of the SCI.
Garden, Community. A shared, semi-public space where people in the surrounding neighborhood share the work and harvest of maintaining a plot of fruits, vegetables, or other plants. Community gardens provide residents with an opportunity to grow fresh produce, flowers, or other plants on land that they do not own. Community gardens can also be operated by community organizations or educational institutions to serve an educational function. Gardens operated by community organizations or educational institutions to serve an educational function, such as teaching school children about vegetables or agriculture, or assisting property owners with drought - tolerant or fire-resistant landscaping choices.
Gateway. A unique transition point in topography or land use that serves as an entrance to a region of the county.
General Plan. A compendium of City policies regarding its long-term development, in the form of maps and accompanying text. The General Plan is a legal document required of each local agency by the State of California Government Code Section 65301 and adopted by the City Council.
Geographic Information Systems. A combination of approaches, programs, methodologies, and technologies to gather, store, manipulate, analyze, present, and interpret spatial information and data.
Goal. A description of the general desired result sought by the City. Each goal has one or more policies and/or actions associated with the goal. (see "Policy" and "Action") Groundwater. Water that exists beneath the earth's surface, typically found between saturated soils and rock, and is used to supply wells and springs.
Habitat. The physical location or type of environment in which an organism or biological population lives or occurs.
CITY OF HOLLISTER 2 0 4 0 DRAFT GENERAL PLAN
ABBREVIATIONS AND GLOSSARY
Hazard. An event or physical condition that has the potential to cause fatalities, injuries, property damage, infrastructure damage, agricultural losses, damage to the environment, interruption of business, or other types of harm or loss.
Hazard Mitigation. Sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property through actions that reduce hazard, exposure, and vulnerability.
Hazardous Material, Hazardous Waste: A substance or waste that, because of its physical, chemical, or other characteristics, may pose a risk of endangering human health or safety or of degrading the environment. This does not include household hazardous waste, universal waste, or electronic waste, as they do not contain the quantity, concentration, and/or types of products significant enough to pose a substantial risk to human health and safety or to the environment.
Horizon Year. The year through which the General Plan is intended to be effective, or 2040.
Household. All persons occupying one dwelling unit.
Human Scale. Buildings, structures, streetscape, and other urban design elements that are of a size and proportion that relates to the size of a human in order to feel comfortable and inviting. Ground -level components such as street width, sidewalk width, entrances, windows, or columns may be human scale, as well as the overall height and massing of an individual building or group of buildings.
Impact, Climate. The effects (especially the negative effects) of a hazard or other condition associated with climate change.
Implementation. Actions, procedures, programs, or techniques that carry out a plan.
Infill Development. Development that occurs on vacant or underutilized land within areas that are already largely developed.
In -Lieu Fee. Cash payments that may be required of an owner or developer as a substitute for a dedication of land for public use, usually calculated in dollars per lot, and referred to as in -lieu fees or in -lieu contributions. (see "Dedication") Land Use. The occupation or use of an area of land for any human activity or purpose.
Land Use Designation. One particular category in a classification series of appropriate use of properties established by the General Plan Land Use Element.
Landslide. Movement of soil and/or rock down a slope, which typically occurs during an earthquake or following heavy rainfall.
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ABBREVIATIONS AND GLOSSARY
Level of Service (LOS) Standard. A standard used by government agencies to measure the quality or effectiveness of a municipal service, such as police, fire, or library, or the performance of a facility, such as a street or highway.
Level of Service (Traffic). A scale that measures the amount of traffic that a roadway or intersection can accommodate, based on such factors as maneuverability, driver dissatisfaction, and delay.
Liquefaction. The transformation of loose, wet soil from a solid to a liquid state, often as a result of ground shaking during an earthquake.
Local Street. Local streets make up the majority of the roadway system and typically have lower speeds and vehicular traffic volumes.
Major Collector. Connect local roads and streets with arterials. Major Collectors provide less mobility and are intended to serve longer trips within an urban area with higher speeds than minor collectors or local streets. They balance mobility with land access.
Maximum Development. Development of land to its full potential, or theoretical capacity, as permitted under current or proposed planning or zoning designations.
Micro Agriculture. The practice of growing and processing fresh food in an urban area.
Micromobility. Transportation via small, lightweight vehicles, typically electric assisted, operated by the driver, such as electric scooters and bicycles. Vehicles typically do not exceed 15 miles per hour and are often available for rent for short-range travel within a defined area.
Mitigation. Modification to avoid, reduce, minimize, or eliminate a negative impact.
There are various types of mitigation, including environmental impact mitigation, hazard mitigation, GHG emissions mitigation, and more.
Mixed -Use. Any mixture of land uses, including mixtures of residences with commercial, offices with retail, or visitor accommodation with offices and retail. As distinguished from a single -use land use designation or zone, mixed use refers to an authorized variety of uses for buildings and structures in a particular area; this is also called vertical mixed -use. A type of mixed -use development where residential uses are located behind or next to non-residential uses on the same development site is called horizontal mixed use.
Municipality. An incorporated city or town.
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ABBREVIATIONS AND GLOSSARY
Neighborhood. Relatively large residential areas that have some common characteristics, such as a common history, common physical characteristics (e.g., architectural style), a common meeting place, intangible characteristics (e.g., a psychological sense of cohesion), or clear physical boundaries (e.g., waterways or major roads).
Noise Contour. A line connecting points of equal noise level as measured on the same scale.
Noise -Sensitive Use. A location where people reside or where the presence of unwanted sound could adversely affect the use of land, such as residences, schools, and hospitals.
Non -Conforming Use. A use that was valid when brought into existence, but no longer permitted by later regulation. "Non -conforming use" is a generic term and includes: (1) non -conforming structures (because their size, type of construction, location on land, or proximity to other structures is no longer permitted); (2) non- conforming use of a conforming building; (3) non -conforming use of a non- conforming building; and (4) non -conforming use of land. Any use lawfully existing on any piece of property that is inconsistent with a new or amended General Plan, and that in turn is a violation of a Zoning Ordinance amendment subsequently adopted in conformance with the General Plan, will be a non -conforming use.
Typically, non -conforming uses are permitted to continue, subject to certain restrictions.
Open Space. Open Space encompasses lands that essentially are unimproved and that have limited development potential due to the physical characteristics of the land, due to the land being restricted to agricultural production, due to the location of the land as a buffer between urban areas, or due to the scenic value of the land and its role in maintaining a community's sense of character or heritage.
Parcel. A lot, or contiguous group of lots, in single ownership or under single control, usually considered a unit for purposes of development.
Pocket/Neighborhood Park. A small park, typically less than a quarter acre in size.
Placemaking. Placemaking is a multi -faceted approach to the planning, design and management of public spaces. Placemaking capitalizes on a local community's assets, inspiration, and potential, with the intention of creating public spaces that improve urban vitality and promote people's health, happiness, and well-being.
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ABBREVIATIONS AND GLOSSARY
Policy. A specific statement that guides decision making as the City works to achieve a goal. Policies represent statements of City regulation and set the standards used by decision makers when considering proposed development and actions. A policy is ongoing and requires no further action (see "Goal").
Reconstruction. Redevelopment of a building or structure after being demolished or destroyed in a disaster.
Redevelopment. Redevelopment includes all development projects that build new structures and land uses on a previously developed site.
Resilience. The capacity of any entity —an individual, community, organization, or natural system —to prepare for disruptions, recover from shocks and stresses, and adapt and grow from a disruptive experience. Community resilience is the ability of communities to withstand, recover, and learn from past disasters to strengthen future response and recovery efforts.
Riparian. A habitat and vegetation zone that is associated with the banks and floodplains of a river, stream, or lake. Riparian trees and shrubs are typically phreatophytes, plants whose root systems are in constant contact with groundwater.
Riparian Habitat. A habitat and vegetation zone that is associated with the banks and floodplains of a river, stream, or lake. Riparian trees and shrubs are typically phreatophytes, plants whose root systems are in constant contact with groundwater.
Risk. The potential for damage or loss created by the interaction of hazards with assets such as buildings, infrastructure, or natural and cultural resources.
Safe Routes to School. Pedestrian and bicycling routes that provide safe access to and from schools.
San Benito Council of Governments. was established in 19734. SBCOG's jurisdiction follows the boundaries of San Benito County, and consists of three member jurisdictions, and is overseen by a board of five members - two representatives each from the San Benito County Board of Supervisors and the Hollister City Council, and one representative from the San Juan Bautista City Council. The actions of SBCOG are governed by its Joint Powers Agreement.
Sea Level Rise. The worldwide average rise in mean sea level, which may be due to a number of different causes, such as the thermal expansion of sea water and the addition of water to the oceans from the melting of glaciers, ice caps, and ice sheets.
Seiche. The oscillation of water in an enclosed body of water, typically due to ground shaking.
Seniors. People 65 years of age or older.
CITY OF HOLLISTER 2 0 4 0 DRAFT GENERAL PLAN
ABBREVIATIONS AND GLOSSARY
Sensitive habitat. Land containing unique, representative, and/or endangered plant and animal communities, or ecosystems.
Sensitive Receptor. A use that is highly sensitive to impacts from other uses, including homes, schools, playgrounds, sports fields, childcare centers, senior centers, hospitals, and long-term health care facilities.
Sensitivity. The level to which a species, natural system, community, or government would be affected by changing climate conditions.
Solid Waste. Unwanted or discarded material, including garbage, with insufficient liquid content to be free flowing.
Slope, Steep. An area with a greater than 5 percent slope.
Specific Plan. Under Article 8 of the Government Code (Section 65450 et seq.), a legal tool for detailed design and implementation of a defined portion of the area covered by a General Plan. A specific plan may include all detailed regulations, conditions, programs, and/or proposed legislation that may be necessary or convenient for the systematic implementation of any General Plan element(s).
Special -Status Species. Designated (rare, threatened, or endangered) and candidate species for listing by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFVV).
Designated (threatened or endangered) and candidate species for listing by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
Sphere of Influence. The probable physical boundaries and service area of a municipality or special district, as determined by the Local Agency Formation Commission of the county.
Stormwater. Water that comes from a storm event.
Structure. Anything constructed or erected on and permanently attached to land and with a roof supported by columns or walls, except buildings intended for human occupancy. (see "Building")
Sustainability. Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Topography. The configuration of a land surface, including its relief and the position of its natural and man-made features.
Traffic Calming. Measures designed to reduce motor vehicle speeds and to encourage pedestrian use, including narrow streets, tight turning radii, sidewalk bulbouts, parking bays, textured paving at intersections, and parkways between sidewalks and streets.
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ABBREVIATIONS AND GLOSSARY
Triplex. A free-standing house divided into three separate living units or residences, usually having separate entrances.
Unincorporated Area. Land that is outside of an incorporated city. Development in the unincorporated area is subject to County jurisdiction.
Use. The purpose for which a lot or structure is or may be leased, occupied, maintained, arranged, designed, intended, constructed, erected, moved, altered, and/or enlarged in accordance with the City Zoning Code and General Plan land use designations.
Wastewater. Water that contains other elements, such as excess water from drainage or piping systems, small pathogens, organic matter, and inorganic contaminants. This term is also used to refer to water generated in industrial plants and commercial activity.
Wetland. An area that is inundated or saturated by surface water or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions, commonly known as hydrophytic vegetation.
Wildland-Urban Interface. An area that includes both houses and wildland vegetation, creating a significant threat to human life or property from wildfires.
Williamson Act. Formerly known as the California Land Conservation Act of 1965, it was designed as an incentive to retain prime agricultural land and open space in agricultural use, thereby slowing its conversion to urban and suburban development.
The program entails a ten-year contract between the City or County and an owner of land whereby the land is taxed on the basis of its agricultural use rather than its market value. The land becomes subject to certain enforceable restrictions, and certain conditions need to be met prior to approval of an agreement.
Zoning. The division of a city by ordinance or other legislative regulation into districts or zones that specify allowable uses for real property and size restrictions for buildings constructed in these areas. Zoning implements the land use policies of the General Plan.
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ABBREVIATIONS AND GLOSSARY
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City of Hollister
Health and Safety Element Update
Vulnerability Assessment Report
January 2023
Prepared for:
Client
City of Hollister
339 Fifth Street
Hollister, California 95023
831.636.4360
Prepared by:
PlaceWorks
2040 Bancroft Way, Suite 400
Berkeley, California 94704
510.848.3815
[email protected]
www.placeworks.com
CITY OF HOLLISTER I HEALTH AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 1
Community Profile 1
Regulatory Framework 3
Climate Change in Hollister 4
What is Climate Change? 4
Climate Change Modeling Considerations 4
Climate Change in California 5
Hollister Vulnerability Assessment 5
Vulnerability Assessment Method 5
Climate Change Hazards and Key Vulnerabilities 9
General Plan Implications 20
Equity and Uncertainty 20
Opportunities 20
Resilience in Other Planning Mechanisms 23
Conclusion 23
APPENDICES
Appendix A— List of Populations and Assets
Appendix B — Vulnerability Assessment Results Matrix
FIGURES
Figure 1. Community Overview 2
Figure 2. California Adaptation Planning Guide Recommended Model 6 Figure 3. Example of Cascading Effects 6
Figure 4. Projected Extreme Heat Days in Hollister 12
Figure 5. Projected Warm Nights in Hollister 13
Figure 6. Flood Hazard Zones 15
Figure 7. Fire Hazard Severity Zones 18
TABLES
Table 1. List of Populations and Assets 8
Table 2. Vulnerability Scoring Matrix 9
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INTRODUCTION
The City of Hollister (City) prepared this Vulnerability Assessment Report in conformance with State of California requirements to assess climate change vulnerability and address climate change adaptation and resilience as part of the General Plan Update. The goal of this requirement is to enable the community to prepare for, respond to, withstand, and recover from disruptions created or caused by climate change.
This report discusses the regulatory framework and method for preparing a vulnerability assessment and incorporating adaptation and resilience into the General Plan, the climate change hazards affecting the resilience of Hollister, specific populations and assets included in the assessment, and a summary of the vulnerability assessment results. The vulnerability assessment acts as a foundation for integrating adaptation and resilience policies into the Health and Safety Element and other elements of the General Plan by developing a set of priority vulnerabilities in the City of Hollister. These policies and programs are discussed in the General Plan Implications section.
Community Profile
The City of Hollister is in Hollister Valley in northern San Benito County, adjacent to the Diablo Range to the east and south, Gavilan Range to the west, and Flint Hills and Santa Cruz Mountains to the northwest.
Hollister is approximately 4 miles north of the Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area, 16 miles south of Henry Coe State Park, and 26 miles north of Pinnacles National Park. Hollister has a Mediterranean climate, with rain in the winters and hot, dry summers. According to the General Plan Update's Existing Conditions Report, Hollister is home to approximately 39,241 residents and 11,048 households.'
The City of Hollister covers approximately 8.2 square miles (see Figure 1), which was originally home to the Ohlone and Popeloutchom (Amah Mutsun) tribal nations.2 Approximately 75 percent of the city is developed, and the remaining 25 percent includes open space and agricultural lands. Land uses within the urban development of the city consist of primarily residential, with other major land uses including industrial, general commercial, and airport. Hollister is the County seat for San Benito County as well as a regional hub, offering a variety of services and job opportunities for residents in nearby communities in San Benito County.
State agencies divide California into several climate zones, and Hollister is part of Climate Zone 4. This climate zone covers the inland areas of the Central Coastal Range, which still has some ocean influence that keeps temperatures from having extreme highs and lows.3 On average, annual high temperatures in Hollister range from 60 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) in January and December to 81°F between July and September. Low temperatures range from 37°F in December to 54°F in August. The city receives an average of approximately 14 inches of precipitation annually. Most precipitation falls during the winter months with rare occurrences of summer storms. The Mediterranean climate makes Hollister a prime location for agricultural production and outdoor recreation activities. 1 BAE Urban Economics. 2020. Market Demand Analysis. https:/Jhollister2040.or/wt content/uploads/2020/11/Hollister-GPU-Market-Demand-Analysis-11 12-20.pdf. 2 Native Land Digital. 2021. "Native Land." t tt s: /native-land.ca/. 3 Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). 2006. "The Pacific Energy Center's Guide to California Climate Zones." https://www.pge.com/includes/docs/pdfs/about/edusafety/training/pec/toolbox/arch/climate/california_climate_z ones_01-16.pdf.
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Figure 1. Community Overview
Planning Area
Q Urban Service Area
Existing Sphere of Influence
, Proposed Sphere of Inflence Expansion
City Limit
Parks
Source: ESRI, 2020; PlaceWorks, 2023; San Benito County, 2020; USGS, 2019 ,Tres Pinos
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Hollister's primary transportation access is from State Route (SR-) 156 and SR -25. SR -156 connects the City of Hollister to Monterey County to the west and the Central Valley to the east. SR -25 runs north to south, connecting Hollister to Gilroy in the north and Pinnacles National Park to the south. Other major roadways include Westside Boulevard, San Benito Street, Wright Road, Buena Vista Road, Santa Ana Road, Meridian Street, South Street, Nash Road, Hillcrest Road, and Sunnyslope Road. San Benito County Express provides local and regional bus transit options.
Regulatory Framework
In 2015, the State of California adopted Senate Bill (SB) 379, amending Section 65302(g) of the California Government Code to require the Safety Element of the General Plan to include more information about wildfire hazards, flooding risks, and other short-term and long-term threats posed by climate change. SB 379 requires local governments to conduct vulnerability assessments as part of their long-range public safety planning efforts and to prepare policies that will protect against harm caused by climate change.
Other important updates to Section 65302(g) of the California Government Code related to Safety Elements, climate change, and resiliency, and addressed in the City's General Plan Update, include SB 1241, SB 1035, SB 99, Assembly Bill (AB) 2140, and AB 747/1409. • SB 1241 added Section 65302(g)(3) to the California Government Code, requiring jurisdictions in a state responsibility area or very high fire hazard severity zone to provide background, historical context, and goals, policies, and implementation measures to address wildfire risks in a community.
• SB 1035, which established Section 65302(g)(6) of the California Government Code, builds on previous legislation and requires local governments to review and update as needed their Safety Element during an update to their housing element or Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) (or no less than every eight years). Any revisions should include updated information related to flood hazards, fire hazards, and climate adaptation and resilience. • AB 2140 added Sections 8685.9 and 65302.6 of the California Government Code, enabling cities and counties to adopt an LHMP into its Safety Element.
• SB 99 established Section 65302(g)(5) of the California Government Code and requires jurisdictions to review and update the Safety Element to include information identifying residential developments in hazard areas that do not have at least two emergency evacuation routes.
• AB 747 added Section 65302.15 to the California Government Code (amended by AB 1409) and requires local governments to identify the capacity, safety, and viability of evacuation routes and shelters in the Safety Element or LHMP.
This Vulnerability Assessment, along with the update to the Health and Safety Element, will help the City meet the state's requirements, in addition to increasing consistency with and integration of the General Plan and LHMP. The State prepared a guidance document, the California Adaptation Planninq Guide (APG), to assist communities in addressing climate adaptation and resilience, and complying with Section 65302(g) of the California Government Code, along with guidance in the Office of Planning and Research's General Plan Guidelines. The APG presents a step-by-step process for gathering the best -available climate change science, completing a climate change vulnerability assessment, creating adaptation strategies, and integrating those strategies into general plans and other policy documents. This Vulnerability Assessment is consistent with the guidance and recommended methods provided in the APG. 3
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CLIMATE CHANGE IN HOLLISTER
What is Climate Change?
Climate change is a long-term change in the average meteorological conditions in an area. Currently, the global climate is changing due to an increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that trap heat near the Earth's surface. While some levels of these gases are necessary to maintain a comfortable temperature on Earth, an increased concentration of these gases due to human activity traps additional heat, changing Earth's climate system in several ways. This can create intensified or new hazardous conditions that can increase the risk of damage to critical infrastructure, injury to sensitive populations, and disruption of essential services. To have a better understanding of how a changing climate may harm Hollister, and which aspects of the community— including people, buildings and infrastructure, services, and economic drivers — are most vulnerable to its effects, City staff prepared a Vulnerability Assessment as part of preparation of the Health and Safety Element. This report presents a summary of the Vulnerability Assessment methods and results.
Climate Change Modeling Considerations
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), an organization that represents the global scientific consensus about climate change, identified four climate scenarios in the Fifth Assessment Report, also called Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs), that can be used to project future conditions.' RCPs are labeled with different numbers (e.g., RCP 2.6, RCP 6) that refer to the increase in the amount of energy that reaches each square meter of Earth's surface under that scenario. The four RCPs are:
• RCP 2.6: Global GHG emissions peak around 2020 and then decline quickly. • RCP 4.5: Global GHG emissions peak around 2040 and then decline. • RCP 6: Global emissions continue to rise until the middle of the century. • RCP 8.5: Global emissions continue to increase at least until the end of the century.
Projections of climate hazards from Cal -Adapt and other sources rely on climate models, which are computer simulations that forecast future climate conditions under these different RCP scenarios. It is critical for the City to account for all reasonably plausible future conditions, including the most severe of plausible conditions, which will help ensure greater resiliency from climate change. Therefore, the projections in the Vulnerability Assessment use the RCP 8.5 scenario, following State of California guidance and to be consistent with the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report. No model can project future conditions perfectly, but current models are heavily reviewed by climate scientists and can accurately reproduce observed climate conditions.
The Vulnerability Assessment also relies on the understanding that "weather" and "climate" are two different things. "Weather" describes the conditions at a particular time and place, and "climate" describes the long-term average of conditions. Because there are large variations in the weather, it is 4 The IPCC recently released "The Physical Science Basis" of the Sixth Assessment Report that updates global climate change projections for the near -term, mid-term, and long-term based on GHG emission trends from the past decade. It moves away from using RCPs, instead using five different scenarios called "shared socioeconomic pathways", which consider socioeconomic trends underlying each scenario. This Vulnerability Assessment does not use these updated projections because at time of writing they are not available at a local scale. However, the IPCC report does reaffirm the use of projections comparable to RCP 8.5 as the suggested emission scenario to use for Cal - Adapt data.
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difficult to accurately project weather conditions more than a few days in advance. However, because climate is a long-term average, it can be projected out for years or decades with a high degree of accuracy. It is important to remember that, because climate is an average, it does not say whether an event will or will not occur, only how likely it is. For example, extreme heat is likely to become more frequent in Hollister, but a year with few heat waves does not mean that this projection is wrong, because the projection only says that extreme heat days are expected to occur, on average, more often than in the past.
Climate Change in California
The most accurate data for California -specific projections is available for the RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios. These scenarios help generate climate models, which are meant to simulate conditions across the globe. The model divides Earth's surface into cells using a grid, and then forecasts the conditions in each square of the grid. The size of these squares makes them suitable for projecting global conditions, but they are too big to accurately model the difference in climate across smaller areas.' Per state guidance, these models have been "downscaled" to much finer grids, which means that they have grids that are less than four miles on each side to show projections on a county or city level. The California Fourth Climate Change Assessment and Cal -Adapt provide a foundation of climate change science and downscaling for the state. The State of California has also developed a comprehensive set of reports and tools that local jurisdictions can use to assess climate change hazards and how to prepare for these hazards. The State -provided reports and tools that were used in the Vulnerability Assessment include:
• Cal-Adapt.org
• California Fourth Climate Change Assessment (statewide and regional reports) (2018) • California Adaptation Clearinghouse
• California Adaptation Planning Guide (2020)
• California Climate Adaptation Strategy (2021)
• California Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (2018) • Defining Vulnerable Community in the Context of Climate Adaptation (2018) • Department of Transportation Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments, District 12 (2019) • Planning and Investing for a Resilient California (2018)
HOLLISTER VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT
In Hollister, climate change is expected to intensify many existing hazards, such as extreme heat and drought, or create new hazards, such as agriculture and ecosystems pests and diseases, which are listed below. The Vulnerability Assessment evaluates how hazards are expected to occur, including frequency and severity, and how this will affect community populations and assets.
Vulnerability Assessment Method
The Vulnerability Assessment primarily follows the recommended process in the California Adaptation Planning Guide, published in 2020 by the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services. This includes a four -step process: (1) characterizing the community's exposure to current and projected Ackerly, David, Andrew Jones, Mark Stacey, and Bruce Riordan. 2018. "San Francisco Bay Area Summary Report." California's Fourth Climate Change Assessment. Berkeley, California: University of California, Berkeley. Publication number: CCCA4-SUM-2018-005.
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climate hazards; (2) identifying potential sensitivities and potential impacts to community populations and assets; (3) evaluating the current ability of the populations and assets to cope with climate impacts, also referred to as its adaptive capacity; and (4) identifying priority vulnerabilities based on systematic scoring. Figure 2 presents these steps.
Figure 2. California Adaptation Planning Guide Recommended Model Step 1. Identify Exposure. The goal of this step is to characterize the community's exposure to current and projected climate change hazards. The climate change hazards included in the Vulnerability Assessment are agriculture and ecosystem pests and diseases, drought, extreme heat and warm nights, flooding, human health hazards, severe storms, and wildfire and smoke. These hazards are discussed in more detail later in this report. Some of the hazards are compounding climate change effects where one climate change hazard leads to another more severe disaster, also known as "cascading effects". Figure 3 provides an example of these cascading effects.
Figure 3. Example of Cascading Effects
4,0„portiNt
The climate change hazard data was derived from up-to-date information, including the state Cal -Adapt database, the California Adaptation Planning Guide, the California Fourth Climate Change Assessment, the Existing Conditions Report for the General Plan Update, and the County of San Benito Multi -Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan.6
As discussed previously, projections of climate change hazards rely on multiple scenarios that reflect different levels of GHG emissions and concentrations over time. The Cal -Adapt database, which provides California -specific climate change hazard projections, uses RCP 4.5 for a low emissions scenario and RCP
8.5 for a high emissions scenario. The Governor's Office of Planning and Research Planning and Investing 6 The County of San Benito Multi -Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan is currently being updated and is likely to be adopted in Fall 2022.
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for a Resilient California document and the California Adaptation Planning Guide recommend using RCP
8.5 for analyses considering impacts through 2050 and 2100, as there are minimal differences between emission scenarios for the first half of the century and for late -century projections this is a more conservative and risk -adverse approach. City staff used the RCP 8.5 scenario as input for global climate models on the Cal -Adapt database and other resources.
Step 2. Identify Sensitivities and Potential Impacts. This step involved evaluating potential future climate change impacts to community populations and assets. City staff first identified a comprehensive list of populations and assets to understand how susceptible different people, places, ecosystem services, and services within the community are affected by climate change hazards. This list includes 20 populations, 22 infrastructure and building types, 5 economic drivers, 6 ecosystems and natural resources, and 8 key services, as shown in Table 1 and described in more detail in Appendix A. These populations and assets allowed City staff to build resiliency for the most susceptible people and assets in the city. Some assets, such as state and regional parks, are in neighboring areas but serve residents and visitors of Hollister, and therefore were included in the assessment. Following confirmation of this list, City staff developed an applicability matrix, which looked at which hazards are likely to affect which populations and assets. For example, human health hazards are likely to impact most populations, but it would not physically affect buildings.
After the applicability review, City staff evaluated potential impacts to the applicable populations and community
assets. To identify how severe the impacts of each relevant hazard are on the populations and community assets, City staff considered several different questions that helped ensure the assessment broadly covered a range of potential harm. Based on the results of the impact assessment, the City ranked each population and asset as experiencing low, medium, or high impacts for each relevant hazard. Impact is considered a negative quality, and therefore, a higher impact score means that there is a higher potential for harm to a population or asset. A lower impact score means that there is a lower potential for harm to a population or asset.
MINIMMINIONIMMINIONIMMINIONIMMINIONIMMINIONIMMIMMINIONIMMINIONIMMINIONIMMINIONIMMINIONIMMINIONIMMIMI Direct Impacts vs. Indirect Impacts
Direct impacts are those that
immediately affect buildings and
infrastructure, health or populations,
or immediate operations of economic
drivers or community services, and
they can lead to secondary indirect
impacts on the broader system or
community, including populations or
asset types in a different category. For
example, severe storms can directly
damage electrical transmission lines
causing power outages, which can
indirectly impact persons with chronic
illnesses and/or disabilities who
depend on the electricity for life-
support systems.
NIMMINIONIMMINIONIMMINIONIMMINIONIMMINIONIMMINIONIMMINIONIMMINIONIMMINIONIMMINIONIMMINIONIMMINIONIMMI 7
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Table 1. List of Populations and Assets
Category
Populations or Assets
Populations
Children
Cost -burdened
households
Households in poverty
Immigrant communities
LGBTQIA+'
Linguistically isolated
persons
Low-income households
Low-resourced people of
color
Outdoor workers
Overcrowded households
Persons experiencing
homelessness
Persons living in mobile
homes
Persons with chronic
illnesses and/or
disabilities
Persons without a high
school degree
Persons without access to
lifelines
Pregnant and nursing
women
Renters
Seniors (65+)
Seniors living alone
Unemployed persons
Infrastructure
Airport
Bicycling and pedestrian
trails
Bridges
Communication facilities
Community centers
Electrical transmission
infrastructure
Emergency operation
buildings
Cooling centers
Flood control
infrastructure
Government
administration facilities
Hazardous materials sites
Homes and residential
structures
Libraries
Major roads and highways
Natural gas pipelines
Parks and open space
Public safety buildings
Railway
Schools
Solid waste facilities
Transit facilities
Water and wastewater
infrastructure
Economic
Drivers
Agriculture
Education
Major employers
Outdoor recreation and
tourism
State and regional parks
Ecosystems and
Natural
Resources
Forests
Grassland
Open water
Riparian woodlands
Scrub
Wetlands
Key Services
Communication services
Emergency medical
response
Energy delivery
Government
administration and
community services
Public safety response
Public transit access
Solid waste removal
Water and wastewater
LGBTQIA+ includes persons identifying gender or sexual orientation as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, or other gender and sexual identities that words cannot yet fully describe. 8
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Step 3. Assess Adaptive Capacity. Adaptive capacity is the ability of populations and community assets to prepare for, respond to, and recover from the impacts of climate change. City staff evaluated each population and asset for adaptive capacity by considering a series of questions. Based on the results of the adaptive capacity assessment, the City ranked the adaptive capacity of each population or asset as low, medium, or high for each relevant hazard. Adaptive capacity is considered a positive attribute, so a higher adaptive capacity score will mean that a population or asset may be more adaptable to the hazard.
A lower adaptive capacity score means that a population or asset may have a harder time adjusting to the changing conditions.
Step 4. Prioritize Vulnerability Scoring. The City used the impact and adaptive capacity scores for each population and asset for each relevant hazard to determine the vulnerability score. The vulnerability score reflects how susceptible a population or asset is to harm from a particular hazard. Vulnerability is assessed on a scale of low, medium, and high. Low vulnerability does not mean that the population or asset will be unaffected by climate change, but that the effects are likely to be less substantial. The matrix in Table 2 shows how impact and adaptive capacity scores combine and translate into a vulnerability score. For example, extreme heat would create a high impact on energy delivery services as mechanical failures, heat damage, and high demand for electricity from cooling equipment can disrupt this service.
Adaptive capacity is low because many community members need to use more electricity on extreme heat days to keep cool and retrofitting electrical equipment can be expensive. Therefore, energy delivery services have a high vulnerability to extreme heat.
Table 2. Vulnerability Scoring Matrix
Low Impact
Medium Impact
High Impact
Low Adaptive Capacity
Medium
Medium Adaptive Capacity
Lo
ediu
High Adaptive Capacity
Lo'
L'
Climate Change Hazards and Key Vulnerabilities
The Vulnerability Assessment assigns vulnerability scores to 309 different pairing of 61 populations and assets for each of the relevant 7 hazards. This section summarizes the climate change hazards at the local level and discusses the significant vulnerabilities created by those hazards. • Outdoor workers, immigrant communities, low-resourced people of color, and households in poverty are the most vulnerable to climate change hazards. • Bridges, electrical transmission infrastructure, homes, and major roads and highways are the most vulnerable buildings and infrastructure, especially to flooding and severe weather. • Agriculture as an economic driver is highly vulnerable to all hazards. • Open water is the most vulnerable ecosystem and natural resource. • Public transit access, energy delivery, and water and wastewater are the most vulnerable key services.
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For a complete list of vulnerability scores, see Appendix B.
Agricultural and Ecosystem Pests and Diseases
According to the 2020 County of San Benito Crop Report, agriculture and livestock had total gross production of nearly $340 million in 2020, with vegetables and row crops being the largest -grossing crop.' Agricultural pests and diseases can affect crop plants, vineyards, and livestock in and surrounding the City of Hollister. This hazard is measured by the number of pests and disease incidents, which are likely to increase as higher temperatures allow insects to reproduce more rapidly.
These pests and diseases, such as the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri), European pine shoot moth (Rhyacionia buoliana), Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica), melon fruit fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae), Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens), European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis), and glassy -winged sharpshooter (Homalodisca vitripennis), can slow the growth of plants and animals, damage them so that their products are less appealing and harder to sell, or even kill them.' Though there are treatment options for many agricultural pests and diseases, some have no cure. Many pests and organisms that carry diseases are most active during warmer months, so the threat of infection or infestation is higher during that time of year. Projection trends show temperatures getting warmer earlier in the year and remaining warmer until later in the year due to increases in air temperature, which creates a wider activity window for pests and diseases.
Agriculture and ecosystem pests and diseases can severely harm the agriculture and outdoor recreation industries in and surrounding the City of Hollister. Row crops and vineyards can be affected by fungal pathogens and invasive disease vectors as temperatures continue to rise, affecting the quality and viability of crops.10 Pesticides and herbicides can help crops resist these pests and diseases and new crop varietals may be pest -resistant; however, quickly evolving pests may make it difficult for some plant species to survive and changing crop varietals can be expensive for farm owners. State and regional parks are highly dependent on the natural infrastructure (e.g., forests, oak woodlands, and chapparal), which can be harmed by sudden oak death and other diseases. Due to the large extent of these areas, management of pests and diseases may be difficult and expensive. There also may be little that can be done to prevent the spread of sudden oak death in oak woodlands.
Due to the severe vulnerability of the agriculture economic driver to agriculture pests and diseases, outdoor workers, and immigrant communities are also highly vulnerable, as many people from these populations work in agriculture or outdoor recreation industries. Persons working in these industries may be indirectly affected by agriculture and ecosystem pests and diseases that damage crops, vineyards, and trees. Damage to agriculture can reduce work opportunities, create economic hardships for some workers, and cause employees to be let go from their jobs when farms experience economic hardships.' 8 San Benito County. 2019. San Benito County 2019 Crop & Livestock Report. https://www.cosb.us/home/showpublisheddocument/5203/637413906956070000 . 9 California Climate and Agricultural Network. 2019. Cultivating Climate Resilience in Farming: Ensuring California Farms and Ranches Thrive in the Face of Climate Change. t tt s: /calclimatea J.org/wp content/uploads/2019/07/Cultivating-Resilience-Au{',=ust-2019.pdf. 1° California Climate and Agricultural Network. 2019. Cultivating Climate Resilience in Farming: Ensuring California Farms and Ranches Thrive in the Face of Climate Change. hops:/`calclimateago /wp- content/uploads/2019/07/Cultivating-Resilience-Au{',=ust-2019.pdf. 11 Roos, Michelle. 2018. "Climate Justice Summary Report." California's Fourth Climate Change Assessment. E4 Strategic Solutions. Publication number: SUM-CCCA4-2018-012. 10
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Almost 14 percent of those with employment in Hollister work outdoors, and individuals working in these industries may have few options if the industry suffers damage.12 Drought
A drought occurs when conditions are drier than normal for an extended period, making less water available for people and ecosystems. Droughts are a regular occurrence in California; however, scientists expect that climate change will lead to more frequent and intense droughts statewide. Overall, precipitation levels are expected to increase slightly, with more years of extreme precipitation events and droughts that last longer and are more intense. As of March 2022, Hollister and the greater San Benito County are in severe to extreme drought conditions.13 In an early -century drought (2023 to 2042), the city could experience a drop in average precipitation from an average of 16 inches per year to an average of 12.7 inches per year, which would subsequently lower baseflows in streams from an average of 1.5 inches per day to 1.0 inch per day.14 In a late -century drought (2051 to 2070), precipitation could also drop to an average of 12.7 inches per year and cause baseflows in streams to drop to 1.0 inch per day.ls Hollister residents and businesses receive water from two suppliers, the City of Hollister, and the Sunnyslope County Water District. Both purveyors source groundwater from local wells in the City and surrounding North San Benito Groundwater Basin, and the City also sources imported surface water from the Central Valley Water Project through the San Benito County Water District (SBCWD) The Central Valley Water Project is a complex water supply and distribution network made up of 20 dams and reservoirs along the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains that provides water to urban areas in the greater Sacramento and San Francisco Bay area regions.l6 Snowpack levels in the Sierra Nevada dropped by 25 percent during the 2011 to 2016 drought, and average springtime snowpack is expected to drop 64 percent by 2100.17 In the 2021 water -year (October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021), the snowpack in the Northern Sierra was 70 percent of the average, and the precipitation was less than 50 percent of the annual average, making it the third -driest water year on record.18 During drought conditions, water stored in the Central Valley Project's primary reservoirs could decrease due to lack of rainfall and reduction in snowpack due to higher temperatures. This loss of snowpack could cause water shortages during extended drought conditions, potentially affecting businesses or activities that depend on reliable water supplies. A reduction in water supplies could cause water shortages and mandatory water restrictions, including price hikes, during extended drought conditions, increasing economic instability of low-income and low-resourced residents. A reduction in Central Valley Project water supplies would cause a heavier reliance on the North San Benito Groundwater Basin, which may cause overdraft conditions to occur. Overdraft in the groundwater basin 12 Public Health Alliance of Southern California (PHASC). 2022. "Healthy Places Index." ma ea ea laces index.orR/?redirect=false.
13 National Drought Mitigation Center. University of Nebraska -Lincoln. 2022. "U.S. Drought Monitor, California." f�tt s: drou gf'itmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?CA. 14 Cal -Adapt. 2018. "Extended Drought Scenarios." Irttps://cal adapt.orig/tools /extended-dro 1s Cal -Adapt. 2018. "Extended Drought Scenarios."
16 Bureau of Reclamation. 2023. "Central Valley Project" 17 ARCCA. 2018. From Mountain to Cities: Exploring California's Urban Connections to Sierra Nevada Ecosystems. littps://arccacalifornia.orR/wpcontent/uploads/2018/08/ARCCA-UrbanRural-Whitepaper.pdf. 18 California Department of Water Resources. 2021. "Statewide Snowpack Well Below Normal as Wet Season Winds Down." https:fftivater.ca.Rov/News/News-Releases/2021/April-21/Statewide-snowpack-Well-Below-Normal-as-Wet- Season-Winds-Down.
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could lower both the quantity and quality of water available to the city. Agricultural operations may see lower crop yields if they rely on surface water supplies, harming the local agriculture economy and the outdoor workers that rely on this industry.
At the local level, the open water habitat and wetlands that depend on water are most vulnerable.
Drought conditions could lower water quality and raise water temperatures, causing lower dissolved oxygen levels and algae growth that can harm a variety of fish species.19 Wetlands and riparian habitats can experience increased soil erosion, degradation of landscape quality, and loss of biological productivity.20 Degradation of wetlands could decrease the amount of water that the ecosystem can absorb during flooding events and reduce the protection that the wetlands provide. Drought conditions can also dry out vegetation and increase wildfire conditions, which could put a strain on firefighting equipment and personnel.
Extreme Heat and Warm Nights
Extreme heat occurs when temperatures rise significantly above normal levels. In Hollister, an extreme heat day occurs when temperatures reach above 96.6°F. As shown in Figure 4, the number of extreme heat days in Hollister is projected to increase from 4 days historically, to an average of 14 extreme heat days per year by mid-century and an average of 24 extreme heat days per year by the end of the century.21
Figure 4. Projected Extreme Heat Days in Hollister
Numberof Extreme Heat Days
45 40
35 30
25 20
15 10
5 0
Historic Future
o Li) o Ln o ui o Ln o of o Ln o Ln o of o if') o n o Li') o vi o u) o Ln o Ln o Ln Ln 0 0 r` 00 CO O rn o o N N m m � tfl tD 0 r` 00 CO rn O o o rn a o o o o rn o o o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 c -I c-i .-1 c-i c-i c-i c -I .-I a-i c-i N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N (N N N Year
Observed -Projected
Sources: Cal -Adapt, 2021; National Weather Service, 2022. 19 Hilberg, L. E., W. A. Reynier, and J. M. Kershner. 2017. Southern California Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment: Conifer Habitats. Version 1.0. EcoAdapt, Bainbridge Island, WA. 'ttp:J'ecoadat'rt.or fpro rams'adaptation-consultations'socal.
Hilberg, L. E., W. A. Reynier, and J. M. Kershner. 2017. Southern California Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment: Conifer Habitats. Version 1.0. EcoAdapt, Bainbridge Island, WA. 'ttp:J'ecoadat'rt.or fpro rams'adaptation-consultations'socal. 21 Cal -Adapt. 2018. "Extreme Heat Days & Warm Nights." https://cal-adaptor /toolsfextrerr7e-heat) 12
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Extreme heat can also occur in the form of warmer nights, as temperatures do not cool down overnight and provide relief from the heat. In Hollister, a warm night occurs when the temperature stays above 58°F. As shown in Figure 5, the number of warm nights in Hollister is projected to increase from an average of 4 historically, to an average of 53 warm nights per year by mid-century, and an average of 108 warm nights per year by the end of the century.
Figure 5. Projected Warm Nights in Hollister
160
140
i
CU 120
z
100
(3 80
60 E ▪ 40
20 0
0 Li) 0 i!1 0 u1 O Ul O Lfl O U) 0 U!1 O Lfl O U1 0 Lfl 0 U/) 0 L!1 0 Lfl 0 LO O u1 0 Lfl I1) Up lD oo co rn C 0 0 N N m m • Ct in Lin lD LD N- oo oo Ol ono Ol of 01 01 01 ▪ 01 61 01 01 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 =i .—I ci ci ci rl ci ci ci ci rl N N N N N N (N N N N N (N N N N N N N N N N Year
Observed Projected
Sources: Cal -Adapt, 2021; National Weather Service, 2022.
Extreme heat can cause heat -related illnesses, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke, in addition to worsening respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. The most vulnerable populations are those that spend a disproportionately high amount of time outside, such as children, outdoor workers, immigrant communities, and persons experiencing homelessness. Additionally, people with sensitive or compromised immune systems, persons with chronic illnesses, and senior citizens are highly vulnerable to extreme heat.
Persons with financial instability, low-resourced, or living in mobile homes are also highly vulnerable due to a lack of financial resources to prepare for or respond to extreme heat conditions. Some homes in Hollister may lack air conditioning, and as a result, people living in these homes may be more susceptible to harm from extreme heat events. There is also only one cooling center in the region, the Hollister Veterans Memorial Buildings, and residents may not be able to cool homes or keep medications cooled if extreme heat events cause public safety power shutoff (PSPS) events. During wildfire smoke conditions, residents may have to choose between opening windows to cool their homes and keeping windows closed, causing indoor air temperatures to rise to unhealthy levels.
Energy delivery services, and associated infrastructure, are highly vulnerable to extreme heat, as high temperatures can stress and overload the grid, causing power outages and damage to the transmission lines. The agriculture economy is also highly vulnerable to extreme heat, as higher temperatures may alter the variety of crops that can be grown in the Hollister Valley. Yields of vegetable and row crops are 13
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expected to decrease and water demand is expected to rise due to extreme heat conditions.' Additional vulnerabilities include outdoor recreation, as people may be deterred from recreating outdoors in high temperatures; open water and wetland habitats, which can experience decreases in water quality as temperatures increase; and public transit access, as extreme heat reduces ridership of the County Express system since it may be more difficult to wait outside for the bus.
Flooding
Inland flooding can cause significant harm to buildings, people, and infrastructure. Floodwater can be deep enough to drown people and may move fast enough to carry people or heavy objects (such as cars) away. Flooding can be caused by heavy rainfall, long periods of moderate rainfall, or clogged drains during periods of rainfall. In rare instances, a break in a water pipe or water tank can also cause flooding.
Storm drainage systems throughout the city collect stormwater runoff and convey water to prevent flooding, although these systems are typically designed based on winter storms recorded in the past and may not be designed to accommodate more intense storms.
Floods are expected to occur more frequently because of climate change, affecting what the community understands as a "normal" flood. For example, what is currently considered a 100 -year flood, or a flood that has a 1 -percent chance of occurring annually, may occur with greater frequency (such as a 2- or 5 - percent chance each year). Figure 6 shows that the flood hazard areas are primarily along the San Benito River and Santa Ana Creeks, as well as low-lying areas scattered throughout the city.
Several populations and assets face particularly high risks from flooding events. • Persons experiencing homelessness, persons living in mobile homes, households in poverty, immigrant communities, and low-resourced people of color are severely vulnerable to flooding, as they may live in or near flood hazard areas, lack financial resources to protect their homes, or be ineligible for grant funding to recover from flood damage to their homes. • Persons with limited mobility and those without access to lifelines (persons without access to a car, transit, or communication systems) may have difficulty evacuating prior to a flooding event, and therefore are also highly vulnerable.
• Outdoor workers may be unable to travel to work during flooding events or farms may be inundated by floodwaters, reducing agriculture employment opportunities.
Transportation infrastructure, major roads, highways, and bridges, which are essential for public transit access, major employers, public safety response, and other services, can be inundated, blocked, and damaged by floodwaters along the San Benito River or Santa Ana Creek. Heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding can disrupt water and wastewater services, causing the treatment plants to not function properly. This can cause effluent to flow into the surrounding water and soil, as well as reduce recycled water supplies for irrigation. Flooding can also carry large volumes of sediment into open water ecosystems that may contain mercury, nutrients, and pesticides from upstream areas, disrupting the water chemistry and harming plants and wildlife.
zz Langridge, Ruth. 2018. "Central Coast Summary Report." California's Fourth Climate Change Assessment.
University of California, Santa Cruz. Publication number: SUM-CCCA4-2018-006. 14
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Figure 6. Flood Hazard Zones
LJ
EJ
i5
Planning Area
Urban Service Area
Existing Sphere of Influence
Proposed Sphere of Inflence
Expansion
City Limit
Hollister Industrial
Wastewater Treatment Plant
Hollister Water Reclamation
Facility
Levees
FEMA Flood Zones
100 -Year Flood Zone
500 -Year Flood Zone
DWR Awareness 100 -Year
Floodplain
Source: ESRI, 2020; FEMA, 2020; PlaceWorks, 2023; San Benito County, 2020; USGS, 2019 Rldgemark
Miles
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Human Health Hazards
Human health hazards are bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other organisms that can cause diseases and illness in people. Some of these diseases may only cause mild inconvenience, but others are potentially life threatening. These diseases can be and often are carried by animals such as mice and rats, ticks, and mosquitos. Warmer temperatures and high levels of precipitation can lead to increased populations of disease -carrying animals, creating a greater risk of disease and increased rates of infection. Other human health hazards can include poor air quality, which can affect respiratory systems of those exposed for prolonged periods.
Populations most vulnerable to human health hazards are those who spend a disproportionate amount of time outdoors (such as outdoor workers or persons experiencing homelessness), those with fragile immune systems or existing illnesses (which may include persons with chronic illnesses and seniors), and those who may live in sub -standard housing or not have access to health insurance and medical care (households in poverty, low-income households, low-resourced people of color, immigrant communities).
These persons may be living in conditions that increase their chances of catching vector -borne illnesses or lack the ability to fight off infections that may occur. Many populations may also not have access to air purification systems that can filter out harmful pathogens.23 The agricultural industry relies heavily on outdoor workers, who could be exposed to vector -borne illnesses due to the amount of time spent outside. A reduction in workers could harm the agriculture economic driver in the Hollister Valley. Emergency medical response services are also highly vulnerable to human health hazards, as they may not be able to provide adequate services if there is an influx of health -related emergencies.
Severe Storms
Severe storms include windstorms, hail, lightning, thunderstorms, and heavy rainfall. Severe weather is usually caused by intense storm systems, although types of strong winds can occur without a storm. The connection between climate change and severe storms is not as well established as other hazards, but new evidence suggests that severe storms may occur more often and become more intense than in the past.24 Severe winds can damage or destroy buildings and infrastructure. Hail can damage buildings and plants (and in extreme cases injure people), and lightning can spark fires, injure people, or cause fatalities.
Heavy rainfall, which is characterized by rainfall amounts that exceed normal levels, can lead to flooding in both the eastern and western portions of the city. Strong winds and heavy rainfall are the most common types of severe weather in the city.
The most vulnerable to severe weather are those who may be directly exposed to the hazard, such as outdoor workers and persons experiencing homelessness; those who may live in less structurally resilient buildings, such as households in poverty, immigrant communities, persons living in mobile homes, and low-resourced people of color; and those who may have difficulty preparing or responding to severe 23 Roos, Michelle. 2018. "Climate Justice Summary Report." California's Fourth Climate Change Assessment. E4 Strategic Solutions. Publication number: SUM-CCCA4-2018-012. z4 Bedsworth, Louise, Dan Cayan, Guido Franco, Leah Fisher, Sonya Ziaja. 2018. "Statewide Summary Report." California's Fourth Climate Change Assessment. California Governor's Office of Planning and Research, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, California Energy Commission, California Public Utilities Commission. Publication number: SUM-CCCA4-2018-013.
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weather due to mobility or language barriers. These populations include persons with chronic illnesses and/or disabilities, and seniors living alone.
Buildings and infrastructure, such as bridges, communication facilities, flood -control structures, and residential structures are highly vulnerable to severe storms, and they can be damaged by high winds, heavy rainfall, and debris carried by severe storms. The energy delivery system and communication system are especially vulnerable to windstorms, which can damage transmission lines or cause Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events, affecting the services this infrastructure provides the city. PSPS events occur when high winds events increase the likelihood of electrical transmission line failure or sparking, causing PG&E to de -energize the transmission lines until winds speeds decline. Agricultural lands can be decimated by high winds that flatten crops or heavy rainfall that damage crops and inundates the land in the Hollister Valley. Extreme winds and heavy rainfall can also harm ecosystems by causing large volumes of sediment to flow into open water ecosystems, trees to fall in riparian woodlands, and sudden oak death to spread more quickly through oak woodland forests. Extreme heat and drought conditions may weaken agricultural crops and natural ecosystems and prevent them from recovering from severe storm events.
Wildfire and Smoke
Wildfires are a regular feature of the landscape in much of California. They can be sparked by lightning, malfunctioning equipment, vehicle crashes, or many other causes. Warmer temperatures, an increase in drought conditions, and extreme wind events, are likely to create more fuel for fires in natural and rural areas, leading to a greater chance that a spark will grow into a potentially dangerous blaze. Climate change is also expected to extend the fire season throughout much (or even all) of the year. Figure 7 shows the fire hazard severity zones surrounding the City of Hollister, which include moderate and high fire hazard severity zones in the state responsibility area to the east, south, and west. 17
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Figure 7. Fire Hazard Severity Zones
I 1 Planning Area
U• rban Service Area
[J E• xisting Sphere of Influence
I.. _l Proposed Sphere of Inflence
Expansion
City Limit
Creeks and Waterways
• Hollister Industrial
Wastewater Treatment Plant
• Hollister Water Reclamation
Facility
Fire Hazard Severity Zones
Moderate
High
Very High
Source: CalFire, 2024; ESRI, 2020; PlaceWorks, 2023; San Benito County, 2020; USGS, 2019 Miles
Tres Pines
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While there are no fire hazard severity zones within the city limits, the city is within the wildland-urban interface, which increases the risk of wildfires spreading into the community. The proximity to fire -prone areas also increases the potential for smoke from wildfires to increase air pollution levels, creating a significant health risk in the region. Most of the populations within Hollister have a high or medium vulnerability to wildfire and smoke conditions. Planned PSPS events to prevent wildfires have already impacted persons who depend on electricity for air conditioning or their medically necessary equipment.
Major roads and highways, including those that serve as evacuation routes, can be blocked by wildfire flames or debris, making it difficult for residents to evacuate and emergency personnel to reach certain areas of the city. The entire energy delivery system, including electric transmission lines, can be damaged by wildfires. Homes can be burned and damaged by wildfires and indoor air quality can lower if smoke flows into homes and residential structures. Smoke conditions can also prevent residents from accessing public transit and ash from wildfires can degrade water supplies.
Several agricultural areas surrounding the city are within fire -prone areas. Smoke and ash from nearby wildfires can damage crops, farms, and agricultural fields, as well as the nutrients in the soil.' Smoke can also prevent visitors from traveling to the city to participate in outdoor recreation and tourism, including recreation at nearby state and regional parks. Although the economy can likely recover from these events, repetitive wildfire and smoke events may make recovery difficult in both the agriculture and recreation sectors.
Scrub habitat, although somewhat adapted to wildfires, can be substantially harmed by more frequent and severe fires that do not let the ecosystems recover. Open water can be degraded by fire retardants and sediment that may be difficult for the ecosystem to filter out. zs Kohls, Jessica. 2015. "How Does Wildfire Ash And Smoke Impact Crops?" hops://dr tchoper ers.cocnf how -does - wildfire -ash -and -smoke -impact -crops/.
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GENERAL PLAN IMPLICATIONS
Equity and Uncertainty
When addressing vulnerability and adaptation through General Plan policies and the associated implementation plan, the Adaptation Planning Guide and General Plan Guidelines recommend consideration of equity and uncertainty.
Equity means that all people are justly and fairly included in society, and that everyone is able to participate, prosper, and achieve their full potential. Equitable climate adaptation planning involves identifying persons who are most vulnerable to climate change hazards, and ensuring that the planning process, distribution of resources, and efforts to address systematic wrongs are all conducted in an equitable manner. This Vulnerability Assessment identifies 18 vulnerable populations and assesses climate change impacts and the ability of these populations to prepare for, respond to, and recover from climate change hazards (see list in the Vulnerability Assessment Method section).
Uncertainty is the second component to consider when determining how hazardous conditions may affect Hollister. Climate change is driven by the concentration of GHGs in the atmosphere, which is affected by how our communities use resources and how we regulate those uses through local, state, federal, and international GHG-reduction goals, regulations, plans, and programs. As more action is taken to reduce GHG emissions, the less severe the effects of climate change are expected to be. Climate change models consider the concentrations of atmospheric GHG emissions and the changes in these levels over time to project future extent or intensity of hazardous events.
Even with the extensive modeling, potential impacts are projections of more likely future conditions and are not certain. Similarly, there is also substantial uncertainty about the future state of technology, socioeconomic conditions, and other factors. According to recent studies, the best approach to uncertainty is to minimize inaction by developing "no regrets" strategies that are beneficial without the presence of climate change and where the costs are low compared to the benefits. The State and the City have ample evidence to support science -based policy and decision -making.
Opportunities
Hollister currently experiences a wide range of climate change hazards that are projected to increase in frequency and intensity in the future. While GHG-reduction measures in the forthcoming 2022 City of Hollister Climate Action Plan will help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, adaptation strategies will be needed to increase the resilience of residents and businesses in Hollister.
The General Plan should integrate adaptation measures into the update process that will help the community prepare for, respond to, and recover from climate change hazards. • Health and Safety. Due to the recent update of the California Government Code Section 653029(g), with the approval of SB 379, Safety Elements are required to address climate adaptation and resilience strategies. The Health and Safety Element's goals, policies, and implementation actions can provide resilience strategies that support both reduced impacts and improved adaptive capacity of the community to climate change -related hazards, along with policies on required hazards, such as flooding, fire, and geologic hazards. Policies within this element can ensure that health and safety concerns of the community are met, even with an increase in frequency and intensity of climate change hazards. Examples of specific policies or implementation actions could include:
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o Create an extreme heat response plan that includes establishment of community cooling centers and temperature triggers for when they will open, weatherization of City buildings, and cooling strategies for persons engaged in outdoor work and persons experiencing homelessness.
o Expand participation of programs and services that provide funding resources for economically disadvantaged households and businesses to conduct retrofits. • Circulation. The Circulation Element already includes policies for the existing roadway, public transit, bicycle, and pedestrian networks in the city. These facilities are assessed in the Vulnerability Assessment; therefore, resilience strategies for these transportation systems would be appropriate to add to the Circulation Element. Policies and implementation measures may include the following:
o Coordinate with City and regional transit providers to identify alternative routes and stops if normal infrastructure is damaged or closed because of extreme events. o Harden or raise roadways to ensure evacuation access during hazardous events. o Use heat -resistant materials on roadways, bicycle, and pedestrian infrastructure. • Community Services and Facilities. The Community Services and Facilities Element provides background and policies for utilities, parks and recreation, emergency preparedness, and public facilities. These facilities and services are essential for community members' quality of life, as well as City operations, and are included in the Vulnerability Assessment. Resilience strategies in the Community Services and Facilities Element could include efforts to underground electricity lines citywide, create redundances in the communication infrastructure, and provide sustainable back- up power supplies. Policies and implementation measures can also look at the promotion of water conservation measures, low -impact development, and green infrastructure that can help convey stormwater and reduce impacts from drought and flooding.
The Parks and Recreation section can promote public health and safety through ensuring recreation opportunities and a variety of parks and open space are available to residents and visitors. Park and open space areas can help reduce air pollution, decrease ambient air temperatures, provide shade during hot days, and function as buffers to slow down and absorb stormwater, among other benefits. Indoor recreation facilities can provide opportunities for recreation when outdoor air quality or temperatures are unhealthy. This section can include policies and actions that increase the urban tree canopy to reduce the heat island effect and clean the air, as well as protect residents and visitors from hazardous conditions. This element can also address ecosystem vulnerabilities by providing implementation actions to preserve and restore forest and riparian woodland habitats to ensure these ecosystems maintain their ecosystem services.
The public safety and emergency preparedness section of the Community Services and Facilities Element includes policies for fire, police, and rescue services in Hollister. Resilience strategies would ensure that these services continue to serve all populations adequately and effectively in the city. These strategies include developing an evacuation assistance program, requiring fire or flood safety plans as part of new development, and ensuring evacuation routes remain open and functional during emergencies.
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The Community Services and Facilities Element also contains policies for public facilities throughout the city, which can serve as refuge spaces during emergencies. The Urban Sustainability Network's Resilience Hub White Paper and Resilience Hubs website resilience -hub .or ,/) provides a key resilience strategy for public facilities: the integration of physical and virtual resilience hubs. These can serve as centralized locations for resources about climate change, opportunities to reduce emissions, and techniques to increase resilience, showcases for sustainability, energy efficiency, and low carbon building, and to help residents obtain essential resources and information during and after a disaster. Examples of specific implementation actions could include:
o Identify existing facilities to serve as resilience hubs and cooling centers that open during emergencies or specific temperature triggers for residents to go to seek refuge from extreme heat days or emergency shelter.
o Coordinate with emergency management services to establish backup power, preferably from renewable energy sources, and water resources at emergency shelters, resilience hubs, and cooling centers in case of power outages.
• Open Space and Agriculture. The Open Space and Agriculture Element provides background and policies for two primary economic sectors in Hollister that were included in the Vulnerability Assessment: (1) agriculture and (2) recreation and tourism. Resilience strategies for these economic sectors can include coordinating with the County Agriculture Commissioner's Office to increase pest detection and noxious weed abatement, as well as work with farming groups and University of California (UC) Cooperative Extension to identify alternative crop types that are suitable to changing conditions.
• Natural Resources and Conservation. The Natural Resources and Conservation Element includes information on the ecosystems and natural resources within the city and included in the Vulnerability Assessment. California Government Code Section 65302(g)(4) requires natural infrastructure to be used in adaptation projects where feasible, which can be integrated into this element. Policies and implementation measures can include conducting wetland and riparian restoration projects to protect against flooding and managing oak woodland habitats to protect against damaging wildfires.
• Environmental Justice. The Environmental Justice Element being developed as part of the General Plan update will focus on reducing unique or compounded health risks in disadvantaged communities identified within Hollister. Policies can include reducing groundwater pollution, increasing public facilities and food access, and promoting safe homes and physical activity to directly address the needs of disadvantaged communities. Environmental justice policies and implementation actions can increase resiliency of vulnerable populations and ensure that these populations have opportunities to participate in the public decision -making process. Specific adaptation measures can include providing affordable healthy foods in schools and other public spaces; assisting in the repair, rehabilitation, and improvement of residential structures; and demolishing and replacing structures that are dilapidated and beyond repair. 22
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Resilience in Other Planning Mechanisms
Resilience should not be limited to the General Plan. Adaptation and resilience rely on a cross - department, multi -disciplinary approach to successful implementation. The City should consider how adaptation and resilience can also be incorporated into other City plans, codes, projects, and implementation programs. Addressing climate change hazard events in the General Plan can support other essential safety documents, such as the City of Hollister Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. Development standards, such as residential building codes for buildings in flood zones and development of adequate evacuation routes, can be integrated into the Hollister Municipal Code. Policies that focus on emergency response to hazards can be included in an evacuation plan or an emergency operations plan. Adaptation measures that also reduce GHG emissions can be integrated into the Hollister Climate Action Plan and may support implementation of the San Benito County Bikeway and Pedestrian Plan and development of the City's Complete Streets Plan. Policies related to drought and flooding may be integrated into the Hollister Urban Area Water and Wastewater Master Plan and the City of Hollister Storm Drain Master Plan. Furthermore, programs such as the Hollister Municipal Code and Capital Improvement Projects Program can help implement the resilience policies developed in the General Plan through specific projects, development codes, and budgeting.
CONCLUSION
The Vulnerability Assessment identifies which hazards are expected to harm sensitive populations and assets, and which assets are most vulnerable to various hazards that are projected to intensify with climate change. A comprehensive set of results is in Appendix B. Understanding how climate change will affect the community and identifying the vulnerable populations and assets will enable Hollister to implement effective GHG-reduction measures and climate adaptation strategies to create a safer, sustainable, and healthier community.
As the climate continues to change and GHG emissions rise, climate change hazards will continue to harm populations, infrastructure and buildings, economic drivers, and key community services in Hollister. The Health and Safety Element update will integrate adaptation strategies into goals, policies, and implementation measures that will help increase resiliency and reduce vulnerability throughout the city. 23
CITY OF HOLLISTER I HEALTH AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE
VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT - APPENDIX A
APPENDIX A: LIST OF POPULATIONS AND ASSETS
Items Included in the Hollister Vulnerability Assessment PlaceWorks proposed the following populations and other assets for inclusion in the Vulnerability Assessment. Each list includes a description and source of data needed to support the Vulnerability Assessment.
Populations
PlaceWorks collected population data from the U.S. Census (American Community Survey and Decennial Census), the California Healthy Places Index, CalEnviroScreen 4.0, and the San Benito Homeless Point in Time Count, consistent with the General Plan Update. Some of the data for populations listed here is not available spatially or the population type is spread throughout the city. In those cases, the scoring for the population is averaged over the entire city and the project team used literature or local knowledge to convey how those populations are affected by a particular hazard. The 20 populations identified as vulnerable by City staff are:
• Children (under 18).
• Cost -burdened households: Households paying 30 percent or more of their income towards housing expenses.
• Households in poverty: Households with an income below the poverty line, which is $26,500 for a household of four.
• Immigrant communities.
• LGBTQIA+: Persons identifying gender or sexual orientation as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, or other gender and sexual identities that words cannot yet fully describe.
• Linguistically isolated persons: Spanish, Tagalog, and others. • Low-income households: The State identifies $81,600 as the low-income threshold for a household of four people in San Benito County in 2021.26 • Low-resourced people of color: Persons identifying as a member of a racial and/or ethnic group and facing limited access to resources, such as financial, social, healthcare, or educational assistance.27,28
• Outdoor workers: Workers in agriculture, agritourism, construction, outdoor recreation, etc. • Overcrowded households: More than one person per room, severe overcrowding is more than
1.5 persons per room.
• Persons experiencing homelessness: 2020 Point In Time count reported 170 unsheltered, 112 sheltered, and 282 total persons experiencing homelessness in San Benito County.29 26 California Department of Housing and Community Development. 2021. State Income Limits for 2021. f�tt s: / www.ricd.ca.gov/grants-funding/income-limits/state-and-federal-income-limits/docs/income-limits- 2021.pdf.
27 Public Health Alliance of Southern California. 2018. Healthy Places Index. https://map.healthyplacesindex.org/ 28 Roos, Michelle. (E4 Strategic Solutions). 2018. Climate Justice Summary Report. California's Fourth Climate Change Assessment. Publication number: SUM-CCCA4-2018-012. 29 Focus Strategies. 2020. Monterey And San Benito County Homelessness Response System: Initial Observations & Recommendations. https://chsp.org/wp-content/themes/chsp/imR/MontereySBC-Initial-Observations-Report-Final- 072020.pdf.
24
CITY OF HOLLISTER I HEALTH AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE
VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT — APPENDIX A
• Persons living in mobile homes.
• Persons with chronic illnesses and/or disabilities.
• Persons without a high school degree.
• Persons without access to lifelines: Persons without reliable access to a car, transit, or communication systems.
• Pregnant and nursing women.
• Renters.
• Seniors (65+).
• Seniors living alone.
• Unemployed persons.
Buildings and Infrastructure
PlaceWorks gathered details on infrastructure from state and local geographic information system (GIS) data, the Existing Conditions Report, and Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. These 22 asset groups are:
• Airport.
• Bicycling and pedestrian trails.3o,3"
• Bridges: Two state bridges.32
• Communication facilities: Cell towers, radio sites, etc. • Community centers: Hollister Recreation Center, Hollister Veterans Memorial Building, Youth Alliance, Bertha Briggs Memorial Youth Center.
• Electrical transmission infrastructure:33
• Transmission Lines: Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) • Substations: Two PG&E substations
• Emergency operation buildings: San Benito County Office of Emergency Services34. • Cooling centers: Hollister Veterans Memorial Building. • Flood Control Infrastructure.
• Government administration facilities: City Hall, Code Enforcement, Management Services Department, County of San Benito County Planning/Public Works. • Hazardous materials sites: Eight active sites within the city.3s • Homes and residential structures.
3o City of Hollister. 2018. Park Facility Master Plan.
Review-Draft-Parks-Master-Plan-2018-04-12.pdf.
31 Council of San Benito County Governments. 2009. San Benito County Bikeway and Pedestrian Master Plan.
WWW.sanbenitoco .orR/pdf'San%20Benito%20County%20Bikeway%20and%20Pedestrian%20N1aster%20PIan Public -
.pdf.
32 Caltrans. 2022. "Caltrans GIS Data: State Highway Bridges." trtt s: `/8isdata- caltrans.opendata.arc is.com/datasets/f0f31a540f17414ba384127182f4e088 0/explore?location=37.178467%2C- 119.275800%2C7.09.
33 California Energy Commission. 2022. "California Electric Infrastructure." https:/ cec is caenerr y.opendata.arc is.co apps/California-electric-infrastructure-app/explore. 34 Office of Emergency Services San Benito County. 2015. San Benito County Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan. htt s: `/ www.cosh.us/f• 'come/showpublisheddocument/240/637195349974030000. 3s California Department of Toxic Substances and Control. 2021. "EnviroStor." hops:/`/n nrw.envirostor.dtsc.ca.;ov/puf�lic/.
25
CITY OF HOLLISTER I HEALTH AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE
VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT — APPENDIX A
• Libraries: San Benito County Free Library.
• Major roads and highways
o State: State Route (SR-) 156, SR -156B, SR -25.
o Local: San Benito Street, Westside Boulevard, Memorial Driver, Valley View Road, Cerra Vista Drive, Buena Vista Road, Santa Ana Road, South Street, Hillcrest Road, Nash Road, Sunnyslope Road.
• Natural gas pipelines: PG&E.
• Parks and Open Space36
o Hollister City Parks: Allendale Park, Apricot Park, Dunne Park, Frank Klauer Memorial Park, Jerry Gabe Memorial Park, John Z. Hernandez Memorial Park, Las Brisas Park, McCarthy Park, Mirabella Park, Nora Park, River Trail, Santa Ana Park, Tony Aguirre Memorial Park, Valley View Park, Vista Park Hill, Water Reclamation Recreational Facility. o San Benito County Parks: Hollister Skate Park, Hollister Softball Fields. o School Parks: Calaveras School Park, Cerra Vista School Park, Ladd Lane Elementary School, Marguerite Maze Sports Complex, R. O. Hardin Elementary School, Rancho San Justo Sports Complex, San Benito High School Tennis Courts. • Public safety buildings:
o Police: Hollister Police Department headquarters.
o Fire: Hollister Fire Stations #1, #2, #3; Hollister Air Tanker Base, San Benito County Fire Station #4, CAL FIRE Station, Department of Forestry and Fire Protection San Benito Unit. • Railway: Union Pacific Railway.
• Schools: Hollister Dual Language Academy, Accelerated Achievement Academy, Hollister Prep, Ladd Lane Elementary, Sunnyslope Elementary, Rancho San Justo Middle, Calaveras Elementary, Cerra Vista Elementary, Maze Middle, Gabilan Hills Elementary, Spring Grove Elementary, San Benito High, Southside Elementary, R.O. Hardin Elementary, Cienega Elementary, San Benito County Regional Special Education Center, San Andreas Continuation High. • Solid waste facilities: RJR Recycling, Chapin Plant 25 — Chapin Ready Mix, John Smith Road Landfill.
• Transit facilities: San Benito County Transit.
• Water and wastewater infrastructure: Hollister Public Works Department, Sunnyslope County Water District, Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant, Domestic Water Reclamation Facility.
Economic Drivers
PlaceWorks determined important economic assets based on Market Demand Analysis prepared for the City of Hollister by BAE in November 2020. These five economic drivers are:
• Agriculture.
• Education.
• Major employers: R&R Labor, Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital, McElectronics Inc., Corbin Sparrow, Denis & Filice Packing Co., Nob Hill Foods, San Benito Foods, Target, Trical Inc., and West Marine.
36 City of Hollister. 2018. Park Facility Master Plan
Review-Draft-Parks-Master-Plan-2018-04-12.pdf.
e
env
Public -
26
CITY OF HOLLISTER I HEALTH AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE
VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT — APPENDIX A
• Outdoor recreation and tourism.
• State and regional parks: Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area, Fremont Peak State Park, San Benito County Historic Park, Brigantino Park.
Ecosystems and Natural Resources
PlaceWorks determined the ecosystems and natural resources based on the Existing Conditions Report for the General Plan. These six resource types are:
• Forest: Forest and woodlands occupy an estimated 93 acres of the land cover types in the Planning Area, occurring in scattered stands along the San Benito River corridor and southern slopes above the river plain.
• Grassland: Grasslands occupy most of the undeveloped hillsides to the east, south and southwest of the General Plan Planning Area outside the largely developed valley floor. The grasslands are generally composed of introduced grasses and broadleaf species. • Open Water: Open water habitats consist of creeks, waterways, and riverine habitat and consist of approximately 92 acres in the Planning Area.
• Riparian Woodlands: Riparian vegetation occurs along San Benito River, segments of Santa Ana Creek, and some reaches of tributary drainages in the General Plan Planning Area. The riparian tree and shrub cover occupies an estimated 168 acres in the Planning Area. • Scrub: A number of native and non-native vegetative cover types occur along the margins or just outside the General Plan Planning Area, such as mixed chaparral and coastal scrub cover an estimated 11 acres.
• Wetlands and freshwater marsh: Freshwater marsh habitat is also associated with the San Benito River and tributary drainage channels, ponds, and other waterbodies. Segments of the larger creeks in the General Plan Planning Area that do not support a canopy of woody riparian vegetation generally support some type of freshwater marsh cover along the margins of the active channel.
Key Services
These assets are based on typical services provided in cities throughout California, which are supported by the infrastructure and buildings listed previously. Key community services include the operation and functions needed to provide and maintain services. The Vulnerability Assessment evaluates the infrastructure and people needed to support them separately. These eight services include:
• Communication services: Radio, television, cellular and landline phone, and internet. • Emergency medical response: San Benito County Emergency Medical Services Agency and American Medical Response.
• Energy delivery: PG&E and Central Coast Community Energy. • Government administration and community services: Programs, permitting centers, and other services provided to the public by the City.
• Public safety response: Hollister Police Department, Hollister Fire Department, and CAL FIRE. • Public transit access: San Benito County Transit.
• Solid waste removal: San Benito County Integrated Waste Management Regional Agency and Recology.
• Water and wastewater: City of Hollister and San Benito County. 27
CITY OF HOLLISTER I HEALTH AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE
CLIMATE CHANGE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT- APPENDIX B APPENDIX B: VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT RESULTS MATRIX
The Vulnerability Assessment evaluates the impact and adaptive capacity of 61 populations and assets for each of the relevant 7 hazards. Vulnerability scores of high, medium, or low were assigned to reflect how susceptible the population or asset is to the harm posed by the hazard. The City assessed 309 different pairings for vulnerability, 102 of which scored as highly vulnerable. The following matrix provides the scores for each population and assets to each relevant hazard. Gray cells with a dash (-) indicate that a specific hazard is not applicable to a specific population or asset, and therefore was not scored.
POPULATIONS AND ASSETS
AGRICULTURE
& ECOSYSTEM
DROUGHT
EXTREME
HEAT &
FLOODING
HUMAN
HEALTH
SEVERE
WILDFIRE
PESTS &
WARM
STORMS
HAZARDS
DISEASES
NIGHTS
Populations
Children
Low
High
Medium
Medium
Medium
High
Cost -burdened households
Low
Medium
Medium
Medium
Low
Medium
Households in poverty
High.
High
High
High
High
High
Immigrant communities
LGBTQIA+
High
Medium
Low
High
Low
High
Medium
High
Medium
High
Low
High
Medium
Linguistically isolated persons
Low
Medium
Medium
Medium
Medium
Medium
Low-income households
Medium
Medium
Medium
Medium
Medium
Medium
Low-resourced people of color
Medium
High
High
High
High
High
Outdoor workers
High
High
High
High
High
High
High
High
Overcrowded households
Low
Medium
Medium
High
Low
Medium
Persons experiencing homelessness
Medium
High
High
High
High
High
Persons living in mobile homes
Low
28 High
High
Medium
High
Low
CITY OF HOLLISTER I HEALTH AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE
CLIMATE CHANGE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT- APPENDIX B
POPULATIONS AND ASSETS
AGRICULTURE
& ECOSYSTEM
PESTS &
DISEASES
DROUGHT
EXTREME
HEAT &
WARM
NIGHTS
FLOODING
HUMAN
HEALTH
HAZARDS
SEVERE
STORMS
WILDFIRE
Persons with chronic illnesses and/
or disabilities
Low
High
Medium
High
High
High
Persons without a high school degree
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Persons without access to lifelines
Low
Medium
High
Medium
Medium
Medium
Pregnant and nursing women
Renters
Low
Low
High
Low
Medium
Low
High
Low
Medium
Low
High
Low
Seniors (65+)
Low
High
High
High
Medium
Seniors living alone
Unemployed persons
Low
Medium
High
Medium
High
Low
High
Medium
High
Medium
High
High
Medium
Buildings and Infrastructure
Airport
Low
Medium
Bicycling and pedestrian trails
Low
Low
Low
Low
Bridges
High
High
Medium
Communication facilities
Low
High.
Medium
Community centers
Low
Medium
Low
Electrical transmission infrastructure
Emergency operation buildings
High
Low
Low
High
Low
High
Cooling centers
Medium
Medium
Medium
Flood Control Infrastructure
Medium
High
Low
29
CITY OF HOLLISTER I HEALTH AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE
CLIMATE CHANGE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT- APPENDIX B
POPULATIONS AND ASSETS
AGRICULTURE
& ECOSYSTEM
PESTS &
DISEASES
DROUGHT
EXTREME
HEAT &
WARM
NIGHTS
FLOODING
HUMAN
HEALTH
HAZARDS
SEVERE
STORMS
WILDFIRE
Government administration facilities
Low
Low
Medium
Hazardous materials sites
Medium
Medium
Medium
Homes and residential structures
Medium
Medium
High
High
Libraries
Low
Low
Medium
Major roads and highways
Medium
High
Low
High
Natural gas pipelines
Low
Low
Parks and open space
Medium
Medium
Low
Low
Low
Medium
Public safety buildings
Low
Low
Low
Low
Railway
High
Medium
Medium
Schools
Medium
Low
Medium
Medium
Solid waste facilities
Medium
Low
Low
Transit facilities
Low
Low
Water and wastewater infrastructure
Low
Medium
Medium
Medium
Economic Drivers
Agriculture
High
High
High
High
High
High
High
Education
Low
Low
Medium
Low
Medium
Major employers
Medium
Medium
Medium
High
Medium
Low
Medium
Outdoor recreation and tourism
Medium
Low
High
Medium
Medium
Medium
High
30
CITY OF HOLLISTER I HEALTH AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE
CLIMATE CHANGE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT- APPENDIX B
POPULATIONS AND ASSETS
AGRICULTURE
& ECOSYSTEM
PESTS &
DISEASES
DROUGHT
EXTREME
HEAT &
WARM
NIGHTS
FLOODING
HUMAN
HEALTH
HAZARDS
SEVERE
STORMS
WILDFIRE
State and regional parks
High
Medium
High
Medium
Medium
Medium
High
Ecosystems and Natural Resources
Forest
High
Low
Medium
High
Low
Grassland
Low
Medium
Low
Low
Low
Medium
Open Water
Riparian Woodlands
Low
Medium
High
Medium
High
Medium
High
Medium
High
High
High
Medium
Scrub
Medium
Medium
Medium
Low
Medium
High
Wetlands and Freshwater Marsh
Key Services
Low
High
High
Low
Low
Medium
Communication services
Low
•
Low
Low
High
Medium
Emergency medical response
Low
Medium
Medium
High
Medium
Low
Energy delivery
Medium
Low
High
Low
High
High
Government administration &
community services
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Public safety response
Medium
•
Medium
High
Medium
Medium
Medium
Public transit access
Low
High
High
Low
High
High
Solid waste removal
Low
Medium
Medium
Low
Medium
Medium
Water and wastewater
Low
High
Medium
High
Medium
High
31
CITY OF HOLLISTER I HEALTH AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE
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32
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Project# 31273
155 Grand Avenue Suite 50'
Oakland„ CA 94612
P 510.839.1742
January 8, 2026
To: Eli Krispi, Tammy Seale, Carey Stone — PlaceWorks, Inc.
From: Grace Carsky, Mike Aronson, Ravi Cohen — Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
RE: Hollister 2040 General Plan Update - Evacuation Analysis tr•• cti
Kittelson & Associates, Inc. (Kittelson) is providing an evacuation transportation analysis for the city of Hollister, California in support of its 2040 General Plan update. The evaluation considers two (2) representative evacuation scenarios and provides the City with estimates of roadway capacity constraints and travel time considerations during evacuations. The analysis helps identify locations where there is a greater potential for traffic congestion and need for additional control measures in the event of an evacuation.
This evacuation evaluation is consistent with requirements outlined in California Government Code Section 65302.15, as codified by Assembly Bill (AB) 747 in 2019.' This law requires agencies to evaluate the safety, viability, and capacity of their evacuation routes.
The memorandum includes the following sections:
■ Introduction, including legislative requirements and analysis scenarios ■ Methodology
■ Evacuation analysis results
■ Evacuation planning considerations and recommendations. sI tiv r is
Recent California legislation, including Assembly Bill (AB) 747, requires local agencies to review accessibility and evacuation routes when specific elements within the General Plan or other emergency planning documents are completed or updated. AB 747 requires that the Safety Element be reviewed and updated to identify evacuation routes and their capacity, safety, and viability under a range of emergency scenarios. This is a requirement for all Safety Elements or updates to Hazard Mitigation Plans completed after January 2022.
' https://openstates.org/ca/bills/20192020/AB747/
Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
January 8, 2026 Page 2
Hollister Evacuation Analysis TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM
t
r
The City of Hollister is located in the northern area of San Benito County, California. It is south of Gilroy and east of San Juan Bautista.
State Route 25 (SR -25) is the primary north -south highway in the city. The route continues northwest from Hollister and connects with US -101 at its terminus. The road travels south from Hollister and ends at the intersection of State Route 198. SR -25 is the primary road which accesses Gilroy to the north and the San Benito County Fairgrounds to the south.
State Route 156 (SR -156) is an east -west highway that connects US -101 to the west and State Route 152 to the east. The highway runs north of Hollister but is easily accessible via State Route 156B or SR -125.
Vehicles traveling south bound on US -101 would use SR -156 going west, while vehicles traveling towards Interstate 5 would use SR -156 and connect with SR -152 going east.
State Route 156B (SR -156B) provides two connections from Downtown Hollister to SR -156. The road runs east -west along 4th street and turns north at San Benito Street. The route is primarily a local arterial street.
There are several arterial and collector roads that complement the state highways and are also likely to be used for evacuation purposes, depending on the evacuation scenario, including but not limited to:
• Hillcrest Road
• San Juan Road
• 4th Street
• San Benito Street
• Buena Vista Road
• Nash Road
• McCray Street
sis c r® s
The evacuation analysis considers the following two representative evacuation scenarios:
• Flooding Scenario #1 — Flooding occurs along the San Benito River • Earthquake Scenario #2 — Earthquake occurs along the Calaveras Fault through the city These scenarios do not represent every possible emergency that could affect Hollister, but they represent high likelihood emergencies that may stress different parts of the road system. The evacuation scenarios were chosen in discussion with City staff, including Hollister Police Department and Hollister Fire Department, to represent likely emergencies for the evacuation analysis.
Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
January 8, 2026
Hollister Evacuation Analysis
Methodology
This study evaluates the transportation related impacts during two evacuation scenarios. To account for the worst -case scenario, all the scenarios are analyzed during the weekday PM peak hour, which represents the peak traffic volume during a typical week.
Existing Conditions
The base year evaluation is representative of evacuations with existing conditions. The Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG) Travel Demand Model uses 2015 as its base year. 2045 Conditions
The future -year traffic levels include development allowable under the proposed 2040 Hollister General Plan. Outside of Hollister, the traffic forecasts incorporate travel generated by the 2045 regional demographic projections provided by the Association of Monterey Bay Are Governments (ABMAG). c ri
As part of the flooding scenario, all evacuation zones adjacent to the San Benito River floodway were assumed to evacuate. Survey data on the San Benito River floodway was acquired from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The southwest portion of Hollister would be affected during a flood, including areas near Aguirre Memorial Park and San Benito County River View Park. The Hollister Floodplain is shown in Figure 1 alongside relevant evacuation zones. rt -c., .r
As part of the earthquake scenario, all evacuation zones which overlapped with the Calaveras Fault were assumed to receive an evacuation order. Survey data on the Calaveras Fault was acquired from the United Stares Geological Survey (USGS). The evacuating region includes a north -south section running through the middle of the city, adjacent to the west side of SR -25. The Calaveras Fault Line is shown in Figure 2 alongside relevant earthquake evacuation zones.
Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
Hollister Floc>dpl ain
Hollister City Boundary
Flooding Evacuation Zone
Flooding Evacuation Zones
Scenario 1 - Flooding along San Benito River
Hollister General Plan Update
Hollister, CA
Figur
�� f It Lines
Hollister City Boundary
Earthquake Evacuation Zones
Earthquake Evacuation Zones
Scenario 2 - Earthquake along Calaveras Fault
Hollister General Plan Update
Hollister, CA
Pigmy .62
January 8, 2026
Hollister Evacuation Analysis
Methodology
Tr v I I ► Is
The evacuation analysis uses the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG) travel demand model to estimate roadway congestion and travel times in an evacuation under the two analysis scenarios.
The travel model includes a 2045 land use forecast and transportation improvement assumptions developed for the 2040 General Plan Update.
v
c ►t
ss
s
This section outlines the assumptions made on when residents and employees in the evacuation area would need to evacuate and the conditions under which they would evacuate. All assumptions outlined below were discussed and agreed upon with an advisory group. The advisory group consisted of representatives from Community Development Department (Planning Division), Hollister Police Department, and Hollister Fire Department.
Travel Type
Baseline travel represents normal travel patterns during the weekday peak hour as included in the AMBAG travel demand model. Evacuation travel represents estimated evacuation trips and travel time from each evacuating Traffic Analysis Zone (TAZ) to an evacuation destination. Over the course of an evacuation, it is assumed that 90% of residents that are given an evacuation order or pre -evacuation warning will evacuate, while 10% of people will not evacuate despite a given order. The 10% of people not evacuating are assumed to continue travelling as normal using baseline travel patterns, whereas the 90% of people evacuating are traveling to predetermined evacuation destinations. Kittelson reviewed the model's TAZs and assigned each TAZ a combination of Baseline travel and Evacuation travel, based on its presence in the designated evacuation area.
Evacuation Areas
For each of the two evacuation scenarios analyzed in this study, evacuation areas were determined based on discussions with the advisory group. Accordingly, the following are the evacuation areas assumed in this study.
Flooding Scenario (Figure 1): Evacuation area includes the areas along the San Benito River - Includes evacuation zones SBC-0041, HOL-0023, HOL-0016, HOL-0017, and HOL-0020. • Earthquake Scenario #2 (Figure 2): Evacuation area includes the areas around downtown Hollister, south to Ridgemark, and North to the airport.
- Includes evacuation zones HOL-N010, HOL-0012, HOL-0014, HOL-0018, HOL-0020, HOL-0021, and HOL-S047.
The evacuation areas are overlaid with the AMBAG travel demand model's TAZ map to identify the number of people that would need to be evacuated.
Kittelson & Associates, Inc.