Members Present:
City Council of the City of Hollister
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
May 18, 2026, 6:30 p.m.
City Council Chamber, City Hail
375 Fifth Street, Hollister, CA 95023
Roxanne Stephens, Mayor
Rudy Picha, District 1
Dolores Morales, District 3
Priscilla de Anda, District 4
Members Absent: Rolan Resendiz, District 2
1 CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Stephens called the regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Hollister to order at 6:31 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Acting City Clerk Gonzalez called the roll.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Morales led the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Manager Ana Cortez announced that at the May 4, 2026, Closed Session, the City Council voted unanimously not to accept the settlement offer.
5. SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
5.1 PUBLIC WORKS WEEK PROCLAMATION
Mayor Stephens presented the Public Works Week Proclamation to Frank Garcia.
PUBLIC INPUT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Mayor Stephens opened Public Comment at 6:38 p.m.
Katelyn Felix- spoke about the importance of the services that Cat Crew California provides and requested continued support from the city.
Judy Gansen- spoke regarding the garden boxes at the 400 block building. She volunteered to take care of the plants in garden box and mentioned that City staff did some work on one of the boxes, but would like to see work on the both boxes.
Lisa Sears- spoke regarding spay neuter services and Snip Bus's accomplishments in the last few years. She urged the city to continue to support this service. She also shared the success of the City of Seaside's Spay Neuter program to help control animal overpopulation.
Natalie Day- Spoke regarding spay neuter services in the city and shared her concerns regarding the possible impacts of cutting funding.
Liam McLaughlin- Asked the council to meet individually with frontline workers to provide an opportunity to share their concerns.
Carolynne- spoke in support of union workers and highlighted the recent spike in stress caused by uncertainty.
Olivia Martinez- Spoke in support of SEIU and highlighted the impacts on staff due to a lack of transparency and the uncertainty caused by recent leadership direction. She asked the Council to meet with SEIU to get their perspective and hear their concerns.
Frank Garcia- Spoke regarding the mental exhaustion caused by processes and spoke regarding his efforts to support his colleagues through the hardship. He spoke about balancing the mental weight and the human side of the issue while staying calm and professional to support his bargaining unit.
Christina Camarillo- Spoke regarding the budget and the lack of protection for the city. She questioned why there are different water rates depending on your district, and why services differ by district. She asked that rates be increased so that people are paying for the services they are receiving. She concluded by speaking to Council's duty to the public and in support of the public workers.
Timothy Pierson- Spoke regarding a hearing to decide the fate of his family dogs, who risk being euthanized due to an altercation when they escaped.
There being no further speakers, public comment closed. 7 CONSENT ITEMS
Moved by: Council Member Morales
Seconded by: Council Member Picha
Approving the consent calendar as presented.
Ayes (4): Mayor Stephens, Council Member Picha, Council Member Morales, and Council Member de Anda
Absent (1): Council Member Resendiz
2 Carried (4 to 0)
7.1 MAY 4, 2026 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
7.2 WARRANT REGISTER MAY 18, 2026
Moved by: Council Member Morales
Seconded by: Council Member Picha
Ratify and approve the Warrant Registers for the General -Special - Enterprise -Assessment Funds attached.
Carried
7.3 A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE ANNUAL AB 481 MILITARY
EQUIPMENT USE REPORT FOR THE HOLLISTER POLICE
DEPARTMENT
Moved by: Council Member Morales
Seconded by: Council Member Picha
Adopt a resolution accepting the report.
Carried
7.4 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND POLICE
DEPARTMENT TO APPLY FOR A TRAFFIC GRANT FROM THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY
Moved by: Council Member Morales
Seconded by: Council Member Picha
Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager and the Police Department to apply for a traffic enforcement grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.
Carried
7.5 A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PROPOSED BOUNDARY OF THE 1620 BUENA VISTA MULTI -FAMILY SUBDIVISION, TRACT 361 FOR
THE ANNEXATION OF TERRITORY INTO COMMUNITY FACILITIES
DISTRICT NO. 5 ANNEXATION NO. 28 (POLICE AND FIRE SERVICES) Moved by: Council Member Morales
Seconded by: Council Member Picha
Adopt a resolution approving the annexation of the 1620 Buena Vista Multi -family Subdivision, Tract 361 into CFD#5.
Carried
7.6 A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE ANNEXATION OF THE 1620
BUENA VISTA MULTI -FAMILY SUBDIVISION, TRACT 361, INTO
COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT #4 ANNEXATION NO. 65 (PUBLIC
FACILITIES SERVICES)
Moved by: Council Member Morales
Seconded by: Council Member Picha
Adopt a resolution approving the annexation of the 1620 Buena Vista Multi -family Subdivision, Tract 361 into CFD#4.
Carried
7.7 A RESOLUTION APPROVING A LIST OF PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 FUNDED BY SB1: THE ROAD REPAIR AND
ACCOUNTABILITY ACT
Moved by: Council Member Morales
Seconded by: Council Member Picha
Adopt a resolution approving a list of projects funded by SB1: the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
Carried
7.8 A RESOLUTION APPROVING A RESIDENTIAL TAX SHARING
AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY OF SAN BENITO FOR LAFCO
ANNEXATION REQUEST 2024-549
Moved by: Council Member Morales
Seconded by: Council Member Picha
Adopt a resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a required Residential Tax Sharing Agreement with the County of San Benito to allow for an owner -initiated annexation of seven parcels included in LAFCo Annexation Request 2024-549.
Carried
8. PUBLIC HEARINGS
8.1 A RESOLUTION CONFIRMING AND APPROVING THE ASSESSMENT,
BOUNDARY DIAGRAM, AND ORDERING THE LEVY AND
COLLECTION OF ASSESSMENTS OF LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING
DISTRICT NO. 93-1 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027
4 Public Works Director Hernandez provided a report and answered questions.
Mayor Stephens opened the public hearing at 7:10 p.m.
There being no speakers, the public hearing was closed at 7:10 p.m.
Moved by: Council Member Morales
Seconded by: Council Member Picha
Adopt a resolution approving the final engineer's report, confirming the boundary and assessments, and ordering the levy and collection of assessments of Landscape and Lighting District No. 93-1 for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
Ayes (4): Mayor Stephens, Council Member Picha, Council Member Morales, and Council Member de Anda
Absent (1): Council Member Resendiz
Carried (4 to 0)
9. COUNCIL BUSINESS
9.1 DISCUSSION REGARDING BICYCLE SAFETY THROUGHOUT THE
CITY
City Manager Cortez provided the report and asked for possible direction from Council.
Vice Mayor de Anda proposed starting with community engagement to get community input on the matter.
Council Member Morales spoke in support of kids spending time outdoors and spoke regarding the lack of youth programs in Hollister. She likes the idea of engaging the youth, but cautioned that we also need to provide viable recreational options.
Council Member Picha spoke regarding his concern with electric bikes traveling at high rates of speed on sidewalks. He is concerned for the youth and motorist safety. He welcomes the idea of engaging with the public on this matter.
Mayor Stephens agreed that the City should engage the community to hear their thoughts and find ways to improve safety. She asked City Manager Cortez to check on the possibility of partnering with the local schools on this initiative.
Council Member Morales clarified that the complaints that she received were specific to people being uncomfortable with groups of boys gathering outdoors, rather than there being any youth safety concerns. 5 Council Member Picha stressed the importance of wearing a helmet and engaging other groups that can help spread the message.
Mayor Stephens opened the public comment at 7:35 p.m.
Max Neff spoke regarding biking culture in UC Davis and the efforts the university goes through to promote bike safety for incoming students. He recommended reaching out to organizations like UC Davis, which already have established strategies.
There being no further speakers, public comment closed.
By consensus, the Council agreed that Mayor Stephens would work with the City Manager and Council Member Morales to engage the youth on this matter.
10. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
10.1 COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
Council Member Picha reported that at their meeting on the 13th, AMBAG gave a great presentation on their recruitments, vacancies, and retention efforts. He also shared that the Monterey Bay Regional Overall Work Program budget was adopted. He concluded by sharing that he, along with the Mayor and City Manager, met with Bike Club members regarding safety efforts for the rally.
Council Member Morales reported that we are approaching the RFP for integrative waste management services and asked the City Manager to be at the negotiation table. She expressed that the city needs to be at the negotiation table so that residents are not paying such a high rate.
Mayor Stephens reported on the Fire Advisory Committee Meeting. She shared that they are still working on the Baker Tilly feasibility report for the formation of a fire district. She concluded by announcing that she met with the student congress at the high school, and stated that they were very impressive kids and future leaders.
10.2 COUNCIL REPORTS
None.
10.3 CITY MANAGER REPORT
• Airport
• Sewer
• HR1 Impacts on Sewer and Water Rates
Airport Director Crechriou gave a presentation on the Airport. 6 City Manager Cortez gave a report on sewer and water and invited Cassandra Kartashov from Community Foundation for San Benito County to address the council on HR1 and its impacts to our community.
Council Member Morales spoke regarding lobbyist efforts and recent legislation to provide aid to those in need. She stated that we will feel the negative impacts the most in 2027, and stressed that we need to be prepared for the impacts and build a successful work plan.
11. CLOSED SESSION
City Manager Cortez read the closed session titles into the record.
Mayor Stephens opened the public comment at 8:31 p.m. There being no speakers, public comment closed.
The City Council convened into closed session at 8:31 p.m.
11.1 PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Government Code section 54954.5 (e)
Title: City Manager
11.2 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL- ANTICIPATED LITIGATION (Paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (d) of Gov. Code § 54956.9) Significant exposure to litigation: Final Offer to Negotiate Purchase of Right of Way in Hollister Prior to Commencement of Eminent Domain Proceedings from San Benito High School District.
11.3 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL -ANTICIPATED LITIGATION (Paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (d) of Gov. Code § 54956.9) Significant exposure to litigation: State Board Request/Demand for water services (Valenzuela Water)
11.4 CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS PURSUANT TO
GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.6
Agency designated representatives: City Manager Ana Cortez and City Attorney Nick Clair
Employee Organizations: Service Employees International Union (S€IU), Local 521; Hollister Firefighters Union (HFFU), Local 3395; Hollister Peace Officer Association (HPOA); and un-represented employees
12. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Stephens adjourned the meeting at 9:25 p.m.
7 Angie Gonza
Acting City Clerk
8