Members Present:
City Council of the City of Hollister
Minutes of the Special Meeting
September 9, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
City Council Chamber, City Hall
375 Fifth Street, Hollister, CA 95023
Roxanne Stephens, Mayor
Rudy Picha, District 1
Rolan Resendiz, District 2
Dolores Morales, District 3
Priscilla de Anda, District 4
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Stephens called the special meeting of the City Council of the City of Hollister to order at 5:02 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Picha led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3 ROLL CALL
City Clerk Talamantes called the roll.
4. CONSENT ITEMS
Mayor Stephens opened public comment at 5:05 p.m.
There were no speakers for the consent agenda items.
Mayor Stephens closed public comment at 5:05 p.m.
Moved by: Council Member Picha
Seconded by: Council Member Morales
Approving the consent calendar.
Ayes (5): Mayor Stephens, Council Member Picha, Council Member Resendiz, Council Member Morales, and Council Member de Anda
Carried (5 to 0)
4.1 WARRANT REGISTER SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
1 Moved by: Council Member Picha
Seconded by: Council Member Morales
Ratify and approve the Warrant Registers for the General -Special - Enterprise -Assessment Funds attached.
Carried
5. CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Jennifer Thompson read the closed session items for the record.
Items continued from September 8, 2026:
11.1 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL- ANTICIPATED LITIGATION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9
Initiation of Litigation Pursuant to Paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of 54956.9 of the
Government Code: Three Cases
11.2 CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS PURSUANT TO
GOVERNMENT
CODE SECTION 54957.6
Agency designated representatives: City Manager Ana Cortez, HR Director Noel Mink and City Attorney Jennifer Thompson
Hollister Firefighters Union (HFFU)
11.3 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL- EXISTING LITIGATION Closed Session Pursuant to section 54956.9(d)(1) of the Government Code Name of Case: Sywak v. City of Hollister
Superior Court Case No. CU -25-00167
5.1 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL — ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Initiation of Litigation Pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of section 54956.9 of the Government Code (Deciding Whether to Initiate Litigation) One case
5.2 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL- ANTICIPATED LITIGATION (Paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (d) of Gov. Code § 54956.9) Significant exposure to litigation: One potential case
5.3 PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE/DISMISSAL/RELEASE
5.4 PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT
Title: City Attorney
Mayor Stephens opened public comment at 5:06 p.m.
There were no speakers for the closed session agenda items. 2 Mayor Stephens closed public comment at 5:06 p.m.
Mayor Stephens convened the meeting into closed session at 5:07 p.m.
6. CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Jennifer Thompson stated no reportable action was taken in closed session.
7. COUNCIL BUSINESS
Items 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 were continued to the September 21, 2026, City Council meeting.
7.1 RESCIND RESOLUTION 2025-127 WHICH APPROVED A FIVE-YEAR
LOAN FROM THE SEWER EXPANSION FUND TO THE GENERAL
FUND
Director O'Connell provided the staff report.
Mayor Stephens opened public comment at 8:27 p.m
Jon Casey commented highlighted the importance of addressing financial challenges with structural solutions and of multi -year financial planning.
Mayor Stephens closed public comment at 8:30 p.m.
Moved by: Council Member Morales
Seconded by: Council Member Picha
Rescind Resolution 2025-127 which approved a five-year loan from the Sewer Expansion Fund (fund 661) to the General Fund (fund 101) to repay historic negative fund balances in funds 206, 229, 241, 249, and 709.
Ayes (5): Mayor Stephens, Council Member Picha, Council Member Resendiz, Council Member Morales, and Council Member de Anda Carried (5 to 0)
7.2 JUNE 30, 2026, BUDGET TO ACTUAL FINANCIAL REPORTING FOR
THE AIRPORT FUND
Receive report and discuss long-term financial stabilization strategies.
7.3 JUNE 30, 2026, BUDGET TO ACTUAL, TREASURY REPORT,
BUILDING PERMIT REPORT, FINANCIAL REPORTS FOR THE
GENERAL FUND AND CONTRACTS
Receive and discuss reports and long-term sustainability strategies.
7.4 JUNE 30, 2026, BUDGET TO ACTUAL FINANCIAL REPORTING FOR
THE SEWER FUND
3 Merab Talamantes, City Clerk
Receive report and discuss long-term financial stabilization strategies.
7.5 JUNE 30, 2026 BUDGET TO ACTUAL FINANCIAL REPORTING FOR
THE WATER FUND
Receive the report and discuss long-term financial stabilization strategies.
7.6 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HOLLISTER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL
SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH HANSON BRIDGETT LLP FOR CITY
ATTORNEY/LEGAL SERVICES
City Manager Cortez provided the staff report.
Mayor Stephens opened public comment at 8:32 p.m.
There were no speakers for this item.
Mayor Stephens closed public comment at 8:32 p.m.
Moved by: Council Member Morales
Seconded by: Council Member Picha
Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Professional Service Agreement with Hanson Bridgett LLP for City Attorney/Legal Services
Ayes (4): Mayor Stephens, Council Member Picha, Council Member Morales, and Council Member de Anda
Noes (1): Council Member Resendiz
Carried (4 to 1)
8. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Stephens adjourned the meeting at 8:33 pm.
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