Hollister · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Hollister public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Layoff notices and union negotiations
Three employees have already been released and about 25 more positions are slated for elimination. Union members warned that losing institutional knowledge and contracting out services would hurt accountability — the council heard them but hasn't formally ruled out layoffs.
SEIU Local 521 labor agreement
SEIU members and city employees described stress, outsourcing rumors, and what they called disrespect from the city manager, and asked council members to meet with them directly.
Termination of City Manager Anna Cortez
Speaker after speaker demanded the council terminate City Manager Ana Cortez for cause, citing alleged union-busting, failure to meet and confer, transparency failures, and questionable hires. SEIU and the police union delivered a unanimous no-confidence statement. The council will formally agendize the matter at Wednesday's special meeting.
City of Hollister financial emergency
Hollister faces a $21M water fund deficit and a $3.7M general fund shortfall. The council directed staff toward living within predictable revenues, protecting a 20% reserve (over Morales's objection), and investing in economic development — but nothing is final until the June 30 budget adoption.
Police department staffing crisis
Police sworn positions sit at a 19.23% vacancy rate and fire recruitment is struggling; the HR department is only 2.5 people. Morales wants quarterly reporting, and the city manager pledged recruitment overhauls and six new firefighters by December.
Runway 31 lead-in taxiway safety signage
After a fatal July 19 mid-air collision, staff proposed signs barring aircraft under 12,500 pounds from taking off at the lead-in taxiway. Retired airline pilot Commissioner Watt argued the wording could imply takeoffs are allowed there and pushed for a displaced threshold instead.