Hollister’s city council members approve plan for enhancing city
services
City residents will finally see the effects of a 1 percent sales
tax measure as Hollister city council members approved a plan for
the dispersion of Measure T funds June 2, seven months after voters
passed the initiative.
Hollister’s city council members approve plan for enhancing city services
City residents will finally see the effects of a 1 percent sales tax measure as Hollister city council members approved a plan for the dispersion of Measure T funds June 2, seven months after voters passed the initiative.
The goal of Measure T was to restore and enhance city services.
The Measure T Sales Tax and Restoration Plan will add more police officers, firefighters, park maintenance and street maintenance workers and other services.
The plan will not fund all of the Hollister police department’s needs, said Jeff Miller, Hollister’s chief of police.
“This is a step in the right direction, but it in no way will bring us to where we need to be,” Miller said. “We’ve been operating at 29. We’re adding two, and maybe three or four.
The new hires will help speed response time, Miller said.
“We’re going to get two new patrol officers that will be directly on the street.” Miller said.
To save money, Miller will turn a full-time position with full benefits into part-time positions. Community service officers will take care of paperwork and sign off on citations.
“That is important for people who need forms for insurance, etc.,” Miller said.
Staffing the positions will enable the department to operate during normal business hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., two hours a day more than they are open now.
“We’re hoping to attract college students who might be administration of justice majors,” Miller said. “Instead of working at Costco, they can work here.”
The enhancement plan will also fund the juvenile impact program, a six-month program for at-risk youth between the ages of 12 and 17, said Rosie Betanio, personnel and community service officer for the Hollister Police Department.
Started in 2003, the program was eliminated two years ago due to budget cuts, Betanio said.
Classes meet once per week, Betanio said. There is a boot camp element, anger management, leadership classes and career guidance.
“We have noticed results that between six and 10 of the kids do not return to the juvenile system,” Betanio said.
In the 2009-10 financial year, police department staff will hire one patrol officer, one sergeant, two detectives and implement the Crime Prevention Program, according to documents from city council.
The fire department will also fare well under the enhancement plan. It will allow fire department staff to restore some services that were lost during the budget cuts two years ago, said Fred Cheshire, Hollister’s interim fire chief.
A truck company that operated two of every three days is back in full-time operation, Cheshire said.
“With the truck company in place, the guys who put the hose in place can do their job substantially better,” Cheshire said.
Fire department staff will hire support staff and someone dedicated to fire prevention, Cheshire said.
In the 2009-10 financial year, the enhancement plan will fund paramedic support services, Cheshire said.
County officials contract for two ambulances for county residents, Cheshire said.
“There’s times where both of the ambulances are on calls and a third ambulance is being requested from Monterey County or Santa Clara County,” Cheshire said.
Three new firefighters, one on each shift, would offer paramedic support services, Cheshire said.
“We’d still have to wait for transport, but if we could provide paramedic service, we could provide advanced life support services,” Cheshire said. “We’d be able to administer fluids or we’d be able to provide cardiac services.”
The enhancement plan will restore some positions in recreation, street maintenance and park maintenance that were lost to budget cuts over the last few years, said Clay Lee, Hollister’s community services director.
City officials will hire one additional recreation coordinator.
One of the department’s two full-time staff members is a recreation coordinator.
Although it will take a few months to recruit for the position, residents will see some immediate benefits.
Recreation staff will add a summer basketball program and late summer/early fall volleyball program.
There will be more non-sports classes, a focus of the new coordinator, Lee said.
The enhancement plan dedicated $50,000 to sound wall maintenance, and money for an additional street maintenance worker.
The additional help will enable street maintenance staff to spend more time on other tasks, such as pothole repair.
In the 2009-10 financial year, city officials will spend $50,000 on sidewalk repair, Lee said.
The parks maintenance department will also get a new staff member.
“The restrooms at Dunne Park, Vista Park Hill, and Calaveras School Park will be reopened,” Lee said.
City staff will reopen the bathrooms in mid-to-late summer, Lee said.
The enhancement plan will also allow city officials to reopen city hall on Friday, and hire a human resources manager, according to documents from city council.
