Hollister council members held an off-agenda discussion on the potential for a 2016 Hollister motorcycle rally, and one official made mention of a $100,000 debt still owed by the prior promoter.
Council members Monday weren’t scheduled to discuss the rally. Councilman Ray Friend brought it up during the council reports section of the meeting, where officials often summarize subcommittees and events they had attended.
Government boards like the Hollister council are legally barred by the state open meetings law from discussing items that are not posted on the agenda.
Friend made mention of a new promoter, after the prior one recently departed, and wanted to gauge council members on whether the city manager should negotiate with the unspecified party.
“I’m not saying it’s going to be approved,” Friend said. “I’m just saying—we need to move forward on it.”
Two council members took exception, noting how the prior promoter, Las Vegas-based ConvExx, still owed the city money. Councilman Victor Gomez during his report picked up on Friend’s rally notation and mentioned a $100,000 figure for the debt.
“I have concerns,” Gomez said. “I don’t know how much I can actually say. I have concerns moving forward.”
Gomez went on to allege that prior Hollister rally promoters “always seem to be fairly shady characters.”
“I’m not sure if that’s the norm in the business. I’m not sure if I’m really looking forward to working with another shady character,” Gomez said.
Gomez said he’s “not willing to have a discussion” about another rally promoter “until we’re paid in full for the last rally.”
Councilwoman Mickie Luna’s report was next, and she told council members she “wanted to add something” about the rally debt as well.
“Yet, we are sitting here thinking that we are going to continue a discussion on another contract, a contract that possibly some of us have never been involved with,” she said. “I have an issue with that.”
The city last month announced ConvExx would depart the role, but did not specify a dollar amount owed by the promoter. ConvExx CEO Chuck Schwartz did not immediately return a call to his cell phone Monday night after the council meeting.
The Hollister council in January unanimously approved a deal with the Hollister Downtown Association—which was to front the $180,000 in costs such as those for security for the promoter—to oversee the three-day event that took place in July.
After Luna spoke during her report, Friend added another comment.
“I hear what you’re saying,” he said. “I agree with you. Hopefully, we’ve learned some things over the last couple contracts, but I understand what you’re saying.”
