Hollister
– The City Council took two big steps on Monday night to move an
Independence Day motorcycle rally closer to reality.
The council voted 4-1 to approve a contract between the city and
the Hollister Motorcycle Rally Committee, which is organizing the
event with Santa Ynez-based company Horse Power Promotions.
Hollister – The City Council took two big steps on Monday night to move an Independence Day motorcycle rally closer to reality.
The council voted 4-1 to approve a contract between the city and the Hollister Motorcycle Rally Committee, which is organizing the event with Santa Ynez-based company Horse Power Promotions.
Committee chair Charisse Tyson, who owns Johnny’s Bar and Grill, told the Free Lance that although she wasn’t surprised, she’s relieved that the contract was approved.
“This could really save the city,” Tyson said.
Earlier this year, the council decided not to approve a motorcycle rally for 2006, but tens of thousands of bikers rode into town anyway, and the city had to foot the public safety bill. The 2006 rally was opposed by Councilmembers Doug Emerson, Monica Johnson and Pauline Valdivia. Emerson and Johnson voted to approve the contract on Monday night, as did recently-appointed Mayor Brad Pike and Councilwoman Eugenia Sanchez.
“With this agreement, I have a strong level of comfort, especially the financial piece,” Emerson said.
Johnson added that many of her constituents had contacted her with concerns about public safety.
“We’ve done everything we can to the best of our ability to address those concerns in this agreement,” she said.
Before the vote, Valdivia grilled city staff about the contract. She said her primary concern continues to be ensuring that “taxpayers not (be) held responsible for making ends meet.”
The agreement requires that the committee cover the city’s staffing costs, which are estimated at $382,000. The committee must pay $100,000 by Jan. 15, $250,000 by March 1 and the complete balance by March 31.
When Valdivia asked what will happen if the committee fails to meet those milestones, City Manager Clint Quilter said, “The event is canceled.”
Valdivia voted against the contract.
The council was also addressed by representatives from religious motorcycle group Cruising for Jesus and Christian radio station KLOVE, who both expressed their support for the rally.
“My prayer is that you allow us to set free the (Christian motorcyclists) to come this way and allow something positive and something explosive,” said Horatio Aleman of Cruising for Jesus.
Before voting on the contract, the council approved a resolution requiring vendors selling goods, food, beverages or services at special events to obtain authorization from the event organizer. City staffers said the resolution’s purpose is to give the city control over the sale of official rally T-shirts.
The council also appointed Pike as the city’s new mayor, and Emerson as the mayor pro tem. Sanchez was welcomed to the council, while former Mayor Robert Scattini, whom she ousted in the Nov. 7 election, was thanked for his service.
Tyson said Scattini is one of the main reasons the rally is moving forward.
“I’m so sorry he can’t vote on it tonight,” Tyson said. “That actually breaks my heart.”
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at (831) 637-5566 ext. 330 or
ah*@fr***********.com
.
