Though they canceled the 2006 Hollister Independence Day Rally,
City Council members said Monday that they will not prohibit
vendors from selling their wares on private property to the
thousands of bikers expected to descend on the city over the July 4
weekend.
Hollister – Though they canceled the 2006 Hollister Independence Day Rally, City Council members said Monday that they will not prohibit vendors from selling their wares on private property to the thousands of bikers expected to descend on the city over the July 4 weekend.
In February, the council voted 3-2 to cancel the annual motorcycle event, after nearly a decade of widely-attended rallies. At the time of the fatal vote, the council majority cited financial reasons for nixing the event.
The 2005 rally, which drew 120,000 people, cost the city $250,000 in public safety costs. Council members said that the city could not afford to pay for the event. Councilmen Robert Scattini and Brad Pike cast the sole votes in favor of keeping the rally going.
Despite the rally’s cancellation, many on the council and in the community believe that hordes of motorcycle enthusiasts will still roar into town this July. Many rally vendors also have plans to show up during the July 4 holiday to make some money selling T-shirts, motorcycle accessories and myriad leather products to the biker hardcore who refuses to let the City Council squelch their good time.
“We’re going to be there,” said Gary Nowicki, vice president/special events coordinator for Biker Design, a Daytona Beach, Fla., company that manufactures and sells motorcycle clothing.
Nowicki said his company already has agreements to rent several spots in downtown when the rally was supposed to occur.
Since the rally’s inception in 1997, many business owners owners in and around downtown Hollister have rented their properties to rally vendors each year to boost their revenue and capitalize on the event.
During their meeting Monday, council members said that they would not prevent vendors from renting private properties to sell merchandise. The city already has policies in place that allow people to obtain temporary zoning changes so that they can use outdoor private properties for various seasonal purposes, such as selling fireworks, Christmas trees and rally merchandise, according to City Manager Clint Quilter.
“Staff’s recommendation is that people with private property be able to do as in the past (during the rally),” Quilter said to the council.
Council members were inclined to follow the recommendation.
“It will be the status quo,” said Hollister Mayor Robert Scattini, after Monday’s meeting, adding that he hopes local businesses can make some money renting their properties to vendors. The mayor is a steadfast rally supporter.
Luke Roney covers local government and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at [email protected].
