HOLLISTER
City council members Monday are set to consider reinstatement of parking fines in downtown Hollister and hiring of a community services officer to enforce the rules.
With a fine increase on the table, officials estimate the city will lose about $12,700 in the first year, but that Hollister will net $15,270 in the second year – which amounts to a total of $2,600 in additional income during that time, according to a council staff report.
Council members at the 6:30 p.m. meeting at Hollister City Hall, 375 Fifth St., are set to consider time-zone enforcement downtown and hiring that part-time, non-sworn officer carrying a first-year cost of $54,670, according to a city council staff report. Officials estimate the city in the first year will gain $42,000 in revenue – based on prior citation numbers – from the fines.
As part of the reinstatement – city officials stopped enforcing the violations about five years ago – the fines will increase for various violations. The fine for the most common one, parking too long in a spot with a two-hour time limit, will go from $20 to $35, bringing it in line with penalty’s in neighboring communities.
Hollister council members’ consideration of reinstating the fines started with a request from the Hollister Downtown Association. The HDA had noted how some businesses were unhappy with the lacking enforcement because customers sometimes have to walk too far when there is no parking available near their shops.
Look for an expanded version of this story in The Weekend Pinnacle next Friday. Also, see whether council members approve the reinstatement of parking enforcement by going to www.freelancenews.com.
