Politics

The Nov. 4 election day is less than two months away but campaigners haven’t put up signs supporting Measure M, an item on the upcoming ballot that proposes a general obligation facilities bond of $28.5 million for the Hollister School District.

Hollister Councilman Ray Friend on Monday requested that city staff members draft a resolution proposing to oppose Measure J – the petroleum initiative on the November ballot – while the mayor said he would support such a discussion on one condition.

Hollister officials Monday reported that the city was $861,000 in the black for fiscal year 2013-14.

The local court system is hosting a dedication ceremony Oct. 10 for the recently completed courthouse.

City and county leaders are weighing a program to allow the use of graywater – reused from the washing machine, bathroom sink or shower tub – for residential landscaping.

There has been a steep drop in the number of speeding tickets issued by Hollister police in the past two years, while more drivers are cited for stop-sign violations than any other traffic infraction, according to data provided by the department.

Although Measure J is about fracking and other enhanced recovery methods at its core, much of the local debate to this point has focused on conventional oil drilling and what the initiative might or might not do beyond banning those specified practices.

The Hollister Airshow has lost money in four of its five years in existence and finished this past year $25,000 in the red, according to numbers provided during Monday’s council meeting.

There may be fewer Hollister people tripping over cracks in sidewalks in the near future.

While Hollister officials approved in-car cameras for police vehicles Monday, the local police department is testing out the possible use of body cameras as well, the chief confirmed.