Politics

Council members Monday approved a library impact fee for new developments in the City of Hollister.

The Hollister Fire Department failed to receive a federal grant to continue funding 12 firefighter positions, the city manager confirmed during Monday's council meeting.

Hollister council members Monday night are set to consider several items that could directly affect the public.

The Hollister Fire Department in the final round of notifications had not received word on a grant, the loss of which could result in the city laying off 12 firefighters.

The seasonal homeless shelter is set to open Dec. 3 through the end of March from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., according to the county.

County supervisors this week discussed the possibility of putting a fence around a property adjacent to Garden Mart, a local nursery in downtown Hollister, to help combat trespassing and loitering issues related to the homeless population.

Supervisors unanimously approved a marijuana cultivation “urgency” ordinance at today's board meeting that halts all new marijuana cultivation operations within the county.

Hollister City Council members are moving forward on negotiations for a contract with Lettis Consultants International on a proposed two-phase surface fault investigation of downtown, which is viewed as necessary if economic development is to continue downtown.

Incumbent Ignacio Velazquez and challenger Keith Snow answered questions from the Free Lance before November’s vote in their race for Hollister mayor. This is the third consecutive time Snow has challenged Velazquez for the two-year term.

A 20-year extension on the city of Hollister’s voter-approved, 1 percent sales tax will go before voters in November. Measure W offers an extension of Measure E, which was enacted in 2012. The new, 20-year extension is expected to contribute $4.5 million annually to the city’s general fund if it passes. Last year, the special sales tax brought in around $4.6 million, according to city figures.