Hollister
– Local police are meeting with law enforcement agencies
throughout the region to discuss preparations for the Fourth of
July motorcycle rally.
Hollister – Local police are meeting with law enforcement agencies throughout the region to discuss preparations for the Fourth of July motorcycle rally.
Although the city council canceled this year’s Hollister Independence Rally, city officials, business owners and Hollister police are all expecting bikers to descend on the city during the June 30 to July 2 weekend. But no one knows exactly how many people are planning to attend this year’s unofficial rally.
“I don’t think anyone can put a number on it,” Hollister Police Chief Jeff Miller said. Despite being uncertain about the number of potential rally-goers, Miller said police will be prepared regardless of how many bikers roll into Hollister this year.
Miller has hosted several meetings to talk about the rally weekend with area law enforcement agencies this month. He said the Hollister-Gilroy California Highway Patrol; California Department of Justice; Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control; San Benito County Sheriff’s Office and State Parole Department have all confirmed plans to assist the Hollister Police Department during the rally.
“As things are coming together, we feel confident that we have all the bases covered,” Miller said. He said police will be prepared in case of a “civil disturbance,” or even what may commonly be referred to as a “riot.”
Miller has also met with law enforcement officials from Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties and representatives from the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to discuss mutual assistance agreements and enforcement efforts.
Although he won’t reveal the number of law enforcement officers expected to be on duty for the rally, Miller said “You’ll see more than one if you’re walking down San Benito Street.”
Although it has canceled the rally, the city will still have to pay overtime for Hollister police officers who will be on duty during the Fourth of July weekend. The city may also have to pay room-and-board costs for officers from other agencies if they are called in for assistance. However, the costs are expected to be significantly lower than the $360,000 the city had to pay for public safety during the 2005 rally. Hollister City Manger Clint Quilter has estimated the city will have to shell out between $70,000 and $130,000 this year to cover the cost of public safety, additional trash receptacles and portable toilets.
Hollister Mayor Robert Scattini doesn’t think the police department’s plan for the rally will be sufficient.
“It’s going to be chaos. The streets will be open; there are no controlled events. We’ll just have to do the best we can,” he said. “There is nothing more (police) can do, except bring in 500 to 600 more officers, but that could create a riot.”
Scattini, an outspoken supporter of the city’s signature event, has long-predicted that a heavy mixture of bikers and cops could create problems.
“I support Chief Miller, but I’ve made it clear to everyone that I’m supporting this rally,” he said.
Scattini, who also the San Benito County Marshal, won’t be on duty during the rally, but said he “will monitor the whole enchilada.”
City officials are also finalizing their plans for the rally weekend. The Hollister Planning Department is handling temporary zoning clearance permits that will allow private groups to host their own activities on private property. As of Friday, three such permits had been issued, said Associate Planner Mary Paxton. She said the Planning Department has set a June 16 deadline for permit requests.
The city’s Finance Department is handling requests for businesses licenses that will allow vendors to hoc their wares on private property during the rally weekend. However, Finance Department officials did not know how many temporary licenses have been issued for the rally weekend by press time on Friday.
Brett Rowland covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
