The city is in the process of installing an array of surveillance cameras in the downtown area, with about three-quarters of the machines mounted as of Monday, said Police Chief David Westrick.
Designs for the cameras vary, the chief said, though it appears most include a white box and small sphere-shaped cameras that look like light bulbs.
Westrick explained how the city would monitor the cameras for major events such as the Hollister Rally, Saddle Horse Parade and the Street Festival & Car Show. Otherwise, the cameras would allow authorities to go back and check them when other incidents occur.
“If we can catch it on camera, we can review it and use it for part of our investigation,” he said.
Hollister City Council members in early May approved the purchase of surveillance cameras for downtown. The move was due primarily to the motorcycle rally over the July 4 weekend, following last year’s event during which the local Boy Scouts had 35 American flags stolen from locations along downtown streets.
Council members agreed to spend $352,000 on the cameras and installations at the Briggs Building, Fire Station No. 1, the Veterans Memorial Building, Old City Hall and other areas. The project also would supply a mounted camera for a portable trailer.
The city awarded the contract to Morgan Hill-based Surveillance Grid Integration. As an ongoing cost, the city would have to pay the host business $30,000 annually for licensing and maintenance. Mayor Ignacio Velazquez had one of two dissenting votes and mentioned his holdup being the additional, annual costs on top of the $352,000.
