Supervisors vote 3-2 to pursue contract with Hollister fire instead of maintaining service with Calfire
San Benito County supervisors voted 3-2 on Tuesday to start negotiations with the City of Hollister on a contract for fire services, a move that would end a nearly 60-year relationship between the county and Calfire.
Board members voted after an afternoon session lasting more than two hours and featuring impassioned comments from public speakers, including Calfire’s unit chief, who contended the county’s comparative data was flawed and that the proposed deal with the state agency would provide more resources than an agreement with Hollister.
Supervisors Anthony Botelho, Jaime De La Cruz and Robert Rivas favored talks with Hollister to contract with the city’s fire department in an expected three-year deal. Supervisors Margie Barrios and Jerry Muenzer voted against the measure.
County officials had requested bids from Hollister and Calfire. Hollister estimated its contract cost at $1.07 million, versus $1.122 million for the lowest of three “models” provided by Calfire. The current contract cost is $1.2 million, or about 5 percent of the total general fund.
The apparent move away from Calfire also followed the state agency’s pronouncement in October that a deadline had passed to negotiate a deal beyond June 30, the end of the fiscal year. At or near the core of the debate, however, has been a contentious relationship between Calfire and the San Juan Bautista volunteer department.
Botelho, who represents the San Juan area, sat on a related subcommittee with Muenzer and has led the change toward contracting with Hollister.
“Naturally,” Botelho said of Calfire’s announcement last year, “we had to look at other options.
Botelho stressed he wants to standardize training countywide and that he does not want to “politicize” the issue, despite his reelection bid this year.
Along with the quarrelsome relationship between Calfire and San Juan’s volunteer department – largely over questions about necessary training – the debate at Tuesday’s meeting involved talk of local control, concerns about Hollister’s financial future and existing auto-aid agreements, and impacts on response times to certain areas such as the San Juan Canyon and South San Benito County.
Calfire Chief Rick Hutchinson spoke in favor of the state’s proposal and contended the county’s staff report – which urged talks on a contract with Hollister – needed “clarity.”
Hutchinson pointed out that under the Hollister contract proposal, there would be a total of 10 fire personnel on duty at any given time. With Calfire, it would range from 14 to 17, depending on the time of year.
“I just want to make sure that’s clarified,” he said.
Among Calfire’s allies Tuesday was Barrios, who suggested the county give the state a year to iron out issues at stake in the debate.
She expressed concern about Hollister’s attempt to extend the Measure T sales tax. If it fails, she questioned if the city’s fire services would decline – the city plans to lay off seven fire positions and close one of two stations without the extension – and whether the city could afford to build a third station on the far west side, as officials have discussed.
She questioned if response times had been studied, and whether auto-aid agreements would stand strong.
Still, the argument in favor of a Hollister contract won out Tuesday.
As for its impact on Hollister’s finances – the city faces a $3.5 million deficit without the tax extension – City Manager Clint Quilter has argued it would have a “neutral” effect. Councilman Doug Emerson represented the city at the board meeting.
“The city of Hollister is not looking for any financial benefit from this proposal,” Emerson said.
