Hollister City Council hold special meeting to discuss fire protection services agreement

HOLLISTER, Calif. (KION-TV) - On Friday night, the City of Hollister continued discussions surrounding the future of fire protection services in the region.

It’s all to figure out the next steps on an agreement for Hollister to provide those services for the County of San Benito and City of San Juan Bautista.

On the table were various different direction including accepting, negotiating, or proposing new terms with the services agreement.

"We have been providing fire services to the city of San Juan Bautista and the county at a discounted rate, we offered them a newer contract," Hollister City Councilmember Rolan Resendiz said.

The proposals from the County and San Juan Bautista offering varying in dates, costs, and payment terms. During public comment, many people having mixed feelings about the agreement and action from the city.

“I feel like that, that this was rushed, um, way too fast, um, excluding the experts, like the people who draw the budgets and who know about firefighting," one person said during public comment.

“The city is not in a position to continue to subsidize a third fireman position with San Juan Bautista or the county," another person said during public comment.

The city’s fiscal situation being a key discussion point in exploring the various options. Council members also talked about the impact of a 270-day notice to no terminate the current agreement or have the contract rollover.

No final decision was made as council members weighed all available options. They will discuss the matter further at a future meeting April.