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Barricades are installed and selected roads have been closed in anticipation of the two-day Hollister Independence Rally starting July 4. But questions remain about security, insurance and attendance.
The return of the iconic event to downtown Hollister after an eight-year hiatus and the fact that it was organized in fewer than six months has been controversial.
Opponents cite concerns over safety and the cost to the city. Hollister city officials have estimated the city will spend $650,000 for the event and collect almost $450,000 in revenue.
Supporters, including Mayor Roxanne Stephens and a majority of the Hollister City Council, say it can be an economic driver for local businesses.
This week, two of the rally’s biggest supporters canceled on-site vendors citing prohibitive costs and regulations.
Hollister Police Chief Carlos Reynoso said given the uncertainty about the number of attendees the rally will attract, his office has been preparing for a similar number of participants as previous events.
“We have credible information that we have had crowds up to 35,000 in the past,” he said. “Because this event is an open event and there is no way to gauge with ticket sales if we will have 5,000 or 30,000 in attendance.”
Stephens told BenitoLink the city was expecting between 7,000 and 10,000 attendees.
“Since we have not held the event for several years, we just are [using] rough estimates,” she said.
Regarding safety, Reynoso said he would not disclose the number of officers or security guards that will be patrolling the event because of personnel safety concerns. He did not say whether he would adhere to city code requiring a minimum number of security guards based on attendance.
Reynoso said all of his 57 police department personnel are scheduled to work over the weekend. He said though he has 37 sworn officer budgeted positions, not all are filled.
In addition to his officers, he said he secured assistance from another police department and the San Benito County Probation Department but could not disclose the number of officers. Reynoso did not disclose which police department was providing assistance.
Hollister also hired American Global Security to provide an undisclosed number of armed and unarmed security guards. The contract will cost as much as $270,000 for the rally.
According to city code, Hollister requires at least one security guard per 33 attendees for events that have more than 400 guests. For example, if the rally were to attract 5,000 attendees, city code would require at least 151 security officers, which includes private security and patrol officers.
Reynoso said approving the levels of security for an event requires the city manager and all department heads to sign off as part of the permitting process.
Reynoso also said the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office and California Highway Patrol have been involved in planning for the rally but won’t provide officers unless there is a need.
San Benito County Sheriff Eric Taylor said his office will increase the number of deputies on the street during the weekend. Taylor added that his office will also have plainclothes Criminal Apprehension, Suppression, Prevention and Response (CASPR), and Special intelligence Unit (SIU) task force members on patrol.
He said the CASPR group consists of members from his office while the SIU includes Sheriff’s Department, probation, district attorney, and Hollister police members.
Taylor said he was unsuccessful in his request to other Sheriff’s offices, on behalf of Hollister Police Department, for additional support. He said the responding agencies only offered technical assistance.
“This has been the norm for the past five-plus years,” he said. “Nobody has anyone to spare.”
The operations division of the Sheriff’s Department has 36.5 budgeted positions and has three vacancies, Taylor said.
Another safety concern brought up by community members is the city’s potential legal liability given the shortage of police officers available for the event.
The city approved an agreement with promoter Roadshows, Inc. that requires a $2 million insurance coverage, and $1 million each “occurrence.”
Stephens said the city uses its own insurance, which is part of a policy covering other cities in the area. She referred BenitoLink to City Manager David Mirrione for the coverage details.
BenitoLink asked Mirrione if the city also secured additional insurance and the rally’s estimated attendance, but did not receive a response.
Program
On June 30, the city released the Independence Day Rally’s official program which includes a Miss Hollister Independence Rally Pageant, the vendor list, rally map and music line-up.
San Benito and East streets will be closed to allow bikers to cruise between Fourth and South streets. The vendors will be located on Fifth, Sixth and Seventh streets between Monterey and East streets.
The music entertainment and pageant are scheduled to take place at the Beer Garden, located in the public parking lot on the corner of Sixth and East Street. Live music begins June 4th at 10 a.m. with The Legendary Chicano All Stars Band followed by Nina Kuhl and Keep on Truckin’ closes the first day of the rally.
“This will be a very busy holiday weekend with a lot of people driving on the roads,” Reynoso said. “We ask everyone to drive safely and keep an eye out for bikers and ask the bikers to be careful as well and to be respectful of the rules of the road.”
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