Several Hollister city staff members met as a panel with residents and business owners Feb. 16 for what was billed as an open house and listening session in order to hear their concerns and, hopefully, provide some answers.
Staff members included: Bryon Swanson, director of the Development Services Department, along with Abraham Prado and Mary Paxton. Also participating were building official Greg Johnson and Danny Hillstock from the Engineering Department. Councilman Roy Sims took part, as did planning commissioners Gabriel Torres and David Huboi.
Swanson told those attending the meeting that he hoped to come away with an understanding of what they needed from the city. “What we do in terms of planning, economic development, engineering, and housing is look at it as a cooperative effort,” he said. “We want to have an understand of what you want so we can give you good service and know what you want for the community.”
Paxton said the city just received its third quarter sales tax report that indicates that July through September revenue was up nearly 20 percent compared to a year ago, while taxable sales for the entire county rose 14.9 percent during the same period. She also told the audience that Hollister, San Juan Bautista and the county are jointly funding a “way-finding” program to place signs to better inform residents and visitors where city and county offices are located.
Juli Vieira, president and CEO of the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce, commented that she attended a travel show in San Francisco, where a number of people told her they could not find Hollister and that she repeatedly had to tell them to take Highways 25 or 156 to get there. Swanson said there is an issue with Caltrans’ signage that still states, “Pinnacles National Monument,” rather than identifying it as a national park. He said it’s an important distinction because it is a major attraction that can bring people through Hollister.
Sims asked if billboards along Interstate 5 and Highway 101 might be a solution. One participant wondered why Soledad had a “magnificent” sign promoting Pinnacles and Hollister did not.
Paxton said 250,000 people go to the Pinnacles every year, with more than 50 percent of them entering from the Highway 25 side. She said most people go to the park without stopping in Hollister and that the park’s superintendent had secured a Rails-to-Trails grant in an attempt to help gateway communities in San Benito County realize economic development.
The first question from the audience addressed roads and whether there will be a ballot measure to address them. Paxton said the San Benito County Council of Governments (COG) is moving forward with a plan to put a sales tax on the ballot in either June or November 2018. Paxton commented that people told her they voted against the transportation tax Proposition P last year because they were confused and believed Caltrans should finance road improvements.
“As citizens, we should educate the public about where that money comes from and what we do have the ability to pay for,” she said. It was noted that more venues, such as a sports complex or aquatic center, need to be created that will attract people to Hollister, giving them an opportunity to visit the Pinnacles before going home.
Kathina Szeto, owner of San Benito Bene in downtown Hollister, commented that her customers include people from San Jose, Modesto and Fresno. She said it seems most are out for a day of driving as they show friends what’s around their area. She also commented that the Olive Festival, which was not held in 2016 but is scheduled to return this year, has attracted increasing numbers of visitors from the Bay Area.
Swanson asked Johnson to update the audience about the 80-room hotel on Gateway Drive in Hollister that has been under construction for quite some time. Johnson explained his main job is making sure buildings are safe, but that construction has taken longer than anyone anticipated, partly because there have been four superintendents, one contractor and a lack of leadership from the owners.
“They don’t follow the plans, so we’re having problems,” Johnson said. “I contact the owners four of five times a week trying to work things out. We’ve got almost all the structural problems solved. We’re working on life-safety issues. The other problem is, they don’t work on Fridays. You go out there and there will be one electrician or maybe two sheetrockers. There’s never a full crew. You would expect 30 people working out there at a time and there isn’t. It’s frustrating to the city, and I know it’s frustrating for you.”
One audience member said Hollister doesn’t get any respect, saying that with the population changing the city is trying to figure out its identity.
“We have a wonderful climate and location, but we can’t let people run over us,” he said. “People want to bully you and now they can’t. Once they get a taste of what’s here, they realize how valuable this place is.”
Another speaker that for years, Hollister displayed an “unwelcome mat,” that has only recently changed as the word is being put out in an attempt to attract more businesses that will bring more jobs to the area. “That’s important to any business, not just new businesses, that we value you here,” he said, then he addressed the road situation: “The problem is State Highways 25, 152 and 156. We have no jurisdiction over those or mojo at the state level to get anything done.”
Another issue brought up was the lack of skilled workers to work on the large home-building projects being done by outside contractors. It was suggested more effort should be done to work with local contractors and suppliers, who are just as capable as the larger nationwide chains.
The panel also discussed possible grants, building mixed-use projects on the 400 block in downtown Hollister, and other issues.
You must be logged in to post a comment.