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The Hollister City Council directed staff Feb. 5 to move forward with the Dunne Park Court resurfacing project which includes transforming the center court into four pickleball courts. The project is estimated to cost $72,873 over a five-year period, which includes four years of preventative maintenance at $3,000 per year, and $1,700 for posts and nets for one tennis court and one pickleball court.
Hollister Recreation Manager Tina Garza said the department is also seeking quotes for lighting. She said this would not conflict with the resurfacing work and that the projects are funded through the city’s park dedication fees.
In her presentation, Garza said the City Council originally approved the first option which included resurfacing the existing three pickleball courts and two tennis courts. However, following public comment on various meetings, the council delayed the project to analyze more options. The option was estimated to cost $47,880 over a five-year period.
Garza said material costs for Option 1 were lower as there are existing pickleball posts and nets.
A third option proposed was converting two tennis courts into seven pickleball courts and resurfacing the third tennis court for $75,030 over a five-year period.
City Manager David Mirrione said the city is required to solicit additional bids for the second and third options as they are over the $60,000 limit of the California Uniform Construction Cost Accounting Act, which may prolong the process compared to the option that does not require to go to bid.
Garza said there are plans to build four pickleball courts at the proposed park near Fire Station #2, which is expected to be completed in November 2025. Mirrione also said Hollister High School is considering installing pickleball courts.
Councilmember Rolan Resendiz said he preferred to stick to the original decision because of the other pickleball courts that are planned.
“What I’m afraid of is that if we convert all of these we’re going to have more [pickleball courts] out there, and then they get lobbied at the high school, which is not in our jurisdiction, and they’re going to have more [pickleball courts],” Resendiz said. “And then where are the tennis players going to go?
After hearing from Garza that the pickleball community wanted this project done “immediately,” Councilmember Dolores Morales said she preferred the first option to “accommodate the community.”
Mirrione said the potential delay is not regarding any extra work the city has to do but the availability of the vendor to start the project.
Mayor Mia Casey said she also preferred Option 1 to get the project done faster but later favored the second option, citing weather forecasts and staff’s estimation that the project may be completed in May.
“Given the sheer number of people that were here at the last meeting, there definitely is a demand and if we can have an additional court it might be worth those extra months to get it in and get it right, ” Casey said. “It seems like a good compromise.”
Councilmembers Tim Burns and Rick Perez also favored option 2.
“I live right by there,” Perez said. “I see the pickleballers in the morning, and I see the tennis ballers in the afternoon/evening. I see a combined use.”
According to the staff report in the agenda packet, prior to the onset of the pandemic, Hollister’s Parks and Recreation Department provided a free tennis program, supported by the U.S. Tennis Association, benefiting around 100 youths ages 5-17 each year. It added that the program used two of the tennis courts during its activities.
The council also approved, on a 4-0 vote, a contract with Melton Design Group for architectural and engineering services for the Dunne Park Clubhouse renovation project. The contractor will also take on the design of a new park near Fire Station #2.
According to the agenda packet, the city was awarded two grants totaling $2 million for both projects. The clubhouse renovation includes creating a technology center and community room, removing lead and asbestos toxins and replacing the existing roof.
Resendiz was not present during that vote.
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