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For nearly a year, Hollister has sought to increase the rate it charges San Juan Bautista and San Benito County for fire protection services. City officials claim that Hollister has been subsidizing the firefighting services it provides the county and San Juan for many years. With the contract set to expire in December, the City Council began renegotiating in 2024.
Since then, there have been back-and-forth discussions about each jurisdiction’s fair share of costs and budget capabilities. The three municipalities also partnered to conduct a countywide fire district feasibility study. Since then, the county has pulled its ad hoc committee from negotiations and from the study.
Hollister has provided fire protection services countywide since 2013. Before contracting with Hollister, San Benito County and San Juan Bautista were served by Cal Fire.
Fire service costs have been an issue for Hollister for several years. Supervisor Ignacio Velazquez, when he was Hollister mayor, told the City Council on March 18, 2019, “We’re carrying the burden and we are subsidizing the county by quite a bit of dollars.” He added, “I’m raising the flag here, a warning flag. We’re headed for trouble—big financial trouble.”
The San Benito County 2022-23 Civil Grand Jury Report found that Hollister Fire Department’s resources were stretched thin due to staff shortages and equipment issues. Hollister Fire Chief Jonathan Goulding told the Board of Supervisors he was short-staffed, and that a number of his firefighters were on long-term disability.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, most fire departments have between 1.5 and 1.8 firefighters per 1,000 residents. San Benito County’s ratio is 0.6 firefighters per 1,000 residents.
Below is a timeline of the events as they unfolded over the past year:
May 6, 2024
Direction to negotiate
Hollister City Council unanimously directs staff to renegotiate with San Benito County and San Juan Bautista for fire services.
June 18, 2024
Hollister approves termination notice
Hollister City Council on a 4-1 vote approves issuing a 270-day termination notice to the county and San Juan Bautista for fire protection services. The notices had been sent June 20. Councilmember Rolan Resendiz opposed the issuance despite voicing support at the May 6 meeting.
June 18, 2024
SJB creates committee to analyze fire protection options
San Juan Bautista City Council creates an ad hoc committee to consider options for fire services, appointing Mayor Scott Freels and Councilmember Leslie Jordan.
Sept. 10, 2024
San Juan Bautista calls for study proposals
San Juan Bautista City Council approves accepting proposals for a countywide fire district feasibility study.jo
Oct. 15, 2024
San Juan Bautista approves contract with Hollister
San Juan Bautista City Council approves a contract with the city of Hollister for fire services contingent on Hollister and San Benito County reaching an agreement. (Hollister City Council did not consider the agreement until March 2025, and then decreased minimum staffing from three firefighters per engine to two.)
Jan. 21, 2025
Hollister rescinds termination notice
Hollister City Council rescinds its 270-day termination notice. The contract would have been terminated March 15 without the reversal.
Jan. 21, 2025
San Juan Bautista approves share of study cost
San Juan Bautista approves its share of funding for the countywide fire district feasibility study.
Feb. 22, 2025
San Juan Bautista holds town hall
San Juan Bautista holds a town hall meeting where Hollister Fire Chief Jonathan Goulding presents data regarding how many times firefighters were dispatched and to what areas. San Juan Bautista Mayor Scott Freels and City Councilmember Leslie Jordan were sharply critical of the San Benito County Board of Supervisors, challenging Ignacio Velazquez and Kollin Kosmicki, who were in attendance.
March 17, 2025
Hollister approves offers to SJB and county
Hollister City Council approves an offer to San Juan Bautista and San Benito County. The offer was put together by the city’s committee made up of Mayor Roxanne Stephens and Councilmember Rolan Resendiz. For San Juan Bautista, the offer calls for the city to pay an additional $150,000 (for a total of $418,279 for fiscal year 2024-25) with an 11% annual increase. San Juan Bautista and Hollister had already agreed on terms in October. For the county, the offer was to pay an additional $1.1 million annually (for a total of $3.38 million for fiscal year 2024-25) with a 3% annual increase, up to $400,000 in expenses and ambulance service costs dating back to 2019.
March 18, 2025
County approves contract
San Benito County on a 3-2 vote accepts Hollister’s offer but requests that a ‘brown out’ clause allowing the reduction of operations or closure at Fire Station 3 be eliminated. The fire station is located at the Hollister Municipal Airport.
March 18, 2025
San Juan Bautista rejects contract
San Juan Bautista unanimously rejects the offer by the City of Hollister opposing the decrease of minimal staffing from three firefighters per engine to two.
March 21, 2025
Hollister changes strategy
Hollister City Council changes its negotiation strategy by adding Fire Chief Jonathan Goulding, firefighters union president Josh Buzzeta and Hollister City Manager David Mirrione to the negotiation table and requiring the three jurisdictions to negotiate together. The city also agrees to increase minimal staffing from two to three firefighters per engine. The council also directs staff to prepare a 270-day termination notice.
March 24, 2025
Hollister re-issues 270-day notice
Hollister City Council unanimously moves to reissue the 270-day fire service contract termination notice to San Juan Bautista and San Benito County. The notice is sent March 25.
March 26, 2025
County opts to analyze creating its own fire department
On a 3-2 vote, the San Benito County Board of Supervisors agendize an item to create an ad hoc committee to analyze creating its own fire department or contracting with Cal Fire.
April 7, 2025
Hollister approves joint offer
Hollister City Council unanimously approves a new joint offer to San Juan Bautista and San Benito County. Instead of naming a fee, the Hollister City Council said it would be up to the two jurisdictions to figure out how they’ll split a $3.9 million fee increase. Among the terms included are an annual cost increase of 8% and a one-time payment of $1.25 million.
April 8, 2025
San Benito County forms new committee
The San Benito County Board of Supervisors approve forming an ad hoc committee to look into creating its own fire department and appoint Supervisors Angela Curro and Ignacio Velazquez.
April 15, 2025
County, San Juan Bautista reject offer
San Juan Bautista City Council unanimously and San Benito County Board of Supervisors on a 3-2 vote reject the latest Hollister proposal and agree to counteroffer with the terms presented in March. San Juan Bautista also directs staff to analyze requesting proposals for services as a backup.
April 21, 2025
County pulls from negotiations, participating in study
San Benito County Board of Supervisors suspends negotiations with Hollister and withdraws from participating in the fire district feasibility study.
May 5, 2025
Hollister dissolves negotiating committee
The Hollister City Council dissolves its fire services contract negotiating committee. Council members stated they were still open to future discussions.
San Benito County approves interim fire chief position
The county approved an interim fire chief position to act as the project manager in creating a fire department. The fire chief’s annual salary would be between $178,000 and $236,000.
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