City of Hollister*

R1

For the overall safety of the community of all ages, the San Benito County Civil Grand Jury recommends that the City of Hollister explores creative options towards developing a comprehensive retention strategy and strength in benefits before the next budget review. The City of Hollister and the Hollister Police Department agree with the recommendation. However, the city and the department have already developed the comprehensive retention strategy which involve bonus pay for entry level and laterals as well as annual bonuses for existing staff. We also have an education incentive that facilitates staff to acquire higher education degrees. The only part missing is exploring increased salaries that make a position with Hollister Police Department more Telephone (831) 636-4300 • Fax (831) 636-4310 CITY OF HOLLISTER 375 Fifth • Hollister, CA 95023-3876 That should be addressed in future negotiations between the City of competitive. Hollister and the Hollister Police Officers' Association.

R2

It is the Civil Grand Jury's recommendation that the County and City increase their funding to the Hollister Police Department and SBC's Sheriff's Department to supply the resources required to address this damaging behavior. The City of Hollister disagrees that additional funding is required to address the damaging behavior along the San Benito River. The City of Hollister has continued to provide adequate funding to its Police Department, however, retention issues have remained a challenge. The City and the Hollister Police Department have already developed the comprehensive retention strategy which involve bonus pay for entry level and laterals as well as annual bonuses for existing staff. We also have an education incentive that facilitates staff to acquire higher education degrees. The only part missing is exploring increased salaries that make a position with the Hollister Police Department Telephone (831) 636-4300 • Fax (831) 636-4310 CITY OF HOLLISTER 375 FIFTH • HOLLISTER, CA 95023-3876 more competitive. That should be addressed in future negotiations between the City of Hollister and the Hollister Police Officers' Association. Respectfully, Brett I. Miller City Manager CITY OF HOLLISTER 375 Fifth • Hollister, CA 95023-3876 November 7, 2022 The Honorable Omar Rodriguez Presiding Judge San Benito County Superior Court 450 Fourth Street, Room 205 Hollister, CA 95023 Dear Judge Rodriguez: The City of Hollister and the Hollister Police Department have received the 2021-2022 San Benito County Grand Jury Final Report. I am writing in response to the findings and recommendations set forth in that report. Hollister Police Animal Care and Services Department- 2021-2022 Grand Jury Investigation The Grand Jury Final Report states that many positive changes were already in progress at the Animal Shelter such as expanded hours during the week and on Saturdays. It should be noted that Animal Shelter staff worked these extended hours for a six-month period to address the concerns of the public regarding accessibility for adoptions, reunification of lost pets, and dog licensing. Throughout the six-month period, there were many Saturdays and extended hours that were not utilized by the public, and staff was unable to continue to provide these services due to lack of engagement from the community. The six-month period yielded underwhelming results and resulted in zero adoptions to the public, four animals returned to their owners, and three dog licenses issued. Staff reports indicated many extended hours resulted in no one visiting the shelter during those open hours, fifteen appointments where the persons who made the appointments cancelled or never arrived, fifteen adoption inquiries with no adoptions, one surrendered dog, one adoption returned and four disposal request. These results were provided to City Council along with over $8,400 in overtime cost. The report to council included a cost of approximately $17,000 in overtime funding needed annually to continue these extended hours. At the direction of City Council, the extended hours were eliminated in July of this year. However, Animal Shelter staff remains flexible in circumstances that do not allow a potential adopter or animal owner to reclaim or adopt within existing business hours. Staff remains available for appointments on a case by case basis. The Grand Jury Final Report also

R3

The San Benito County Civil Grand Jury recommends hiring a second K-9 Patrol Team as an investment in officer safety that should be funded within the next operating budget. The City of Hollister and the Hollister Police Department agree in part and disagree in part. The K-9 is a very valuable tool to assist and enhance the services that an officer can provide. However, adding an additional K-9 requires a substantial financial investment of over $10,000 for the purchase of the canine, additional thousands of dollars for training, as well as having the officer away from patrol for over a month of training before the partners can be used on patrol. This department already have plans to add at least one Telephone (831) 636-4300 • Fax (831) 636-4310 CITY OF HOLLISTER 375 Fifth • Hollister, CA 95023-3876 more K-9 to the department to ensure there is a K-9 available every day of the week. However, our priority it to hire police officers to fill the current vacant positions.

R4

The San Benito County Civil Grand Jury recommends the creation of an updated retention schedule for HPD Records Department to destroy antiquated records under the guidelines of the State of California as soon as possible and purge every two years after scanning to paperless. The City of Hollister and the Hollister Police Department agree with the recommendation. An updated retention policy is already in the works and it will be brought up to the City Council once the City Attorney reviews the proposed policy and it is acceptable under state guidelines.

R5

The San Benito County Civil Grand Jury recommends the full-time position of a Cannabis Officer should be re-established immediately and the service to the private businesses should be charged to cover the fees. The City of Hollister and the Hollister Police Department agree in part and disagree in part. The Hollister Police Department agree there is a need of oversight. There is already a system in place to fund a position for that oversight as the cannabis businesses provide Telephone (831) 636-4300 • Fax (831) 636-4310 CITY OF HOLLISTER 375 Fifth • Hollister, CA 95023-3876 licensing fees and pay sales taxes as well as cannabis fees. However, up to this point the revenue coming into the city from this industry pales in comparison with the initial estimates. New companies are schedules to begin operations in the city in the coming months. As the fees increase, the funding for a full time officer may be possible. If the fees incurred do not reached the needed amount to offset the cost of the officer, then a new funding source or method will be considered to be charged to the cannabis industry.

R6

The San Benito County Civil Grand Jury recommends the development of funding towards the reinstatement a Citizen and Youth Academy as soon as possible. The Hollister Police Department agrees with the recommendation and believe a Citizen Academy is a very valuable program. The Police Department will look into bringing the Citizen Academy, or a mini-version, as soon as staffing needs are at a level that can sustained the demands of having a staff teaching the academy.

R7

When the City of Hollister spends over $44,000.00 for a consulting report, at least 25-50% of the findings should be implemented. The City of Hollister and the Hollister Police Department agree in part and disagree in part. It is important when the city spends money for insight on staffing or other issues which result in recommendations. Often, these recommendations, like some grand jury recommendations, lack the required funds or resources to implement those recommendations. However, in this case, the Hollister Police Department has either implemented, tried or at least attempted (and could not accomplish) 12 of the 18 recommendations. That is at least 66.7% implemented, tried or cannot be done at this time. Overall, the city and the police department remain committed to accomplishing all of the recommendations and look forward to adding new positions and services to the department. Respectfully, Brett I. Miller City Manager Telephone (831) 636-4300 • Fax (831) 636-4310 SANTA CRUZ REGIONAL 9-1-1 495 Upper Park Road, Santa Cruz, California 95065 831.471-1000 Fax 831.471.1010 Amethyst Uchida, General Manager SECONDS MATTER City Manager Brett Miller Chief of Police Carlos Reynoso City of Hollister Re: San Benito County Civil Grand Jury Report Dear Mr. Miller and Chief Reynoso, I have reviewed the San Benito County Civil Grand Jury Report for 2022 and would like to share SCR9-1-1's perspective on the "Dispatch - Communications Report" as you consider your response to the Civil Grand Jury. First, I think it is important to clarify that there are two distinct topics within this report: the public safety communications services agreement between San Benito County, the • City of Hollister, and Santa Cruz Regional 9-1-1; and the state of the public safety radio infrastructure owned by San Benito County and used . by Hollister Police, San Benito Sheriff, and Santa Cruz Regional 9-1-1. In the report, these two topics are conflated and evaluated jointly as "the dispatch system" but I would assert that they should each be considered separately. As for the first topic, SCR9-1-1 is proud of the service we have been providing to the City of Hollister's Police and Fire Departments. Our trained, professional staff answer emergency and non-emergency phone calls that originate within the City of Hollister on behalf of the Hollister Police and Fire Departments. We also dispatch public safety personnel who work for HPD and HFD as they respond to requests for service from the public and proactively address community concerns. In the course of dispatching, we use radio infrastructure and frequencies owned by the County of San Benito. While SCR9-1-1's costs for providing services have increased over the years, we are a government agency (joint powers authority) and as such the fees we charge do not represent profit of any kind but simply are the City of Hollister's fair share of SCR9-1-1's costs to run a 9-1-1 public safety dispatch center. The guidelines for SCR9-1-1 cost sharing are available on our website and are based on the amount of staffing allocated to each agency, the count of radio transmissions, and the number of calls for service. I am happy to provide more detailed insight into the cost sharing formula and the process for its calculation as requested. As for the second topic, the Civil Grand Jury report accurately represents the significant challenges with the current law enforcement radio system. It has been plagued by interference, poor audio quality, and is generally unreliable. This is as frustrating and challenging to SCR9-1-1 dispatchers as it is to the public safety personnel in the field. However, SCR9-1-1 does not have responsibility for or authority over the radio infrastructure. San Benito County Sheriff Eric Taylor is aware of the issues with the law enforcement radio infrastructure and has been working diligently since he became Sheriff to identify solutions for the system as a whole. SCR9-1-1 hopes the Grand Jury report will encourage continued actions towards an improved radio communications system and our staff are ready and willing to assist the City of Hollister and the County of San Benito however we can in this process. Thank you. Amethyst Uchida General Manager Santa Cruz Regional 9-1-1 * *