Overview 

The City of Hollister has been providing fire services for San Benito County since 2013. The current contract runs from January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2025. On June 20, 2024, the City of Hollister submitted a letter to the County advising of terminating Fire protection services in the unincorporated San Benito County, unilaterally changing the termination date certain. 

Since then the County has contracted with MRG, a trusted municipal advisor, and an outside council to assist the County with Fire Protection services. MRG has experience assisting local governments in addressing a wide range of issues, including fire protection services. The county is working with consultants Jeff Meston and Don Ashton from MRG. The County is also working with William L. Adams, PC for legal counsel. A team of experts is advising and supporting the County in navigating through options for Fire protection services. 

Don Ashton brings a broad range of public sector experience spanning 30 years in large and small counties, approximately 20 of which were in executive management-level positions.  His career includesexecutive-level experience in human resources, finance and budget, program reviews, and audits. He served as the Director of Health and Human Services and the Chief Administrative Officer for El Dorado County.

Chief Jeffrey Meston is a  competent, reliable, and committed professional with a proven record of success in assuming increasing levels of responsibility. He started his career in 1976 and has served as a Chief Officer for 35 years working within the following agencies, including the Alameda County Fire Department, City of Madera FD, Novato Fire Protection District, Capstone Fire Management, Los Coyotes Tribal Fire Department, City of South Lake Tahoe Fire Department and the  Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Fire Branch). He holds a master’s degree in Public Administration, is a California Certified Fire Chief #16, holds an International Association of Fire Chiefs Association, Chief Fire Officer Designation, and is a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer series at the National Fire Academy. Past President of the California Fire Chiefs Association, served as the Executive Director of the California State Firefighters Association and currently is the Executive Director of the California Fire Chiefs Association.  He has consulted in fire and life safety services for 30 plus years, is an author and lecturer, and has served as a resident instructor at the National Fire Academy and California Fire Academy; he also currently serves on the Climate and Wildfire Institute as their Treasurer.

Bill Adams is principal council at William L. Adams, PC after retiring from Sonoma County council's office. He serves as general counsel for numerous fire districts, other public agencies and corporations, with a focus on advising decision makers on strategic planning and innovative policy implementation. A frequent speaker throughout California on a leadership an emergency services, including FDA C, Cal chiefs, and the California ambulance association. Bill has successfully assisted multiple fire agencies with  LA FCO consolidations and integration of ambulance services into the public sector. Bill was president of the Sonoma County Bar Association in 2004 and has been appointed by the California Chief Justice to serve on state advisory committees on diverse policy issues. He grew up in Chicago and has earned degrees in history and political science from Northwestern University where he was commissioned through the naval ROTC program and served 26 years as an officer of the marines, a law degree from the University of Oregon School of Law, a degree in International Security studies from the National Defense university.

Collectively, they have identified the following options, presented to the County Board of Supervisors on October 22, 2024

1. Renegotiate the Contract with the City of Hollister;
2. Explore a Hybrid model with CalFire and Local Staffing;
3. Form a Regional Fire Protection District with Neighboring Counties;
4. Build a New San Benito County Fire Department;
5. Contract with Private Fire service providers;
6. Leverage Volunteer or Combination Fire Department Models;
7. Creating a Joint Power Authority (JPA) with the City of Hollister and other agencies.