Board approves contract for riverbed encampment cleanup; officials urge coordinated county-city effort

The San Benito County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously March 25 to authorize a contract with Tucker Construction to begin clearing homeless encampments and hazardous debris in riverbed locations, including the San Benito (Samuel) River and the Cameron site, and approved related budget adjustments to support enforcement and property storage.

The contract as presented commits $215,000 for the initial cleanup services; county staff said the broader package of items related to operational costs, sheriff presence and storage solutions totals approximately $352,000. Manny Gonzalez, representing the county administrative office, told the board staff had used an existing county procurement arrangement and the vendor could mobilize quickly. "We have talked to the vendor. He can mobilize within a couple weeks," Gonzalez said; staff later told the board the team hoped to begin work the week of April 21 if notices and preparations go as planned.

Why it matters: Board members and staff framed the cleanup as a public-safety and environmental priority, citing fire risk and hazardous materials in the river corridor. Several supervisors said the operation must be coordinated with the City of Hollister to prevent encampments from simply moving across jurisdictional lines.

Details and commitments: County staff said the initial contract would be used to pilot site work and that additional funds may be needed later; amendments would come back to the board when required. The sheriff's office is standing up a dedicated parks-and-trails deputy (deputy Simpson) expected to provide ongoing enforcement and monitoring once initial cleanups are completed. County staff also proposed buying secured storage (Connex boxes) to hold property removed from encampments for up to 90 days, in line with the county's encampment policy.

Public input: Public speakers asked the county to consider local nonprofits with prior river cleanup experience and requested strict accountability for contractors. Elias Salinas urged the county to review deliverables from prior, large river cleanups and to consider local groups such as CHEER for follow-up maintenance and oversight. Other speakers said public education and services to help people exit encampments should be part of the plan.

Board discussion: Supervisors expressed urgency about starting cleanups before the fire season and stressed the need for city coordination so cleared encampments do not simply shift across the Fourth Street bridge to city property. Supervisor Sotelo said she favored starting the work but preferred a shorter contract rather than a three-year open-ended term; staff replied the multi-year contract provides flexibility but that any additional expenditures would return to the board for approval.

Formal action: The board approved the contract and related budget adjustments by a 5-0 roll call vote. Staff said they would coordinate immediately with the City of Hollister and return to the board with an operational timeline and an update at the next meeting cycle.

What to watch for next: Staff will notify affected residents and property owners, coordinate with Hollister public-works and police, provide an estimated cleanup timeline after further site surveys and report back to the board when additional funds are needed or as the pilot cleanup concludes.