diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-base-vector.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-base-vector.md
index 97068d81e..de5d6981b 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-base-vector.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-base-vector.md
@@ -38,8 +38,9 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 - [ ] Update all `boil-config.toml` files which reference vector.
 - [ ] Add any patches required for this version (delete patches for removed versions).
 - [ ] Update other dependencies if applicable (eg: inotify_tools, etc).
-- [ ] Check other operators (getting_started / kuttl / supported-versions) for usage of the versions. Add the PR(s) to the list below.
+- [ ] Check operators (tests / getting_started / kuttl / supported-versions) for usage of the versions. Add the PR(s) to the list below.
 - [ ] Update the version in demos. Add the PR(s) to the list below.
+- [ ] Update the version used by Jenkins in the `ci` repository.
 
 ## Related Pull Requests
 
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 - _Link to the operator PR (getting_started / kuttl / supported-versions)_
 - _Link to any other operator PRs (getting_started / kuttl)_
 - _Link to demo PR (raise against the `main` branch)_
-- _Link to the Release Notes PR in the documentation repo (if not a comment below)_
+- _Link to ci PR_
 
 ## Acceptance
 
@@ -61,7 +62,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 
 - [ ] Can build image (either locally, or in CI)
 - [ ] All kuttl tests pass (either locally, or in CI)
-- [ ] Release notes added to documentation and linked as a PR above
 - [ ] Release notes written in a comment below
 - [ ] Applicable `release-note` label added to this issue
 
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-airflow.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-airflow.md
index 996a890a9..9ce54f7b6 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-airflow.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-airflow.md
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 - _Link to operator PR (getting_started / kuttl)_
 - _Link to any other operator PRs (getting_started / kuttl)_
 - _Link to demo PR (raise against the `main` branch)_
-- _Link to the Release Notes PR in the documentation repo (if not a comment below)_
 
 ## Acceptance
 
@@ -59,7 +58,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 
 - [ ] Can build image (either locally, or in CI)
 - [ ] All kuttl tests pass (either locally, or in CI)
-- [ ] Release notes added to documentation and linked as a PR above
 - [ ] Release notes written in a comment below
 - [ ] Applicable `release-note` label added to this issue
 
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-druid.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-druid.md
index 08f6b7602..0744d6b5e 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-druid.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-druid.md
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 - _Link to the operator PR (getting_started / kuttl / supported-versions)_
 - _Link to any other operator PRs (getting_started / kuttl)_
 - _Link to demo PR (raise against the `main` branch)_
-- _Link to the Release Notes PR in the documentation repo (if not a comment below)_
 
 ## Acceptance
 
@@ -60,7 +59,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 
 - [ ] Can build image (either locally, or in CI)
 - [ ] All kuttl tests pass (either locally, or in CI)
-- [ ] Release notes added to documentation and linked as a PR above
 - [ ] Release notes written in a comment below
 - [ ] Applicable `release-note` label added to this issue
 
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-hbase-phoenix-omid.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-hbase-phoenix-omid.md
index 583534b7d..9f3f42f9d 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-hbase-phoenix-omid.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-hbase-phoenix-omid.md
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 - _Link to operator PR (getting_started / kuttl)_
 - _Link to any other operator PRs (getting_started / kuttl)_
 - _Link to demo PR (raise against the `main` branch)_
-- _Link to the Release Notes PR in the documentation repo (if not a comment below)_
 
 ## Acceptance
 
@@ -64,7 +63,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 
 - [ ] Can build image (either locally, or in CI)
 - [ ] All kuttl tests pass (either locally, or in CI)
-- [ ] Release notes added to documentation and linked as a PR above
 - [ ] Release notes written in a comment below
 - [ ] Applicable `release-note` label added to this issue
 
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-hdfs.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-hdfs.md
index 44fb8625f..503c427d1 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-hdfs.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-hdfs.md
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 - _Link to the operator PR (getting_started / kuttl / supported-versions)_
 - _Link to any other operator PRs (getting_started / kuttl)_
 - _Link to demo PR (raise against the `main` branch)_
-- _Link to the Release Notes PR in the documentation repo (if not a comment below)_
 
 ## Acceptance
 
@@ -55,7 +54,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 
 - [ ] Can build image (either locally, or in CI)
 - [ ] All kuttl tests pass (either locally, or in CI)
-- [ ] Release notes added to documentation and linked as a PR above
 - [ ] Release notes written in a comment below
 - [ ] Applicable `release-note` label added to this issue
 
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-hive.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-hive.md
index 2c548d058..a2e1bcc6e 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-hive.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-hive.md
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 - _Link to the operator PR (getting_started / kuttl / supported-versions)_
 - _Link to any other operator PRs (getting_started / kuttl)_
 - _Link to demo PR (raise against the `main` branch)_
-- _Link to the Release Notes PR in the documentation repo (if not a comment below)_
 
 ## Acceptance
 
@@ -58,7 +57,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 
 - [ ] Can build image (either locally, or in CI)
 - [ ] All kuttl tests pass (either locally, or in CI)
-- [ ] Release notes added to documentation and linked as a PR above
 - [ ] Release notes written in a comment below
 - [ ] Applicable `release-note` label added to this issue
 
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-kafka.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-kafka.md
index b00951fac..9b92a377a 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-kafka.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-kafka.md
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 - _Link to the operator PR (getting_started / kuttl / supported-versions)_
 - _Link to any other operator PRs (getting_started / kuttl)_
 - _Link to demo PR (raise against the `main` branch)_
-- _Link to the Release Notes PR in the documentation repo (if not a comment below)_
 
 ## Acceptance
 
@@ -67,7 +66,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 
 - [ ] Can build image (either locally, or in CI)
 - [ ] All kuttl tests pass (either locally, or in CI)
-- [ ] Release notes added to documentation and linked as a PR above
 - [ ] Release notes written in a comment below
 - [ ] Applicable `release-note` label added to this issue
 
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-nifi.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-nifi.md
index 6c512e1e9..b4f057e99 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-nifi.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-nifi.md
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 - _Link to the operator PR (getting_started / kuttl / supported-versions)_
 - _Link to any other operator PRs (getting_started / kuttl)_
 - _Link to demo PR (raise against the `main` branch)_
-- _Link to the Release Notes PR in the documentation repo (if not a comment below)_
 
 ## Acceptance
 
@@ -58,7 +57,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 
 - [ ] Can build image (either locally, or in CI)
 - [ ] All kuttl tests pass (either locally, or in CI)
-- [ ] Release notes added to documentation and linked as a PR above
 - [ ] Release notes written in a comment below
 - [ ] Applicable `release-note` label added to this issue
 
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-opa.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-opa.md
index d687b9a5d..96b57a753 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-opa.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-opa.md
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 - _Link to the operator PR (getting_started / kuttl / supported-versions)_
 - _Link to any other operator PRs (getting_started / kuttl)_
 - _Link to demo PR (raise against the `main` branch)_
-- _Link to the Release Notes PR in the documentation repo (if not a comment below)_
 
 ## Acceptance
 
@@ -53,7 +52,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 
 - [ ] Can build image (either locally, or in CI)
 - [ ] All kuttl tests pass (either locally, or in CI)
-- [ ] Release notes added to documentation and linked as a PR above
 - [ ] Release notes written in a comment below
 - [ ] Applicable `release-note` label added to this issue
 
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-opensearch-dashboards.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-opensearch-dashboards.md
index 4e1d97e29..4a44c0277 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-opensearch-dashboards.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-opensearch-dashboards.md
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 - _Link to the operator PR (getting_started / kuttl / supported-versions)_
 - _Link to any other operator PRs (getting_started / kuttl)_
 - _Link to demo PR (raise against the `main` branch)_
-- _Link to the Release Notes PR in the documentation repo (if not a comment below)_
 
 ## Acceptance
 
@@ -52,7 +51,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 
 - [ ] Can build image (either locally, or in CI)
 - [ ] All kuttl tests pass (either locally, or in CI)
-- [ ] Release notes added to documentation and linked as a PR above
 - [ ] Release notes written in a comment below
 - [ ] Applicable `release-note` label added to this issue
 
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-opensearch.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-opensearch.md
index a44915d5c..d8a520bc7 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-opensearch.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-opensearch.md
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 - _Link to the operator PR (getting_started / kuttl / supported-versions)_
 - _Link to any other operator PRs (getting_started / kuttl)_
 - _Link to demo PR (raise against the `main` branch)_
-- _Link to the Release Notes PR in the documentation repo (if not a comment below)_
 
 ## Acceptance
 
@@ -53,7 +52,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 
 - [ ] Can build image (either locally, or in CI)
 - [ ] All kuttl tests pass (either locally, or in CI)
-- [ ] Release notes added to documentation and linked as a PR above
 - [ ] Release notes written in a comment below
 - [ ] Applicable `release-note` label added to this issue
 
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-spark.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-spark.md
index 5ce71e772..9969475a5 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-spark.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-spark.md
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 - _Link to the operator PR (getting_started / kuttl / supported-versions)_
 - _Link to any other operator PRs (getting_started / kuttl)_
 - _Link to demo PR (raise against the `main` branch)_
-- _Link to the Release Notes PR in the documentation repo (if not a comment below)_
 
 ## Acceptance
 
@@ -57,7 +56,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 
 - [ ] Can build image (either locally, or in CI)
 - [ ] All kuttl tests pass (either locally, or in CI)
-- [ ] Release notes added to documentation and linked as a PR above
 - [ ] Release notes written in a comment below
 - [ ] Applicable `release-note` label added to this issue
 
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-superset.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-superset.md
index 687dc4952..84ef9ca9d 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-superset.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-superset.md
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 - _Link to the operator PR (getting_started / kuttl / supported-versions)_
 - _Link to any other operator PRs (getting_started / kuttl)_
 - _Link to demo PR (raise against the `main` branch)_
-- _Link to the Release Notes PR in the documentation repo (if not a comment below)_
 
 ## Acceptance
 
@@ -56,7 +55,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 
 - [ ] Can build image (either locally, or in CI)
 - [ ] All kuttl tests pass (either locally, or in CI)
-- [ ] Release notes added to documentation and linked as a PR above
 - [ ] Release notes written in a comment below
 - [ ] Applicable `release-note` label added to this issue
 
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-trino.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-trino.md
index 349531e9a..70dc4a246 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-trino.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-trino.md
@@ -56,7 +56,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 - _Link to the operator PR (getting_started / kuttl / supported-versions)_
 - _Link to any other operator PRs (getting_started / kuttl)_
 - _Link to demo PR (raise against the `main` branch)_
-- _Link to the Release Notes PR in the documentation repo (if not a comment below)_
 
 ## Acceptance
 
@@ -66,7 +65,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 
 - [ ] Can build image (either locally, or in CI)
 - [ ] All kuttl tests pass (either locally, or in CI)
-- [ ] Release notes added to documentation and linked as a PR above
 - [ ] Release notes written in a comment below
 - [ ] Applicable `release-note` label added to this issue
 
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-zookeeper.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-zookeeper.md
index 8164c2472..a628ff92d 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-zookeeper.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-product-zookeeper.md
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 - _Link to the operator PR (getting_started / kuttl / supported-versions)_
 - _Link to any other operator PRs (getting_started / kuttl)_
 - _Link to demo PR (raise against the `main` branch)_
-- _Link to the Release Notes PR in the documentation repo (if not a comment below)_
 
 ## Acceptance
 
@@ -56,7 +55,6 @@ Add/Change/Remove anything that isn't applicable anymore
 
 - [ ] Can build image (either locally, or in CI)
 - [ ] All kuttl tests pass (either locally, or in CI)
-- [ ] Release notes added to documentation and linked as a PR above
 - [ ] Release notes written in a comment below
 - [ ] Applicable `release-note` label added to this issue