Cities Join Hercules, Look at Property Transfer Tax Bill

The city of Hercules is spearheading a movement to endorse state legislation that would allow general law cities to increase the property transfer tax in a Thursday meeting of the Contra Costa County Mayors Conference in Walnut Creek.

On property taxes, Hercules Mayor Dan Romero is asking that mayors conference members support state legislation — sponsored by Sen. Loni Hancock, D-Berkeley — to give general law cities the same option charter cities have: to increase the property transfer tax.

Also, Hercules is asking city councils to endorse its proposal to rename the segment of Highway 4 in Hercules the Joe Eddy McDonald Memorial Freeway after the former Hercules mayor who recently passed away.

The mayors and leaders gathering in Walnut Creek have an opportunity before the regular meeting to take a tour of downtown Walnut Creek with Mayor Bob Simmons. The tour includes stops at two new pieces of public art in downtown Walnut Creek, including the controversial "Fountain Head" sculpture of a head half-submerged at the Mechanics Bank on North Main Street.

The regular meeting of the Contra Costa Mayors Conference is at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the downtown library on North Broadway, Walnut Creek. It is preceded by Simmons' tour of downtown at 5 p.m., beginning at the north entrance to the library.