City to Hold Town Hall Meeting on Vital Projects

City staff will hold a town hall meeting Wednesday to discuss three major projects Hercules has on the line, including the Intermodal Transit Center, Hercules Municipal Utility and Sycamore North.

Interim City Manager Fred Deltorchio said staff will give presentations on the projects — each facing complex funding issues — and solicit input from the public.

The Intermodal Transit Center, a component of the long-awaited waterfront development, has been awarded grant money. But the city needs to get started on the proposed train, bus and ferry complex before the grants expire, and Hercules still needs to secure other funds to see the project to completion.

Hercules Municipal Utility, which was adopted by the City Council in 2001, has never been profitable, Deltorchio said. And even though the council voted to expand HMU last year, Deltorchio said he wanted give the public another chance to analyze the electric service and its financial impact on the city.

, which was discussed at last week’s council meeting, is in the middle phase of construction. More construction could help stave off further devaluation of the mixed-use building, which is already expected to cost the city tens of millions of dollars. The city, though, is struggling with getting enough funds to continue construction on the project.

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. in the City Hall council chambers.