Your City Council Live Feb. 28: Council Honors Women of the Year, Passes Bayfront Points, Declares Emergency

The City Council passed a resolution Tuesday declaring a fiscal emergency in Hercules. The resolution aids the city in its quest to raise revenue through possible in nearing elections.

By declaring a fiscal emergency, if the city gets certain tax increasing items on the June or November ballots, the city will increase its chances of passing the measures. The declaration allows the measures to pass with a 50 percent plus one vote versus a two-thirds percent requirement in some instances.

"Doing this doesn’t make you have to put a revenue measure on the ballot, that’s still up to the council’s discretion…but this is a prerequisite. It just gives you that flexibility," said City Manager Steve Duran.

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Also at Tuesday's meeting, three women were honored as nominees for Hercules' . Lori Chinn, Sarah Creeley and Dee Lopez all received nominations and were present at Tuesday's meeting.

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Finally, the council passed several critical land deals and development agreements between the city and waterfront landowner and developer Hercules Bayfront, LLC.

"This was not easy for anybody. (It) is really a spectacular undertaking and by no means finished," said Edgar Panky, of Hercules Bayfront.

"This is the starting point," said resident and Waterfront Watch blog creator Jeffrey Wisniewski. "I’m looking forward to shifting focus from the city council to the developer to bringing this project to fruition,” Wisniewski said.

9:50 p.m., CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS

1. Purchase and sale agreement with Hercules Bayfront. PASSES 3-0, with Boulanger and Councilman Bill Wilkins recusing themselves.

2. Purchase and sale agreement with Hercules Bayfront. PASSES 3-0, with Boulanger and Councilman Bill Wilkins recusing themselves.

3. Vesting tentative map. NO ACTION TAKEN.

4. Emergency declaration. PASSES 5-0

5. Creation of Parks and Recreation job classifications.PASSES 5-0

8:40 p.m., PUBLIC HEARING

1. Have/waive reading of an ordinance making findings of benefit and approving implementing development agreement with Hercules Bayfront LLC and vesting entitlement for 20 years with two five year extensions based on meeting performance requirements.

Have/waive reading of an ordinance making findings of benefit and approving vesting development agreement with Hercules Bayfront LLC vesting entitlement for 15 years with one five year automatic extension. PASSES 3-0, with Boulanger and Councilman Bill Wilkins recusing themselves.

8:30 p.m., UNFINISHED BUSINESS (for all details, see attached agenda)

HMU sale/election, PASSES 4-0, with Councilman Gerard Boulanger recused.

8:10 p.m., CONSENT CALENDAR (for all details, see attached agenda)

1. Jasmin Orum claim, PASSES 5-0

2. Hercules Wastewater Treatment Plant Closure Project, PASSED 5-0

3. d'Oro contract amendment, MOVED TO BE VOTED ON WITH BAYFRONT ITEMS.

4. Garbage-related liens, PASSES 5-0

5. Sycamore North security, PASSES 5-0

6. Electrical easement,

7:45 p.m., PUBLIC COMMENT

Local resident Margie Liberty, Speaks about the . "I think it's a swindle...I was one of 29 people who protested (this measure...)," Liberty says. Thinks the initiatives was put together by "radical environmentalists." Not voting for anymore taxes "no more."

Resident Charles Davidson, Asks the city not to fashion Hercules after Richmond or nearby cities El Cerrito and Pinole. Warns against placing a lot. "We have to really look at this...and not destroy the character of our city."

Resident Selina Williams, "Close to 20 percent of the homes (are) vacant in Bayside...we're frustrated...when it comes to home, this is a really difficult thing...we were sold a bill of goods and it's not appearing...please be careful. Please do not do more damage to our community."

Resident Jeff Wisniewski, Has been waiting five weeks to find out if the Safeway deal is contingent upon having a gas station on the Sycamore lot. "My request is for an Environmental Impact Report to be conducted on that parcel...promising a Safeway with a gas station is having you guys in bed with the developer...don't do these things (deals) behind closed doors."

City Manager Steve Duran in response to Wisniewski, “Yes, they want to put a gas station there, but again, that has to be approved…it’s very explicit in the contract…there’s also the whole deed restriction on that site…”

Resident Phil Simmons, Thanks the city council, Bayfront negotiator Charlie Long and Duran for their work on the waterfront development deal. "You've made some strong and decisive actions to do in one year what the previous 12 years couldn't get done."

7:10 p.m., CITY OF HERCULES INTRODUCTIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

East Bay Municipal Utility District presents on the Rodeo Creek Water Break.

        -A 56-year-old pipe running under the creek broke around the holidays. It  affected water pressure to some Hercules homes and businesses. Millions of gallons of water were lost to the creek. The creek was then damned and then redirected. The pipeline was fixed.

City Clerk Doreen Mathews reads a proclamation honoring the three Hercules Hercules women--Dee Lopez, Sarah Creeley and Lori Chinn--who were nominated as Hercules' Woman of the Year.

The council receives a presentation from Hercules High School students regarding Black History Month.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m.