Your City Council: New Plan for Hercules' Financial future.

City staff will ask the community to chime in on Hercules’ financial recovery plan in the coming weeks. City Manager Steve Duran said he and other staffers will hold a series of public meetings to discuss how the city will continue to balance its budget and become financially stable.

“The plan being proposed isn’t a marketing plan or a vision that’s drawn by urban planners," Duran said. “It’s more of a business plan that talks about our strengths and weaknesses, external (financial) environment, our financial realities and the things we have to deal with."

Duran pointed to the city's unbalanced budget and "real-estate mess" as some of the city's big looming problems. He said Hercules has just come from "an era of over promising and under delivering," and that the meetings will be somewhat of a reality check for staff and residents.

Normally, such a plan wouldn’t go out to the community, Duran said, adding, but under the “extraordinary circumstances,” where there’s been such an upheaval, we need to restore trust and transparency to the Hercules government.

Duran said the initial plan is being drafted by staff with input by the city council. getting input from staff now. A draft is expected to go up on the city’s website by November 7 for the community to review and comment on the plan, Duran said.

The public meetings will tentatively be held in November and early December.

The meeting

8:20, CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS

1. Receive Report On Current City And Redevelopment Agency Projects (Verbal Report).

Many of the Agency's projects are still in limbo and are in various points of being sold off. Consultant Frank Fox gave the report.

2. Adopt A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Negotiate And Execute An Amendment To The Agreement With Charles A. Long For Advisory And Project Management Services, Extending The Term By Three Months To January 31, 2012 And Authorizing An Additional Expenditure Of An Amount Not To Exceed $30,000, Bringing The Total Maximum Expenditure Under The Amended Agreement To $70,000--PASSES UNANIMOUSLY

3. Receive A Report And Direct Staff Regarding The Scope And Schedule For A Strategic Planning Process To Include The Community, City Council And City Staff.

City Manager Steve Duran plans to hold a series of community meetings to discuss the city's recovery plan.

4. Adopt A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute An Amendment To The Existing Agreement With Alliant Insurance Services To Provide General Liability Insurance For The Hercules Municipal Utility And Authorize Expenditures Of An Amount Not To Exceed $68,000 For Fiscal Year 2011-12.--PASSES UNANIMOUSLY

8:12, CITY COUNCIL REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS

Conduct Discussion And Make A Recommendation To The West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) For A Hercules Representative To The Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) And Direct Staff To Send A Letter To The WCCUSD Notifying Them Of The City’s Nomination.

Councilman Gerard Boulanger was appointed to the position.

We may not always agree with them, but we have to restore a relationship with them, Boulanger said.

7:45, PUBLIC COMMENT

Mileena Swin, A six-year Teen Youth Council member reminds residents about the upcoming Hercules Haunted House event.

Ken Morrison, Asks the city council for updates about the status of some high profile Hercules lawsuits.

Justin Jones, HELP member and board member of the Friends of the Hercules Library, I've been coming to these meetings for two years. I've been waiting...to say this. I am (finally) proud of (my community)...the past year a cloud has hung over us...resilience defines us as Herculeans...Sunday night was much more than just a fundraiser...it was a healing moment for our city.

Jo Ellen Marcotte, HELP member, Reminds community about November 5-6, when the Friends of the Hercules Library will hold a book sale.

Peggy Lucke, Hercules Emergency Library Project member, The HELP campaign has raised 75 percent of its $50,000 fundraising goal to save library hours and full time staff. "Thank you to everyone," who has supported the library.

PRESENTATIONS

7:10 p.m., Contra Costa County District Attorney Mark Peterson presents on the functions of the district attorney's office and county truancy issues and prevention measures.

7:02 p.m., Youngster Andrew Endo is honored for academic excellence.

“I think it’s a great honor that I’m able to receive such a prestigious award for maintaining my grades…I should thank my friends, family and other people I have met in my life,” said Endo.

“He’s always just been extraordinary…he’s amazing,” said Sarah Creeley, Hanna Ranch teacher and former teacher to Endo.

7:04 p.m., The council emerged from closed session with no reportable action.

6:57 p.m., The council chambers are about a third full.

Live coverage starts at 7 p.m.