Hercules meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Hercules Planning Commission to weigh home addition; recent meetings procedural

The Hercules City Council and its commissions held no major public decisions over the past two weeks, with the only scheduled action items still pending. The most consequential item on the horizon is a Planning Commission vote on a home addition at 211 Montego Drive, set for tonight. Recent meetings were largely procedural or cancelled, and no minutes have been published for the two meetings that did occur.

Recent meetings

Planning Commission (Aug. 3)

The commission held a public hearing on a Conditional Use Permit (CUP 26-02) for a Dollar Tree retail store at 1560 Sycamore Avenue. Staff recommended approval, but no decision has been reported because meeting minutes have not yet been published.

City Council (Aug. 3)

The council met in a special closed session to discuss public employment regarding the City Manager. The meeting was procedural, with no major public decisions scheduled. The council also considered requests from members to participate remotely due to just cause or emergency circumstances.

Community and Library Services Commission (Aug. 10)

The commission's regular meeting was cancelled. No agenda items were discussed. The next regular meeting is scheduled for September 14, 2026 at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers.

Upcoming meeting

Planning Commission (Aug. 17)

The commission will hold a public hearing on Design Review Permit #26-02 for a 187-square-foot second-story addition to a single-family home at 211 Montego Drive. The project would expand two bedrooms and add one bathroom in the Residential Single-Family Low Density (RS-L) zoning district. The commission is expected to vote on a resolution to approve the permit. The agenda also includes approval of the August 3, 2026 meeting minutes.

Coming up

• **Planning Commission** – Aug. 17, 2026, public hearing and vote on Design Review Permit #26-02 for 211 Montego Drive.

No other meetings are scheduled within the next 14 days according to the provided agenda summaries.

Hercules council, planning commission consider sales tax, housing funds, retail stores

The Hercules City Council and Planning Commission held several meetings over the past two weeks, but no decisions have been published yet. Minutes from these meetings are not yet available, so all items below are under consideration rather than final actions.

City Council

At its July 28 regular meeting, the council had several items on its agenda:

• A public hearing for a Goodwill Retail Store with drive-up donations at 1551 Sycamore Avenue.
• A proposed one-cent Transaction and Use (Sales) Tax election for November 2026.
• Acceptance of a $126,000 grant from the California Highway Patrol Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program.
• A professional service agreement with RSG for loan program administration, not to exceed $87,950.
• A contract amendment of $51,855 with BKF Engineers, Inc. for Refugio and Foxboro Park Improvements.

Also on July 28, the council held a special meeting to consider allocating $5,000,000 in Housing Asset Funding for affordable housing development. The agenda included directing staff to negotiate with one of three proposers for the award.

The council met in closed session on July 29 and July 31 to discuss public employment matters concerning the City Manager (items 26-202 and 26-203). A third closed session was held August 3, also regarding the City Manager, with no public items listed. The council also considered requests from members to participate remotely due to just cause or emergency circumstances.

Planning Commission

On August 3, the Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider a Conditional Use Permit (CUP 26-02) for a Dollar Tree retail store at 1560 Sycamore Avenue. Staff recommended approving the operation of the store.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are scheduled in the next 14 days. Residents should check the city's official website for any newly posted agendas or notices.

Hercules officials weighed $5 million housing award, sales tax election, and City Manager discussions in late July

Herceres city bodies held a busy stretch of meetings in late July, but official minutes have not yet been published for any of them. The agendas show the City Council and Planning Commission scheduled discussions on a $5 million affordable housing award, a possible November 2026 sales tax election, several contracts and grants, and repeated closed sessions on the City Manager position. Because minutes are not yet available, no outcomes or vote tallies can be reported.

City Council — July 28 (regular meeting)

The council's July 28 agenda listed several significant items:

• **Goodwill retail store:** A public hearing on a permit for a Goodwill Retail Store with drive-up donations at 1551 Sycamore Avenue.
• **Sales tax election:** Discussion of an urgency ordinance calling for a one-cent Transaction and Use (Sales) Tax election in November 2026.
• **CHP grant:** Acceptance of a $126,000 grant from the California Highway Patrol Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program.
• **Loan program administration:** A professional service agreement with RSG for loan program administration, not to exceed $87,950.
• **Park improvements:** A contract amendment of $51,855 with BKF Engineers, Inc. for Refugio and Foxboro Park Improvements.

No minutes have been published, so it is not known which items were approved, continued, or rejected.

City Council — July 28 (special meeting on housing funding)

The council held a separate special meeting the same day to consider allocating $5,000,000 in Housing Asset Funding for affordable housing development. The agenda indicated the council would discuss directing staff to negotiate with one of three proposers for the award. The names of the proposers and any council direction are not available because minutes have not been published.

City Council — July 29 and July 31 (closed sessions)

The council met in special closed sessions on both July 29 and July 31 to discuss public employment regarding the City Manager (items 26-202 and 26-203, respectively). Closed-session agendas do not include public detail, and no outcomes have been reported.

Planning Commission — July 20

The Planning Commission agenda for July 20 included a public hearing on Conditional Use Permit 26-02 for a general retail store at 1560 Sycamore Avenue, plus approval of the commission's July 6, 2026 meeting minutes. Minutes for the July 20 meeting have not been published.

Coming up

• **Planning Commission — August 3:** A public hearing on Conditional Use Permit 26-02 for a Dollar Tree retail store at 1560 Sycamore Avenue. Staff recommends approving the permit, according to the agenda.
• **City Council — August 3:** A special closed session to discuss public employment regarding the City Manager. The council will also consider any member requests to participate remotely due to just cause or emergency circumstances.

Residents seeking confirmed outcomes from the late July meetings should watch for published minutes on the City of Hercules website, as this roundup reflects agendas only.

Hercules commissions and council tackle sewer charges, retail permits, and park updates

Hercules residents saw a busy stretch of local government meetings in early July, with the City Council scheduling public hearings on sewer charges and garbage liens, the Planning Commission taking up retail permit applications, and the Community and Library Services Commission reviewing park improvements and event recaps. Minutes have not yet been published for any of these meetings, so outcomes are not yet confirmed.

City Council — July 14

The City Council agenda included two public hearings with direct financial implications for property owners.

The first hearing covered proposed fiscal year 2026-27 sewer service charges that would be billed through county property tax rolls. The second addressed delinquent garbage accounts that could result in property tax liens under Municipal Code Section 5-2.01.

The council was also scheduled to review a staff report and give direction on waterfront directional signage, and to approve the June 23, 2026 meeting minutes through the consent calendar.

Because minutes are not yet published, the results of the hearings and votes are not available.

Planning Commission — July 6

The Planning Commission agenda featured a public hearing and vote on Conditional Use Permit CUP 26-01 and Design Review Permit DRP 26-01 for a retail store with drive-up donation operations at 1551 Sycamore Avenue.

Staff recommended approval and noted the project is exempt from environmental review, according to the agenda.

The commission was also scheduled to approve May 4, 2026 meeting minutes and hear Planning Director and Commissioner reports.

Minutes are not yet published, so the vote outcome is not confirmed.

Community and Library Services Commission — July 13

This commission's agenda centered on parks, events, and a county library appointment.

Discussion items included:

• A Contra Costa County Library Commission seat appointment (staff report 26-180).
• A park improvements update (staff report 26-182).
• A recap of recent events: Cultural Festival, Juneteenth, Membership Drive, Movie Night, and Foxboro Park Ribbon Cutting (staff report 26-181).
• Upcoming events: Refugio Ribbon Cutting, Movie Nights, and National Night Out (staff report 26-183).
• Confirmation that there will be no commission meeting in August 2026 (staff report 26-184).

The consent calendar included approval of May minutes, and director reports covered parks and recreation and library activities for June.

Minutes are not yet published.

Finance Commission — July 15

The regular meeting of the Finance Commission scheduled for July 15, 2026 was cancelled. No decisions or discussions took place. The next regular meeting is scheduled for September 16, 2026.

Coming up

• **Planning Commission — July 20, 2026:** Public hearing on Conditional Use Permit CUP 26-02 for a retail store at 1560 Sycamore Avenue, plus approval of July 6, 2026 meeting minutes. This is a separate application and address from the July 6 retail store item.

Residents who want to track outcomes from the July 6, 13, and 14 meetings should watch for published minutes, which will confirm what was actually decided.

Hercules City Council reviews budget, housing, road safety; Planning Commission to consider retail store

Hercules City Council will hold public hearings on the proposed FY 2026-27 city budget and a 180-unit apartment complex at 1601 Willow Avenue at its June 23 meeting, according to the agenda. The council is also set to vote on a $374,976.42 road restriping contract, approve new stop signs on John Muir Parkway, and appoint an interim public works director. The Planning Commission will meet July 6 to consider a conditional use permit for a retail store with drive-up donation operations at 1551 Sycamore Avenue.

Budget and Capital Improvement Plan

The council will conduct a public hearing on the FY 2026-27 city budget and the accompanying 10-year Capital Improvement Plan. The budget sets spending priorities for the fiscal year and funds city services, while the capital plan outlines major infrastructure projects over the next decade. Residents can comment before the council adopts the final budget.

Emblem Hercules Apartments

A public hearing is scheduled for the proposed Emblem Hercules Apartments, a 180-unit residential development at 1601 Willow Avenue. The project would add housing supply to Hercules. The council will hear public testimony and may vote on approvals.

Road Safety and Infrastructure Contracts

The council will vote on awarding a $374,976.42 contract to Chrisp Company for road restriping on city streets. The project will refresh lane markings to improve visibility and safety.

The agenda also includes approval of stop sign installations at intersections on John Muir Parkway. The signs are intended to reduce collisions and improve traffic flow.

Interim Public Works Director

The council is set to appoint an interim public works director. No name or term was listed on the agenda.

Landscaping and Lighting Assessments

The council will hold public hearings to confirm the FY 2026/27 assessments for five landscaping and lighting districts. The assessments fund maintenance of landscaping and street lighting within those districts, and property owners in the districts will be notified of any changes.

Planning Commission: Retail Store with Drive-Up Donations

The Planning Commission will meet July 6 to consider a conditional use permit (CUP 26-01) and a design review permit (DRP 26-01) for a retail store with drive-up donation operations at 1551 Sycamore Avenue. Staff recommends approval and states the project is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act. The commission will also approve minutes from the May 4, 2026 meeting and receive reports from the planning director and commissioners.

Coming up

The Planning Commission meets July 6 at Hercules City Hall. The meeting time was not specified in the provided agenda. Check the city website for full details. No other upcoming meetings were listed.