City Manager’s Bi-Weekly Report August 5, 2016 David Biggs, City Manager CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE New Parks & Recreation Director Christopher Roke will be joining the City of Hercules on August 22nd as our new Parks & Recreation Director. Christopher is currently the Recreation Program Manager for the City of Concord and has been in that role for over 10 years. His prior experience includes time with the City of San Leandro, the University of San Francisco, St. Mary’s College, and the City of Alameda. He is a graduate of UCLA and the University of San Francisco. Christopher will be a great addition to the Hercules Team and I am sure will do a great job in his new role with us. Citywide Garage Sale Coming in September The annual Citywide Garage Sale to benefit the Youth Exchange Program of the Hercules Sister City Association will take place on Saturday, September 24th from 8 AM to 3 PM. Registration for those who would like to sell and be listed in the event directory/map closes on September 8th. More information and the registration form can be found here: Citywide Garage Sale Information Family Movies in the Park Coming Soon! It’s time for some end of summer family fun in Refugio Valley Park with two upcoming family movie nights! The first movie takes place on Saturday, September 10th at 8 p.m. and features Zootopia. Our second movie occurs on Saturday, October 8th and features Transylvania 2. Watch for more information coming soon. Bring out the entire family and have some fun the Hercules way! More information and the flyer for the event can be found here: Movie Nights No City Council Meetings in August The Hercules City Council will not be meeting on August 9th or August 23rd with the next regular meeting to take place on September 13th. Election Time There are three seats on the Hercules City Council up for election in November. The filing period for candidates is open now and will close August 12th at 5 PM and the filing period will be extended to August 17th at 5 PM if any of the incumbents does not file by the first deadline. More information is available on the City’s website through this link: Election Information Refugio Valley Road Repaving Thank you to everyone for their patience while we resurface and repair Refugio Valley Road. The contractor is on track to have the work substantially completed prior to the start of school on August 21st, though some punch-list and permanent stripping may remain to be done. Chelsea Wetlands Restoration Project Community Field Meeting The City and project developer Duck Unlimited will be hosting a community field meeting on the Chelsea Wetlands Restoration Project on Monday, August 8th at 5:00 PM at Santa Fe and Railroad Avenues. This project is in its environmental review period and will see a significant wetlands parcel restored to be a fully functioning wetlands adding to the unique Hercules network of restored creeks and wetlands. More information on the project and environmental documents can be found here: Chelsea Wetlands Project Info Sister City Visit The visit of a friendship delegation from our sister City of Tsushima, Japan, went well. Our guests were welcomed on Monday afternoon here at City Hall and were matched with their local host families. The visit has included an excursion to San Francisco and time with host families exploring the area. A farewell event took place on Thursday evening and the delegation headed off to visit more of California. The delegation, pictured above leaving Japan, consisted of nine high school students and three adult chaperons. Next year, four Hercules High School students will make a return visit to Tsushima with a number of adult chaperons. Social Bite a Great Success The first annual Social Bite on Sunday, July 24th in Refugio Valley Park was a great success and well attended. It was a lovely, though hot, day in Refugio Valley Park and folks were able to sample a variety of foods, partake of some great entertainment, and generally enjoy a wonderful day. We look forward to a better and bigger event next year. Hercules Reusable Bags The City has used some restricted recycling funds to buy Hercules Reusable Bags to help encourage residents to support the City’s one time use bag ban and avoid the cost of a paper bag. These attractive bags featuring the Hercules seal have been handed out at the 4th of July and Social Bite. One bag per household is available here at the City Hall front counter while supplies last, so stop by and get yours soon! COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT Building Inspection Division July 15 Thru July 29, 2016 FY 2016/17 YTD Number of the permits issued: 37 64 Total Fee Collected: $23,014.96 $30,309.76 Number of Inspections: 11 22 New Housing: 0 0 Planning Division Administrative Use Permits, Administrative Design Review Permits, Temporary Use Permits, Home Occupations Approved by the Planning Director or the Planning Commission Revised Administrative Design Review Permit #ADRP 16-35 for home office use only at 1090 Lantern Bay for Ms. Aujero , clarifying no pedestrian or foot traffic or employees allowed at the home Anh’s Vietnamese Kitchen is now open at 844 Willow Avenue AVENTINE PROGRESS CONTINUES Ninety-six (96) leases have been signed and 87 apartment units will be occupied after this weekend at the mixed use building on Sycamore Avenue (which represents 60-65% occupancy of the 147 apartment units, but excludes the 10,000 square feet of commercial space). It is anticipated that within the next 30 days the remaining work in the public right-of-way along Sycamore will be installed and one left turn lane will be removed from the north-east bound travel lane of San Pablo to accommodate the town’s first parking district. Things continue to look bright in Hercules future as this seven year-long project nears full completion and gets closer to full occupancy CHELSEA WETLANDS COMMUNITY FIELD MEETING – MONDAY AUGUST 8, 2016 AT 5PM PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Maintenance & Operations – Staff completed their regularly scheduled custodial and facility- related tasks in public parks and buildings. They coordinated with the West Contra Costa County Integrated Waste Management Authority on solid waste issues, repaired street lights hit by vehicles, and assisted with the Social Bite event in Refugio Park. Staff is also awarding contracts for the Refugio Valley tree trimming, Citywide sidewalk replacements a various locations, lighting repairs in Victoria by the Bay, and is soliciting bids for the path repairs on the Refugio Valley Lake Park oval. The Refugio Valley Tennis Backboard Repair contract has been awarded and is under design. Engineering –Construction on the $11.7M Path to Transit phase of the Regional Intermodal Transit Center is well underway. The contractor is constructing Bayfront Bridge which will span over Refugio Creek and the new sewer line along Bayfront Boulevard as well as rechanneling Refugio Creek. The Bay Trail West segment is under design and slated for construction Summer 2017. The developer for the Muir Pointe residential development completed the public waterline installation on Muir Point Boulevard and is installing the underground utilities on-site. The $46M Pinole-Hercules Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade Project is moving forward, the contractor is constructing the new headworks facility and solid waste handling facility. Construction on the $1.1M Refugio Valley Road Rehabilitation is on schedule to be substantially completed before the start of school in Fall, this week the contractor is paving the street. Construction is underway on the public improvements for Aventine. Rechanneling Refugio Creek is underway as part of the Path to Transit Project PERMITS Sewer Lateral Inspection Program: Number of application received: 8 Sewer Lateral Inspection Fees Collected: $1000 Number of Certifications issued: 5 Number of Deficiency Notices issued: 4 Wide Load/Transportation Permits Issued: 1 Encroachment Permits Issued: 2 PARKS AND RECREATION The Parks & Recreation Department offers a wide variety of classes and programs that help promote community, a healthy lifestyle, and provides recreational experiences and fun for all ages. For additional information visit Parks & Recreation or register online for a class or program today! Parks & Recreation Fall Activity Guide: Be sure to check your mailbox for the latest edition of the City of Hercules Parks & Recreation Fall 2016 Activity Guide which was released this week. In this guide you will find the newest programming for recreation classes, sports, and childcare services Hercules Parks & Recreation has to offer. Pick up your own copy at the Community Center or click here to view it online! Free Movies in Refugio Valley Park: The community is invited to attend a new program opportunity provided by the Parks and Recreation Department. Two free family-oriented movies will be shown in Refugio Valley Park this fall. The first movie will be shown on Saturday, September 10 at 8:00 p.m. It is Zootopia. The second movie will be shown on Saturday, October 8 at 8:00 p.m. It is Hotel Transylvania 2. There will be popcorn and refreshments available to purchase at both movies. Community organizations interested in selling food and refreshments at the movies are invited to contact Allie Ikeda at the Parks and Recreation Department. Allie can be reached at 799-8294. Special Community and Library Services Commission Meeting/Park Tour: The City Council has asked the Community and Library Services Commission (CLSC) to determine if there is community interest in adding a modular restroom building in Duck Pond Park and a small sports amenity (such as a half basketball court) in a park on the west side of town.