Council Calls Up Goodwill Permit, Advances Sewer Rates and Bayfront Signage Plan

The Hercules City Council tackled a full agenda Tuesday night, voting to intervene in a Goodwill store approval over illegal dumping fears, locking in the second year of a five-year sewer rate plan, and directing staff to develop low-cost directional signage to put the city's waterfront businesses on the map. East Bay MUD also briefed the council on a little-known assistance program that could cut qualifying residents' water bills in half.

• Council votes 5-0 to call up Goodwill store permit, setting a de novo hearing over concerns about illegal dumping at the drive-up donation site
• Year 2 of a five-year sewer rate plan approved, placing $8.3 million on the property tax roll after a decade without increases
• Low-cost wayfinding signs proposed to brand a "Bayfront Business District" and guide drivers to waterfront shops and restaurants for $10,000–$20,000
• $100,000 federal grant secured to upgrade all 15 park irrigation systems to cloud-based, weather-responsive controllers
• East Bay MUD spotlights Customer Assistance Program offering 50% off water charges for households earning under roughly $62,000

The council voted unanimously to pull back the planning commission's recent approval of a Goodwill retail store with drive-up donation operations at 1551 Sycamore Ave., setting the stage for a full de novo hearing on July 28.