Six-month councilman and veteran city government watchdog Dan Romero was named Hercules’ next mayor at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

Romero replaces Myrna De Vera as mayor and will serve a one-year term through the end of 2012.

He is a longtime Hercules resident and Kemper insurance agent with a Pinole- based practice. Romero was a Hercules City Council recall leader, winning the spot left vacant by former Mayor Ed Balico, who resigned in the wake of the recall.

The new mayor was elected to the mayoral spot internally, with Councilman Gerard Boulanger nominating Romero, who was unopposed.

Under newly-adopted temporary rules to appoint a mayor, council members were set to nominate fellow members or themselves for the mayor’s spot. They would then vote, and the nominee with a majority would win. If only one person was nominated, the nominee would take the seat without a vote.

Mayor Myrna De Vera, who served six-months as mayor after the previous Mayor Joanne Ward was recalled in June, nominated Councilman William Wilkins to be mayor. Wilkins declined the nomination, saying he did not have the experience needed to take on the mayor’s role.

John Delgado kept his vice mayor position, which was also up for a vote at the meeting. Wilkins nominated Delgado, and he was unanimously voted in to serve a year-long term.

Delgado showed his support for Romero's nomination for mayor. "I think it’s only fitting that someone from the recall movement serve as mayor," Delgado said.

**Watch Romero's mayor position acceptance speech and De Vera's outgoing remarks by clicking on this article's attached videos.

Meeting coverage below

9:15, CITY COUNCIL REORGANIZATION

1. Receive And Consider Staff Recommendation On Interim Appointment Process  for Selection and Nomination of the Mayor and Vice Mayor for the 2012 Calendar Year—ADOPTED 5-0

Discussion:

Boulanger, Does not agree with the council members nominating one another during the reorganization because it implied a possibility of pre-discussion between council members on the nomination issue, he said.

Delgado, "The process is what ensures fairness...I think the process is a very reasonable to select a mayor."

Wilkins, Consurs with the Vice Mayor.

Romero, It seems like we discussed this a week ago during discussing Rules and Procedures and agreed to Robert’s Rules.

2. Election Of Mayor And Vice Mayor

-Wilkins nominates Delgado for vice mayor. The council votes unanimously for Delgado.

-De Vera Nominates Wilkins as vice mayor. Wilkins declines, citing lack of experience.

-Boulanger nominates Romero. Romero is unopposed and takes the mayorship.

1. Remarks From The Newly Elected Mayor

*Watch attached video of Romero’s speech attached to this article.

8:57, CITY COUNCIL PRESENTATION

1. Presentation Of Proclamation To Outgoing Mayor Myrna de Vera Acknowledging And Commending Her Dedication To The Hercules Community
2. Remarks From Mayor Myrna de Vera:

Husband Manuel De Vera spoke from the podium about his wife, “(Myrna De Vera) has been the mayor in the darkest time…in the history of Hercules…”

Myrna De Vera, “It is with mixed feelings of relief and sadness that I now give my outgoing remarks as mayor” De Vera thanked city employees, residents and community leaders...” *Watch a clip from De Vera’s speech by clicking on the video attached to this article.

8:07, CITY MANAGER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS

1. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Appropriation and Expenditure of an Amount not to exceed $283,819.50 to Fund Existing Lighting and Landscaping Contracts for the Remainder of Fiscal Year 2011-12.—PASSES 5-0
2. Adopt A Resolution Rescinding City Resolution No. 07-175 And Redevelopment Agency Resolution No. 07-067; Authorizing The Investment Of City Of Hercules And Hercules Redevelopment Agency Monies In The Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF) And Authorizing City And Agency Officers And Their Successors In Office To Order Deposits Or Withdrawals Of City And Agency Monies To/From Said Fund.—PASSES 5-0
3. Receive A Report On The Status Of The Hercules Redevelopment Agency (HRDA) And City Finances And Discuss Issues Related To The HRDA And Its Impact On City Finances

City Manager Steve Duran spoke, The Hercules Redevelopment Agency has a 1.8 million deficit, including $1.4 million in bond debt obligations and $483K in operating expenses. Next year, there is no provision for budgeting that (this year, the structural deficit will be covered by liquidating land assets).  “We are at about a $1.5 million deficit for the next few years without further cost cutting and revenue enhancement,” Duran said.

What the city is doing to mitigate the budget problem:

-Imposed soft hiring freeze

-No non-essential contracts policy

-Suspended all capital purchases. The city is not buying any new police cars, computers and other equipment. Selling off city vehicles

-Looking into increasing volunteerism

7:39, PUBLIC HEARING

1. Conduct A Public Hearing And Have/Waive The First Reading Of An Ordinance Of The City Council Of The City Of Hercules Amending Section 2-1.03, Chapter 1 Of Title 2 Of The Hercules Municipal Code Regarding The Salary Of City Council Members-- PASSES, 3-2 WITH DELGADO AND BOULANGER VOTING “NAY.”

2. Conduct A Public Hearing And Consider The Following Approvals Relative To The Hercules Bayfront Project—ALL ITEMS PASSED 5-0

a. Adopt A Resolution Adopting CEQA Findings And Statement Of Overriding Considerations, And Mitigation Monitoring And Reporting Program (MMRP) For The Bayfront Project

b. Have/Waive The First Reading Of An Ordinance Approving Zoning Text Amendment 09-03 (Amendment To The Hercules Waterfront District Master Plan)

c.     Adopt A Resolution Approving Vesting Tentative Map No. 9290 (This item will be continued to a Special Meeting scheduled for December 20, 2011.)

d. Adopt A Resolution Approving General Plan Amendment 09-02

f. Have/Waive The First Reading Of An Ordinance Approving Zoning Designation Change 09-01

g.     Adopt An Urgency Ordinance Approving Vesting Development Agreement No. 09-01 (This item will be continued to a Special Meeting scheduled for December 20, 2011.)

h.    Adopt An Urgency Ordinance Authorizing The Implementation Of A Development Agreement No. 11-01. (This item will be continued to a Special Meeting scheduled for December 20, 2011.)

7:36, CONSENT CALENDAR--ALL ITEMS PASSED 5-0, EXCEPT FOR ITEM ONE, WHICH RECEIVED TWO “AYES” FROM MAYOR MYRNA DE VERA AND DELGADO AND THREE “ABSTAINS” FROM THE REST OF THE COUNCIL.

1. Approve City Council Meeting Minutes Of March 29, 2011 And April 12, 2011
2. Authorize The Cancellation Of The Regular City Council Meeting Scheduled For Tuesday, December 27, 2011
3. Adopt A Resolution Accepting The Sycamore Avenue Utility Relocation Project - Phase 2, Project No. 2010-10 As Complete, And Filing Of The Notice Of Completion With The Contra Costa County Recorder’s Office.

7:23, PUBLIC COMMENT

Resident Ken Morrison, What did you vote for in reference to Red Barn?

    --City Attorney Patrick Tang, The council voted to authorize staff to enter into negotiations to settle claims regarding Red Barn.

Resident Bill Shea, "I’m encouraging all Herculeans to come out to the tree lighting event on Thursday evening. Please bring an ornament to decorate the tree."

Alison McKee, Manager of Hercules Library, A group of determined, committed and hard-working citizens have worked to keep the library open 40 hours each week. Your generosity and commitment to the library has been heart warming and inspiring.

-You might not know that you can download e-books from the library online

-Discover and Go is another program to take advantage of through the library.

-If you don’t have a library card, now is the perfect time to get it. If you sign up by Dec. 31, you will be entered to win an iPad.

Jo Ellen Marcotte, President of the Hercules Library Foundation, “We’re still in planning mode…it is our goal for the library to stay open…We were disappointed that there was no mention of the library in the city’s strategic plan."

Bob Polacchi, Talks about strategic plan. Used to sell pharmaceuticals, “Our most valuable asset is our people..You cannot build the brand of this city based on economic development, you will have to build (success) on our people.” “We need to figure out how to bring people together.”

7:20 p.m., ACTION FROM CLOSED SESSION Potential litigation—negotiate settlement of claims. The city council (4-1, with Vice Mayor John Delgado voting “nay”)authorized staff to enter into negotiations to settle claims regarding Red Barn.

7:18 p.m. Council enters the chambers out of closed session.