The City of Hercules is launching its first comprehensive General Plan update in more than 25 years. At its Oct. 14 meeting, the City Council adopted resolutions approving a contract with Raimi + Associates, a California-based urban planning and design firm, to lead the update process and establishing a General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) to guide the process and ensure strong community participation throughout the project.
“The General Plan is a living document that should evolve alongside the City,” said Mayor Dion Bailey. “After years of consistent review and discussion, it’s clear that updating our Plan is essential to ensure Hercules continues to thrive, balancing growth, opportunity and quality of life for our residents.”
Since 2022, staff and Council have conducted annual progress reviews of the existing General Plan to evaluate its relevance to current community needs and compliance with state requirements. Those reviews revealed that many of the Plan’s elements and their related environmental documents are outdated and no longer reflect Hercules’ growth, infrastructure condition, or new housing and transportation laws.
The new General Plan will serve as Hercules’ long-term roadmap for land use, housing, transportation, open space and economic development, shaping how the community will grow through 2050. Updating the plan now will ensure Hercules remains in compliance with evolving state mandates, particularly those related to housing, sustainability, and mobility, and position the City to plan for future development proactively. Following a competitive proposal process, the City selected Raimi + Associates from among eight qualified firms, including a robust team of subcontractors.
The budget for the General Plan update is $1.56 million, funded primarily through the General Plan Update Fee account, which is supported by a surcharge on building permits. These funds may only be used to update the General Plan, ensuring that local development directly supports maintaining an up-to-date vision for Hercules’ future.
To ensure that the update reflects community perspectives and priorities, the City will establish the GPAC, which will review draft policies, provide feedback on land-use and development scenarios, and serve as a liaison between the City, consultants, and the public. GPAC members will serve as additional eyes and ears in the community, providing insight, sharing local knowledge, and acting as ambassadors to encourage broad participation in the process. Consultants will work closely with the GPAC throughout the update, using their feedback as a sounding board for key concepts to ensure alignment with community priorities. The Committee will act in an advisory capacity and will not have decision-making authority.
“The City’s priority is to make this a collaborative process,” said City Manager Dante Hall. “We’ve heard the community’s call for thoughtful growth and sustainable planning. The GPAC will serve as a bridge between residents and City leadership as we plan for the decades ahead.”
The GPAC will include:
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One Planning Commissioner
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One Finance Commissioner
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One Community & Library Services Commissioner
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One representative from the Hercules Historical Society
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Five to seven at-large community members appointed by the City Council
Applications for the at-large seats are open until October 31, 2025. Appointments are expected in December 2025, following interviews in November. GPAC meetings will be open to the public and held approximately every two months through early 2028.
The City and Raimi + Associates will begin the update process in early 2026, with initial community workshops and outreach activities to follow. Residents will be invited to share input through public meetings, surveys, and online engagement opportunities as the project moves forward.
Find more information and updates about the General Plan update and the GPAC.