STAFF REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
DATE: Regular Meeting of December 9, 2025
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Dante Hall, City Manager
SUBMITTED BY: Christopher Roke, Parks and Recreation Director TOPIC: Herculean Mile Recognition Program - 2025 Award Winners RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff recommends that the City Council receive an update on the Herculean Mile recognition program and present awards to the winners for the 2025 calendar year.
BACKGROUND:
In October of 2023, the Hercules City Council approved a new recognition program named the Herculean Mile award. The award celebrates individuals that have consistently gone above and beyond to make Hercules a better place. The goal is to recognize the many outstanding efforts made by community members.
The Herculean Mile award has two categories: one that recognizes community members/business owners, and the other that recognizes city employees. Nominations for deserving community members/business owners and employees were received through a link on the City website, and nominees were evaluated based on guidelines established by the Parks and Recreation Department.
The award is granted three times per year, coinciding with the three seasonal activities guides produced by the Parks and Recreation Department. Each season, the designated committee members will select one community member/business owner, and one employee, as the winner of the Herculean Mile for that season. At the end of the calendar year, these award winners are recognized in front of Council during the December Council meeting where the community can honor them for their contributions and lasting impacts on the City.
Tonight we recognize the 6 Herculean Mile winners from the 2025 calendar year:
Community Members or Business Owners:
Arleen Wong (Summer 2025)
Jamela Smith-Folds (Fall 2025) and
Joanne Sanchez (Winter/Spring 2026); and
Employees:
Karin Nestor – Parks and Recreation (Summer 2025)
Rosalind “Rose” Fernando Contreras – Parks and Recreation (Fall 2025) and Faye Flores – Information Technology (Winter/Spring 2026) ANALYSIS:
The Herculean Mile program gives city leaders, staff, community members, and business owners an opportunity to nominate those who have proven to be integral to Hercules' success.
In addition to all of the hardworking, dedicated employees, the City of Hercules has benefited from the many partnerships with the 14 City Recognized Nonprofit Groups, the group of dedicated volunteers at PD and the Senior Center, those giving their time in the Adopt a Park program, and those who volunteer in the Team up to Clean up program. Countless other members of the community have made substantial contributions to the City of Hercules, and this award is a great way to recognize some of them.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is minimal fiscal impact associated with this award.
ATTACHMENTS:
All of the Herculean Mile Award Winners this year
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