Joint City Council/Planning Commission Study Session on Comprehensive General Plan Update and Downtown Station Area Plan – June 25, 2025

The Merced City Council and Planning Commission held a special joint study session on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at 6:00 PM (called to order at 6:03 PM, adjourned at 7:36 PM) to launch the Comprehensive General Plan Update and the Merced Downtown Station Area Plan. The meeting was informational only, with no formal votes taken. Consultants from Mintier Harnish (Michael Gibbons, Brent Gibbons, Jim Harnish) and WRT (Matt Tacker) presented the project scope, timeline, community engagement strategy, and key elements including environmental justice, economic development, and high-speed rail integration. The General Plan Update is expected to conclude with adoption by late 2027, while the Downtown Station Area Plan must be completed by March 2026 per a High-Speed Rail Authority grant condition.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Andrea Uribe, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, Merced – Asked for clarification on which General Plan chapters would be updated (specifically land use, housing, and environmental justice under SB 1000 and SB 244), what prior plans would be used (e.g., the 2007 South Merced Plan), and whether there is a memo or document regarding the market context and economic development for the high-speed rail plan. She emphasized the need to examine priorities of disadvantaged communities, particularly South Merced, through an environmental justice lens.
• Colton Dennis, Merced County Arts Council and Vice Chair of the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission – Expressed support for the planning process but urged that arts and culture be explicitly integrated into the General Plan and Downtown Station Area Plan, noting their role in community identity, design, and economic development.
• Robert Dylina, Merced – Shared experience from the previous General Plan update (2012) and the accompanying zoning code overhaul. He cautioned against “analysis paralysis” and infinite feedback loops, urging the council to take ultimate responsibility. He also noted that he represents over 500 acres of land within the city’s sphere of influence seeking annexation, which he said could be transformative for South Merced.

Discussion Items

• Presentation Overview: Consultants provided a crash course on general plans (required by state law, 20–30 year horizon, elements including land use, circulation, housing, environmental justice, etc.). They outlined a six-phase process (project initiation through adoption) with robust community engagement: a project website (ImagineMerced.com) with translation and accessibility features, interactive mapping surveys, pop-up booths, formal workshops, a technical working group, and a Citizens Advisory Focus Group (CAFG) of 15–17 individuals to review deliverables before they go to the planning commission and council.
• Downtown Station Area Plan: Presented by Matt Tacker (WRT). The plan covers a walkable geography from downtown north to Bear Creek, including the future high-speed rail station. It will address near-term revitalization (day zero), early transit service (day one), and eventual Bay Area/LA service (day two). The area includes underutilized parcels, and the plan aims to balance immediate market-driven uses with long-term aspirations. A market study will inform the approach.
• Council and Commission Questions & Comments:
  • Chair Gonzalez confirmed the March 2026 grant deadline and stressed urgency in forming the CAFG.
  • Councilmember Shane Smith asked about the role of existing area plans (e.g., the South Merced plan from 2007) and county areas within the sphere of influence. He expressed concern that planning too heavily for “day two” (full high-speed rail service) might stall productive use of land in the near term. He also requested more frequent check-ins with council and planning commission earlier in the process, not just near endorsement.
  • Commissioner Conchita Swigart asked for outreach to Merced College (in addition to UC Merced) and expressed concern that the community input window for the station area plan (under two months for workshops) was short, urging high-quality engagement.
  • Mayor Pro Tem Sarah Boyle asked about social media translation (suggested adding Hmong) and requested a redesign of the proposed project logos (calling them “1980s”). She also asked about the consultant team’s experience with public engagement effectiveness post-COVID; the team responded they use a hybrid in-person/online approach and track demographics to adjust outreach.
  • Councilmember Darin Dupont asked how community-based organizations (CBOs) are selected for engagement. The team replied they have a dedicated CBO outreach consultant and have set a CBO workshop for July 31, 2025. He also asked how the public can join the Citizens Advisory Focus Group; staff indicated applications go through the city clerk’s office.
• City Manager Scott McBride noted that multiple South Merced studies exist and that he would circulate information about the SB 244 analysis, acknowledging Leadership Counsel’s concerns.
• Mayor Matt Serratto emphasized the need for diversity on the CAFG—balancing experience and new voices, interest groups and development expertise—and the challenge of balancing aspirational ideas with feasibility, noting that the General Plan can be amended over time.

Key Outcomes

• No formal motions or votes were taken; the meeting was informational only.
• The city council and planning commission will receive regular updates (quarterly or more often) on the General Plan and Station Area Plan progress, as assured by the city manager.
• The Citizens Advisory Focus Group will be formed through an application process via the city clerk. Council members and commissioners were asked to recommend candidates from their districts.
• The project logos and brand will be brought to a future city council meeting for a vote; Mayor Pro Tem Boyle requested a redesign.
• The next public engagement milestones include a CBO workshop on July 31, 2025, and a vision/goals endorsement by the council expected in late August/early September 2025, pending CAFG input.
• The Downtown Station Area Plan’s scenarios workshop is planned for early to mid-October 2025, followed by a plan framework and eventual endorsement (not adoption) by March 2026.