OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Merced City Council Regular Meeting – July 21, 2025

City Council & Commissions — Monday, July 21, 2025
BodyMerced, California
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateMonday, July 21, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 4:10:42

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

All right, good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

0:01

Welcome to the July 21, 2025 meeting of the Merced City Council.

0:05

We're going to begin with our invoc from Val Fogelberg from the Church of Christ of Latter-day Saints.

0:11

And then after that, Councilmember Ronnie DeAndo will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:15

Mr.

0:15

Fogelberg.

0:23

Our Father Heaven, we humbly gather together this evening in the spirit of community.

0:29

We're grateful for the freedom that thou has afforded us to assemble.

0:34

We ask your blessings upon the people who have been elected to lead our city in which we live.

0:41

Father, please remind them that they are not only leaders, but also servants.

0:47

That is their responsibility to serve the common good of all.

0:51

Grant them the wisdom and the courage to know and to do what is right and good and true.

0:58

We're also grateful for our first responders that keep our city safe.

1:02

And we ask that thou bless them with protection while they serve.

1:07

And we ask for these blessings in Jesus Christ's name.

1:10

Amen.

1:13

Councilman Dean.

1:16

Everybody, I flag this flag on the United States of America.

1:22

And to the Republic for which she stands.

1:28

Liberty and Justice Raw.

1:32

Thank you.

1:33

Thank you, Councilman Deander.

1:35

Thank you, Mr.

1:35

Fogelberg.

1:38

Okay, agenda item D, roll call, Councilmember DuPont.

1:42

Present.

1:43

Deanda Harris.

1:46

Present.

1:47

Smith.

1:48

Present.

1:49

Zhang.

1:49

Here.

1:50

Mayor Pro Tem Boyle.

1:52

Here.

1:53

And Mayor Serrado.

1:54

Present.

1:55

Okay.

1:56

Mayor, I'd like to remind the audience that if they wish to address the City Council, they must submit a green request to speak form located at the podium in the back of the chamber.

2:04

Additionally, citizens can submit public comment to the city council electronically no later than 1 p.m.

2:09

on the day of the meeting.

2:10

Comments received before the deadline will be sent to the city council and will be part of the record and will be mentioned as part of the written petitions and communications portion of the agenda.

2:19

And they will also be posted on the city's website.

2:21

Material may be emailed to City of Merced or City Clerk at City of Merced.org, and any correspondence received after 1 p.m.

2:28

will be distributed to the city council and retained for the official record.

2:32

Also, for those audience members who wish to hear the council meeting translated into Spanish Ramong, please let our interpreters know.

2:57

Hello.

3:06

In accordance with government code 54952.3, it is hereby announced that the city council sits either simultaneously or serially as the public financing and economic development authority, parking authority, and or successor agency to the redevelopment agency.

3:20

City Council members receive a monthly stipend of $500 by charter for sitting as the city council.

3:25

And the mayor receives an additional $100 each month as part of the adopted budget and resolution 2024-78.

3:31

The public financing and economic development authority, parking authority, and successor agency to the redevelopment agency received no compensation.

3:39

Agenda item E, report out of closed session.

3:41

There is no report out of closed session.

3:42

Agenda item F ceremonial matters, F1 certificate of recognition to Merced High School Track and Field Players for winning the Division Three Section Championship requested by Mayor Pro Tem Boyle.

3:52

Thank you, Jennifer.

3:54

Turn it over to Mayor Pro Tem Boyle in a second.

3:56

We'll invite our Merced High Track and Field players, or uh the division three section champions.

4:02

Coach Denise, everybody else, come on down.

4:05

All right, everybody, please give them a warm round of applause and welcome to the city of the city of the city.

4:23

Good evening, everybody.

4:25

So it's my honor to recognize these gentlemen tonight.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Wireless Infrastructure█████████████████17%
Public Safety██████████████14%
Housing Code Enforcement████████████12%
Public Engagement███████████11%
Land Use Authority██████6%
Public Works█████5%
Parks and Recreation█████5%
Procedural████4%
Business License Regulation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Merced City Council Regular Meeting – July 21, 2025

The Merced City Council met on Monday, July 21, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting included a closed session (5:00-5:49 PM), ceremonial recognition of Merced High School track and field champions, public comments, a consent calendar, two public hearings, six action items, a fire services report, and four business discussions. The council approved a $200,000 private donation for a third zookeeper, authorized a joint grant application for a veterans container home project, upheld the Planning Commission's approval of a 55-foot stealth cell tower at Rahilly Park, and directed staff to develop an anti-slumlord ordinance focused on chronic offenders.

Consent Calendar

  • Items approved en bloc (7-0): Reading of ordinances/resolutions waived; Valley Children’s Hospital grant deed modification; 2025 salary table for CalPERS compliance; 5-year Samsara GPS/telematics agreement ($112,578); 3-year ESO Solutions records management renewal ($36,130.94); 2025-2027 Master Tow Service Agreement; two Provost & Pritchard agreements for PCE groundwater cleanup ($240,000) and reporting ($42,000); rejection of all bids for IT generator replacement due to insufficient funding.
  • Item I.9 (Yosemite Lake Village annexation amendment) and I.10 (Crossing at River Oaks Phase 8 final map) were pulled for separate consideration. Councilmember Smith recused himself from both. Both items were approved on separate 6-0 votes (Smith recused).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Aggie Freeman (Merced) – Announced the 16th annual Back to School Clothes for Kids event on August 23 at Target, inviting council to participate.
  • Dennis Taylor (Merced) – Requested additional signage for red-light cameras at 16th and R Streets to improve visibility and prevent violations.
  • Colton Dennis (Merced) – Invited the community to the Merced County Arts Council’s annual showcase and meeting on July 24 at the Multicultural Arts Center.
  • Mary Lou Torres (Merced) – Asked for stop signs on 12th Street at G Street due to speeding and poor visibility from parked vehicles, citing safety concerns.
  • Karthik Prasad (Rep. for Congressman Adam Gray) – Provided a federal legislative update, including the Dignity Act, Livestock Indemnity Program Improvement Act, PFAS Alternatives Act, and other bills.
  • Public Hearing J.2 (cell tower appeal): Seven speakers opposed the tower (Brenda Morgun, Julie Horal, Anna Collins, Aurora Martinez, Izmael Mendoza) citing visual blight, property value decline, crime, and environmental concerns. Carl Jones (AT&T applicant) supported the project, emphasizing improved coverage for residents and first responders.
  • Public Hearing J.1: No public comments were made.

Public Hearings

  • J.1 – General Plan Amendment & Zone Change (Crossing at River Oaks) – Acting Principal Planner Francisco Mendoza presented a cleanup item to rezone a 5-acre portion from Neighborhood Commercial to Low Density Residential to correct a 20-year oversight. The site already contains 27 single-family lots built under a 2004 subdivision approval. Council approved the change 5-1 (Council Member Xiong opposed; Council Member Smith recused).
  • J.2 – Appeal of Planning Commission Approval for 55-Foot Stealth Cell Tower at Rahilly Park – The appellant, Brenda Morgun, argued the tower would harm the park’s aesthetics, property values, and wildlife. AT&T representative Carl Jones stated the tower was needed to fill a coverage gap, including for first responders. Council discussed legal constraints (federal law prevents denial based on health concerns) and upheld the Planning Commission’s approval 6-1 (Council Member Xiong opposed), denying the appeal.

Discussion Items

  • K.1 – $200,000 Private Donation for Third Zookeeper at Applegate Zoo – Parks Director Christopher Jensen reported the donation will fund a zookeeper position for three years. Council approved 7-0, reallocating $65,085 from the General Fund to ballfield maintenance.
  • K.2 – Airport Remediation Site Additional Drilling ($15,000) – Approved 7-0 to install additional monitoring wells as required by the Regional Water Quality Control Board.
  • K.3 – Reserve Annexation (Gardner Ranch) – First Amendment to Agreements – Approved 6-0 (Council Member Dupont recused) to increase the Dudek environmental contract by $58,290 and the deposit/reimbursement agreement by $64,119.
  • K.4 – Old Dominion Annexation – Professional Services & Deposit Agreement – Approved 7-0 for De Novo Planning Group environmental services ($362,304) and a deposit/reimbursement agreement with The Dominion Village ($398,534.40).
  • K.5 – Joint Grant Application for Veterans Container Home Project – Approved 7-0 to submit a $150,000 matching grant application to the Central Valley Opportunity Fund for the 73 South R Street affordable veterans container home project. The city will act as fiscal agent.
  • K.6 – Land Use Determination for Una Mas Taproom (Type 40 ABC License) – Approved 7-0, finding public convenience or necessity for on- and off-site beer sales at 420 West Main Street. The applicant plans a full interior/exterior renovation.
  • L.1 – Stop Gap Aid Agreement Update – Interim Fire Chief Casey Wilson reported 227 incidents responded to in the first six months of the agreement with Merced County (158 EMS, 15 fires). Average response time increased by 15 seconds (to 5:34 at 90th percentile). County Supervisor Josh Pedrozo thanked the council for collaboration. Discussion focused on costs, CAD-to-CAD integration, and staffing. No formal vote; item was informational.
  • M.1 – Anti-Slumlord Ordinance Discussion – City Attorney Craig Cornwell proposed a framework targeting chronic offenders (e.g., 3+ violations in 12-24 months) with enhanced penalties, a public list, and potential tenant disclosure requirements. Council expressed general support for focusing on bad actors and asked staff to return with a draft in ~60 days. Ashley Suarez (policy advocate) advocated for a rental registry and inspection program instead.
  • M.2 – Blighted Property Enforcement – Council Member Harris discussed existing tools under Municipal Code Chapter 8.40 (nuisance abatement, liens). Council agreed current tools are sufficient but should be used more aggressively; no new ordinance needed at this time. Erick Serrato (Downtown Association) supported enforcement.
  • M.3 – Potential Ballot Measure for 2026 General Election – Mayor Serratto and Council Member Smith reported subcommittee discussions on a possible infrastructure bond or sales tax measure. Council directed staff to obtain a consultant proposal for polling and return to the subcommittee.
  • M.4 – Future Agenda Requests – Council Member Smith requested a gray water recapture discussion for the Utility Subcommittee. Council Member Harris requested an ordinance requiring estimates for non-emergency ambulance transport; expedited to August 18 (approved 5-1, Council Member Dupont opposed). Mayor Serratto requested a discussion on annexing county islands; staff to bring an informational item on September 2.

Key Outcomes

  • Votes and Decisions:
    • Consent Calendar items approved (I.1-I.8) en bloc 7-0; I.9 and I.10 approved 6-0 (Smith recused).
    • General Plan Amendment/Zone Change (J.1) approved 5-1 (Xiong no; Smith recused).
    • Cell tower appeal (J.2) denied (upholding Planning Commission) 6-1 (Xiong no).
    • All action items (K.1-K.6) approved unanimously (K.3 with Dupont recused; all required 5 votes, all passed 7-0 or 6-0).
  • Directives:
    • Staff to draft an anti-slumlord ordinance focusing on chronic offenders, with enhanced penalties and tenant protections, to be presented in ~60 days.
    • Staff to pursue polling and consultant proposals for a 2026 ballot measure; subcommittee to continue.
    • Staff to prepare an informational report on county island annexations for September 2.
    • Ordinance requiring estimates for non-emergency ambulance transport to be drafted for August 18.
  • Notable: Council Member Smith recused from items I.9, I.10, and J.1 due to a client relationship. Council Member Dupont recused from item K.3 for the same reason. Council Member DeAnda left the meeting at 9:01 PM and missed later votes. The meeting adjourned at 10:12 PM.

Meeting Transcript

All right, good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the July 21, 2025 meeting of the Merced City Council. We're going to begin with our invoc from Val Fogelberg from the Church of Christ of Latter-day Saints. And then after that, Councilmember Ronnie DeAndo will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Fogelberg. Our Father Heaven, we humbly gather together this evening in the spirit of community. We're grateful for the freedom that thou has afforded us to assemble. We ask your blessings upon the people who have been elected to lead our city in which we live. Father, please remind them that they are not only leaders, but also servants. That is their responsibility to serve the common good of all. Grant them the wisdom and the courage to know and to do what is right and good and true. We're also grateful for our first responders that keep our city safe. And we ask that thou bless them with protection while they serve. And we ask for these blessings in Jesus Christ's name. Amen. Councilman Dean. Everybody, I flag this flag on the United States of America. And to the Republic for which she stands. Liberty and Justice Raw. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman Deander. Thank you, Mr. Fogelberg. Okay, agenda item D, roll call, Councilmember DuPont. Present. Deanda Harris. Present. Smith. Present. Zhang. Here. Mayor Pro Tem Boyle. Here. And Mayor Serrado. Present. Okay. Mayor, I'd like to remind the audience that if they wish to address the City Council, they must submit a green request to speak form located at the podium in the back of the chamber. Additionally, citizens can submit public comment to the city council electronically no later than 1 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Comments received before the deadline will be sent to the city council and will be part of the record and will be mentioned as part of the written petitions and communications portion of the agenda. And they will also be posted on the city's website. Material may be emailed to City of Merced or City Clerk at City of Merced.org, and any correspondence received after 1 p.m. will be distributed to the city council and retained for the official record. Also, for those audience members who wish to hear the council meeting translated into Spanish Ramong, please let our interpreters know. Hello. In accordance with government code 54952.3, it is hereby announced that the city council sits either simultaneously or serially as the public financing and economic development authority, parking authority, and or successor agency to the redevelopment agency. City Council members receive a monthly stipend of $500 by charter for sitting as the city council. And the mayor receives an additional $100 each month as part of the adopted budget and resolution 2024-78. The public financing and economic development authority, parking authority, and successor agency to the redevelopment agency received no compensation.

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