Merced City Council Regular Meeting – August 18, 2025
Merced City Council Regular Meeting – August 18, 2025
The Merced City Council met on Monday, August 18, 2025, at 6:04 PM following a closed session that began at 5:05 PM. All seven council members were present. The meeting included a proclamation, public comments, consent calendar with one item pulled, action items on a liquor license and a polling contract, and appointments to multiple commissions. Key decisions included approval of a School Resource Officer MOU (6-1), a $53,250 community survey contract (6-1), and referral of a medical transport estimate ordinance to the Public Safety Subcommittee.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (7-0) the consent calendar including: reading by title of ordinances/resolutions, approval of an amendment to the Standard Software Maintenance Agreement with Tyler Technologies for public safety software (five-year, not-to-exceed $1,237,782.16), and second reading/final adoption of Ordinance 2580 extending the refund time for water/sewer line payments to UC Merced.
- Item I.2 – Memorandum of Understanding with Merced Union High School District for four School Resource Officers for three years was pulled by Council Member Xiong, who opposed. The item passed 6-1, with Xiong voting no.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Ravi Taggar (Fastest Lab) introduced his new testing facility and expressed support for local workforce services.
- Michael Morin (MCM Plumbing) criticized Public Works for installing equipment without permits or licensing, arguing the city applies rules selectively and undermining licensed contractors. He requested an audit and public findings.
- Levonne Phillips (Merced) raised safety concerns near her church on Matha Road, citing lack of streetlights and sidewalks, three break-ins, and elderly members unable to attend at night. She asked the city to install sidewalks and lights.
- Youth United (via video) thanked the city for improvements at Flanagan Park, including new lighting, drinking fountains, and basketball hoops.
- Chris Jensen (Parks and Community Services) announced the third annual Gateway to Yosemite 5K/10K run to raise funds for an all-inclusive playground at General Bangpal Park.
Discussion Items
- Land Use Determination #25-03 – Valley Public House (J.1): Assistant Planner Matt Livingston presented a request for a Finding of Public Convenience or Necessity for a Type 42 alcohol license for a new bar at 521 W. Main Street. The area has a high concentration of incidents (94 disturbances, 12 assaults, 3 public intoxications, 2 narcotics, 47 municipal code violations within 500 feet over the past year). Police Captain Perez noted most calls are traffic-related and not directly relevant. The applicant Sair Lara described an Irish-style pub with a food truck. The council approved unanimously.
- Supplemental Appropriation for Community Survey (J.2): City Manager Scott McBride presented a $53,250 contract with Lew Edwards Group to conduct a community assessment and poll of 400 likely voters to gauge interest in potential revenue measures for the 2026 ballot. Council Member Xiong opposed, stating he prefers direct constituent input and citing community reluctance toward new taxes. Council Member Smith argued the poll provides scientific data on funding instruments. Approved 6-1.
- Ordinance on Non-Emergent Medical Transport Estimates (K.1): Council Member Harris described a constituent who received a $7,300 bill for a 61-mile non-emergency transport. He proposed requiring estimates for patients. City Attorney Cornwell raised preemption concerns; Fire Chief Wilson noted complexity of interfacility transfers. Council Member DeAnda opposed government regulation of private business. The council voted 6-1 (DeAnda no) to refer the issue to the Public Safety Subcommittee for further study and return with options.
Key Outcomes
- School Resource Officer MOU (I.2): Approved 6-1 (Xiong no).
- Valley Public House liquor license (J.1): Approved 7-0.
- Lew Edwards Group contract (J.2): Approved 6-1 (Xiong no).
- Medical transport ordinance referral (K.1): Approved 6-1 (DeAnda no) to Public Safety Subcommittee.
- Appointments:
- Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission: Dina Gonzalez (Dist. 2), Arturo Martinez (Dist. 6), Craig Harmelin (Ex-Officio) – all unanimous.
- Recreation and Parks Commission: Dina Gonzalez (Dist. 2), Marisa Lewis (At-Large) – both unanimous.
- Tax Transparency Commission: Felipe Flores (Dist. 2) unanimous; Harpreet Takhar (Dist. 6) approved 6-1 (Xiong no); motion to appoint Latanya Richard failed for lack of second.
- Citizen Advisory Focus Group: Keith Ensminger (Dist. 2) unanimous.
- Future agenda: Council Member Harris’s request to discuss changing the Traffic Committee to a commission with council appointments was placed on the October 6, 2025 agenda.
- Closed session report: Council agreed to a five-year extension for Finance Officer Venus Rodriguez, to be formalized later. Council Member Dupont recused from one real property negotiation item.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good evening, ladies and gentlemen. We're going to call the August 18th, 2025 meeting under said city council to order. We're going to begin with an invocation from Pastor Joel Dorman, Summit Church of Merced, and after that, if uh Councilmember Harris could lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Would you stand? Let's pray. Father, we thank you for this day that you have made. That we thank you for the country we live in, the state we live in, and this great city that we call home. We thank you also that you have spared us uh some of the extreme heat that so many people are dealing with, although we acknowledge our time is coming in a few days. We do pray for safety for those who are out in this heat. We pray that you would watch out for them. We thank you for our city government. We thank you for their work for us, the people, and we pray for them and their endeavors. We pray for our governor, we pray for our president. We thank you for this nation that we have representation, that we can uh air our concerns, ask our questions, and we thank you for those who actually volunteer to do this. And uh, we pray your blessings on their efforts. Pray for tonight, and as we maybe agree or disagree, may we remember that we are looking at individuals who are made in your image and treat them with appropriate respect. I thank you uh for this opportunity. Thank you for our city. In the name of my Savior Jesus, amen. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice provides where thank you, Pastor Dorm. Okay, agenda item D, roll call, Councilmember DuPont. Present. DeAndra. Harris? Present. Smith. Present. Jean? Here. Mayor Pro Tem Boyle? Here. And Mayor Serrado. Present. Mayor, I'd like to remind the audience that if they wish to address the city council, they must submit a grenade request of 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 will be posted on the city's website. Material may be emailed to you, City Clerk at City of Merced.gov 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 or Mong, please let our interpreters know. In accordance with government code 54952.3, it is hereby announced that the city council sits either simultaneously or serially as a 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 a 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. Agenda item E, report out of closed session. We do have a report out of closed session tonight. First, with respect to item B3, uh Councilmember DuPont had a conflict and did not recuse himself and did not participate in the discussions. So the council agreed with another five-year extension to her contract, and we'll formalize that at a future date. So I wanted to congratulate Venus and thank the council. I think by making a wise choice.
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