Merced City Council Meeting – September 2, 2025

The Merced City Council met in regular session on September 2, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chamber, following a closed session that began at 5:00 PM. The meeting covered consent calendar approvals, a public hearing continued to October 6, several action items, and council reports. All votes were unanimous unless otherwise noted.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously: reading of ordinances/resolutions waived; information-only contracts for August 2025; Traffic Committee minutes of May 20, 2025; purchase of one Caterpillar Wheel Loader ($163,669.42) from Holt of California; lease agreement with Westamerica Bank for 6,100 sq ft at $1.45/sq ft (three-year term plus extension option); one-year agreement with Forensics Nurse Specialist of Nor CA, LLC for SART exams; first amendment to HealthEMS software license ($125,357 total); three-year renewal for Vector Solutions training software ($55,998); resolutions for CalOES and Homeland Security grant programs; maintenance agreement for six Gateway Monuments; and other routine items.
• Item H.6 – Yosemite Crossing Phase 3: Final map, subdivision agreement, and impact fee credit/reimbursement agreement approved 6-0 (Councilmember Harris recused).
• Item H.16 – Emergency water main repair: Ratification of $95,000 statement of service with Rolfe Construction, Inc., plus $30,000 contingency, approved 6-0 (Councilmember Harris recused).
• Item H.7 – 2026 Cafeteria Plan Renewal: Tabled to the next regularly scheduled council meeting after public comment from city employee Uriel Pulido regarding 20–37% medical rate increases. Motion carried 7-0.
• Item H.9 – ABC Grant for Underage Drinking Enforcement: Resolution to accept $50,000 grant from California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Approved 6-1, with Councilmember Xiong voting no, citing a preference for positive engagement over enforcement tactics. Police Chief Stanfield noted the grant’s minimum requirements and plans for additional programs like Sober Grad.
• Item H.13 – Engineering Services Agreements: Resolution adopting Caltrans Local Assistance Procedures Manual Chapter 10 and approving professional services agreements (up to $1,000,000 per contract for civil design; up to $500,000 per contract for geotechnical, traffic engineering, etc.) with eight firms. Approved unanimously.
• Item H.15 – Reject Bids for Traffic Signal Synchronization Project: Motion to reject all bids due to insufficient funding and non-responsive/responsible bids, attributed partly to Project Labor Agreement requirements. Council directed staff to re-evaluate design and re-bid. Approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Cynthia Kelly (Merced SPCA) provided statistical updates: 461 cats spayed/neutered, 212 kittens in foster, 350 pets in low-cost programs, 88% decrease in FELV cases, and thanked the council for supporting animal services.
• Rene Gutierrez (Merced resident) urged the city to engage local community members to advocate keeping Merced on the High Speed Rail route, and requested support for street vendors and small businesses ahead of a proposed street vendor ordinance update.

Public Hearing

• Item I.1 – General Plan Amendment #24-03, Zone Change, RP-D, Vesting Tentative Map (Lennar Homes / Merced Gateway, LLC): The acting planning manager requested a continuance to the October 6, 2025 council meeting for additional review. The public hearing was opened and closed with no public comment. Motion to continue passed 6-1 (Councilmember DeAnda voted no).

Discussion Items

• J.1 – VIPER Program MOU: Approved new terms and replacement of the previously approved three-year MOU with the Merced County District Attorney’s Office to share the cost of one crime analyst. Approved unanimously.
• J.2 – Brown Bag Concert Series: Approved the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission’s recommended performers for November 2025 through January 2026, plus three additional performances in February, March, and April 2026, allocating $4,500 from the FY2025/26 budgeted art project funds. Approved unanimously.
• K.1 – Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Community Funding Requests: The City Council Budget Subcommittee recommended $30,000 in awards to eight nonprofits: Calvary (3K), Merced County Nut Festival ($1,000), SPCA ($10,000), Lau Family ($2,000), Merced Symphony ($2,000), Treehouse Tutoring ($2,000), Playhouse Merced ($3,000), Merced TNR ($3,000), and Merced Police Athletic League ($1,000). This item was for information only; no formal vote. Public speakers thanked the council and requested additional support.

Key Outcomes

• All consent items and pulled items were approved or tabled as recorded. Final votes: H.6 and H.16 (6-0); H.7 (tabled, 7-0); H.9 (6-1); H.13 (7-0); H.15 (7-0); I.1 (6-1 to continue); J.1 and J.2 (7-0).
• The public hearing for the Lennar Homes development at Gerard Avenue was continued to October 6, 2025, at 6:00 PM.
• The 2026 Cafeteria Plan renewal was tabled to allow further study and union input.
• Staff will re-evaluate and re-bid the traffic signal synchronization project, noting the impact of the Project Labor Agreement.
• Community funding allocations were presented as recommendations; final award authority rests with the city manager.
• Council members commented on High Speed Rail concerns, emphasizing the need to maintain Merced’s inclusion in the initial operating segment, and reported on community events.