Merced City Council Regular Meeting – October 6, 2025

The Merced City Council met on Monday, October 6, 2025, in regular session (closed session began at 5:01 PM; the regular meeting was called to order at 6:02 PM). All seven members were present at roll call. The Council acted on a 570-lot residential development, a new Grant Policy, a Vallarta Supermarket alcohol license finding, and a 15-item consent calendar, among other business.

Closed Session

• Closed session was held from 5:01 to 5:43 PM covering labor negotiations (AFSCME Council 57 and MACE), existing litigation (City of Merced v. California Department of Fish and Wildlife), and a public employee performance evaluation (Finance Officer). No report was made out of closed session.

Ceremonial Matters and Special Presentations

• Mayor Serratto presented a Hispanic Heritage Month Proclamation to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
• Joyce Dale, from State Senator Anna Caballero's office, presented the 2025 Young Legislators Program; participants introduced themselves and shared details of the program.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Barbara Cortez shared concerns about untrimmed trees along Bear Creek and park seating. The Mayor suggested she speak with Parks and Community Services and the Deputy City Manager.
• Aggie Freeman (Rotary District 5220) announced the Wall That Heals Vietnam memorial exhibit at David McDonald Park in Clovis, October 9–12, 2025, and urged volunteer support.
• Belinda Burnett thanked attendees of the courthouse museum 150th anniversary, raised concerns about the increase of food trucks, and said she still has difficulty hearing Council meetings online.
• Melissa Morales, on behalf of Maria Taco Shop owner Enrique Valencia and about 70 restaurant owners, opposed unpermitted street vending, citing economic harm, public health risks, and lawlessness; she asked for a consistent, enforceable plan. She noted that nationally 30–35% of restaurants fail within their first two years.
• Gloria Sandoval expressed concern about expected cuts to federal homeless housing funds, referencing a CalMatters article.
• Rafael Macias, a Merced restaurant owner, asked the city to hold illegal street vendors accountable and said his business is struggling against unpermitted vendors. The Mayor directed him to the Police Department.
• Police Chief Steven Stanfield gave a Q3 2025 crime update: arrests up 54%, juvenile arrests down 28%, total cases up 7%, traffic accidents down 27.5%, staff-issued tickets up 104%, vehicle burglaries down 36%, commercial burglaries down 22.5%, residential burglaries down 38%, burglaries overall down 31%, robberies down 28%, auto theft down 36%, sexual assaults down 16%, assaults up 0.6%, shootings down 29%, homicide down 25%, and four department vacancies.
• Deputy City Manager Frank Quintero and Economic Development Associate Amanda Williams presented a six-month economic development summary, including ICSC meetings, Burlington and Five Below openings, Hilton Garden Inn, and downtown Merced openings.
• Akram Ahmad (209 Eats) urged separating licensed brick-and-mortar businesses and licensed trucks from unlicensed kitchens.
• Gwendolyn Hagaman (speaking on J.3) shared that it took eight months and multiple meetings to get a stop sign on West 21st Street and requested more accessible Traffic Committee meeting times.
• Belinda Burnett (speaking on M.1 after the initial vote) said she supports flying only the U.S. and California flags, suggested adding a separate pole for special flags, and called for education about special flags.

Consent Calendar

• The consent calendar was approved unanimously (7-0) after seven items were pulled for separate consideration: J.3, J.5, J.6, J.8, J.10, J.11, and J.15. Items approved without separate discussion included the reading waiver, September 2025 contract notifications, April 21 and May 5, 2025 meeting minutes, the MCAG Civic Center reception use, LexisNexis subscription renewal ($86,291.50), the Curbtender refuse truck ($186,210.75), two Peterbilt side loader trucks ($877,105.01), and a Peterbilt front loader truck ($384,392.95).

Separately Considered Consent Items

• J.5 (Consultant contract extensions with Interwest, CSG, and Bureau Veritas): Approved 6-0 with Council Member Smith recused. The item extends building inspection/plan review services to October 16, 2026. Council Member Harris initially confused this with the CPPG grant-writing contract (agenda item L.3).
• J.11 (Kubota skid steer loader, $72,003.89): Approved 6-0 with Smith recused.
• J.3 (Traffic Committee minutes of July 8, 2025): Approved 7-0.
• J.6 (McKee Road Rehab RSTP claim, $1,318,873): Approved 6-1 with Council Member Xiong voting no. Xiong said he opposed prioritizing this county project over roads residents have asked to fix; Smith and Dupont supported it as a cost-effective way to leverage funding (county road construction about $500,000 per mile vs. city about $1 million per mile).
• J.8 (Grant Policy, Resolution 2025-59): Approved 5-2 with Harris and Xiong voting no, after amending the delegation threshold from $50,000 to $39,000 and requiring an information-only accounting of grants both initiated and accepted. Harris argued for a higher threshold to avoid delaying grant applications; Xiong cited transparency and public accountability concerns; Smith noted the lower threshold aligns with the city's $39,000 contract policy.
• J.10 (Accessible Pedestrian Signal components $106,310.32 and school flashing beacons $132,703.67 from Jam Services): Approved 6-1 with Xiong voting no. Xiong raised concerns that none of the 15 signal locations are south of 16th Street and that there was no community input on phase-one locations; staff said it is an ongoing phased project.
• J.15 (OTS Traffic Enforcement Program Grant, $95,000): Approved 6-1 with Xiong voting no. Xiong said he prefers a less punitive approach such as providing ride services rather than DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols.

Public Hearing – Gerard Avenue Development (K.1)

• The Council held a public hearing (opened 7:34 PM, closed 7:43 PM) on General Plan Amendment #24-03, Zone Change #435, RP-D #83, and Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map #1333 for approximately 73.7 acres at the southwest corner of Campus Parkway and E. Gerard Avenue, proposing 570 residential lots, about 3 acres of parks, and about 9 acres of business park. Smith recused himself because the applicant is a client of his law firm. Bill Lyons (applicant) and Timothy Jones (Merced Gateway LLC) spoke in favor, citing housing needs and economic benefits. Andrea Blain and Ravi Mekadesh of Lennar Homes answered questions. Xiong voted no, citing the lack of deed-restricted affordable units and the need for mixed-income housing; he rejected "affordable by design" as equivalent to affordable units. Supporters (Harris, Dupont, Boyle, DeAnda, Serratto) described it as responsible, walkable growth for South Merced and an economic opportunity. The motion carried 5-1 with Smith recused.

Action Items

• L.1 (Memorandum of Agreement with UC Merced Police Department): Approved 6-0 with Xiong absent. Chief Stanfield said it defines jurisdictional responsibilities and is a no-cost agreement.
• L.2 (Amended MOU with Merced Union High School District): Approved 6-0 with Xiong absent. Chief Stanfield said the amendment changes vehicle purchase language to a vehicle usage fee.
• L.3 (Contract with California Public Policy Group, $119,000/year): Approved 5-2 with Harris and Xiong voting no. Staff reported CPPG ranked first among five RFP proposals, has submitted $16.2 million in grant applications, secured $4.1 million, with $5.5 million outstanding; grant writing is $3,500/month ($42,000/year) on top of a $6,000/month base. Harris supported the legislative advocacy but advocated for an in-house grant writer; Xiong argued for developing internal institutional knowledge. Smith and Dupont supported contracting for Sacramento expertise and subject-matter specialists; CPPG Managing Director Sharon Gonsalves said their value is understanding state program administration.
• L.4 (Finding of Public Convenience or Necessity for Vallarta Supermarket, 851 W. Olive Ave.): Approved 4-3 (Dupont, DeAnda, Harris, Smith yes; Serratto, Boyle, Xiong no). Staff reported 38 disturbances, 3 assaults, 2 public intoxications, and 5 municipal code violations within 500 feet in the last 12 months. Trey Lindle (Vallarta Director of Real Estate) described safety measures including locked liquor cabinets, no-loitering signs, CCTV, and law-enforcement relationships. Harris supported it as business-friendly and job-creating (estimating 50–75 jobs, "about 100"); Smith said the Olive Avenue corridor needs the tools to succeed; Xiong cited alcohol concentration in the area and called it a "slap in the face" to South Merced advocates seeking a grocery store; Serratto and Boyle voted no.

Business Items

• M.1 (Commemorative flags at Bob Hart Square for 2026): After discussion and public comment, a motion to fly the African American Flag (February), Christian Flag (March 20–April 17), and Pride Flag (June) initially passed 4-3. The Council then voted to reconsider; the re-vote failed 3-4, a subsequent motion for the Pride and African American flags failed, and the Council moved on. Staff noted the flags are usually accompanied by flag-raising ceremonies. Note: The minutes state the Council agreed to fly the three flags, but the recorded votes in the transcript show the main motion failed after reconsideration.
• M.2 (Traffic Committee changes): Council Member Harris requested converting the Traffic Committee to a council-appointed commission with monthly meetings. Council members and staff generally favored improving the existing committee (roles/responsibilities, evening meetings, better follow-up) rather than a citizen commission. Direction was given for staff to return with recommendations, with Harris, Boyle, and Smith involved.
• M.3 (League of California Cities voting delegate): Council Member Harris was designated as voting delegate for the October 8–10, 2025 conference in Long Beach; the motion passed with Harris abstaining.
• M.4 (Future agenda requests): None.
• M.5 (Council comments): Council members commented on district projects, the courthouse museum celebration, downtown openings, and adjourned in honor of Chief Stanfield's stepfather, Dave Stern.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the consent calendar (7-0) plus separate consideration of seven items; votes ranged from unanimous to 4-3.
• Approved the Gerard Avenue General Plan Amendment, Zone Change, RP-D, and Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map (5-1, Smith recused).
• Approved the UC Merced PD MOA (6-0) and the amended MUHSD MOU (6-0).
• Approved the CPPG contract (5-2) and the Vallarta Supermarket PCN (4-3).
• Approved the Grant Policy with a reduced $39,000 threshold and information-only reporting (5-2).
• Directed staff to bring back Traffic Committee improvement recommendations.
• No commemorative flags were ultimately approved for 2026 after the reconsidered motion failed.