Merced City Council Meeting: October 20, 2025
Merced City Council Meeting Summary – October 20, 2025
The Merced City Council met on Monday, October 20, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chamber, following a closed session that began at 5:02 PM. The regular meeting adjourned at 7:37 PM. The agenda included ceremonial proclamations, public comments, consent calendar approval, informational reports, an action item on Measure V funding, and a future agenda request. Notably, Council Member Ronnie DeAnda announced his resignation during council comments.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (6-0) the consent calendar, which included the reading of ordinances and resolutions by title, approval of meeting minutes from May 19, 2025 and June 2, 2025, a contract amendment with Goodwin Consulting Group, Inc. for Community Facilities Districts administration, professional services agreements with seven firms (up to $500,000 each) for engineering and design services, a consulting agreement with ControlPoint Engineering, Inc. ($2,578,640) for wastewater SCADA system replacement, and a three-year agreement with Merced County Times for legal advertising services.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Sierra Kelley proposed a pedestrian-only street on West Main Street to create a safe, economically vibrant public space.
- Cindy Kelly (Merced SPCA) reported on the Spooky Community Cat Walk event and the spay/neuter program, noting 143 applications received, 74 eligible, with appointments booked through mid-January.
- Fortunato Acosta requested a transparent process for integrating the High-Speed Rail project in Merced.
- Christina Valenti-Felix (Robert Rojas Foundation) urged supplying Narcan to Merced County Jail cells after two recent fentanyl overdoses, and raised concerns about black mold in the jail.
- Jerry Borilla proposed creating a tent community to address homelessness, citing a managed model in Los Baños.
- Merced County Supervisor Josh Pedrozo thanked the Merced Police Department for attending a school event, and outlined county efforts to address illegal food vendors, including coordinated sweeps and enforcement.
- Rhonda Batson discussed a controversial incident at a Playhouse Merced board meeting, urging the council not to honor individuals involved.
- Karthik Prasad (representing Congressman Adam Gray) requested the council’s support for the Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act, warning that 4 million Californians could lose coverage and 1.7 million face 66% premium increases.
Discussion Items
- Merced Fire Department ALS Program Update (Information Only): Fire Chief Casey Wilson and EMS Chief Mickey Brunelli reported that since January 2025, 11 paramedics are licensed, with 7 in training. Engine 53 responded to 992 medical calls (261 ALS) from January to August. The squad handled 735 responses (205 ALS). Planned expansion: Engine 51 becomes full-time ALS on November 1, 2025, and a fourth ALS unit is targeted for Q1 2026, covering 73% of EMS responses. Council discussed dispatch efficiency, the need for 5 ALS resources for full coverage, and the impact of UC Merced annexation. No vote taken.
- AB 481 Military Equipment Report (Information Only): Police Chief Steven Stanfield presented the annual report detailing equipment such as drones, robots, armored vehicles, and less-lethal weapons. He highlighted an open house on October 25, 2025 (Cops and Critters event) to meet the public viewing requirement. No council discussion or vote.
- Measure V Regional Funding Resolution (Action Item): The council considered Resolution 2025-61 to authorize an application to MCAG for the Measure V Regional 2025 Implementation Plan. City Engineer Daryl Jordan explained the proposed reprogramming of $4 million from the Highway 59 widening project to the Black Rascal Creek Bridge project, plus an additional $4 million for bridge construction, and phasing the Mission Avenue widening project. Council Member Smith opposed the shift, citing the risk of losing a $2 million state grant tied to the widening project; he advocated focusing on widening to leverage the grant. Mayor Pro Tempore Boyle and Mayor Serratto supported focusing on the bridge due to safety and project readiness. The motion carried 5-1, with Council Member Smith voting no. Council Member Dupont emphasized the importance of the Mission Avenue widening for South Merced.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar approved unanimously (6-0).
- Measure V Resolution adopted (5-1), authorizing application to MCAG for reallocated funding.
- Future Agenda Item: Council Member Smith requested, and received a second, to discuss a more robust subcommittee system at the December 1, 2025 meeting.
- Council Member DeAnda Resignation: Council Member Ronnie DeAnda announced his resignation, citing health issues and the need to care for his wife. Council members offered tributes to his service, and the meeting was adjourned in his honor by a unanimous vote (6-0).
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Want to welcome everyone to the October 20th, 2025 meeting of the Merced City Council. We're going to begin with an invitation from Pastor Joel Dorman from the Summit Church of Merced. And then after that, Councilman Ronnie Deanne is going to lead us again on the Pledge of Allegiance. Pastor Dorman. Would you stand on the President? Our Father, we thank you for this beautiful day that you have made. We pray your blessings on it. We thank you that we live in a nation where we can openly protest, where we can yell and scream. We thank you for that freedom. So many people don't have that. We also thank you for a representative form of government where we can uh allow those who govern us to have our consent and we can tell them what we like and what we don't like. Again, we thank you for that blessing. And even though we may disagree with loud voices, maybe even shouts, maybe never forget we are looking into the eyes of a human being created in your image. And we thank you for that as well. We pray your blessings on our police officers, our firefighters, first responders, city council, mayor, uh the staff, uh Lord, just the people who guide our city and protect us, and we pray your blessings on them. In the name of my Savior Jesus, I pray. Amen. Amen. Council. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under indivisible with liberty and justice for all. All right. Thank you, Pastor Dorman. Thank you, Council Rodien. Jennifer. Okay, agenda item D, roll call. Councilmember DuPont. Present. DeAndra. Harris. Present. Smith. Present. Jehang. Mayor Pro Tem Boyle? Here. And Mayor Cerrado. Here. 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 website. Material may be emailed to 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. Good evening. When I started this Miyamu Mirna Sarate, Issoy inteperdes y cupan me ayuda, we yes and 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 a successor agency to the redevelopment agency.
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