Merced Citizen Advisory Focus Group Meeting - November 7, 2025

This was the second meeting of the Citizen Advisory Focus Group (CAFG) for the City of Merced General Plan Update and Downtown Station Area Plan Project. The primary purpose was to review and provide initial feedback on the draft Existing Conditions and Trends Workbook, a comprehensive snapshot of current city conditions across multiple topics. The meeting included a presentation by consultant team MIG, led by Michael Gibbons and Brent Gibbons, followed by an extended discussion where CAFG members asked questions, requested additional data, and suggested clarifications.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimous approval of the minutes from the August 27, 2025 CAFG meeting via a motion and roll-call vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public requested to speak.

Discussion Items

• Presentation of Existing Conditions and Trends Workbook: The consultants walked through 11 chapters covering land use, population/employment/housing, mobility, market/economic conditions, public facilities/services, air quality, environmental justice, and more. Key findings included:
  • Land use: 15% of land designated for high-density in the 2030 General Plan, but only 3% actually zoned; 40% of city land is public facilities.
  • Population: 98,000 residents (2025), a 16% increase since 2020; Hispanic/Latino majority now 59%.
  • Housing: 65% single-family detached; projected need for 11,000 new units by 2045 (7,000 single-family, 4,000 multifamily).
  • Mobility: Commute time increased by 7 minutes since 2010; biking to work decreased.
  • Environmental justice: 14 census tracts identified as disadvantaged; 93% of injury collisions occur in those tracts.
• CAFG Member Feedback and Requests: Members raised numerous points, including:
  • Request to include raw numbers on biking to work, not just percentages.
  • Request for data on bike lane safety (KSI rates), animal control statistics, and emergency response times.
  • Clarification on land use designation percentages (acreage vs. units).
  • Interest in adding information on urban forestry, tree canopy, permeable surfaces, microplastics, noise/light pollution, and unhoused population.
  • Suggestions to consult additional data sources (North Valley Thrive, Urban Three, UC Merced).
  • Correction noted: Table 3-2 incorrectly listed Merced County population as 29,000 instead of 293,000.
  • Concern about the short turnaround for comments (8 days) and request for earlier distribution of future materials.
• Environmental Justice Engagement: Consultants described plans for multilingual surveys, workshops, and targeted outreach to disadvantaged communities, with flexibility to adapt based on community trust.

Key Outcomes

• CAFG members were asked to submit written comments on the workbook by November 16, 2025 to city staff (Leah or Johnny).
• The workbook will be revised into a public review draft and presented at a community open house planned for October 23, 2025 (downstairs, open house format).
• The next CAFG meeting will focus on the Downtown Station Area Plan alternatives, not the General Plan.
• City staff will provide flyers and summary materials to help members engage their communities.