Merced City Council Meeting - December 15, 2025: New Council Member, UC Merced Update, Speed Limits, Impact Fees, and Park Fees
Merced City Council Meeting - December 15, 2025
The Merced City Council held a regular meeting on December 15, 2025, starting at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chamber. The agenda included the swearing-in of a new Council Member for District 2, a special presentation by UC Merced Chancellor Juan Muñoz, a consent calendar with several routine items, and three public hearings on speed limits, development impact fees, and parks and community services fees. The meeting also featured public comments from 10 speakers on various community topics.
Consent Calendar
- K.1 – Waived reading of ordinances and resolutions (unanimous).
- K.2 – Approved meeting minutes of October 6 and October 20, 2025 (unanimous).
- K.3 – Adopted Resolution 2025-70 affirming in part, without prejudice, Appeal #25-0004 by Eric Gonsalves on behalf of Yosemite 1380, LLC, regarding Planning Commission actions on General Plan Amendment #24-02, Site Utilization Plan Revision #3, Site Plan Review Permit #551, and Minor Use Permit #24-13, and approving a legislative action agreement. Councilmembers DuPont and Tao recused themselves; the motion passed unanimously (5-0).
- K.4 – Adopted Ordinances 2582 and 2583 adopting the California Building Standards and Fire Code (Title 24) with local amendments, and amending the Fire Prevention Code. Passed unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Rick Winley expressed support for Bob Hart Square and concern about the prevalence of food trucks over brick-and-mortar small businesses. Urged council to push back against state mandates.
- Cindy Kelly (also representing Merced SPCA) thanked council for their work, noted positive developments in District 1 (new hotel, revitalized mall), and welcomed Councilmember Tao.
- Stephen Graham welcomed Councilmember Tao and encouraged him to seek community support.
- Jennifer Flackman (Public Information Officer) announced upcoming 2026 town hall schedule (January 7, 8, 13, 14) and a maintenance district town hall.
- Ralph Benns raised concerns about poor road conditions and insufficient sidewalks, citing bus ridership statistics (20,315 daily riders on some routes).
- Colton Dennis announced that downtown Merced had been designated a California Cultural District by the California Arts Council, effective January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2030, with a $10,000 grant over two years. Thanked Mayor Serato and others.
- Nicola Adams praised the Gospel Fest and Merced County Nut Festival, but expressed concerns about the city zoo: credit/debit cards not accepted, and the facility appeared neglected. Suggested investment and grant writing.
- Cartha Prasad (representing Congressman Adam Gray) provided legislative updates on water, healthcare, and rural road bills. Presented a certificate of special congressional recognition to Councilmember Tao.
- Gloria Sandoval invited council to the Winter Solstice Houseless Memorial 2025, noting 55 deaths on the streets year-to-date (up from 51 last year). Urged attention to homelessness and opposed forced labor solutions.
- Josh Pedroza (District 2 County Supervisor) thanked council for collaboration on the McKee Road project and highlighted productive meetings with High Speed Rail Authority.
Discussion Items
L.1 – Speed Limit Ordinance (Ordinance 2584)
City Engineer Jordan and a traffic consultant presented updates to a citywide speed study covering 237 segments. Of these, 86 were extended, 46 were classified as residential or business districts (allowing 25 mph posting), 5 as business districts, and 100 remained unchanged. Nine segments were proposed for a 5 mph increase. Council debated three specific segments:
- North Bear Creek Drive (M to G Street): Proposed increase from 35 to 40 mph. Councilmember Smith raised concerns about curvature, pedestrian crossing to bike path, and unhoused individuals. Data showed 85th percentile speed at 48 mph; the maximum legally defensible speed is 40 mph.
- Mansinnette Avenue: Proposed increase from 35 to 40 mph. Councilmember Smith questioned data collection timing (possible detour from Yosemite construction).
- Olive Avenue (R to M Street): Proposed increase to 40 mph. Councilmember Smith worried about impact on traffic signal synchronization.
Councilmember Harris moved to approve the study with modifications: keep North Bear Creek (M to G) and Mansinnette at current limits, and add Olive (R to M) to remain unchanged. The motion included a request for staff to restudy Mansinnette. Police Chief noted that without a valid speed survey, radar enforcement is currently impossible citywide; adopting the study would enable enforcement on compliant segments. The motion passed 4-2 (Councilmembers DuPont and Mayor Serato voting no).
L.2 – Development Impact Fees Annual Report
Staff presented the AB 1600 compliance report for FY 2024/2025, detailing fee collections, expenditures, and project progress. The report showed 51 capital improvement projects totaling $111 million in design, construction, and closeout. Councilmember Smith moved to accept the report and adopt Resolution 2025-76. Passed unanimously.
L.3 – Parks and Community Services Fee Schedule Update
Director Chris Jensen proposed updates to direct service fees (aiming for $5/hour from current $4/hour) and indirect service fees (field and facility rentals) to better recover costs. Key points:
- Current fees last adjusted in 2023; since then, wages (minimum wage up ~10%), materials, and maintenance costs have increased.
- Examples of revenue loss: Joe Herb Softball Complex lost 66% potential revenue due to nonprofit/co-sponsorship rates; Nanini Sports Complex lost 50% from co-sponsoring two youth sports organizations.
- New Bob Hart Square Plaza fee proposed at $150/hour (with 2-hour minimum).
- Staff recommended eliminating the automatic nonprofit rate and instead using a flexible partnership model.
Public speakers:
- Liz Dobbins (Club 67 for special needs) urged continuation of co-sponsorships, saying increased costs would force her to stop services.
- Gloria Sandoval requested caution with fee increases, noting nonprofits already bear liability insurance costs.
- Gloria Valdovinos (Downtown Merced Partnership) argued that $150/hour for Bob Hart Square would discourage activation, urging lower fees during the plaza's launch phase.
Council discussion: Councilmember Smith suggested a partnership model giving staff flexibility to reduce rates on a case-by-case basis. Councilmember DuPont noted that some co-sponsored events charge attendees, which amounts to double-dipping. City Manager McBride noted that street closures are currently underpriced and ordinance enforcement would make Bob Hart Square more attractive.
Motion to adopt the fee schedule (Resolution 2025-75) with an amendment to direct staff to develop a partnership model for rate flexibility. Passed 5-1 (Mayor Serato voting no).
Key Outcomes
- New Council Member Sworn In: Yang Pao Tao took the Oath of Office as Councilmember for District 2.
- Speed Limits: Adopted modified speed study with no increases on three contested segments; staff to restudy Mansinnette. Effective after final adoption (likely February 2026).
- Development Impact Fees: Accepted annual report and findings.
- Parks & Community Services Fees: Adopted updated fee schedule; staff to create a partnership model for flexible co-sponsorships.
- Future Agenda Items: None requested.
Ceremonial Matters & Special Presentations
- UC Merced Chancellor Update: Chancellor Juan Muñoz highlighted UC Merced's 20th anniversary, national rankings (top 25 public university, #3 public in Wall Street Journal), $1 billion annual economic impact in Merced County (doubled since 2020), support for 1 in 15 jobs in the county, 9,000 students (40% from Central Valley, 62% first-generation, 83% pay no tuition). Upcoming construction: medical education building ($300M), promise housing for transfer students (488 beds, completion Fall 2027), and joining NCAA Division II athletics.
- Bob Hart Square: Noted as nearly complete and already in use; council celebrated downtown cultural district designation.
Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at approximately 9:00 PM. Next meeting scheduled for January 2026.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. We apologize for starting a few minutes late. We had a busy closed session. We are welcoming everybody to the December 15th, 2025 meeting of the Mercedes City Council. We're going to begin with our call to order. Pastor Dorman is going to lead us in prayer with an invocation. And after that, I'm going to ask Mr. Muitau sitting there to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, if you could, sir. You can't bring 20 people and not. Let us pray. Our Father in Heaven, we thank you for the day that you have made. We thank you for this country, state, county, and city that we live in. We thank you most of all for the people that surround us every single day. People that maybe we don't know by first name or even last name. But fellow residents of our great city, and we're so grateful for them. We thank you for law enforcement and those who watch out for our safety. We thank you for the fire and rescue teams that again keep us safe at a time of year when uh our trees get dry and sometimes we get a little careless. We thank you also for our city government and what they do to better our city. We pray your blessings on them for their wisdom. We pray for our state, our country, and we also pray especially for the Jewish community as they continue to mourn the events that happen in Sydney, Australia. We pray for the events tonight at City Council. May you bless them. May you guide our words and actions in the name of Jesus, my Savior, I pray. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God and divisible with liberty and justice for all. Agenda item D, roll call, Councilmember DuPont. Present. Harris. President. Smith. Present. Zhang. Mayor Pro Tem Boyle. Here. And Mayor Serato. Here. Mayor, I'd like to remind the audience that if they wish to address the City Council, they must submit a green 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 they will also be posted on the city's 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 hermong, please let our interpreters know. Good evening. 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 receive no compensation.
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