Merced City Council Meeting – February 17, 2026: Committee Reorganization, Fire Truck Purchase, and Gaming Expansion Direction
Merced City Council Meeting – February 17, 2026: Committee Reorganization, Fire Truck Purchase, and Gaming Expansion Direction
The Merced City Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, beginning at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chamber. The meeting included a closed session at 5:00 PM (no report out), ceremonial proclamations, public comments, unanimous approval of the consent calendar, and action on several items including committee assignments, fire truck purchases, grant evaluation agreements, environmental document approvals, a sewer project change order, and direction to draft a gaming ordinance.
Ceremonial Matters
- Proclamation – Ramadan Recognition (Item F.1): The Council formally recognized the holy month of Ramadan, which begins at sunset on February 18, 2026. Shahid Sohail accepted the proclamation and thanked the Council for honoring the Muslim community and its contributions.
- Proclamation – Honoring Riggs Ambulance Service and the Riggs Family (Item F.2): Councilmember Harris read a proclamation honoring the legacy of Ken Riggs, who founded the service in 1948, and his son Craig Riggs. The proclamation highlighted pioneering achievements in emergency medical services, including being the first in California to stock oxygen and requiring paramedic certification. The Riggs family accepted the honor.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jeremy Jenkins (Merced Community Intercessors): Expressed support for community unity and prayed for peace in light of recent violence. Invited the Council to partner with the group. Announced a community prayer event on Saturday, February 21, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Bob Hart Square.
- Francesca Lopez (Merced Community Intercessors): Echoed Jenkins’ remarks and asked for open communication and collaboration to host positive gatherings and support youth programs.
- Carthi Prasad (on behalf of Congressman Adam Gray): Announced that Congressman Gray secured over $16 million in direct federal funding for 15 projects in the district, including $850,000 for Childs Canal roadway construction and $3 million for Bear Creek Infrastructure and Flood Protection Initiative. Also noted the office is accepting applications for future community project funding.
- Israel Salgado: Updated on Merced Scholars Charter School, which had been slated for closure but will now continue through the 2026–2027 school year. Encouraged registration (February 18 – March 6) and highlighted the dual-language (English/Spanish) program.
Consent Calendar
- All items on the consent calendar (I.1–I.11) were approved unanimously without separate discussion. These included:
- Reading by title of ordinances and resolutions (I.1)
- Traffic Committee minutes (I.2)
- Meeting minutes of November 17, 2025 (I.3)
- Authorization for Microsoft licensing agreement with SHI International Corp. for up to $1,922,641 over five years (I.4)
- Street closure for the 38th Annual Merced Criterium Bicycle Race on March 1, 2026 (I.5)
- Amendments to legal services agreements with Richards, Watson & Gershon (up to $60,000) and Best Best & Krieger LLP (up to $50,000) (I.6)
- Waterworks supplies bid award to three vendors, combined not to exceed $440,000 per year for two years (I.7)
- First reading of Ordinance 2588 (amending Chapter 10.50.010 to replace “traffic committee” with “city engineer or designee”) (I.8)
- First reading of Ordinance 2589 (amending Chapter 10.20.190 “Warrants – Stop Signs” similarly) (I.9)
- Resolution 2026-09 establishing an administrative remedies procedure for fee challenges (AB 2257) (I.10)
- Professional services agreement with Black Water Consulting Engineers for the 2025 Urban Water Management Plan, not to exceed $55,751 (I.11)
Discussion Items
- J.1 – Committee Assignments Resolution: Councilmember Smith presented Resolution 2026-12 to affirm City Council committee assignments and appointments to regional organizations. After discussion, the Council adjusted the Finance and Economic Development Committee to include Mayor Pro Tem Boyle, Councilmember Zhang, and Councilmember Tao. The resolution also dissolved several former subcommittees and ad hoc committees (including the Riley Park ad hoc). Approved unanimously.
- J.2 – Fire Truck Purchase: Fleet manager Cosmo presented a request to replace two 20-year-old fire department trucks (F-946 and F-979) with two 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD 4WD work trucks at $63,167.50 each ($126,334.99 total) plus a 10% contingency ($12,633.50) for a total not-to-exceed $138,968.49. The purchase uses a government procurement program (Sourcewell). Approved unanimously.
- J.3 – CalVIP Evaluation Agreement: Management Analyst Sarah Canister presented a services agreement with Social Policy Research Associates ($49,075) to perform a local evaluation report for the California Violence Intervention and Prevention (CalVIP) Cohort 4 grant program. The program, “Pathways to Success,” provides mentorship and support for at-risk youth. Seven proposals were received; Social Policy Research Associates scored highest. Approved unanimously.
- J.4 – University Industrial Park Environmental Agreement: Senior Planner Francisco Mendoza presented a professional services agreement with J.B. Anderson Land Use Planning ($210,486) and a deposit/reimbursement agreement with Lyons Investments (up to $231,534.60) to prepare an environmental document for a General Plan amendment and rezone of approximately 376 acres at the southeast corner of Campus Parkway and State Highway 140. The project would allow a mix of residential (1,000–2,300 units), business park, and commercial uses. The agreements cover environmental review and staff costs. Approved unanimously.
- J.5 – Craig Drive Sewer Main Change Order: City Engineer Jordan presented a request to increase contingency by $53,190.80 (to a total of $112,223.30, 28.51% of the original contract) for Change Order 3 with MidCal Pipeline & Utilities, Inc. for the Craig Drive sewer main project. The additional work addresses failing pavement discovered during construction. Approved unanimously.
- J.6 – Gaming Ordinance Direction: Chief Deputy City Attorney Rhonda Lucas requested direction to draft an ordinance amending Chapter 9.08 of the Municipal Code to align with state law (Business and Professions Code Sections 19961.07 and 19860). Currently, the city allows 12 card tables across two card rooms, but only one (Casino Merced) operates (6 tables). The proposed ordinance would allow a gradual expansion: +2 tables in the first year, then +2 every four years, up to 22 tables by 2042, subject to conditional use permits and DOJ approval. Councilmembers expressed preference that additional tables be allocated only to operating card rooms. Council unanimously directed staff to draft the ordinance with that condition.
Key Outcomes
- All votes were unanimous (5-0).
- Resolution 2026-12 (Committee Assignments) approved, with the Finance and Economic Development Committee composed of Mayor Pro Tem Boyle, Councilmember Zhang, and Councilmember Tao.
- Fire department vehicle replacements authorized.
- CalVIP evaluation contract awarded to Social Policy Research Associates.
- Environmental review agreements for University Industrial Park approved.
- Additional contingency for Craig Drive sewer project approved.
- Council directed staff to draft an amended gaming ordinance expanding card tables only for operating establishments, with a gradual phase-in per state law.
- The meeting adjourned in memory of Joel Knox, a longtime resident of District One and community advocate.
Meeting Transcript
All right, ladies and gentlemen, welcome. Call our meeting uh to order. Again, want to welcome everybody uh tonight to the meeting of the Merced City Council, where we begin with an invitation from Pastor Joel Dorman of the Summit Church here in Merced, and Pastor Dorman, if you'd also be so kind as her to lead us in the pledge when you're conclude when you conclude the prayer. Would you stand and bow your heads? Our Father, we thank you for this day that you have made. We simultaneously pray for those who are negatively affected by this rain, and thank you that you give us the chance to be merciful and gracious to our neighbors who might not be doing so well with it. We thank you for our form of government where we can elect people to represent us to carry on the business of our city and our state and our country. We pray your wisdom for them. We pray that while we may err our grievances and may do so even passionately, that we would do so with great respect, recognizing that the people we're addressing are those made in your image as well as we are. We thank you for tonight. We thank you for the chance to be able to engage in this format. And I pray this in the name of my Savior Jesus. 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, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Okay, agenda item D roll call. Councilmember DuPont. Present. Tao. President. Harris. Present. Smith. Present. Zhang? Here. 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 will 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 or Hmong, please let our interpreters know. Good evening. Hola buenas noches, miamumir Nasarate, say interpret in espanhol. Muchas gracias. 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, $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. Agenda item E, report out of closed session. There is no report out of closed session. Okay, agenda item F, ceremonial matters, F1, proclamation, Ramadan recognition. Thank you, Jennifer. Two ceremonial items tonight. The first of which is honoring uh the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Uh, we have uh members uh Shaheed Sohail from our local uh Islamic community invite you up, sir, and we also have folks from the Central Valley uh Council of American Islamic relations.
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