OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Merced City Council Meeting - March 16, 2026: Key Decisions on Traffic, Housing, and Police Grants

City Council & Commissions — Monday, March 16, 2026
BodyMerced, California
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateMonday, March 16, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 4:10:32

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Oh, yeah.

0:11

Maybe for Temboy, here and there's Russell going to close session to discuss item B one.

0:18

There is one person in the audience, but he does not look like he wants to leave a public comment.

28:27

All right, good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

28:29

Want to welcome everybody to the March sixteenth, two thousand twenty-six meeting of the Mercedes City Council.

28:34

Thank you all for being here tonight.

28:36

Uh, we're going to begin with an invitation from Pastor Caesar Johnson from Christian Life Center here in Mercedes, and then after that, Councillor Tower leads in the Pledge of Allegiance.

29:05

You care for us.

29:06

You have all authority, and you are all powerful.

29:22

And we don't take that responsibility lightly.

29:24

So, God, we pray for your blessing and direction over this meeting.

29:27

Bless our council members, bless our city staff, volunteers, and families.

29:41

God, we may not understand your ways, we may not understand your thoughts, but you are the ultimate strategist.

30:00

Our families need you, those that are broken, that have lost loved ones or youth or poor, needy, those experiencing homelessness, mentally and physically ill, struggling parents, elderly, immigrants, business owners, farmers, ranchers, our staff in this community, Lord, we need you.

30:12

Lord, we think of St.

30:13

Patrick, Lord, and I pray, Lord, that before anybody today or this week, Lord, eats corn beef and cabbage.

30:18

God, I pray, Lord, they look up St.

30:20

Patrick and they look up what he stood for and how he sacrificed his life to help those around him.

30:26

May we do the same in this community, Lord.

30:29

We think of your word, and you said in Isaiah 43, 19 that you will make a path through the wilderness and water in the dry ground.

30:38

That is a sign of your provision and your direction.

30:41

So we ask that you provide for us today as we seek your direction and where to go.

30:46

In Jesus' name.

30:48

Amen.

30:56

And to the Republic for which it stands.

30:59

One nation.

31:00

Under God.

31:03

Liberty and justice for all.

31:07

Thank you, Council Tow.

31:08

Thank you, Pastor Johnson.

31:10

Some of your best work, sir.

31:12

Okay, agenda item D roll call.

31:14

Councilmember DuPont.

31:16

Present.

31:16

Tao.

31:17

Present.

31:17

Harris.

31:18

Present.

31:18

Smith.

31:19

Present.

31:20

Sean?

31:20

Here.

31:21

Mayor Pro Tim Boyle.

31:22

Here.

31:22

And Mayor Serato.

31:24

Here.

31:24

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.

31:32

Additionally, citizens can submit public comment to the city council electronically, no later than 1 p.m.

31:38

on of the day of the meeting.

31:39

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.

31:48

And they will also be posted on the city's website.

31:50

Material may be emailed to City Clerk at City of Merced.gov and any correspondence received after 1 p.m.

31:57

will be distributed to the city council and retained for the official record.

32:00

Also, for those audience members who wish to hear the council meeting translated into Spanish or Mong, please let our interpreters know.

32:44

And I'm the Spanish interpreter.

32:45

My name's Elizabeth, and I'm with Healthy House.

32:48

I will be back there if you need me.

32:51

Thank you.

32:52

In accordance with government code 54952.3, it is hereby announced that the city council sits either simultaneously or serially as the public financing and economic development authority, parking authority, and/or successor agency to the redevelopment agency.

33:07

City Council members receive a monthly stipend of $500 by charter for sitting as a city council.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Housing Code Enforcement█████████████████████████████29%
Procedural████████████████████████24%
Public Engagement████████████12%
Affordable Housing███████7%
Tenant Protections███████7%
Public Safety██████6%
Arts And Culture██2%
Homelessness██2%
Animal Welfare█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Merced City Council Meeting - March 16, 2026

The Merced City Council met on Monday, March 16, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chamber. The meeting included ceremonial recognitions, public comments, a consent calendar, a public hearing on federal housing funds, action items on police grants and inspections, reports on federal earmarks and housing successor activity, and a discussion of a new repeat housing code violator ordinance. The council also made appointments to the Citizens' Stipend Setting Commission.

Consent Calendar

  • Items I.1, I.2, I.5: Approved unanimously. These included reading of ordinances by title, approval of minutes from December 15-16, 2025, and a contract with Smarsh Inc. for text and social media archiving (up to $166,119).
  • Items I.3, I.4, I.6: Pulled for separate discussion (see below).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Cindy Kelly (Merced SPCA) reported 2025 outcomes: prevented over 1,600 kitten births via trap-neuter-return, trapped 171 new strays, spayed/neutered 575 pets, received $108,221 in revenue ($49,000 from grants, $58,000 from community donations), and spent nearly $104,000. She noted a decrease in pregnant cats but an uptick in FELV in colonies, with one colony dropping from 33 to 4 cats.
  • Crystal Ramos (Youth Leadership Institute) and several youth speakers expressed strong support for expanding public and affordable housing in Merced, citing challenges for young adults transitioning to adulthood.
  • Ashley Marie Suarez (Leadership Council) commented on the General Plan report (I.4) and later on the repeat housing code violator ordinance, recommending specific improvements.
  • Aunt Becky promoted the Kiki Rina Tahiti Fest cultural event.
  • Jalisa Lozano proposed creating hygiene supply kits for homeless and low-income residents, to be distributed at the T Street rec center.
  • Other speakers during the public hearing on the repeat violator ordinance shared personal experiences with substandard housing and urged strong tenant protections.

Discussion Items

  • I.3 – Traffic Signal Synchronization Project: Awarded to St. Francis Electric, LLC for $1,386,770. Councilmember Zhong asked why certain streets (G, 16th, K) were not included; staff clarified those corridors already have synchronization technology. Councilmember Smith noted previous synchronization in South Merced was delayed by lack of funds. Item passed unanimously.
  • I.4 – General Plan and Housing Element Annual Reports: Accepted for information only. Ashley Suarez questioned why only 521 units were approved out of 1,192 applications. Staff clarified no applications were disapproved; some are pending. Councilmember Zhong voted no. Passed 6-1.
  • I.6 – Police Vehicle Grant Application: Authorized application for up to $100,000 from San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to replace five vehicles (four from Razzari Ford, one Tesla) and outfit three with emergency equipment. Chief apologized for clerical error placing it on consent. Passed 5-1, with Councilmember Zhong voting no.
  • J.1 – CDBG and HOME Funds Public Hearing: Staff presented preliminary project scoring and budget for FY2026/27. Key proposed allocations: Sierra Saving Grace (rental assistance), Project Sentinel (tenant-landlord mediation), Harvest Time (food program), Boys & Girls Club (teen workforce), Youth for Christ (youth services), and Starbon Harmony Project (hygiene kits). Council discussed using funds for Fire Station 56 (via Section 108 loan) or Joe Herb Park improvements; some members cautioned against diverting from community survey priorities. Council provided direction but took no vote.
  • K.1 – ABC Alcohol Policing Partnership Grant: Authorized application for $100,000 for alcohol enforcement including inspections and minor decoy operations. Chief clarified it is not a DUI grant. Councilmember Zhong voted no, citing past use for DUI checkpoints. Passed 5-1.
  • K.2 – Asset Forfeiture Appropriation: Approved $5,549 from Fund 8503 for six TLK100 Wave two-way radios for the gang unit. Sergeant Odom explained the radios enable encrypted communication with other agencies. Passed unanimously.
  • K.3 – Multi-Unit Inspection Procedure Policy: Adopted Resolution 2026-17 per AB 548. Council debated adding specific time frames for code enforcement notices (e.g., 30 days) and reinspection. The resolution was adopted as drafted, with direction for staff to return April 20 with amendments to define reasonable time periods.
  • K.4 – UC Villages Annexation Amendments: Approved first amendment to deposit/reimbursement agreement with UC Village, LLC ($12,100) and to professional services agreement with De Novo Planning Group ($11,000). No city funds; developer-paid. Passed unanimously.
  • L.1 – 2027 Congressionally Directed Spending Requests: Reported three submissions: Fire Station 56/EOC ($5.4 million request), regional public safety communications ($3 million), and Bear Creek flood protection ($4 million gap). For information only.
  • L.2 – Housing Successor Agency Annual Report FY2024-25: Received and filed. Fund balance $9.6 million, cash $1.9 million. Five properties committed or sold. Passed unanimously.
  • L.3 – Repeat Housing Code Violators Program: City Attorney presented draft ordinance. Key features: three unresolved violations in 12 months triggers designation, appeal to council, tenant relocation assistance, public list, possible business license revocation. Council discussed retroactivity, time frames, fee structure, and tenant protections. No vote; staff directed to incorporate feedback and bring back for first reading.
  • M.1 – Citizens' Stipend Setting Commission: Appointed five members: Amanda Estrada (District 1), Belinda Burnett (District 4), Jeremy Jenkins (District 5), Steve Kiekendall (District 6), and Lee Pevsner (at-large). Two district seats (2 and 3) left vacant for further recruitment until April 6.

Key Outcomes

  • Awarded traffic signal synchronization contract to St. Francis Electric, LLC ($1,386,770).
  • Accepted General Plan and Housing Element Annual Reports.
  • Authorized police vehicle grant application (up to $100,000) and ABC alcohol enforcement grant ($100,000).
  • Approved asset forfeiture fund use for police radios ($5,549).
  • Adopted multi-unit inspection policy, with amendments to follow.
  • Approved UC Villages annexation amendments.
  • Discussed and provided direction on CDBG/HOME funding, repeat housing code violator ordinance, and stipend commission appointments.
  • Set future meetings: April 6, April 20, and others for continued items.

Meeting Transcript

Oh, yeah. Maybe for Temboy, here and there's Russell going to close session to discuss item B one. There is one person in the audience, but he does not look like he wants to leave a public comment. All right, good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Want to welcome everybody to the March sixteenth, two thousand twenty-six meeting of the Mercedes City Council. Thank you all for being here tonight. Uh, we're going to begin with an invitation from Pastor Caesar Johnson from Christian Life Center here in Mercedes, and then after that, Councillor Tower leads in the Pledge of Allegiance. You care for us. You have all authority, and you are all powerful. And we don't take that responsibility lightly. So, God, we pray for your blessing and direction over this meeting. Bless our council members, bless our city staff, volunteers, and families. God, we may not understand your ways, we may not understand your thoughts, but you are the ultimate strategist. Our families need you, those that are broken, that have lost loved ones or youth or poor, needy, those experiencing homelessness, mentally and physically ill, struggling parents, elderly, immigrants, business owners, farmers, ranchers, our staff in this community, Lord, we need you. Lord, we think of St. Patrick, Lord, and I pray, Lord, that before anybody today or this week, Lord, eats corn beef and cabbage. God, I pray, Lord, they look up St. Patrick and they look up what he stood for and how he sacrificed his life to help those around him. May we do the same in this community, Lord. We think of your word, and you said in Isaiah 43, 19 that you will make a path through the wilderness and water in the dry ground. That is a sign of your provision and your direction. So we ask that you provide for us today as we seek your direction and where to go. In Jesus' name. Amen. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation. Under God. Liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Council Tow. Thank you, Pastor Johnson. Some of your best work, sir. Okay, agenda item D roll call. Councilmember DuPont. Present. Tao. Present. Harris. Present. Smith. Present. Sean? Here. Mayor Pro Tim 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 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 of 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.

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