Merced City Council Meeting – September 8, 2026: Flood Control, Art Funding, and Commission Support
Merced City Council Meeting – September 8, 2026
The Merced City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chamber. The meeting included ceremonial recognitions, extensive public comment, approval of consent and action items, and discussion of flood control, parking structures, planning commission support, and art funding. Several votes had dissenting or recused members.
Consent Calendar
- All items approved unanimously except those pulled for separate vote.
- I.6 (Investment Policy Update) and I.12 (Police vehicle purchase) were pulled by Councilmember Zhang: approved with Zhang voting no.
- I.11 (Kubota excavator purchase) was pulled by Councilmember Smith (recused): approved unanimously.
- Other consent items (I.1–I.5, I.7–I.10, I.13–I.15) passed without objection.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Adam Shane urged shifting city investments from large Wall Street banks to community banks to boost local economic multiplier effects. Requested contact with Finance Officer Venus Rodriguez.
- Steve Graham requested traffic safety improvements (red curb painting) near Farmdale Elementary School on Rancho Camino to improve sight lines for drivers.
- Lee Barney raised concerns about the animal cruelty case involving “Sweetie” the husky, questioning why removal took over a year and urging better cross-checking of prior abuse history.
- Jazz, Eddie Rodriguez, Patricia Pratt, Glenn Camarada (artists and commissioner) argued that the City’s two RFP mural projects (total $20,000) are funded far below industry standards (over 60% less) and risk devaluing artists’ labor. Requested a freeze on the RFPs and a review of compensation.
- Aggie Freeman (veterans advocate) publicly asked Councilmember Zhang to explain why he remained seated during the Pledge of Allegiance at council meetings, stating constituents deserve an answer.
- Marilyn Sobel defended the right to sit during the pledge as an act of conscience, noting she also sits.
- Chief Steve Stanfield invited the community to a “Stuff the Truck” school supply drive on September 11, 2026, in partnership with the Restorative Justice League.
Discussion Items
- K1 – Flood Control Efforts (Mayor Serratto): Staff (City Manager McBride, Darrell Jordan, Ken Elwyn) updated on the Bear Creek Restoration Project (100% design, permits in process, construction expected May 2027) and vegetation management hampered by new, onerous streambed alteration permits. Council discussed lessons learned from 2023 flooding, reinforcing flood walls with heavy blocks, and potential emergency declarations to expedite work. No formal action taken.
- K2 – Parking Structures/Carports (Councilmember Harris): Discussion of code enforcement issues regarding carports in setbacks, lack of standards, and permitting thresholds. Council consensus to refer to the Public Safety Committee for further development of standards and possible setback exceptions. Motion passed (Zhang voting no).
- K3 – Facilitating the Planning Commission’s Success (Councilmember Smith): Proposed three areas: (1) Clarify issues and legal standards in staff reports; (2) Establish a formal referral process for the Commission to pose policy questions to the Council; (3) Invest in commissioners through orientation, city email/business cards, in‑house training, and a per‑meeting stipend. After discussion, the item was referred to the Ethics and Governance Committee (unanimous).
- K4 – Dissolution of Ballot Referendum Exploration Ad Hoc Subcommittee: Approved unanimously, as its work (placing a ballot question on the November 2026 general election) is complete.
- K5 – Future Agenda Requests: Councilmember Zhang requested a report on city spending on public art since 2022 (staff to provide by October 19). His request to pause the mural RFP lacked support; Council opted to let the RFP process conclude and review proposals.
Key Outcomes
- Votes:
- Consent Calendar (I.6 & I.12) approved 6‑1 (Zhang no).
- I.11 (excavator) approved 6‑0 (Smith recused).
- J1 (community funding recipients) approved unanimously.
- J2 (cannabis tax grant $238,199.99) approved 6‑1 (Zhang no).
- J3 (traffic safety grant $98,900) approved 6‑1 (Zhang no).
- J4 (playground insurance reimbursement) approved unanimously.
- J5 (wastewater loan up to $50 million) approved unanimously.
- K2 (carports referral) approved 6‑1 (Zhang no).
- K3 (planning commission referral) approved unanimously.
- K4 (subcommittee dissolution) approved unanimously.
- Next Steps: Flood control work to continue with permit coordination; carport standards to be developed by Public Safety Committee; planning commission proposals to be refined by Ethics and Governance Committee; art spending report due October 19, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
Council members to Pont. Harris. May approach him oil. May Soroto item B close session. Council closed session to discuss items B one through B five. Just for the record, then we're interested to speak us from these items. All right, good evening, everyone, want to welcome everyone to the September eighth meeting of the Mercedes City Council. We're already beginning an eye with an invitation from Monica Gravely from Lifeline CDC. And after that, if Councilman Harris, if you could lead us in the Pledge of Legion support. If you wouldn't mind, stand with me. As we get closer to the twenty fifth anniversary of nine eleven, we recognize that our world has changed. That we have lost trust in people and systems. So help us to be resilient and strong, growing closer to each other and not further apart. Amen. Please join me in the flight of regions. Ready, beginning. And to the Republicans. One nation. Under God. Thank you, Councilmember Harris. Thank you, Mona. Agenda item D, roll call. Council members DuPont. Present. Town. Present. Harris. Present. Smith. Present. Zhang? Here. Mayor Pro Tim Boyle. Here. Mayor Serrado. Here. May I like to remind the audience that if they wish to address the city council, they may submit a request to speak in one of the following ways. Submit a brand request to speak card available at the back of the council chambers and submit it to the deputy city clerk, preferably before the item is called and or the meeting begins. Register using the kiosk located at the back of the council chambers, preferably before the item is called and/or the meeting begins. Scan the QR code corresponding to your preferred language, English, Hmong, or Spanish, and follow the instructions. Submit a request to speak online by visiting public comment.city of Merced.gov. Individuals participating virtually by phone must provide a valid number so that staff can identify the caller during the meeting. Additionally, citizens can submit a public comment to the city council electronic fee no later than 1 p.m. 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 to the city's website. Materials may be emailed to City Clerk at City of Merced.gov. Any correspondence received after 1 p.m. will be distributed to the city council and retained for official record. Also, audience members who wish to have Spanish Among Translation Services, please let our interpreters know. If you're participating virtually by phone, please indicate that as you register to speak.
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