Merced meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Merced council agenda listed $627,128.61 truck purchase; minutes not yet posted

No decisions were confirmed in Merced government meetings over the past two weeks, based on the records available. Agendas were published for four meetings — the Personnel Board, the City Council, the Regional Airport Authority and the Planning Commission — but minutes have not yet been posted, so the outcome of any votes is not established in the records reviewed.

City Council: trucks, tree care and firearms on the agenda

The Oct. 19 agenda for the City Council — meeting with the Public Finance and Economic Development Authority and the Parking Authority — listed a purchase of 12 Chevrolet pickup trucks from Ferro Automotive Group for $627,128.61. The summary describes the vehicle and equipment purchases as being for police and city divisions.

The same agenda listed an agreement with West Coast Arborists, Inc. for tree services not to exceed $413,000 annually, and a purchase of 120 GLOCK 45 Gen 5 pistols and accessories for $106,327.42.

The agenda describes these as items for the council to vote on. Because minutes have not been published, the records reviewed do not show whether the council acted on them, or by what vote.

Parks plan and a West Main Street property

Two other items appeared on the same agenda: discussion of a new 10-year Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan, and negotiation of a sale of city-owned property at 626 W. Main Street to Hopeton Properties, LLC. The agenda summary describes the property item as a negotiation of a sale; it does not state a price or terms.

Veterans Day Parade street closures

The council agenda also listed street closures for the 22nd Annual Veterans Day Parade on November 11, 2026.

Meetings with no listed business

Three other bodies were scheduled to meet in the past two weeks with agendas containing only procedural material. The Personnel Board's Oct. 12 agenda listed no discussion items or decisions. The Regional Airport Authority's Oct. 20 document consisted only of a meeting date and printing date. The Planning Commission's Oct. 21 agenda listed no action items, public hearings or discussion topics. For all three, minutes have not been published, and the records reviewed do not establish what, if anything, was taken up.

Coming up

Recreation & Parks Commission, Oct. 26. Action item 26-882 is a recommendation to decline a community donation for a cricket pitch at Dwight Amy Park; the agenda summary attributes the recommendation to infrastructure and zoning conflicts. Action item 26-887 would recess commission meetings for November and December 2026. Staff reports include Report 26-883, a review of Youth Service Provider first-quarter reports, and Report 26-886, Parks and Community Services Department monthly updates.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission, Oct. 27. The agenda consists of procedural boilerplate, with no action items, reports or business topics listed.

Merced council agenda carried $1.22M Highway 59 engineering pact; Oct. 19 agenda lists truck, pistol and tree-service purchases

Merced's Oct. 5, 2026 City Council agenda listed a $1,223,480.80 professional services agreement with Dokken Engineering for Highway 59 Phase 1 widening and Black Rascal Creek bridge projects — the largest dollar figure in the meeting records reviewed for the past two weeks. The council met that day also sitting as the Public Finance and Economic Development Authority and the Parking Authority. Minutes from that meeting have not been published in the records provided, so whether the council approved the agreement, and by what vote, is not established here.

Agendas list what a body may consider. They do not record outcomes, and no vote tallies appear in the documents reviewed for any of the three recent meetings.

Highway 59 agreement was the largest item

The Dokken Engineering agreement appeared under action items on the Oct. 5 agenda, described as covering Highway 59 Phase 1 widening and Black Rascal Creek bridge projects. The supplied records do not include the contract terms, funding source, or the council's action on it.

Consent calendar: city manager term, legal services, hotel parking

The Oct. 5 consent calendar included:

• A Second Amendment to the City Manager's employment agreement adding a three-year term.
• A Fifth Amendment to the Richards, Watson & Gershon legal services agreement, up to $80,000.
• A lease of 59 parking spaces in the Ralph Shannon Parcade to El Capitan Hotel Merced, LLC at $2,520 per month ($30,240 per year).
• A $60,000 cardiac monitor (LIFEPAK 35) for Fire Department Truck 51 from Stryker via Sourcewell.

The records provided do not show how any of these items were handled.

Two easement hearings also scheduled

Two public hearings on the Oct. 5 agenda covered street and utility easement vacations. The supplied summary does not identify the affected locations or the outcome.

Planning Commission and Personnel Board: no listed business

The Planning Commission was scheduled to meet Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chamber at 678 W. 18th Street. The agenda consisted of procedural sections only — call to order, roll call, public comment, consent calendar, public hearings and action items, action items, information items, and adjournment — with no specific projects, permits, contracts, or dollar amounts listed. The document notes the Commission also serves as the Board of Zoning Adjustment and the Design Review/Historic Preservation Commission. Public comment rules set three minutes per speaker, reduced to two minutes if more than 10 speakers.

The Personnel Board's Oct. 12 agenda contained only procedural boilerplate and listed no discussion items or decisions.

On the Oct. 19 council agenda

The City Council's Oct. 19 agenda lists several purchases and agreements for consideration:

• 12 Chevrolet pickup trucks from Ferro Automotive Group for $627,128.61.
• An agreement with West Coast Arborists, Inc. for tree services not to exceed $413,000 annually.
• 120 GLOCK 45 Gen 5 pistols and accessories for $106,327.42.
• Negotiation of a sale of city-owned property at 626 W. Main Street to Hopeton Properties, LLC.
• Street closures for the 22nd Annual Veterans Day Parade on November 11, 2026.

The body is also described as discussing a new 10-year Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan.

Coming up

• **Oct. 19** — City Council, also sitting as the Public Finance and Economic Development Authority and Parking Authority. The vehicle, equipment, tree-service and Main Street property items are listed.
• **Oct. 20** — Regional Airport Authority. The provided agenda lists no business items; it consists only of a meeting date and printing date.
• **Oct. 21** — Planning Commission. The agenda is procedural boilerplate with no action items, public hearings, or discussion topics listed.

Readers can check the published agendas and minutes for each body for the official record and any outcomes not reflected in the summaries above.

Merced council to weigh $1,223,480.80 Highway 59 design contract; seven maintenance districts on subcommittee agenda

Merced's City Council is scheduled to consider a $1,223,480.80 engineering agreement for Highway 59 widening and a new three-year term for the city manager, among other items on its Oct. 5 agenda. A city subcommittee will separately discuss whether to recommend assessment ballot proceedings for seven maintenance districts identified as underfunded.

All five meetings summarized here are agenda-only records. Minutes have not been published, so the documents show what was scheduled or proposed, not what was decided. No vote tallies were available.

City Council, Oct. 5: Highway 59 contract and other items

The council meets Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, also sitting as the Public Finance and Economic Development Authority and the Parking Authority. The largest listed item is an action item: a $1,223,480.80 professional services agreement with Dokken Engineering for the Highway 59 Phase 1 widening and Black Rascal Creek bridge projects.

Most other items sit on the consent calendar, which is typically approved in a single vote:

• A Second Amendment to the City Manager Employment Agreement adding a three-year term
• A Fifth Amendment to the Richards, Watson & Gershon legal services agreement, up to $80,000
• A lease of 59 parking spaces in the Ralph Shannon Parcade to El Capitan Hotel Merced, LLC at $2,520 per month ($30,240 per year)
• A $60,000 cardiac monitor (LIFEPAK 35) for Fire Department Truck 51, from Stryker via Sourcewell

Two public hearings cover street and utility easement vacations, according to the agenda summary.

Subcommittee to weigh assessment ballots for seven maintenance districts

The Public Works, Roads, and Infrastructure Subcommittee meets Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, at 3:00 PM in the City Council Chamber. Members will discuss recommending that the City Council authorize assessment ballot proceedings for seven districts identified as underfunded: Campus North, East College Homes, Fahrens Park I, Hansen Park, Olivewood, Pleasanton Park, and Yosemite Village Maintenance Districts (Item 26-806).

The subcommittee will also review repairs to the Bob Hart Square Fountain and consider two options: keep the existing repair project (Option A) or seek Council direction to convert the fountain into a planter (Option B) (Item 26-822). A third item (26-795) covers the subcommittee's roles and duties and how often it should meet, with a recommendation to Council. The subcommittee does not make final decisions; its items are recommendations or direction to staff and the Council.

Measure C and Measure Y reports

The Tax Transparency Commission met Sept. 29, 2026, to review Measure C and Measure Y revenue and expense reports as of June 30, 2026, and may give direction to staff. The commission was also scheduled to select a new vice chair, approve minutes from May 12, 2026, and consider a request to add an item to a future agenda.

Planning Commission and Personnel Board: no items listed

The Planning Commission meets Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, at 6:00 PM at 678 W. 18th Street. The supplied agenda lists only procedural sections — call to order, roll call, public comment, consent calendar, public hearings and action items, information items, and adjournment — with no specific projects, permits, contracts, or dollar amounts. The commission also serves as the Board of Zoning Adjustment and the Design Review/Historic Preservation Commission. Public comment is limited to 3 minutes per speaker, reduced to 2 minutes if more than 10 speakers.

The Personnel Board is scheduled to meet Oct. 12, 2026. The supplied agenda contains only procedural boilerplate and lists no discussion items or decisions.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings for the next 14 days were listed in the records provided. Readers should check the city's meeting portal for agendas and for minutes from the meetings above once they are published.

Merced boards review $5M sports complex grant, airport ad fees

Merced city boards and committees met over the past two weeks to review a range of proposals, including a potential $5 million grant for the Merced Regional Sports Complex and a new advertising fee schedule at the airport. No meeting minutes have been published for any of these meetings, so final decisions are not yet confirmed.

City Council (Aug. 17)

The City Council agenda included a resolution to apply for up to $5 million from the California Natural Resources Agency Urban Greening Grant for the Merced Regional Sports Complex. The funds would add pedestrian pathways, landscaping, shade trees, and an additional sports field.

The council also considered Resolution 2026-53, which would establish inspection procedures for multi-unit substandard buildings and rescind Resolution 2026-17. Council Member Xiong requested a discussion on tenant protection.

Consent items included a cooperative purchase with AMS.NET not to exceed $160,000 for fiscal year 2026-2027, and a professional services agreement with Black Water Consulting Engineers, Inc. not to exceed $97,268 for 2026-2030 UWUO reporting.

Regional Airport Authority (Aug. 18)

The Regional Airport Authority considered recommending a proposed advertising fee schedule to the City Council. The proposal would launch a two-year pilot program allowing commercial advertising inside the terminal, with tiered annual rates:

• Tier AA: $10,000
• Tier A: $3,500
• Tier B: $3,000
• Tier C: $2,500
• Tier D (nonprofit): $750

Add-ons include baggage/wall wrap at $2,500, restroom/door decal at $1,500, and category exclusivity at an additional 25%. Short-term event ads would cost $250 for one week or $500 for one month. The board also received informational reports on operations, passenger and cargo data, and marketing.

Personnel Board (Aug. 10)

The Personnel Board considered new and revised job descriptions, including a Lead Recreation and Field Facility Worker and Water Distribution Operator I-III and Water Systems Operator. The board also discussed setting dates for a terminated employee's appeal hearing (Personnel Board Hearing 2026-1), which could require up to four days in September or October. The board also reviewed the Personnel Department Monthly Report for July 2026 and minutes from June 8.

Tax Transparency Commission (Aug. 11)

The commission reviewed Measure C and Measure Y revenue and expense reports for the period ending June 30, 2026. It may provide direction to staff as a recommendation to the City Council. The commission also approved minutes from May 12 and considered a request to add an item to a future agenda.

Planning Commission (Aug. 19)

This meeting was procedural only, with no substantive items listed on the agenda.

Recreation & Parks Commission (Aug. 20)

The commission reviewed the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Master Plan, including its findings, recommendations, priorities, and implementation strategies. It may adopt a motion recommending that the City Council adopt the plan as presented or with revisions.

Coming up

• **Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission** – Regular meeting on Aug. 25. The agenda contains only standard procedural items, with no specific items listed for discussion or action.

Merced City Council weighs 1-cent sales tax; no decisions recorded in recent meetings

The Merced City Council is considering placing a 1-cent sales tax measure on the November 3, 2026, ballot, a proposal that would fund vital services. No final votes have been recorded in the past two weeks, as all recent meeting agendas were published without minutes. The council's Aug. 3 agenda also included vehicle purchases and a zoning amendment.

City Council (Aug. 3)

The council discussed the proposed City of Merced Vital Services Protection Measure, a 1-cent sales tax, for the November election. It also considered a zoning ordinance amendment to comply with state housing laws (Regional Housing Needs Allocation).

Several vehicle purchases were on the agenda:

• One 2027 Peterbilt 520 front loader refuse truck for $394,219.35
• One 2027 PBLDB-10 dump truck for $234,269.98
• One MDD5-6 dump truck for $178,795.55

A services agreement with Black Water Consulting Engineers was listed at not to exceed $51,348.

Planning Commission (Aug. 5)

The commission's agenda was mostly procedural. It considered approving minutes from June 17, July 8, and July 22, 2026, and adopting a resolution for Minor Modification #26-0008. A study session was held on the draft vision statement of the Comprehensive General Plan Update. No major projects were discussed.

Personnel Board (Aug. 10)

The board considered new and revised job descriptions, including a Lead Recreation and Field Facility Worker and Water Distribution/Systems Operators. It also set dates for a terminated employee's appeal hearing (Personnel Board Hearing 2026-1), likely in September or October, requiring up to four days. The board approved the Personnel Department Monthly Report for July 2026 and minutes from June 8, 2026.

Tax Transparency Commission (Aug. 11)

The commission reviewed Measure C and Measure Y revenue and expense reports for the period ending June 30, 2026, accepting them as information. It also approved minutes from May 12, 2026, and considered a request to add an item to a future agenda.

Coming up

• **City Council (Aug. 17, today):** The council will consider applying for up to $5 million in state grant funds for the Merced Regional Sports Complex, including pedestrian pathways, landscaping, shade trees, and an additional sports field. It will also vote on a resolution establishing inspection procedures for multi-unit substandard buildings and discuss tenant protection at the request of Council Member Xiong. Consent items include a $160,000 cooperative purchase with AMS.NET and a $97,268 services agreement with Black Water Consulting Engineers.
• **Regional Airport Authority (Aug. 18):** The board will recommend a proposed advertising fee schedule for the Merced Yosemite Regional Airport to the City Council. The two-year pilot program would allow commercial advertising inside the terminal, with tiered rates from $750 to $10,000 per year. Informational reports on operations, passenger and cargo data, and marketing are also on the agenda.
• **Planning Commission (Aug. 19):** This is a procedural meeting with no listed action items, only standard opening procedures, public comment, and adjournment.

Merced City Council weighs 1¢ sales tax measure for November ballot

The Merced City Council is considering placing a 1¢ sales tax measure on the November 3, 2026 ballot, the most consequential item on recent meeting agendas. No decisions have been published from the three meetings held in the past two weeks, as minutes are pending.

City Council considers sales tax measure and vehicle purchases

At its August 3 meeting, the City Council (also sitting as the Public Finance and Economic Development Authority and Parking Authority) took up the proposed City of Merced Vital Services Protection Measure, a 1¢ sales tax that would go before voters in November. The council also considered a zoning ordinance amendment to comply with state housing laws (Regional Housing Needs Allocation) and several vehicle purchases:

• One 2027 Peterbilt 520 front loader refuse truck for $394,219.35
• One 2027 PBLDB-10 dump truck for $234,269.98 and one MDD5-6 dump truck for $178,795.55
• A services agreement with Black Water Consulting Engineers not to exceed $51,348

All items were on the agenda; no votes or decisions have been published yet.

Planning Commission handles procedural items

The Planning Commission met August 5. The agenda was mostly procedural, with no major projects discussed. The commission considered approving minutes from June 17, July 8, and July 22, 2026, and a resolution approving Minor Modification #26-0008. It also held a study session on the draft vision statement of the Comprehensive General Plan Update.

Recreation & Parks Commission reviews master plan

On July 27, the Recreation & Parks Commission reviewed the 2026-2036 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Master Plan. The commission may set a date in August for a study session or open house to examine the plan's framework for park maintenance and capital investment. It also reviewed Youth Service Provider 4th Quarter Reports regarding use of city recreational facilities.

Coming up

Two meetings are scheduled in the next week:

• **Personnel Board** – August 10. The board will consider new and revised job descriptions, including Lead Recreation and Field Facility Worker and Water Distribution/Systems Operators. It will also set dates for a terminated employee's appeal hearing (Personnel Board Hearing 2026-1), likely in September or October, requiring up to four days. Other items include approval of the Personnel Department Monthly Report for July 2026 and board minutes from June 8, 2026.
• **Tax Transparency Commission** – August 11. The commission will review and accept as information the Measure C and Measure Y revenue and expense reports for the period ending June 30, 2026. It may provide direction to staff as a recommendation to the City Council. The agenda also includes approval of minutes from May 12, 2026, and a request to add an item to a future agenda.

Merced roundup: Council eyed $892K refuse truck purchase; sales tax measure heads to August 3 agenda

Merced's City Council had a busy late July, with a nearly $900,000 refuse truck purchase and two easement vacation hearings on the July 20 agenda. Minutes from that meeting and two other recent sessions have not yet been published, so outcomes are not confirmed. The Council's next meeting, on August 3, includes a proposed 1¢ sales tax ballot measure and additional vehicle purchases.

City Council — July 20 (minutes not yet published)

The Council's July 20 agenda included several consent-calendar items. The largest expenditure listed was the purchase of two 2025 Peterbilt 520 side-loader refuse trucks for $892,186.92 from Haaker Refuse, under Sourcewell contract #110223-MCN. The agenda also proposed waiving competitive bidding for the purchase and adopting a Categorical Exemption 15306 and SB 244 Analysis (Environmental Review #26-0077).

Additional equipment purchases on the agenda:

• Vermeer Brush Chipper: $98,030.10
• Stump Grinder: $90,739.59
• Both from RDO Equipment Co. (Sourcewell contract #010925-VRM)

The Council was also set to adopt two resolutions scheduling public hearings for August 17, 2026:

• Resolution 2026-43: vacating a 14,328-sq-ft easement on Canal (L) Street
• Resolution 2026-42: vacating a 1,145-sq-ft easement at 400 West 7th Street

Because minutes are not yet published, it is not confirmed which items were approved.

Planning Commission — July 22 (minutes not yet published)

The Planning Commission's July 22 agenda listed a consent calendar, public hearings and action items, and general business. No specific projects or contracts were listed on the agenda. Minutes are not yet published.

Recreation & Parks Commission — July 27 (minutes not yet published)

The Recreation & Parks Commission was scheduled to review the 2026-2036 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Master Plan. The commission also had the Youth Service Provider 4th Quarter Reports regarding use of city recreational facilities on its agenda. The body may set a date in August for a study session or open house on the plan's framework for park maintenance and capital investment. Minutes are not yet published.

Coming up

City Council — August 3, 2026: The Council will consider placing the Vital Services Protection Measure, a 1¢ sales tax, on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Also on the agenda: a zoning ordinance amendment for Regional Housing Needs Allocation compliance; purchase of one 2027 Peterbilt 520 front loader refuse truck for $394,219.35; purchase of one 2027 PBLDB-10 dump truck for $234,269.98 and one MDD5-6 dump truck for $178,795.55; and a services agreement with Black Water Consulting Engineers not to exceed $51,348.

Planning Commission — August 5, 2026: The commission will consider approving minutes from June 17, July 8, and July 22, 2026; adopt a resolution on Minor Modification #26-0008; and hold a study session on the draft vision statement of the Comprehensive General Plan Update.

Merced Council Eyes $892,000 Refuse Truck Purchase; Recent Meetings Include Drone Contract and Groundwater Cleanup Approval

The Merced City Council is set to consider its largest equipment purchase in weeks — two side-loader refuse trucks totaling $892,186.92 — at its July 20, 2026 meeting. The purchase heads a consent calendar that also includes easement vacation hearings and additional equipment buys.

City Council — July 20, 2026 (Upcoming)

The Council will vote on purchasing two 2025 Peterbilt 520 side-loader refuse trucks from Haaker Refuse for $892,186.92 under Sourcewell contract #110223-MCN. The agenda calls for waiving competitive bidding for the purchase.

Additional equipment items include a Vermeer Brush Chipper at $98,030.10 and a Stump Grinder at $90,739.59 from RDO Equipment Co. under Sourcewell contract #010925-VRM.

The Council will also adopt two resolutions setting public hearings for August 17, 2026:

• Resolution 2026-43: vacation of a 14,328-sq-ft easement on Canal (L) Street.
• Resolution 2026-42: vacation of a 1,145-sq-ft easement at 400 West 7th Street.

The agenda includes adoption of a Categorical Exemption 15306 and SB 244 Analysis under Environmental Review #26-10077.

City Council — July 6, 2026 (Recent)

Minutes are not yet published, but the agenda listed several procurement decisions:

• A four-year Motorola Solutions contract for BRINC emergency response drones, up to $479,993.99.
• Two agreements with Provost and Pritchard Engineering for PCE groundwater cleanup totaling $282,000.
• Purchase of bulletproof vests from Angel Armor up to $61,830.40 using DOJ grant funds.
• Acceptance of a $20,800 MTID donation for 17 blue light camera systems.
• State cooperative purchase of municipal software and tech solutions up to $275,000.

The meeting also included a closed session on anticipated litigation and a ceremonial recognition.

Planning Commission — July 8, 2026 (Recent)

The agenda contained only procedural information regarding public comment rules and meeting protocols. No development projects, land use cases, or city business items were listed.

Personnel Board — July 13, 2026 (Recent)

This was a procedural agenda with no specific reports, business items, or action items detailed.

Arts and Culture Advisory Commission — July 16, 2026 (Recent)

The Commission was scheduled to vote on subcommittee-recommended public art projects from the 2025/26 budget. If approved, the projects would be forwarded to the City Council for final consideration. The agenda was otherwise procedural.

Coming Up

• **July 20, 2026 — City Council/Public Finance and Economic Development Authority/Parking Authority:** Consent calendar including $892,186.92 refuse truck purchase, easement vacation resolutions, and equipment purchases.
• **July 22, 2026 — Planning Commission:** Consent calendar, public hearings, action items, and general business. No specific projects or contracts are listed on the agenda.

Merced City Council to Consider Drone Contract, Groundwater Cleanup This Week

The Merced City Council is set to meet Monday evening, July 6, with a consent calendar that includes a four-year contract for emergency response drones worth up to $479,993.99 and two agreements totaling $282,000 for groundwater cleanup. No other city boards or commissions took binding action in the past two weeks, according to agendas published as of Sunday.

Upcoming City Council Meeting

The council will consider awarding a contract to Motorola Solutions for BRINC emergency response drones, a $479,993.99 agreement covering four years. The drones are intended for emergency response operations.

Also on the consent calendar are two agreements with Provost and Pritchard Engineering for PCE groundwater remediation, totaling $282,000. The council will also consider buying bulletproof vests from Angel Armor for up to $61,830.40 using Department of Justice grant funds, accepting a $20,800 donation from MTID for 17 blue light camera systems, and authorizing a state cooperative purchase of municipal software and technology solutions up to $275,000.

The meeting includes a closed session to discuss anticipated litigation and a ceremonial recognition.

Upcoming Planning Commission

The Planning Commission is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, July 8. The published agenda contains only procedural information on public comment rules and meeting protocols; no specific development projects, land use cases, or other city business items are listed.

Recent Meetings

Recreation & Parks Commission – June 22

The commission was set to receive an informational update from the Parks and Community Services Director on recent department activities. The agenda noted no action was required on that item. Minutes have not yet been published.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission – June 23

The commission was scheduled to approve minutes from three previous meetings (February, August, and October 2025), review the commission’s roles and responsibilities, and receive an update on a state air quality grant for the Connect South Merced Safety and Mobility Planning Project. The meeting was primarily procedural with no binding public hearings. Minutes have not yet been published.

Coming Up

• **Merced City Council / Public Finance and Economic Development Authority / Parking Authority** – Monday, July 6, 2026. Key items: emergency response drone contract, groundwater cleanup agreements, bulletproof vest purchase, blue light camera donation.
• **Planning Commission** – Wednesday, July 8, 2026. No specific business items on the published agenda.