City Council Chamber
Merced Civic Center
2nd Floor
678 W. 18th Street
Merced, CA 95340
CITY OF MERCED
Minutes
City Council/Public Finance and
Economic Development
Authority/Parking Authority
6:00 PMMonday, August 8, 2022
A. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor SERRATTO called the Special Meeting to order at 6:02 PM.
A.1. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
Council Member ECHEVARRIA led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
B. ROLL CALL
Mayor Matthew Serratto, Mayor Pro Tempore Kevin Blake, Council Member Fernando Echevarria, Council Member Delray Shelton, Council Member Bertha Perez, Council Member Jesse Ornelas, and Council Member Sarah Boyle
Present: 7 -
Absent: 0
B.1. In accordance with Government Code 54952.3, it is hereby announced that the City Council sits either simultaneously or serially as the Parking Authority and the Public Financing and Economic Development Authority. City Council members receive a monthly stipend of $400.00 by Charter for sitting as the City Council; and the Mayor receives an additional $100.00 each month as a part of the adopted budget and Resolution 2020-86. The members of the Parking Authority and the Public Financing and Economic Development Authority receive no compensation.
C. REPORTS
Clerk's Note: Mayor SERRATTO stated that voicemails and public comment will be heard prior to Council discussion on Agenda Items C.1. and C.2.
Clerk's Note: The following comments were received via email.
Item C.2. - Amelia JOHNSON, James MARSHALL, Hope MICHELLE, and Alex TULLY.
Clerk's Note: The following comments were received via voicemail.
Florence LAMBERT, Merced - spoke in support of the reconsideration of Measure C.
August 8, 2022City Council/Public Finance and
Economic Development
Authority/Parking Authority
Minutes
Briana MILAR, Merced - spoke against reconsidering Measure C.
Nellie, Merced - spoke against putting Measure C on the ballot.
Noelle ANDERSON, Merced - spoke on community engagement for Measure C.
Edwin KAINTH, Merced - spoke in support of Measure C.
Clerk's Note: The following speakers appeared in person.
Karen ADAMS, Merced - spoke on the different taxes in different City's and County's and supported placing Measure C on the ballot.
Rick WENDLING, Merced - spoke on the necessity of the having extra protection in Merced and asked to vote yes on Measure C with the sunset clause.
Cynthia KELLY, Merced - spoke on crime in Merced and in support of Measure C.
Annissa FERGOSO, Merced - spoke in support of Measure C.
Joel KNOX, Merced, Chairperson of Golden Valley Neighborhood Association - spoke on police, fire, and public safety being crucial and in support of Measure C.
Miranda GRISWOLD, Merced - spoke on getting more community involvement for Measure C.
Robert DYLINA, Merced - spoke in favor of placing Measure C on the ballot.
EJ Almo LORENZI, Merced - spoke on the history of Measure C and in support of continuing the tax.
Fernando AGUILAR, Merced - spoke on the conflict-of-interest with Measure C in the previous City Council Meeting.
Patricia RAMOS-ANDERSON, President of LULAC - spoke on the transparency, accountability, and appearance with the community.
Priya LAKIREDDY, Merced - spoke on the City's resources for Measure C information and in support of the Measure C tax.
August 8, 2022City Council/Public Finance and
Economic Development
Authority/Parking Authority
Minutes
Sheng XIONG, Leadership Council for Justice Accountability - spoke in opposition of placing Measure C on the ballot due to community engagement and questioned the 2/3 vote.
Zaray RAMIREZ, Merced - requested the City include all members of Merced in the Measure C process.
Pangcha VANG, Merced - spoke against placing Measure C on the ballot and the different taxes Merced citizens pay.
Fue XIONG, Merced - spoke on specific funding in the Measure C tax.
Victoria ESPINOZA, Merced - shared a personal story and spoke on Measure C funding.
Crissy G, Merced - encouraged Council to not place Measure C on the ballot and improve community engagement.
Gloria M. SANDOVAL, Merced - spoke in support of postponing Measure C being placed on the ballot.
John LARSON, Merced - spoke in support of Measure C being placed on the ballot and the Merced community growing.
C.1. SUBJECT: Consideration of Request to Reconsider the Council’s Previous Decision to Reject a Resolution Calling for a General Municipal Election and Presenting to the Voters a Proposed Ballot Measure to Extend the Half-Cent Sales Tax Until Ended By Voters and Requesting Consolidation with the Gubernatorial General Election to be Conducted by the County of Merced
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers the request to reconsider the Council’s previous decision to reject a Resolution calling for a General Municipal Election and presenting to the voters a proposed ballot measure to extend the half-cent sales tax without a sunset date and requesting consolidation with the Gubernatorial General Election to be conducted by the County of Merced.
OPTIONS
1. Reconsider or,
2. Deny.
Council discussed Council Members who are law enforcement officers
August 8, 2022City Council/Public Finance and
Economic Development
Authority/Parking Authority
Minutes
voting on law enforcement items, the support of law enforcement and Measure C, and the amount of votes needed to pass the resolution.
Council and City Attorney Travis COCHRAN discussed the vote for Item C.1. requires a majority vote and Agenda Item C.2. requires five votes to pass.
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tempore Blake, seconded by Council Member Shelton, to reconsider the previous decision to reject the original Resolution for the General Municipal Election. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Mayor Serratto, Mayor Pro Tempore Blake, Council Member Shelton, and Council Member Boyle
4 -
No: Council Member Echevarria, Council Member Perez, and Council Member Ornelas3 -
Absent: 0
C.2. SUBJECT: Consideration and Possible Approval of a Resolution Calling for a General Municipal Election and Presenting to the Voters a Proposed Ballot Measure to Known as the Merced Vital City Services Protection Measure to Continue the Half-Cent Sales Tax Until Ended By Voters and Requesting Consolidation with the Gubernatorial General Election on November 8, 2022 to be Conducted by the County of Merced
REPORT IN BRIEF
This is a companion item to Item C.1. This item will only be heard by Council if, prior to consideration of this item, Council moves to reconsider it’s prior decision to reject Resolution 2022-43.
Considers approving a Resolution calling for a General Municipal Election and presenting to voters a proposed Ballot Measure known as the Merced Vital City Services Protection Measure to continue the half-cent sales tax until ended by voters and requesting consolidation with the Gubernatorial General Election on November 8, 2022 to be conducted by the County of Merced.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a Motion:
A. Adopting Resolution 2022-43, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Merced, California, calling for a General Municipal Election to be held on November 8, 2022, to present to voters a measure known as the Merced Vital City Services Protection Measure to continue the City’s general transaction (sales) and use tax at the rate of one-half percent
August 8, 2022City Council/Public Finance and
Economic Development
Authority/Parking Authority
Minutes
(0.50%) until ended by the voters; and requesting the Board of Supervisors of the County of Merced, California, to provide for the consolidation of a general municipal election with the Gubernatorial of a General Election on November 8, 2022, and to authorize the County Election Services to render specific services to the City of Merced relating to the General Municipal Election; and,
B. Directing the City Manager/City Clerk and the City Attorney’s Office to execute documents appropriate to carry out the tasks necessary for the General Municipal Election and to take actions related thereto.
Clerk's Note: Public comment was taken during Item C.
Council discussed the City's outreach, the needs of the community, how Measure C affects the public safety, the negative affects for not placing Measure C on the ballot, and five year forecast.
Clerk's Note: This resolution is a general sales tax measure and requires a five vote.
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tempore Blake, seconded by Council Member Shelton, to adopt Resolution 2022-43 and for future Council to use tools of the Charter to bring back this Agenda Item back to vote. The motion failed by the following vote:
Aye: Mayor Serratto, Mayor Pro Tempore Blake, Council Member Shelton, and Council Member Boyle
4 -
No: Council Member Echevarria, Council Member Perez, and Council Member Ornelas3 -
Absent: 0
D. ADJOURNMENT
Clerk's Note: The Special Meeting was adjourned at 7:33 PM.
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tempore Blake, seconded by Council Member Ornelas, that the Special Meeting be adjourned. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Mayor Serratto, Mayor Pro Tempore Blake, Council Member Echevarria, Council Member Shelton, Council Member Perez, Council Member Ornelas, and Council Member Boyle
7 -
No: 0
Absent: 0