UC Merced Annexation
Annexation #22-01 & Prezoning #22-01
City Council
Meeting--
Oct. 16, 2023
Approval of MOU Regarding Annexation and Amendments to Contracts ATTACHMENT 13
City History with UC Merced
Agreements
• Services (Sewer &
Water) (2003,
2016, & 2019)
• Annexation (2003)
• Capital Facilities
(2003)
• Transportation
(2016)
Partnerships
• Student Housing
•T r a n s i t
• Downtown
Venture Lab
AB 3312—
UC Merced Annexation
• Allows City to annex the UC Merced Campus
along a road strip (Bellevue or Lake Roads)
without the adjoining properties between
UC and City Limits
• Prohibits Annexation of Properties
along Road Strip unless Directly
Adjacent to the Main Campus or City
Limits as of 1-1-21.
• Passed Assembly and Senate Unanimously;
Signed by Governor on September 9, 2020
• Gives the City Options for Annexations Not
Available When the North Merced Study
Began
AB 3312—Eligible
Properties for Annexation
Annexation Area
Total Annexation Area 1,139 Acres
UC Campus 1,125 Acres
Bellevue Road R-O-W 14 Acres
General Plan Policies/Actions
Annexation of the UC Merced Campus has been a goal since the inception of the Campus.
The Merced Vision 2030 General Plan, adopted in 2012,
includes several policies to help encourage the annexation of the UC Campus.
In 2006, the City Council Adopted a policy state ment regarding the University Community Plan Area. The policy addresses Long-term Land Use and Governance as well as Phasing of Development and Services. The Council’s policy was to encourage annexation and not have the UC become its own city or jurisdiction.
Refer to Attachment 4 of Administrative
Report #23-886 for details.
General Plan Policies
Policy UE-1.3 - Control the Annexation, Timing, Density, and Location of New Land Uses Within the City’s Urban Expansion Boundaries.
Implementing Action 1.3.g
Annexation Criteria
• Is the Annexation Area in SUDP/SOI
& adjacent to the City Limits?
• Are the land uses consistent with
the General Plan?
• Can the area be served by City
services? • Are there impacts on Farmland?
• Does it bring the City closer to
annexing the UC Merced Campus?
• Does it include job-generating
uses?
• Does it include construction of infra-
structure or other desirable
amenities?
Refer to Attachment 4 of Administrative
Report #23-886 for details.
Public Improvements/City Services
The annexation of the UC Campus would not initially
involve the development of new infrastructure.
As development occurs, new infrastructure would be
constructed.
Police & Fire Protection
UC Merced has its own independent police
department. This would not change with the
annexation of the campus.
At this time, UC Merced will continue its current fire
service protection agreement with Merced County.
Following annexation, UC Merced plans to explore
options for fire protection service providers.
Pre-Annexation Development Agreement
Typically, an annexation would require a Pre-Annexation Development Agreement.
UC Merced has already entered into a Pre-Annexation Development Agreement, and the City Council will be considering a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the annexation this evening.
Memorandum of Understanding
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Fee Agreement.
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of Administrative Report #23-886.
Amendment to
Transportation Agreement
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of Administrative Report #23-886.
Environmental Clearance
Annexation:
An Addendum to the Merced Vision 2030 General Plan EIR was prepared by Ascent Environmental, Inc.
The Addendum concluded that the annexation project would not result in significant new or substantially more sever environmental impacts that previously described in the General Plan EIR.
MOU & Amendments:
An environmental review was conducted regarding the approval of the MOU and amendments to the agreements and concluded that the approval of the agreements would be categorically exempt.
Planning Commission Action
On October 4, 2023, the Planning Commission held a public hearing regarding the annexation of the UC Merced Campus.
Vice Chancellor Daniel Okoli, PH.D. spoke in favor of the annexation.
No one spoke in opposition to the annexation.
The Planning Commission voted unanimously (6,0, 1 absent) to recommend approval of the annexation.
City Council Action
Hold a Public Hearing
Take action to approve/disapprove/modify:
• Memorandum of Understanding by and between the City and the Regents of the UC regarding annexation and provision of public services;
• Amendment #1 to the Transportation Improvement Funding Agreement; • Amendment #1 to the Permanent Financing Capital Facilities Fee Agreement; • Resolution #2023-74 approving the Environmental Review for the annexation and approval of the MOU and amendments to the agreements;
• Resolution #2023-75 authorizing an application to LAFCO for the annexation; Introduce or Deny
• Ordinance #2557 to prezone the UC Merced Campus as Public Facility (P-F) General Plan Policies/Actions
1.4.b Working in cooperation with the County, implement the following policy statement from City Council Resolution #2006-89 regarding the University Community Plan Area.
MERCED CITY COUNCIL: UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY POLICY STATEMENT • The City Council establishes the following as the City of Merced's position regarding the development of the University community.
Long-term Land Use and Governance
• The University Community should be incorporated into the City of Merced, and should not be part of the unincorporated County, or a separate City. • It is in the public interest that the University Community's development not result in the creation of a new city or other jurisdiction.
Long-term Land Use and Governance (cont’d)
• Multiplication of jurisdictions can lead to conflicts, which should be avoided. A separate city on Merced's border is inherently undesirable.
• The University Community is expected to develop at an urban density. Merced County does not currently provide urban services. The City is already serving the University of California campus, and it is logical for the City to serve the adjacent area as well. • No separate wastewater treatment plant should be allowed or constructed in the area, given the risks to the City's groundwater supply that could result, and competition for qualified licensed operators. This statement does not, however , preclude consideration of innovative methods of wastewater treatment for the area which are reasonably viable from an economic perspective.
• The University Community should be developed with the use of annexation agreements and phased annexations, not through the creation of a County services district, either as an interim or permanent measure.
General Plan Policies/Actions