2025/2026
MERCED CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES
FISCAL STABILITY
Ensure the City’s long-term financial health to maintain services and ongoing operations.
Goal Timeline Departments
Fiscal Stability Plan- provide a plan to
the Budget Subcommittee for
feedback and City Council direction.
Identify options for cost recovery or
recovering lost revenues- business
license, TOT audits
Review and implement city utility rate
studies
Complete CFD update for new service
area annexations
Review fees for services, including
application fees
Consider options to add new revenue
sources - cost recovery strategies
Identify options for one-time revenue
gains - property and surplus
equipment
Three Months
Six Months
Six Months
One Year
One Year
One Year
One Year
Finance, City Manager
Finance, City Manager, City
Attorney
Finance, Public Works, City
Manager
All Departments
Finance, Development Services,
City Manager
Development Services, Finance,
City Manager, MPD, MFD
Finance, MPD, MFD
Attachment One
GOVERNANCE
Foster community well-being, including services, and enhanced quality of life.
Goal Timeline Departments
Launch Public Access Portal for
resolutions and contracts
Three Months City Clerk, Information
Technology
Launch new website and Merced
Connect App
Three Months
Establish City Council Code of Conduct One Year
Reevaluate Goals/Priorities process
and Budget Cycle
Expand staffing and expertise across
departments – add internal capacity
One Year
Information Technology, All
Departments
City Manager, City Council
Finance, City Manager, City
Council
One Year City Manager, City Attorney,
Engineering, Planning,
Economic Development
Update City Purchasing Policies
Maintain Grant Writing Service and
internal workgroup
One Year
One Year
All Departments
City Manager
FUTURE PLANNING
Plan for the City’s growth and infrastructure needs, and provide support for new development.
Goal Timeline Departments
Complete Housing Element & SB 244
Six Months
Planning, City Attorney,
City Manager
Seek State “Pro Housing” designation
Amend zoning and municipal code to
support housing/business investment
Process annexation and development
applications
Consider county island extensions
Coordinate advocacy efforts with
community partners on HSR project
Update AB 1600 due to new annexations
Continue General Plan Update - HSR
Station Area Plan
One Year
Three Months
One Year
One Year
One Year
One Year
Two Years
Planning, City Manager
Development Services, City
Attorney, City Manager
Development Services, City
Attorney, City Manager
Development Services, City
Attorney, City Manager
Development Services, City
Manager
Planning, Engineering, City
Manager, City Attorney
Development Services
Identify options for one-time revenue
gains - property and surplus equipment
PUBLIC SAFETY
Strengthen community safety through responsive emergency services, integrated community policing, fire and building safety, and active engagement.
Three Months Fire, Police, City Manager
Explore contract services with PBID for
Downtown Merced services
Three Months
Police, City Manager
Expand contract services with the
school district for resource officers
Plan and create a strategy for services
post-expiration of FEMA SAFER Grant
Completion of Hawk Training Center
Maintain ALS Services Rollout - One
squad per year
Proactive community policing to reduce
crime and improve quality of life
Community Relations - community
outreach & employee recognition
Emergency Management - internal training &
partner agency partnership preparedness
Three Months
Three Months
Three Months
Three Months
Three Months
Three Months
Goal Timeline Departments
Three Months
Police, City Manager
Fire, City Manager, Finance
Fire, Engineering
Fire
Police
Police, Fire
Fire, Police, Public Works,
City Manager
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
Improve pedestrian safety and infrastructure.
Goal Timeline Departments
Complete project design for
shovel-ready projects
One Year Engineering
Identify project stages to determine
project viability and public input
One Year Engineering
Utilize the speed survey to identify
future project needs
One Year Engineering
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Plan for the City’s growth and infrastructure needs, and provide support for new development.
Goal Timeline Departments
Enhance the city’s digital presence by
issuing an RFP for services that support
branding and promotional efforts,
highlighting investment opportunities, a
strong business climate, and a high quality
of life.
City Manager, Economic
Development
Six Months
Complete Airport Terminal Project
Facilitate Economic Roundtable/Investment
Event with community partners
Strengthen UC Merced & Merced College
partnerships - prioritize business hub
attraction
Explore Family Entertainment Zone &
tourism opportunities - support CP42
Support a grocery store in South Merced -
Childs & Canal infrastructure improvement
Six Months
One Year
One Year
Two Years
Two Years
City Manager, Economic Development,
Engineering, Public Works
Economic Development, City Manager
Economic Development
Economic Development, Planning,
City Manager
Economic Development, Engineering,
Development Services, City Manager
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Continue to invest in the production of affordable housing throughout the city.
Goal Timeline Departments
Support current housing projects to bring
units online
One Year Housing, Planning, City
Manager
Seek state and federal grants and earmarks One Year
Maintain Infill Incentive Area and Affordable
by Design programs
One Year
Maintain “off-the-shelf” ADU, Duplex, and
Triplex plans
Support the Continuum of Care (CoC)
One Year
Housing, Planning, City
Manager
Development Services, City
Manager
Development Services, City
Manager
One Year Housing, City Manager
PARKS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
Improve quality of life and ensure facilities and options for the health and wellness of the community Goal Timeline Departments
Designate local Arts District Six Months City Manager, Parks & Community Services
Complete Parks and Recreation Open
Space Master Plan – seek guidance on
implementation of recommendations
Six Months
Complete CP42 JPA formation and CP42
North entitlements
One Year
Plan community facilities
Maintain restrooms, lighting, playground
equipment, turf & irrigation, equipment,
and area security
One Year
Parks & Community Services
Parks & Community Services,
Engineering, City Attorney,
City Manager
Parks & Community
Services, City Manager
One Year Parks & Community Services,
Public Works, Police
Seek partners for Fahren’s Basin Nature
Trail
One Year Parks & Community Services
PARKS
Project Timeline Departments
Complete Stephen Leonard Building
Improvements
Three Months Parks and Community Services
Complete Merced Zoo renovation Six Months Engineering, Parks and Community Services
Complete Bob Hart Square improvements Six Months
Relocate Parks and Community Services
Department to Senior Center
Six Months
Complete PROS Master Plan
Renovate Joe Herb Park
Replace Applegate Park Blacktop
Improve Fahren’s Park parking lot
Engineering, Public Works
One Year Parks and Community Services
One Year Parks and Community Services,
Engineering, Public Works
One Year
Public Works, Engineering
One Year
Engineering, Parks and Community
Services
Parks and Community Services,
Engineering, Public Works
Begin construction at General Vang
Pao Park
Parks and Community Services,
Engineering, Public WorksOne Year
ROADS AND PEDESTRIAN
Project Timeline Departments
Complete Childs Ave., Stowell School,
and West Ave. pedestrian projects
Three Months Engineering
Complete Coffee Rd/Campus Parkway
crosswalk & ADA ramps
Six Months Engineering, Public Works
Complete citywide speed survey Six Months Engineering, Police Improve Arbor Walkway Six Months
Complete design - elevated bike lane
and speed table at Santa Fe Park Strip
Complete design - Yosemite Ave
sidewalks & multi-use path near
Merced College (CMAQ)
Complete design for Melody Ln
Sidewalk (CMAQ)
Replace M St sidewalk from 19 - 21stth
Engineering, Public Works
One Year Engineering
One Year Engineering
One Year Engineering
EngineeringOne Year
NEW CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
Project Timeline Departments
City Clerk Office Safety Improvements To be
determined
Engineering, Public Works
Flashing School Beacons for
pedestrian safety
To be
determined
Public Works
Signal Controller Replacements To be
determined
Public Works
City Hall skylight and exhaust fan
replacement
To be
determined
Public Works, Engineering
IT Data Center Flooring To be
determined
Information Technology,
Public Works
CAPITAL PROJECTS
Strategically invest in community development and Capital Improvement Projects to enhance quality of life, support economic development, and public safety.
Goal Timeline Departments
Pavement Management System – update
road priority list and align funding with
project readiness
Two Years Engineering, Finance, Public
Works, City Manager
Finalize Bear Creek Restoration design,
permitting, and environmental review
One Year
Update City Engineering Standards One Year
Complete Quiet Zone planning and
permitting
Complete Wastewater Master Plan
environmental review
One Year
Engineering, Public Works,
City Manager, City Attorney
Engineering, Public Works
Engineering
One Year Public Works, Planning, City
Manager, City Attorney
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
Project Timeline Departments
Complete projects – Yosemite Ave.,
Downtown One Way, Airport Terminal,
Gateway Monument Projects
Three Months Engineering
Six Months EngineeringComplete Safe Streets Lighting Project Advance McKee Road CIP - County
collaboration and cost sharing
Six Months
CMAQ Signal detector and sync project
Complete Craig Drive sewer main project
Engineering, Public Works
Engineering
One Year Engineering, Public Works
One Year Engineering
Finalize Collins Drive and Childs & Canal
design/engineering One Year Engineering
POLICY TOPICS
Goal Timeline Departments
Consider Street Vendor Ordinance To be
determined
City Attorney, Economic
Development, Planning,
Finance, City Manager,
Police
Develop Special Events Ordinance To be
determined
City Attorney, Economic
Development, Planning, City
Manager, Police
Develop Repeat Housing Code Violator Ord. To be
determined
City Attorney, Economic
Development, Planning, City
Manager, Police