City Council Chamber
Merced Civic Center
678 W. 18th Street
Merced, CA 95340
CITY OF MERCED
Minutes
Planning Commission
6:00 PMWednesday, April 8, 2026
A. CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson GONZALEZ called the meeting to order at 6:03 PM.
A.1. Moment of Silence
A.2. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
Vice Chair GREGGAINS led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
B. ROLL CALL
Clerk's Note: The Commission has 1 vacancy at this time. Commissioner SMITH was absent, excused.
Chair Anthony Gonzalez, Member Emanuelle Ochoa, Vice Chair Jeremiah Greggains, Member Jerry Vue, and Member Conchita Swiggart
Present: 5 -
Member Walter SmithAbsent: 1 -
C. PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no public comments.
D. CONSENT CALENDAR
D.1. SUBJECT: Abandonment #25-0001, to vacate an undeveloped street easement spanning 20 feet at 400 West 7th Street, more specifically the Westerly portion of the property described as Parcel 1 in the grant deed recorded January 27, 2020, in Volume 10 of Official Plats at pages 23-30 Official Records, Merced County, lying in section 25, Township 7 South, Range 13 East, Mount Diablo Base & Meridian, otherwise known as Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) 032-162-014.
ACTION: Approve/Disapprove/Modify:
1) Abandonment #25-0001, to vacate an
undeveloped street easement spanning 20 feet at 400
West 7th Street, more specifically the Westerly portion of the property describe as Parcel 1, Assessor’s
Parcel Number (APN) 032-162-014
April 8, 2026Planning Commission Minutes
SUMMARY
Leo Ramirez Roofing INC. is requesting a vacation of a 20-foot-wide public utility easement at the eastern portion of 400 West 7th Street. (Attachment 1). This public utility easement was originally included in the plans for continuance of K Street, but it was never completed, and the City has vacated this portion of K Street. City engineering and planning have agreed that the proposed easement is no longer needed and can be returned to the property owner. The General Plan does not address the abandonment or vacation of easements, and thus, the General Plan is not applicable. Given this public utility easement is no longer needed because the City has vacated this portion of K street, the vacation is considered “consistent” with the infrastructure needs of the City. The area to be vacated is 20 feet wide and runs from the southern property line to the northern property line. (Attachment 3)
RECOMMENDATION
Planning and Engineering staff have reviewed this request and recommend that the Planning Commission approve Abandonment #25-0001.
Clerk's Note: This item was pulled for separate consideration.
Speaker from the Audience in Favor
ALFRED ALVAREZ, Engineer for the Applicant, Merced County A motion was made by Vice Chair Greggains, seconded by Member Ochoa and carried by the following vote, to adopt a Finding that Abandonment #25-0001 is consistent with the General Plan.
Aye: Chair Gonzalez
Member Ochoa
Vice Chair Greggains
Member Vue
Member Swiggart
5 -
No: 0
Absent: Member Smith1 -
D.2. SUBJECT: Planning Commission Annual Attendance Report ACTION
Reviewing and approving the Annual Attendance Report.
A motion was made by Vice Chair Greggains, seconded by Chairperson Gonzalez and carried by the following vote, to approve the Planning Commission Annual Attendance Report.
April 8, 2026Planning Commission Minutes
Aye: Chair Gonzalez
Member Ochoa
Vice Chair Greggains
Member Vue
Member Swiggart
5 -
No: 0
Absent: Member Smith1 -
D.3. SUBJECT: Planning Commission Minutes of March 4, 2026 ACTION:
Approving and filing the Planning Commission Minutes of March 4, 2026
A motion was made by Vice Chair Greggains, seconded by Chairperson Gonzalez and carried by the following vote, to approve the Planning Commission Minutes of March 4, 2026.
Aye: Chair Gonzalez
Member Ochoa
Vice Chair Greggains
Member Vue
Member Swiggart
5 -
No: 0
Absent: Member Smith1 -
E. BUSINESS
E.1. SUBJECT: Report by Planning Manager of Upcoming Agenda Items ACTION
Information only.
Planning Manager RASHE went over the items for the next several Planning Commission meetings.
E.2. SUBJECT: Calendar of Meetings/Events
Apr. 6 City Council, 6:00 p.m.
8 Planning Commission, 6:00 p.m.
20 City Council, 6:00 p.m.
22 Planning Commission, 6:00 p.m.
May 4 City Council, 6:00 p.m.
6 Planning Commission, 6:00 p.m.
18 City Council, 6:00 p.m.
April 8, 2026Planning Commission Minutes
20 Planning Commission, 6:00 p.m.
E.3. SUBJECT: Planning Commission Comments
REPORT IN BRIEF
Provides an opportunity for Commissioners to make a brief announcement on any activity(ies) she/he has attended on behalf of the City and to make a brief announcement on future community events and/or activities. The Brown Act does not allow discussion or action by the legislative body under this section.
F. ADJOURNMENT
Clerk's Note: The Regular Meeting adjourned at 7 PM.
A motion was made by Vice Chair Greggains, seconded by Member Vue and carried by the following vote, to adjourn the Regular Meeting.
Aye: Chair Gonzalez
Member Ochoa
Vice Chair Greggains
Member Vue
Member Swiggart
5 -
No: 0
Absent: Member Smith1 -