Report Prepared by: Jonnie Lan, AICP, Interim Deputy Development Services Director and Leah Brown, Management Analyst, Development Services Department
Title
SUBJECT: Authorize the Formation of a Citizens Advisory Focus Group (CAFG) and Notification of General Plan Update Joint Study Session with City Council and Planning Commission to be Held June 18, 2025
REPORT IN BRIEF
Staff is seeking approval from City Council to authorize the Formation of a Citizens Advisory Focus Group, including the appointment of two City Council members and to appoint one member from each established City Boards and Commissions and to open applications to residents of each Council district and an at large position to the City of Merced General Plan Citizens Advisory Focus Group (CAFG) and to give notice to the City Council of the kick-off General Plan Update Joint Study Session with the City Council and Planning Commission to be Held June 18, 2025, at 6:00 P.M.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Authorizing the formation of the General Plan Update Citizens Advisory Focus Group; and,
B. Appointing two City Council Representatives to serve as members of the General Plan Update Citizens Advisory Focus Group (CAFG); and,
C. Authorizing the recruitment, through the City Clerk’s Office of one applicant from the existing City Boards and Commissions and open applications for residents to represent each Council district and an at large position to the City of Merced General Plan Citizens Advisory Focus Group (CAFG).
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended; or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Direct the Staff to modify the participant make-up of the CAFG and come back with a plan.
AUTHORITY
Merced Municipal Code, Section 3.38.050.
DISCUSSION
The City of Merced is commencing the General Plan Update and the High-Speed Rail Station Area Plan (SAP). The General Plan Update is scheduled to take at least two years to complete. The City has retained Mintier Harnish, a consulting firm experienced in both General Plan Updates and Station Area Plans, to help the City move through this creation and approval process strategically and deliberately. To begin this process, it is vital to engage the community and their vision for what Merced should be. To begin, the City needs to assemble a group of citizens who can work with both staff and our consulting team to voice their opinions and thoughts about how to address the opportunities and challenges brought up by both the General Plan Update process and the creation of the Station Area Plan. Staff and the consulting firm suggest that the Citizen Advisory Focus Group have two members from City Council, one to two members from the City Planning Commission and one member each from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission, the Building and Housing Board of Appeals, the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission, the Recreation and Parks Commission and the Regional Airport Authority. Additionally, the City Council will also select and appoint one resident from each City Council District and one resident from the City at large. In total the CAFG would consist of up to sixteen (16) members.
The members should be available, to the best of their ability, for a potential two-year commitment, however, most of their work should be completed within 12 to 18 months. It is expected that the CAFG will meet about 7 times, be open to the public and be subject to the Brown Act. In addition to the CAFG, it is expected that the City will hold separate stakeholder and community meetings. These meetings will differ in that they will involve more people. The stakeholder meetings will engage specific neighborhoods, organizations or groups of people like South Merced, the Board of Realtors or the Merced County Office of Education, to name a few. However, all General Plan meetings will be open to any member of the public.
ATTACHMENTS
None.