Report Prepared by: Leah Brown, Management Analyst, Development Services
Title
SUBJECT: Appointments to the Citizen Advisory Focus Group for the General Plan Update and Downtown Station Area Plan with up to a Total of Fourteen (14) Members to be Appointed by Districts (District 1-6), One Member to be Appointed At-Large, and (One) Member from Each of the Six Commissions Previously Selected by the City Council
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers the appointment of individuals to the Citizen Advisory Focus Group of the General Plan and Downtown Station Area Plan.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Accepting nominations and appointing one individual to each of the six City Council Districts, one individual to be appointed at-large, and one individual from each of six commissions previously defined by the City Council; or,
B. Accepting nominations and appointing as many members as Council sees appropriate and directing staff to continue the recruitment of applicants.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve and appoint individuals as recommend by staff; or,
2. Continue to a future meeting and direct staff to continue recruitment of applicants; or,
3. Deny the item.
AUTHORITY
Cit of Merced Charter, Section 402.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the 2025-2026 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION
In May 2025, the City Council authorized the formation of a Citizen Advisory Focus Group (CAFG) for the General Plan Update and Downtown Station Area Plan. This included the appointment of two City Council members and to appoint one member from each of seven established City Boards and Commissions and to open applications to residents of each Council district and an at large position.
The General Plan update and the Downtown Station Area Plan 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 Downtown Station Area Plan.
In May, the City Council chose Mayor Matthew Serrato and Mayor Pro-Tempore Sarah Boyle to represent the Council on the CAFG. Other members of the CAFG should include 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 select and appoint one resident from each City Council District and one resident from the city at large. In total the CAFG should consist of up to sixteen 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. All General Plan meetings will be open to any member of the public. It is anticipated that the first meeting of the CAFG will take place before the end of July.
Recruitment
The Clerk’s office began a recruitment campaign that consisted of a social media push over several weeks coordinated with the Public Information Officer to alert citizens of the vacancies and expiring terms, a series of emails for each board or commission sent to over 5,000 recipients notifying them of the recruitment, and public notices sent to Merced County Times.
Applications - District Seats
District 1 - The Clerk’s office received eligible applications from Ana Quintana, Curtis Thomas, Jeremiah Greggains, and Krystal Gonzales.
District 2 - The Clerk’s office did not receive applications for District 2.
District 3 - The Clerk’s office received eligible applications from Caroline Meraz, Clarissa Jones, Cynthia Kelly, Sabrina Abong, and Shahid Sohail.
District 4 - The Clerk’s office received eligible applications from Cheryl Hirsch, Keirah Jones, Peggy Hsu, Steve Maxey, and Tammy Johnson.
District 5 - The Clerk’s office received eligible applications from April Holloway.
District 6 - The Clerk’s office received eligible applications from Humerto Sandoval, Jerry Vue, and Jose Delgadillo.
At Large - The Clerk’s office received eligible applications from Ana Quintana, April Holloway, Caroline Meraz, Cheryl Hirsch, Clarissa Jones, Curtis Thomas, Cynthia Kelly, Humberto Sandoval Jr, Jeremiah Greggains, Jerry Vue, Jose Delgadillo, Keirah A Jones, Krystal R Gonzales, Peggy Hsu, Sabrina C Abong, Shahid N Sohail, Steve Maxey, and Tammy Johnson.
Board/Commission Representative Volunteers
The Planning Department reached out to all members of the Board or Commission approved by Council in May. The names listed were Commissioners or Board Members who stated they were interested in serving the Citizens Advisory Focus Group.
Arts & Culture Advisory Commission - The Clerk’s office received interest from Colton Dennis and Gregorio Rocha-Tabera.
Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Commission - The Clerk’s office received interest from Curtis Thomas.
Building & Housing Board of Appeals - The Clerk’s office received interest from Alberto Escobedo and Steven Patterson.
Planning Commission - The Clerk’s office received interest from Jeremiah Greggains and Jose Delgadillo.
Recreation & Parks Commission - The Clerk’s office received interest from April Holloway and Sabrina Abong.
Regional Airport Authority - The Clerk’s office received interest from Cheryl Hirsch and Sabrina Abong.
The Clerk’s office uses the Merced County Registrar of Voters (ROV) to ensure the applicants are residents at the address provided on the application and to ensure the applicant resides in the district for the Commission.
The matter of appointment to fill the seats on the Citizens Advisory Focus Group is now before the Council.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
No appropriation of funds is needed.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Applications