Report Prepared by: Leah Brown, Senior Planner, Development Services
Title
SUBJECT: Public Hearing on Draft Vision Statement for the Comprehensive General Plan Update
REPORT IN BRIEF
Public Hearing to Discuss the Draft Vision Statement for the Comprehensive General Plan Update.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council – Conduct a Public Hearing to discuss, edit, or revise the language of the Draft Vision Statement.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve the Draft Vision Statement as Final; or,
2. Provide edits and revise language to the Draft to be continued for a final review at a future meeting (date and time to be specified in the motion).
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the 2026-27 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION
The City’s General Plan serves as the community's long-term blueprint, establishing goals and policies on which the City Council bases decisions relating to land use, economic development, and equity.
The Draft Vision Statement for the City of Merced's Comprehensive General Plan Update is an aspirational, future-looking narrative that describes what the City of Merced aspires to become within the planning horizon of the next 25 years. While a vision statement is not legally required as part of a general plan under California law, it is a widely recognized best practice that allows a community to coalesce behind a common theme and goal, while providing a foundation upon which future goals, policies, and programs can be built with consistency.
The depth and breadth of community feedback received warranted a more comprehensive articulation of the community's vision in a longer narrative format spanning three paragraphs, rather than a short two-sentence statement, because. The Draft Vision Statement addresses themes including Merced's evolving identity and downtown character, educational and economic anchors (including Merced College and UC Merced), agricultural roots and expanding industrial and...
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