Report Prepared by: Alejandra Medina, Deputy City Clerk, City Clerk's Department
Title
SUBJECT: Continued Appointments to the Citizen Advisory Focus Group (District 2)
REPORT IN BRIEF
Accept nominations to fill the vacancy on the Citizen Advisory Focus Group.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Accepting nominations and appointing one individual to serve as a member on the Citizens Advisory Focus Group (District 2); or,
B. 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 Co...
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