Concerning road repairs in Merced — one of the most consistent concerns brought up by residents in recent years — the city is expected to receive close to $1.4 million in state “SB1” funding for the upcoming fiscal year. On top of that, the city’s Public Works team is anticipating another $1.7 million and change in 2019-20 from the county’s Measure V funding.
That’s the good news from voter-approved revenue streams that started only a few years ago.
The bad news is nearly half the city’s overall road pavement is in unsatisfactory condition, with some of the targeted roadways in the “serious or failing” category.
On top of that, road repair — even minor sealing treatment — is expensive.
Public Works recently came out with a list of priority projects for the incoming funding (with some ongoing projects extended over from last fiscal year) and the total cost was projected to be $4.6 million, well over the $3.1 million they’re going to get.
“We will do what we can with the money that we have,” said Ken Elwin, director of Public Works. “We will try to stretch and maximize the funding.”
On Monday night, the Merced City Council unanimously voted to approve the list “as is” in order to meet a SB1 project submittal deadline of May 1. Council members and city staff reasoned they could narrow down the project work during budget discussions.
Maps shown at the meeting reveal most sectors of the city (excluding new development areas) are being targeted for repairs, from minor “crack filling” work to major “reconstruction” projects. They include:
• Grind & Overlay at Yosemite Avenue (Parsons to Mansionette), and M Street (13th toChilds). Cost: $1,273,000.
• Road improvements on 18th Street (R street to V Street). Cost: $629,000.
• Improvements of Glen Ave. (Santa Fe to Bear Creek). Cost: $488,900.
• Improvements on R St. (Olive Ave. to Northwood Dr.). Cost: $462,800.
• Crack filling on Yosemite Ave. (west of R st.). Cost: $89,800
• Seal project on Canal Street (Childs to 16th). Cost: $83,300.
• Crack filling on Olive Ave. (Hwy 59 to G St.). Cost: $67,700.
• Seal project on Merced Ave. (Parsons to Motel Dr.). Cost: $52,000.
These are among many other projects big and small. Stay tuned.
Downtown Dreamin’
The city’s Downtown Sub-Committee — led by Council members Kevin Blake, Jill McLeod and Matt Serratto — issued a report this week about their recent tours of downtowns inTurlock, Modesto and Visalia.
Stephanie Dietz, Merced’s assistant city manager, and Frank Quintero, economic development director, appeared particularly impressed by what Visalia is doing — big anchor tenants like a convention center, synergy between the Downtown Association and city leaders, theme of “supporting local businesses,” lovely street accents, open spaces with shade overhangs, hardly any vacancies.
“Visalia was what put everything together on what we have been observing,” Dietz said. “Everything about the downtown walk in Visalia made it seem like a walk in Merced, except that it was very clean, and there were a lot of little gems of art that we don’t have yet, that we are looking to enhance.”
Quintero described Visalia’s downtown restaurant and entertainment scene as a “feast for the senses.”
Among the ideas that the sub-committee wants to bring to Merced is:
• Housing to increase foot traffic.
• Local ownership in properties.
• Continued entertainment and art events.
• More parking structures, with possible hourly fees.
• Space for events that don’t cause street closures.
• String lighting in open spaces.
• Diagonal parking downtown.
• One-way traffic on Main to slow traffic.
• Extending Bob Hart Square to 16th St.
• New branding efforts.
• Private security programs.
Leaders and city staff members indicated that all this, of course, takes money.
Modesto, Turlock and Visalia downtowns, they said, benefited from being Public Business Improvement Districts (PBIDs) — areas funded by property owners and possibly business owners too. City officials suggested that an alternative funding mechanism could be established to replace Merced’s existing “downtown double tax” based on sales by shop owners.
The double tax provides about $80,000 annually for the Downtown Merced Merchants Association. However, City Manager Steve Carrigan suggest a new special district could bring in funding in the $250,000 to $300,000 range that could get our downtown where it needs to be.
Charter Review
The City of Merced is looking for members for the Citizens Advisory Charter Review Committee. The members must be 18 years old and registered to vote in the city. Members will review and make recommendations on the city’s Charter for possible revisions to be placed on the March 2020 Primary ballot.
The City Council will select six people who will represent each of the six Council Districts, and three members will be appointed at-large. Mayor Mike Murphy and Councilman Anthony Martinez will be ex officio reps.
Recent topics concerning the charter have included adding two years to the mayoral term, and reorganizing a mandated reserve fund to address growing challenges with the public employees retirement system.
Contact the City Clerk’s Office at 388-8650 for more information. Deadline is tentatively set for the May 20 council meeting. Applications will be accepted up until 5 p.m.