Merced City Council

Merced leaders pick from within: McBride will be new city manager

Jonathan Whitaker Sep 22, 2023

Scott McBride, the development director who has led Merced’s planning, building and housing efforts since 2017, was appointed this week to city manager — the top executive at City Hall charged with carrying out the directives of elected leaders and overseeing day-to-day operations. The Merced City Council voted unanimously to approve McBride…

Politics

Downtown owners vote for improvement district

Jonathan Whitaker Aug 11, 2023

Downtown Merced is on its way to having what is known as a Property Based Business Improvement District or “PBID” — a strategy that a majority of…

Local News

City Council keeps number of dispensaries at five, for now

Jonathan Whitaker Jul 20, 2023

After hearing testimony from local cannabis retailers who say sales have been dropping, the Merced City Council voted on Monday night to maintain the current…

Business

Downtown owners to decide on ‘PBID’

Jonathan Whitaker Jul 18, 2023

More than 200 ballots have been mailed to property owners in the Downtown Merced corridor to vote in favor of, or against, the creation of a Property Based Business Improvement District, otherwise known as a “PBID.” With a PBID, the owners would be agreeing to assess themselves a property tax that would generate a revenue stream (they would…

Politics

Merced leaders manage to clear budget hurdles after a long…

Jonathan Whitaker Jun 22, 2023

There’s good reason for Merced city leaders to start publicly discussing budget goals and priorities in February, so that when it comes time to finalize a new…

Politics

City Council votes to grow more sites for cannabis retail

Jonathan Whitaker Mar 23, 2023

When Merced started approving merit-based cannabis retail permits in 2018, they only allowed for four dispensaries, in certain commercial zones, with no on-site…

Politics

Council shifts to subsidize Local Housing Trust Fund plan

Jonathan Whitaker Mar 9, 2023

Just last summer, a slight 4-3 majority of the Merced City Council was not too keen on the creation of a Local Housing Trust Fund (LHTF) that would tap city discretionary funds, along with a dollar-for-dollar state match, to support new affordable housing efforts. Some members argued the amount of local General Fund money would not be…

Local News

Leaders agree on display of airport logo, Italian flag

Jonathan Whitaker Mar 6, 2023

City leaders unanimously approved new marketing “taglines” and a logo for the Merced Yosemite Regional Airport — or MYRA — during their most recent meeting on…

Local News

Merced City Manager Dietz says she’s leaving post in…

The Merced County Times Feb 22, 2023

Merced City Manager Stephanie Dietz has informed the City Council of her plans to depart from her role, it was announced Wednesday morning,…

Politics

City Leaders Review Goals and Areas Of Focus

John Miller Feb 16, 2023

City leaders met at the Civic Center on Feb. 11 to discuss goals and priorities as budget planning begins for the upcoming fiscal year. During the nearly four hour meeting, members of the Merced City Council raised a number of issues they would like to see city staff focus on in 2023. The discussion included topics of public…

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