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Votes at a glance: Merriam council approves appointments, alarm rules, fee changes, CID policy and ARPA obligations
Summary
The council approved the consent agenda and multiple appointments, adopted alarm‑ordinance updates and a 2025 fee schedule, passed a Community Improvement District policy, and approved a resolution obligating ARPA funds for a hotel grant and drainage work; most motions passed unanimously (6‑0).
Merriam City Council completed a series of routine and substantive actions in a single meeting, approving a consent agenda, confirming several appointments, and adopting regulatory and policy changes that city staff characterized as updates or housekeeping.
Appointments and routine items: The council approved the consent agenda and confirmed Anita Dillon to the planning commission and board of structural appeals (term to 12/31/2025) and confirmed Daniel Molina to the planning commission (term to 12/31/2027) and to the Board of Structural Appeals (term to 12/31/2026). All appointment motions passed with the recorded tally of 6‑0.
Alarm ordinance and fee schedule: Following a presentation by Chief McLaughlin, council adopted amendments to chapter 23 (alarms) to remove the requirement to display alarm stickers or registration certificates, eliminate the historical 90‑day grace period and high false‑alarm allowance, and change alarm registration to a calendar year to align with invoicing. The council then approved the 2025 schedule of fees, which includes adjustments to false‑alarm fees to match the new ordinance format and slight increases to gymnasium and marketplace rental fees to cover higher staff costs. Both measures were approved 6‑0.
Community Improvement District policy: Staff reviewed edits to Council Policy 12 (Community Improvement District policy), including clarifications on charging‑station language, a transparency clause for development agreements, a provision allowing a ‘springing assessment’ (an assessment that can be reduced if pledged CID sales tax covers debt service), and a requirement that applicants remain current on taxes; the policy was approved 6‑0.
ARPA funds: Staff presented a resolution obligating the city's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The presentation said the city had been awarded approximately $1,691,000 and must obligate funds by Dec. 31, 2024 and spend them by Dec. 31, 2026. The council approved allocating roughly $220,000 to a Merriam Hotel Improvement Grant (aid to industries impacted by COVID) and the remaining funds—reported in the meeting as approximately $1.1 million—for drainage improvements on Fiftieth Terrace/England Street to Kessler Lane. Council approved the ARPA obligation resolution 6‑0.
What’s next: Staff said the single‑hauler organized collection plan will have a public hearing on Dec. 9, which will be a decision point for releasing an RFP, and the accessory dwelling unit (ADU) ordinance will be before the planning commission on Dec. 4 and potentially on the council agenda Jan. 13 if forwarded.
