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Merced council approves environmental services for 375-acre University Industrial Park and several city contracts
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Summary
The council unanimously approved a professional-services agreement for environmental review of the proposed University Industrial Park, a reimbursement agreement with the property owner, and multiple administrative items including committee assignments, two fleet trucks for the fire department, a CalVIP evaluation contract, and a sewer-project contingency increase.
The Merced City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a professional services agreement with JB Anderson Land Use Planning and a reimbursement agreement with Alliance Investments to prepare environmental documents for the proposed University Industrial Park, a project covering roughly 375 acres in southeast Merced.
Senior Planner Francisco Mendoza described the project as an early-stage land-use request that will return to the Planning Commission and City Council after environmental analysis. He said the professional-services agreement is for $210,486 and the reimbursement agreement with the property owner is for a little over $230,000 to cover consultant work and a 10% contract-management fee. "So the project is the University Industrial Park," Mendoza said, explaining the parcels, proposed zoning changes and the need for a water-supply assessment because anticipated residential development would exceed 500 units.
In the same meeting the council also approved several other items: a reorganization of council committee assignments under Resolution 2026-12; purchase of two 2026 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD work trucks for the fire department (total not to exceed $138,968.49 including contingency); a $49,075 services agreement with Social Policy Research Associates to perform the local evaluation report for the city27s CalVIP cohort; and an additional $53,190.80 contingency for Midcal Pipeline and Utilities Inc. to close out the Craig Drive sewer-main project.
Council member Dr. Smith, who introduced the committee reorganization resolution, said the changes formally set standing committee rosters and dissolve obsolete subcommittees. Staff noted the JB Anderson item required five votes because it is budget-related; the council approved it on a unanimous roll call.
The approvals move the University Industrial Park27s environmental review forward and allocate funds for public-safety fleet replacements, grant evaluation, and completion of a sewer project discovered during construction.
