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Merced Planning Commission adopts 2026–31 capital improvement program as consistent with general plan
Summary
The Merced Planning Commission on June 3 adopted findings that the city’s proposed five-year (2026–2031) Capital Improvement Program is consistent with the Merced Vision 2030 General Plan, while staff warned that infrastructure costs and rapid growth — including an estimated $7.5 million for Highway 59 — will strain utilities and roads.
The Merced Planning Commission voted June 3 to adopt findings that the proposed 2026–2031 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is consistent with the Merced Vision 2030 General Plan.
Daryl Jordan, the city engineer, presented the CIP and described it as the city’s primary tool for translating general-plan goals into roads, utilities, parks and other infrastructure. Jordan told commissioners the city is experiencing “significant growth” and is evaluating annexation areas that could substantially increase Merced’s population and geographic footprint.
Commissioner Ooa pressed staff on priorities, saying the city must prepare to expand utilities and road capacity: “we're now about 100,000 population now. Can you imagine the demands on something closer to 200,000 people in a short period of time?” Jordan described the scale of needed work, noting that the roughly $7.5 million budgeted for Highway 59 “may sound like a lot of money to you for 59. That's maybe about half of what we need,” and adding that fully transforming the city’s streets could cost “hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Commissioner Choa, who moved adoption of the resolution of findings, said water and sewer remain among the city’s biggest needs and expressed hope that roadway safety will improve as projects proceed. The motion to adopt Resolution 4185 passed after a second from Commissioner Griggs.
The staff presentation framed the CIP as addressing immediate rehabilitation needs and long-term infrastructure to support growth, including utility capacity, transportation connectivity and public-safety projects. Jordan emphasized rising construction costs and said most major thoroughfares will require rehabilitation within the next decade.
The commission’s action adopted the staff findings of consistency required under California planning law and with the Merced Vision 2030 General Plan. The CIP presented covers projects and funding priorities for fiscal years 2026 through 2031; details about individual project funding and implementation schedules were provided in the staff packet.
The commission approved the findings at the meeting; staff indicated the CIP will proceed through the city’s next steps as outlined in the packet. Members of the public did not provide comments on the item during the meeting.
