[00:00:02]
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
MORNING AND UH, WELCOME TO THE MERCY COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING FOR AUGUST 23RD, 2023.UM, COULD EVERYBODY PLEASE STAND AND STAND FOR THE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE P PLEDGE TO FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC ONE NATION UNDER IN WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
OKAY, CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL OF COMMISSIONERS, PLEASE? COMMISSIONER RAMIREZ.
AND COMMISSIONER AGUILERA DID EXCUSE HIMSELF.
AND MR. CHAIR, YOU DO HAVE A QUORUM.
[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
FOUR.WE DO HAVE SOME MINUTES PRESENTED.
I VOTE THAT WE, UH, APPROVE THE MINUTES.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
ITEM NUMBER FIVE, CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS.
THIS IS A POINT IN OUR MEETING WHERE ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK TO ANYTHING UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
CAN DO SO NOW, AND PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
NOT SEEING ANY, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WE WILL GO TO, UH, I'M SORRY, CLOSE CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS AND GO TO OUR,
[6. PUBLIC HEARING(S)]
UH, ITEM SIX, PUBLIC HEARING.SO THE NEXT ITEM IS GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT G P A 21 DASH 0 0 2, ZONE CHANGE, CC 21 DASH 0 0 3, PLAN DEVELOPMENT PD 21 DASH 0 0 1 AND THE ASSOCIATED DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT DA 21 DASH 0 0 1 FOR THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY PLAN AMENDMENT AND VIRGINIA SMITH TRUST SPECIFIC PLAN, UH, SIMILAR TO OUR LAST MEETING.
SO LAST MEETING, WE CONTINUED THIS ITEM TO TODAY'S AGENDA, BUT BECAUSE WE ARE STILL CONTINUING TO WORKING ON THAT INTER-AGENCY COORDINATION, UH, THE STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE COMMISSION OPEN AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 13TH.
UH, WOULD ANYBODY LIKE COME FORWARD AND SPEAK TO THIS ITEM? UH, KNOWING THAT WE WILL BE CONTINUING TO THE SEPTEMBER 13TH MEETING? GOOD MORNING PLANNING COMMISSIONERS.
UH, SARA RAMIREZ WITH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO RAISE CONCERNS FROM SOUTH MERCED RESIDENTS ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
UM, I KNOW WE'VE BEEN IN CONTINUOUS DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS AS WELL AS WITH B S T, UM, BUT THE PROJECT AREA IS, UM, IN AN INCORPORATED MERCED COUNTY, NORTHEAST OF THE CITY OF MERCED, BUT WITHIN THE CITY OF MERC'S SPHERE OF INFLUENCE, THE PROJECT WILL ALLOCATE A VARIETY OF DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT AREA.
MEANWHILE, THE RESIDENTS OF DISADVANTAGED, UNINCORPORATED AREAS IN SOUTH MERCED CONTINUE TO RESIDE WITHOUT BASIC SERVICES SUCH AS CITY WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES, STORM WATER DRAINAGE, FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES, ADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE, ROAD MAINTENANCE, GROCERY STORE, STREET LIGHTING, SIDEWALKS, AND OTHER PEDESTRIAN SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE.
THIS PROPOSAL DEMONSTRATES THE ONGOING PATTERN AND PRACTICE OF INEQUITABLE INVESTMENTS TO THE COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH MERCED.
THEREFORE, THE PROJECT AND PROJECTS LIKE IT MUST BE ALTERED TO ADDRESS THE REGION'S NEEDS, INCLUDING REQUIRING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE PROPOSED PROJECT AREA AND PRIORITIZING THE NEEDS OF EXISTING COMMUNITIES BEFORE SIGNING OFF AND BUILDING NEW ONES.
RESIDENTS FROM COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH MERCED WANT TO ENSURE THAT THEIR NEEDS ARE MET THROUGH IMPROVEMENTS OF ECONOMIC DISPARITIES THAT OCCUR BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH MERCED INVESTMENTS AND DEVELOPMENT.
IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THESE DISPARITIES DO NOT CONTINUE, RESIDENTS HAVE REQUESTED THE FOLLOWING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROJECT, INCLUDING MORE DEED RESTRICTED, AFFORDABLE UNITS INCLUDED IN THIS PROJECT, MORE INVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITY DRIVEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH MERCED INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS IN UNINCORPORATED SOUTH MERCED CONNECTION TO CITY WATER WASTEWATER SERVICES IN AREAS THAT ARE STILL NOT CONNECTED.
AND THEN V S T SUPPORT IN ELEVATING CONCERNS ABOUT INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH MERCED CONCENTRATING RESOURCES AND AMENITIES IN NORTH MERCED WHILE CONCENTRATING POLLUTING LAND USES IN SOUTH MERCED DOES NOT AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHER FAIR HOUSING OR GUARANTEE EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT, THE COUNTY INSURED ENSURE THAT SOUTH MERCED RESIDENTS BENEFIT FROM NEW DEVELOPMENT AND RESOURCES.
[00:05:01]
UH, WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO COME FORWARD NOT SEEING ANY, I GUESS WE WILL CONTINUE THIS, UH, PUBLIC HEARING TO OUR NEXT MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 13TH.UM, NEXT UP IS COMMISSION ACTION ITEMS. NOTHING FURTHER FURTHER COMMISSION, UH, DIRECTOR'S REPORT.
[8. DIRECTOR'S REPORT]
UH, JUST A COUPLE QUICK ANNOUNCEMENTS.ONE, WE HAVE, UH, TWO NEW STAFF MEMBERS THERE SEATED NEXT TO MS. RENTERIA.
WE HAVE ANNA HERNANDEZ AND, UH, ETHAN HUR BOTH JOINED US LAST WEEK AND THE PLANNING, UH, DEPARTMENT, UH, MS. HERNANDEZ IS, UH, ONE OF OUR, UH, PERMIT TECHNICIANS.
SO SHE'LL BE WORKING DAY TO DAY WITH, UH, KIND CUSTOMER SERVICE AND FRONT COUNTER.
UH, AND ETHAN HERR JOINED OUR PLANNING TEAM AS A PLANNER, SO, UH, HE'LL BE IN FRONT OF THIS COMMISSION AND IN NO TIME.
SO JUST MORE WELCOME TO BOTH OF THEM AND, UM, BE ON THAT.
[9. COMMISSIONER'S COMMENT]
SEE.ANY ANY OTHER COMMENTS? WE'LL AJOUR THE MEETING.