Merced City Council could approve new theater inside the Merced Mall

The Merced Mall is preparing for a renovation projection to update its facilities and renovate its buildings and exteriors. The 50-year-old Merced retail landmark will expand the facility and possibly add a new theater complex. The Council is being asked to approve the environmental review and site utilization plan for the project. The project is expected to be completed by 2021.

If the new theater is approved, the original one will be demolished after the new theater is open.

Sears is not part of the expansion.

Also on the agenda is a contract to study the feasibility of annexing land in North Merced. The $423,136 study would look at approximately 7,600 acres of land east of G Street and north of Yosemite Avenue. Several large property owners have expressed an interest in annexing into the City. The study would look at the feasibility and costs associated with annexation. A number of public meetings for residents in the area would be held as part of the contract.

The Council will meet at 5 p.m. for a closed session on labor negotiations.

City Council meetings are streamed live on the Internet. A link to the live meeting is on the City’s web site at https://cityofmerced.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. Videos of previous meetings can be found at that link, and are tied to each agenda item. Those services are in addition to the live broadcast of the regular meeting on Comcast’s Government Channel 96.

The Council agenda is posted online at www.cityofmerced.org and is available outside the chambers prior to the meeting. Request to Speak forms are available at the meeting or can be downloaded from the City’s website. Cards must be turned in to the City Clerk in order for a person to be recognized by the Council. Hmong and Spanish translators are available at all regular Council meetings.

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the second floor of the Merced Civic Center, (City Hall), 678 W. 18th St. the Council meets the first and third Monday of the month, except when there is a holiday, when it meets the following day.