City of Merced

November 8th is World Town Planning Day. Here’s to the great minds of the Urban and Regional Planners at the City of Merced and in our communities. These thoughtful professionals work to transform our visions of sustainable and inclusive cities into real, thriving environments. Since 1949, this day has been a reminder of the role planning plays in creating spaces that look good on a map and feel like home in real life. Talk to an urban planner and you’ll learn that they blend science and art to balance growth, sustainability, and economic needs with a focus on quality of life. From designing walkable neighborhoods to promoting green spaces and responsible land use, planners tackle social, environmental, and economic challenges head-on. Thanks to the planners shaping a brighter future for us (and our streets, neighborhoods, and cities.)

We spent a productive Saturday morning with our community, and it’s a reminder of how fortunate we are to live in a place where people care about maintaining and improving our parks and open spaces. During the Rahilly Park Walking Tour, we gathered valuable feedback from residents that will guide future improvements and ensure our parks remain welcoming and well-maintained. Community engagement like this helps us make smart, informed decisions about investments in public spaces—creating an environment that supports both quality of life and future growth. Great to be part of making Merced a great place to live and work.

This week, Merced celebrates the annexation of 650 acres of Virginia Smith Trust land, marking a major step forward for our community’s growth. This achievement is the result of years of collaboration between local agencies, the City Council, and many others working together to make it happen. The Virginia Smith Trust, which has supported local education for nearly 50 years, continues to leave a lasting impact. This newly annexed land will soon become a vibrant area with homes, parks, and businesses, while also providing vital scholarship funds for Merced students. The legacy of Virginia Smith and her brother Cyril remains a cornerstone of our community’s future.

It’s National Finance and Accounting Appreciation Week! So, we’re giving a big shoutout to the City of Merced’s Finance and Accounting team. We’re recognizing the folks who keep everything running behind the scenes. From managing budgets to making sure everything adds up (literally), they’re the reason our financial systems stay on track. We don’t often think about it, but their hard work and attention to detail is much appreciated. So, here’s to our finance team for all they do—thank you for keeping things balanced and making it look somewhat easy!

We're hiring an assistant engineer! Contact us if you're ready to build a brighter future with an innovative team. We're looking for a creative, problem-solving Assistant Engineer to help shape our city's infrastructure. Ready to make a real impact and take on projects that will transform Merced? Bring your ideas to life here! Apply at governmentjobs.com and search Merced, CA.

Kudos to Rosa Alcaraz, Community Liaison for the Merced Police Department. Rosa has been instrumental in building stronger connections between the City and our residents, ensuring vital resources are available to everyone. Her work in translating key materials into Spanish has played a critical role in keeping non-English speakers informed and engaged. As the driving force behind popular events like National Night Out, which continues to grow each year, and the beloved holiday toy drive, Rosa helps foster a sense of community and support across Merced. Her dedication to uplifting the Latino community and inspiring young people recently earned her recognition at the Merced County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Latina Women’s Luncheon. The City of Merced is committed to being better connected to our community, and thanks to passionate individuals like Rosa, we are making great strides toward that goal.

A major step forward for Merced has been realized with the approval of the Virginia Smith Trust annexation into the City of Merced. This 654-acre property, now within city limits, will serve as a cornerstone for future development, including university-supporting housing, public safety facilities, open space, and commercial uses. The decades-long partnership between the City of Merced, County of Merced, Merced County Office of Education, and the Virginia Smith Trust is a testament to the power of collaboration. Proceeds from the Virginia Smith Trust will continue to support college scholarships for Merced County high school seniors. Excited to see the positive impact this will have on our community’s growth and education.