Merced will look at more poker tables; city speeds up solar panel process

Merced city staffers will research the possible effects of adding more gambling tables in town after a recent request from a local card-room owner.

The council on Monday directed staff to come to a future meeting with the potential positive and negative results of doubling the number of card tables allowed in the city, including reports from Merced police and what other cities have experienced.

The owner of Merced Poker Room, Jarhett Blonien, in a letter last month requested a change to the city ordinance that allows eight tables in Merced. Those are split between two card rooms in town. He requested the city allow a total of 17 tables.

He wrote that adding those tables could add up to more than 90 new jobs.

The letter also requested the council remove the betting limits on a single wager, which is set at $300, according to city staff.

That poker room also has applied for a separate permit to sell alcohol, according to city records.

Also during that meeting, the council approved a state-mandated change to the building code meant to speed up the permit process for installing rooftop solar panels.

What was a three-day turnaround to obtain a permit, according to city staff, will now be expected to be complete in 24 hours.

This story was originally published November 3, 2015 at 10:59 AM with the headline "Merced will look at more poker tables; city speeds up solar panel process."