Merced to talk pot, fire alarms and Vets Blvd.

The Merced City Council will look at an array of topics during its regular Monday meeting, including fire-alarm permits, the proposed Veterans Boulevard and the final touches on a medical marijuana ordinance.

The council meets at 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 678 W. 18th St.

Merced Sunrise Rotary has floated the idea of hanging honorary Veterans Boulevard signs along M Street, city staffers have said. As an honorary name, staffers said, no one would need to change their address. Councilman Michael Belluomini requested the discussion, according to city records.

There are about 460 addresses on M Street, according to city staffers. That includes homes toward the southern end of the street, as well as public buildings such as the Merced County Administration Building and Merced College.

Another topic of discussion, which was requested by Mayor Stan Thurston, is the city’s fire-alarm permit process.

Merced passed an ordinance in April requiring any person or entity using an alarm or planning to install an alarm to get a permit from the city at no cost, but those without a permit would face greater fines if police respond to a false alarm.

City staffers have said from 2011 to 2015, the city saw 26,258 alarm calls. Of those, 525 or 1.7 percent turned out to be legitimate alarms.

The first two false alarms within a year are free of any fines, and the third’s $50 fine could be waived if the offender completed a training. The fourth and fifth false alarm would cost $50 each, and any beyond that would be $100 each. Anyone without a permit is subject to an additional $100 fee for every false alarm.

Last month, the council agreed to allow four medical cannabis dispensaries, and to allow patients to grow up to six plants as long as they are indoors. This month, the council will be asked to introduce the ordinance, making it 30 days away from being law.

A closed session meeting is set to start at 5:45 p.m., when the council will discuss a new city attorney and pending litigation, according to the agenda.

This story was originally published July 31, 2016 at 2:45 PM with the headline "Merced to talk pot, fire alarms and Vets Blvd.."