CITY OF VISTA
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
AUGUST 30, 2022
The August 30, 2022, Special Meeting of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista was called to order by Mayor Ritter at 3:00 pm in the City Council Chambers, 200 Civic Center Drive, Vista, California.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT
Mayor Ritter, Deputy Mayor John Franklin
Joe Green, Corinna Contreras, Katie Melendez
DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT
Amanda Lee Assistant City Manager
Walter Chung City Attorney
Kathy Valdez City Clerk
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Green led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Assistant City Manager Lee stated there are no changes to the agenda.
DISCUSSION
D1. CITY MANAGER HIRING OF DEPARTMENT HEADS (CC)
Councilmember Green introduced the item.
Members of the public Frank Lopez and John Aguilera spoke in opposition to the item.
City Council Members discussed the following:
• Intent is to have an inclusive hiring process that includes internal and external stakeholders where the City Council majority would have the final approval • Look at best practices, layout the process, and present it to the public for input • More directors should speak Spanish (Contreras)
• A new process would provide accountability; would be a group decision • Want to know when positions are open, who's applying, who's chosen • The Code amendment was written to be broad to allow the City Council to develop a policy for hiring directors
• Want to see what the policy will be before approving (Franklin) • Include a 180-day sunset clause in which the ordinance would revert back to the existing language if a policy has not been adopted by then
• Schedule a workshop in October to review and get input on a new hiring policy Mayor Ritter stated she does not support the change which takes away the City Manager's authority and will lead to department heads feeling indebted to the appointing City Council members personal agendas; that the role of the City Council is to set policy not to be involved with personnel issues, with the exception of the City Manager and City Attorney; it is an erosion of the Council-Manager form of government which has been tested over time across the United States as a best way to govern; and that the City Council members are being influenced by a handful of unhappy union employees.
VISTA CITY COUNCIL(CC) BUENA SANITATION DISTRICT(BSD) COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (CDC)
SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE VISTA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY(SA)JOINT POWERS FINANCING AUTHORITY(JPFA)
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
AUGUST 30, 2022
Deputy Mayor Franklin stated he was swayed by the Mayor's comment about department heads feeling indebted to City Council members and that he wants to see the policy before supporting the item.
MOTION BY GREEN, SECOND BY CONTRERAS TO INTRODUCE CITY
COUNCIL ORDINANCE NO. 2022-15, ENTITLED, "AN ORDINANCE OF
THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER
2.20 OF THE VISTA MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING CITY MANAGER AND DEPARTMENT HEADS," WITH THE ADDITION OF A 180 DAY SUNSET
CLAUSE, AND DIRECTED STAFF TO SCHEDULE A WORKSHOP IN OCTOBER TO DISCUSS A NEW HIRING POLICY.
VOTE: 3-2 (RITTER AND FRANKLIN OPPOSED
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ritter adjourned the meeting at 3:58 pm.
Kathy Valdez, Cit Clerk
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