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)
CITY OF VISTA
CONSOLIDATED MEETING MINUTES
MAY 9, 2023
The May 9, 2023, Regular Meeting of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, the Community Development Commission of the City of Vista, the Buena Sanitation District, and the Successor Agency to the Vista Redevelopment Agency, was called to order by Mayor Franklin at 4:00 pm in the City Council Chambers, 200 Civic Center Drive, Vista, California.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT
Mayor John Franklin, Deputy Mayor Corinna Contreras
Katie Melendez, Dan O’Donnell
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT
Joe Green
RECESS, CALL FOR CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Franklin recessed the meeting at 4:01 p.m. and called for a Closed Session for the following:
CS1. Conference with labor negotiators as follows, pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6: (CC)
Agency Representatives: John Conley, City Manager
Walter Chung, City Attorney
Dolores Gascon, Human Resources Director
Anna Semenov, Principal Human Resources Analyst
Roy Palmer, Interim Fire Chief
Employee Organization: Vista Chief Officers Association (VCOA)
CS2. Conference with labor negotiators as follows, pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6: (CC)
Agency Representatives: John Conley, City Manager
Walter Chung, City Attorney
Dolores Gascon, Human Resources Director
Anna Semenov, Principal Human Resources Analyst
Mike Pacheco, RCS Director
Mike Bradford, Community Services Program Manager
Rod Betts, Lead Negotiator/Attorney
Employee Organization: International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists, and Allied Crafts of the United States and Canada (“IATSE,”) Local No. 122
RECESS, OPEN SESSION, AND CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Franklin recessed the Closed Session at 5:27 p.m. and called the meeting to order in Open Session at 5:32 p.m. with all members present with the exception of Councilmember Green.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
MAY 9, 2023
2 DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT
Walter Chung City Attorney
John Conley City Manager
John Boyce Sheriff’s Captain
Roy Palmer Interim Fire Chief
Kathy Valdez City Clerk
Dolores Gascon Human Resources Director
Larry Vaupel Economic Development Director
Mike Pacheco Recreation and Community Services Director Kuna Muthusamy Public Works Director
Mike Sylvia Finance Director
Greg Mayer Acting Engineering Director
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember O’Donnell led the Pledge of Allegiance.
BROWN ACT NOTICE
City Clerk Kathy Valdez stated that, due to convening simultaneous meetings, the Buena Sanitation District Board Members will receive compensation of $147.75 for the District meeting.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
City Manager John Conley stated there are no changes to the agenda.
PRESENTATION
P1. Mayor Franklin and the City Council members presented proclamations recognizing the following recipients of the 2022 City of Vista Employee Awards:
• Nixy Flores, Mayor’s Excellence in Service
• Amanda Lee, Manager of the Year
• Moises Verdin, Employee of the Year
P2. Mayor Franklin and the City Council members presented a proclamation declaring May 21, 2023 to May 27, 2023 to be “Public Works Week” in the City of Vista.
P3. Mayor Franklin and the City Council members presented a proclamation declaring May 27, 2023 “Rotary Club of Vista Day.”
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION BY FRANKLIN, SECOND BY O’DONNELL, TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING CONSENT CALENDAR.
MOTION CARRIED 4-0 (GREEN ABSENT)
C1. Received the March 2023 check register. (CC)
C2. Approved the following minutes: April 25, 2023, Consolidated Meeting (CC/CDC/SA/BSD) April 19, 2023, Special Meeting (CC)
C3. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2023-70, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, authorizing and approving the summary vacation of a
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
MAY 9, 2023
3 portion of a public sewer line easement at 445-465 Hacienda Drive (APNs 164-231-39, -40, & -41).” (CC)
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Joe Houde spoke regarding climate change.
Suzanne Hume, Clean Earth 4 Kids, spoke regarding pesticides.
John Bottorff, Clean Earth 4 Kids, spoke regarding chemical impacts to the neurological system.
DISCUSSION
D1. PESTICIDES AND CHEMICALS USED IN CITY PARKS AND STREETS CC) Public Works Director Kuna Muthusamy introduced Public Works Supervisor Yale Jeffrey, who provided the staff report.
Staff stated the following corrections were to be made to the Integrated Pest Management plan in the agenda report:
The following members of the public spoke in favor of eliminating toxic pesticides and chemicals:
Sonja Robinson – NAACPNSDC, Ashley Martinez
Brandon Suarez Yesenia Hernandez
John Bottorff – Clean Earth 4 Kids Suzanne Hume – Clean Earth 4 Kids Christine Gorman Joe Houde
Ashley Holzhauer Tiffany Gorski
Harmony Price – Clean Earth 4 Kids Mishelle Veloz
Children – Adeline, Jade, Keilani and friends
City Council members and staff discussed the following:
• Need for a stricter policy on pesticide use in the City • Cost of organic products
• Hand weeding or mowing as alternatives
• Look at other cities’ policies and Integrated Pest Management programs • Consider alternatives for median landscaping
• Look at studies from national experts when evaluating products • Need to be transparent about chemicals used and post notices in pedestrian areas when chemicals are going to be used
MOTION BY MELENDEZ, SECOND BY CONTRERAS DIRECTING STAFF
TO IMMEDIATELY STOP THE USE OF GLYPHOSATE AND DITHIOPYR AT PARKS, HISTORIC DOWNTOWN, AND WITHIN .25 MILES OF SCHOOLS,
AND TO POST WHEN THE SPRAYING OF PESTICIDES OR CHEMICALS WILL OCCUR.
VOTE: 4-0 (GREEN ABSENT)
D2. ENGINEER’S REPORTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023/24 LEVY OF ASSESSMENTS AND
FISCAL STATUS UPDATE (CC)
Finance Director Mike Sylvia introduced the item.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
MAY 9, 2023
4 City Council members and staff discussed the following:
• Consider alternative landscaping which requires less water and maintenance • All City lights have been upgraded to LED
• Need to ensure equitable lighting and assessments; view lighting locations on GIS map • Work with a consultant to draft overlay districts; educate the community about the need for assessments; and put to a vote of the people
MOTION BY O’DONNELL, SECOND BY FRANKLIN TO ADOPT THE
FOLLOWING CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS, APPROVING OF THE
FISCAL YEAR 2023/24 ENGINEER’S REPORTS FOR THE FOLLOWING ASSESSMENT DISTRICTS: 1) RESOLUTION 2023-71, ENTITLED “A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING AN ENGINEER’S REPORT ON THE CITY OF VISTA LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING DISTRICT NO. 1
ASSESSMENTS FOR THE 2023/24 FISCAL YEAR, DECLARING ITS
INTENT TO LEVY AND COLLECT ASSESSMENTS, AND SETTING THE DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING; 2) RESOLUTION 2023-72, ENTITLED “A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING AN ENGINEER’S REPORT AND
DETERMINING THE COST OF SERVICES AND THE AMOUNT OF
ASSESSMENT TO BE IMPOSED ON ALL ASSESSABLE PROPERTY WITHIN THE CITY OF VISTA STREET MAINTENANCE DISTRICT NO. 1 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023/24 PURSUANT TO THE BENEFIT ASSESSMENT ACT OF 1982 AND SETTING THE DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING; 3)
RESOLUTION 2023-73, ENTITLED “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA, CALIFORNIA,
APPROVING AN ENGINEER’S REPORT ON THE CITY OF VISTA SOUTH
MELROSE LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE DISTRICT ASSESSMENTS FOR THE 2023/24 FISCAL YEAR, DECLARING ITS INTENT TO LEVY AND
COLLECT ASSESSMENTS AND SETTING THE DATE FOR PUBLIC
HEARING; AND 4) DIRECTED STAFF TO WORK WITH THE CITY’S
ASSESSMENT ENGINEERING CONSULTANT FOR THE FORMATION OF
ONE OR MORE OVERLAY DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE A LONG-TERM,
SUSTAINABLE FUNDING SOLUTION BEGINNING IN FY 2024/25.
MOTION CARRIED 4-0 (GREEN ABSENT)
D3. PALOMAR AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT (CC) Councilmember Melendez introduced the item.
Members of the public spoke in favor of appointing Tazheen Nizam and the harm leaded fuel causes:
Suzanne Hume – Clean Earth 4 Kids
John Bottorff – Clean Earth 4 Kids
Stephanie Jackel – South Vista Communities
City Council members thanked staff and public for their input.
Councilmember Contreras suggested a letter be written to the County Board of Supervisors regarding concerns about the use of leaded fuel in airplanes at the airport.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
MAY 9, 2023
5 MOTION BY CONTRERAS, SECOND BY O’DONNELL TO ADOPT
RESOLUTION 2023-74, ENTITLED “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA, CALIFORNIA,
RECOMMENDING THE APPOINTMENT OF TAZHEEN NIZAM TO THE CITY OF VISTA’S SEAT ON THE PALOMAR AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE,
SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS” AND DIRECTING STAFF TO SEND A LETTER TO THE
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS REQUESTING THAT THEY LIMIT THE
AVAILABILITY AND USE OF LEADED FUEL IN AIRCRAFTS AT PALOMAR AIRPORT.
VOTE: 4-0 (GREEN ABSENT)
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Franklin stated there are no requests to speak.
REMARKS
City Manager John Conley made the following announcements:
• The Vista Sheriff Station’s next Coffee with the Community event is scheduled for Thursday, May 18, from 7:30 am to 9:30 am at Sabor a Vida Café and Deli, 735 Shadowridge Drive. The coffee is free at these events. The public can meet the deputies and get crime prevention tips and resources.
• The Moonlight is launching its 42nd summer season tomorrow night with the iconic rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar with performances through May 27. This is the first show of the season which also includes The Wedding Singer, Disney’s Tarzan the Musical, 42nd Street, and Saturday Night Fever. The Moonlight also presents a mini festival of concerts this summer called Moonlight Summer Jam. More information and the lineup is available at moonlightstage.com.
City Council members thanked the citizens for their participation in the meeting.
Councilmember O’Donnell stated Sabor a Vida Café and Deli was a great location and looked forward to seeing everyone at the event. He would like to see a short presentation on why there are no fireworks this 4th of July. He would also like to thank his wife for the birth of their son.
Councilmember Melendez announced that on Friday SANDAG is having a meeting on the 2024 Program Budget and encouraged the public to participate. She stated she has asked SANDAG to have a regional planning workshop in North County.
Councilmember Contreras remarked that the Moonlight is an incredible venue and encouraged people to go to a show there.
Mayor Franklin made the following announcements:
• I would like to invite the public to the groundbreaking for Santa Fe Senior Village on Monday, May 15, at 10 a.m., at 414 N. Santa Fe Avenue. This development will provide 54 fully furnished studio and one-bedroom apartment homes for seniors ages 62 and over who are unhoused or at risk of becoming unhoused. Two of the homes are being set aside for unhoused senior veterans. The project is estimated to open in September 2024. • The City has openings on various Commissions including the Traffic, Senior Citizens Affairs, Parks and Recreation, and Planning commissions. The deadline to apply is May 22.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
MAY 9, 2023
6 •We also have openings for students for seats on the Youth, Public Arts, Planning, Parks and Recreation, and Community Safety Commissions. Students must be in grades 9 through 12.
For more information on applying to all commission openings, visit vistanewscenter.com.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Franklin adjourned the meeting at 8:49 p.m.
____________________________________
Kathy Valdez, City Clerk