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
AUGUST 8, 2023
The August 8, 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 3:02 pm in the City Council Chambers, 200 Civic Center Drive, Vista, California.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT
Mayor John Franklin, Deputy Mayor Corinna Contreras
Joe Green, Dan O’Donnell, Katie Melendez
RECESS, CALL FOR CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Franklin recessed the meeting at 3:04 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
Employee Organization: Vista Chief Officers Association (VCOA)
CS2. Conference with legal counsel – existing litigation, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1): (CC)
Case Name: Mary Cox vs City of Vista
Case Number: 37-2022-00036422-CU-PO-NC
Venue: San Diego Superior Court, North County Division
CS3. Conference with legal counsel – existing litigation, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1): (CC)
Case Name: In re Diane Collier
Case Number: 19-142671
Venue: California Department of Industrial Relations
CS4. Conference with legal counsel – existing litigation, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1): (CC)
Case Name: In re Donaciano Ramos
Case Number: 20-149221
Venue: California Department of Industrial Relations
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
AUGUST 8, 2023
2 CS5. Conference with legal counsel – existing litigation, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1): (CC)
Case Name: In re Christian Haney
Case Number: 23-17114
Venue: California Department of Industrial Relations
CS6. Conference with real property negotiators, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8: (CC)
Property Address: 1800 Monte Vista Drive, Vista, California Agency Negotiator: John Conley
Negotiating Parties: James Britts and Robert James Tebelman Under Negotiation: Price and Terms
RECESS, OPEN SESSION, AND CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Franklin recessed the Closed Session at 4:16 p.m. and called the meeting to order in Open Session at 5:32 p.m. with all members present.
DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT
John Conley City Manager
Walter Chung City Attorney
John Boyce Sheriff’s Captain
Bret Davidson Acting Fire Chief
Kathy Valdez City Clerk
Patsy Chow Acting Community Development Director
Dolores Gascon Human Resources Director
Larry Vaupel Economic Development Director
Kuna Muthusamy Public Works Director
Mike Sylvia Finance Director
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Deputy Mayor Contreras 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.
Councilmember Melendez requested that Item D3, Age Friendly Action Plan, be taken prior to the Consent Calendar.
Mayor Franklin stated he had no objection to doing so.
PRESENTATIONS
P1. The Mayor and the City Council members presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Dick Miller, Inc. for their contribution to the 2023 Independence Day Celebration.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
AUGUST 8, 2023
3 P2. The Mayor and the City Council members presented a Letter of Appreciation to Scott Raitt for his contribution but the 2023 Independence Day Celebration.
P3. The Mayor and the City Council members presented a proclamation declaring August 2023 as “American Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month” in the City of Vista.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
• Joe Houde spoke regarding climate change, housing affordability, and food insecurity. • Michael Jacobs commended the City Council on painting the bicycle lanes green.
Mayor Franklin called for Discussion Item D3 to be taken.
D3. AGE FRIENDLY ACTION PLAN (CC)
Councilmember Melendez introduced the item.
Community Services Program Manager Kevin Granse and Recreation and Community Services Manager Robert Anderson were available to answer questions regarding the program.
The following individuals spoke in favor of adopting an Age Friendly Action Plan:
Israel Hernandez Steven Burrell Sid Rothenberg
City Council Members and staff discussed the following:
• Interest in how Carlsbad developed their Age Friendly Action Plan and hearing from Carlsbad employees on the process
• Potential partnerships with surrounding cities
• The Senior Citizens Affairs Commission should have a significant role in drafting the Action Plan; invite the Youth Advisory Commission to also participate in drafting the Plan. • Outreach to the community to identify issues
• The plan may help in securing funding for project gaps • An RFP would be issued to develop the Plan; support will be sought from AARP and the San Diego Foundation
MOTION BY MELENDEZ, SECOND BY CONTRERAS, TO DIRECT STAFF TO
SUBMIT A LETTER TO AARP AND THE SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ACTION PLAN FOR VISTA.
VOTE: 5-0
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Franklin announced that Item C4, Title VI Compliance Program Update; Item C7, All-Way Stop at the Intersection on Jonathon Street and Huff Street; and Item C15, Amend City Council Policy 100- 17, Travel and Training Authorization and Expense Reporting Policy for City Council Members, are being removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion.
MOTION BY CONTRERAS, SECOND BY GREEN, TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING CONSENT CALENDAR.
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
C1. Received the May 2023 check register. (CC)
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
AUGUST 8, 2023
4 C2. Approved the following minutes: June 27, 2023, Consolidated Meeting (CC/CDC/BSD); June 21, 2023 Special Meeting (CC)
C3. Received Treasurer’s Cash Report for the month ending May 31, 2023. (CC)
C4. Mayor Franklin announced that this item was removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion.
C5. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2023-133, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Establishing an All-Way Stop at the Intersection of Calle Jules and Via Felicidad” (CC)
C6. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2023-134, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Establishing an All-Way Stop at the Intersection of Citrus Avenue and Broadway” (CC)
C7. Mayor Franklin announced that this item was removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion.
C8. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2023-136, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Establishing an All-Way Stop at the Intersection of Lupine Hills Drive and Portofino Drive/Roma Drive.” (CC)
C9. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2023-137, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Establishing an All-Way Stop at the Intersection of Olive Avenue and Grapevine Road.” (CC)
C10. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2023-138, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Awarding a Construction Contract to SRK Engineering, Inc. for the ARPA City Wide CMP Replacement Project – Phase I (CIP No. 8239).” (CC)
C11. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2023-139, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Awarding a Contract to Downstream Services, Inc. for As-Needed Storm Drain Cleaning and CCTV Inspection Services.” (CC)
C12. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2023-140, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving a Letter of Agreement Between the City of Vista and the Vista City Employees’ Association and Repealing the Provisions of Any Resolutions in Conflict Herewith.”; adopted City Council Resolution No. 2023-141, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving a Letter of Agreement between the City of Vista and the Vista City Maintenance Association and Repealing the Provisions of Any Resolutions in Conflict Herewith”; and adopted City Council Resolution No. 2023-142, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Amending the Management and Confidential Employee Compensation Plan and Repealing the Provisions of Any Resolutions in Conflict Herewith.”(CC)
C13. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2023-143, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving a Letter of Agreement Between the City of Vista and the Vista Firefighters’ Association and Repealing the Provisions of Any Resolutions in Conflict Herewith,”; and adopted City Council Resolution No. 2023-144, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Amending the City- Wide Classification and Compensation Index, and Repealing the Provisions of Any Resolutions in Conflict Herewith.” (CC)
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
AUGUST 8, 2023
5 C14. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2023-145, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving the Appropriation of Funds for the Purchase of 536 Matagual Drive, Vista, California.” (CC)
C15. Mayor Franklin announced that this item was removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR DISCUSSION
C4. TITLE VI COMPLIANCE PROGRAM UPDATE (CC)
Deputy Mayor Contreras stated she pulled the item to highlight that 35% of Vista’s residents speak Spanish and she recommended that the City provide more outreach and communication in Spanish.
MOTION BY CONTRERAS, SECOND BY GREEN, TO ADOPT CITY
COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2023-132, ENTITLED “A RESOLUTION OF
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA, UPDATING THE TITLE VI COMPLIANCE PROGRAM”
VOTE: 5-0
C7. ALL-WAY STOP AT THE INTERSECTION OF JONATHON STREET AND HUFF STREET (CC) Brooke DeLima spoke in favor of the All-Way Stop and thanked the City Council for their support.
Councilmember Melendez and Deputy Mayor Contreras stated they were happy to see residents utilizing the petition process. Deputy Mayor Contreras requested the traffic calming petition process to be available in Spanish.
MOTION BY MELENDEZ, SECOND BY CONTRERAS, TO ADOPT CITY
COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2023-135, ENTITLED “A RESOLUTION OF
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA, ESTABLISHING
AN ALL-WAY STOP AT THE INTERSECTION OF JONATHON STREET AND HUFF STREET”
VOTE: 5-0
C15. AMEND CITY COUNCIL POLICY 100-17, TRAVEL AND TRAINING AUTHORIZATION AND
EXPENSE REPORTING POLICY FOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS (CC)
Mayor Franklin stated he pulled the item to request an adjustment to the expense amount given to the Mayor to have proportional funding to communicate with constituents.
City Council Members discussed the following:
• Support for the increase in the Mayor’s expense amount as long as the additional funding is restricted to communication activities
• How to determine amount – four times as much or per constituent • How and when the amounts were established and if there is a need to revisit this
City Attorney Walter Chung advised that the policy will need to be amended and brought back to the City Council at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
AUGUST 8, 2023
6 DISCUSSION
D1. TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSING (CC)
The following individuals spoke in favor to limiting the number of tobacco retailers in Vista:
Jennifer Gill, Vista Community Clinic Grissel Rosales Socorro Ramirez Judi Strang
The following individuals spoke against limiting the number of tobacco retailers in Vista and asked that retailers be a part of the discussion:
Chris Salem, business owner
Arkan Somo, Neighborhood Market Association
Jaime Rojas, National Association of Tobacco Outlets
City Council Members and staff discussed the following:
• Support to grandfather the City’s existing 69 tobacco retailers and allowing the right to transfer a license with the sale of a business
• Concern that prohibiting new tobacco licenses to all retailers could hinder future shopping center anchors, such as grocery stores
• Would like separate definitions of ‘tobacco retailer’ and ‘smoke shop’ • Directed staff to bring back an ordinance capping the number of tobacco retail licenses
D2. AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT CORONAVIRUS RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CC) Jonathan Lung, Homeless Services Program Manager, provided the staff report.
The following individuals spoke in favor of a rental assistance program:
Kendene Thomas Veronica Villa Blanca Huaracha
The City Council members thanked the speakers for sharing their stories and the positive impact that the rental assistance program has on individuals and families.
City Council Members and staff discussed the following:
• Raising income limit from 60% to as high as 80%
• ARPA guidelines cap at 65%; recommended increasing income limit to 65% • Possibility to allocate ARPA funds to existing Capital Improvement Projects to free up future long- term funding; staff will look at the CIP General Fund
• Need for an outside program administrator; an RFP would be issued • Review additional program data and outcomes
• Need continued funding for the program
MOTION BY CONTRERAS, SECOND BY GREEN, TO ADOPT CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2023-146 ENTITLED, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA, CALIFORNIA, TO
APPROVE THE REALLOCATION OF UNUSED AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS TO PROVIDE FOR A RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.”
DIRECTED STAFF TO INCREASE THE ANNUAL INCOME LIMIT FROM 60% TO 65%.
VOTE: 5-0
Directed staff to look at funding options for the program to be brought back at a future meeting.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
AUGUST 8, 2023
7 D3. AGE FRIENDLY ACTION PLAN (CC)
This item was taken prior to the Consent Calendar.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Franklin stated there are no requests to speak.
REMARKS
City Manager John Conley made the following announcements:
•Vista’s new Fire Chief, Gerard Washington, will be starting on August 14, 2023 •Vista residents may bring any electronics, paint or oil cans, used batteries or other toxic products to the City’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility •Moonlight Amphitheater’s “42nd Street” opens August 16 Councilmember O’Donnell thanked residents who came out to his Town Hall meeting on July 23 and encouraged residents to attend the Vista Irrigation District celebration on September 9.
Councilmember Melendez announced she participated in SANDAG workshop meetings for their 2025 Plan, where she advocated for active transportation, and that she is on the selection committee for Clean Energy Alliance’s hiring of a new CEO.
Deputy Mayor Contreras announced that NCTD will be seeking a new Executive Director and reminded everyone that weekly cleanup walks continue on Wednesday mornings starting at Luz Duran Park.
City Council members wished Councilmember O’Donnell a happy birthday.
Mayor Franklin made the following announcements:
•The Vista Sheriff’s Station Senior Volunteer Patrol is seeking new volunteers •The final Movies in the Park will be held August 12
•Registration for the fall session of the Vista Sheriff Station Junior Deputy Program is now open
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Franklin adjourned the meeting at 8:35 pm.
____________________________________
Kathy Valdez, City Clerk