VISTA CITY COUNCIL (CC) BUENA SANITATION DISTRICT (BSD) COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (CDC)
SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE VISTA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (SA)
CITY OF VISTA
CONSOLIDATED MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 13, 2024
The February 13, 2024, 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 4:01 pm in the City Council Chambers, 200 Civic Center Drive, Vista, California.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT
Mayor John Franklin, Deputy Mayor Katie Melendez
Joe Green, Corinna Contreras, Dan O’Donnell
CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Franklin and called for a Closed Session at 4:02 p.m. for the following:
CS1. Conference with Labor Negotiators, 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, Gerard
Washington, Fire Chief
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: Brendan P. Halle v. City of Vista
Case Number: LA-CE-1594-M
Venue: California Public Employment Relations Board
CS3. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4): (CC)
Number of Potential Cases: 1
RECESS, OPEN SESSION, AND CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Franklin recessed the Closed Session at 5:02 p.m. and called the meeting to order in Open Session at 5:31 p.m. with all members present.
DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT
John Conley City Manager
Walter Chung City Attorney
Imelda Huerta Assistant City Manager
John Boyce Sheriff’s Captain
Gerard Washington Fire Chief
Kathy Valdez City Clerk
Joe Vacca Community Development Director
Greg Mayer Engineering Director
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
FEBRUARY 13, 2024
2 Dolores Gascon Human Resources Director
Mike Pacheco Recreation and Community Services Director Kuna Muthusamy Public Works Director
Mike Sylvia Finance Director
CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Walter Chung stated there was no reportable action taken in tonight’s Closed Session.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember 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.
PRESENTATIONS
P1. The Mayor and City Council presented a proclamation to Rick McCurdy and Robert Crowell from Vista Unified School District’s Career Pathways proclaiming February 1-29, 2024, as “Career and Technical Education Month” in the City of Vista.
Dr. Matthew Doyle, Superintendent of Vista Unified School District, thanked the City of Vista for its support and commitment to students.
P2. The Mayor and City Council presented a proclamation to Mason Harvey proclaiming February 21, 2024, as “Mason Harvey Day” in the City of Vista.
P3. The Mayor and City Council presented a proclamation to Donyale Escobar, Vice President of North San Diego County NAACP Branch #1086, Clarence Rich, Previous Labor and Industry Chairman, Kelley Gillespie, Branch Secretary, and Gerald Hampton, Assistant Treasurer proclaiming February 2024, as “Black History Month” in the City of Vista.
P4. Presentation from Shannon Ayala, Partner with David Farr, LLP, of the City of Vista’s Fiscal Year 2022/23 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and its associated audit.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Joe Houde spoke regarding the Monarch butterfly population numbers, infrastructure issues created by the recent rainstorms, and request for the General Plan Update to focus on environmental issues.
Viktoria Bartok spoke regarding speed humps on Copper Avenue and requested installation of solar lights on existing telephone poles on Copper Avenue.
Lukas Velasco spoke regarding prevention of underage substance abuse and invited community members to attend a community forum on drug prevention at Rancho Buena Vista High School on March 11, 2024.
Sid Rothenberg spoke about the Mardi Gras event held at the Gloria McClellan Senior Center and
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
FEBRUARY 13, 2024
3 requested an increase in the Senior Center’s annual program budget.
Becky Rapp asked the City Council to support “Randy’s Resolution,” a Congressional resolution to limit and restrict high-potency cannabis products.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION BY CONTRERAS, SECOND BY O’DONNELL, TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING CONSENT CALENDAR.
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
C1. Received the December 2023 check register.
C2. Approved the following minutes: January 23, 2024, Consolidated Meeting (CC/CDC/BSD/SA); January 17, 2024, Special Meeting (CC)
C3. Received and filed the Treasurer’s Cash Report for the month ending November 30, 2023. (CC)
C4. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-12, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving a Contract with Carollo Engineers, Inc. to Update the Sewer Master Plan (CIP No. 8344)”; Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-13, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Amending the Capital Project Budget for Fiscal Years 2022/23 and 2023/24”; and Adopted Buena Sanitation District No. 2024-1, entitled “A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Buena Sanitation District, Amending the Capital Project Budget for Fiscal Years 2022/23 and 2023/24.” (CC/BSD)
C5. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-14, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving the Submittal of the Fiscal Year 2024 State Homeland Security Program Grant Application.” (CC)
C6. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-15, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Awarding a Contract to DDL Traffic, Inc., for the City of Vista GPS Opticom System Project.” (CC)
C7. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-16, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving the Purchase of Two Replacement Graffiti Abatement Utility Trucks.” (CC)
C8. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-17, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving the Third Amendment to the Agreement with Westturf Landscape Management, Inc. for Parks, Parkways & Medians Landscape Management Services.” (CC)
C9. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-18, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Authorizing Settlement of the Workers’ Compensation Claim of Cary Childress in the Amount of $63,348.00.” (CC)
C10. Mayor Franklin announced that this item was removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
FEBRUARY 13, 2024
4 ITEM REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR DISCUSSION C10. 2024 CITY LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM (CC)
Councilmembers directed staff to bring back the 2024 Legislative Platform and Legislative Policy Objectives with the addition of support for Universal Health Care.
No vote taken.
DISCUSSION
D1. PLYMOUTH DRIVE SIDEWALKS (CC)
Deputy Mayor Melendez introduced the item.
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Future development on Plymouth Dr would be required to install sidewalks. • Request for data regarding pedestrian and cyclist counts, whether this is a route to school. • This project may be eligible for various grant funding. • Interest in looking at other funding needs and process for prioritizing projects • Councilmembers discussed creation of a priority list of project areas and associated framework for approving projects; Pedestrian Projects Priority List to include previously approved projects such as sidewalks on Sunset Drive; agendize for a future Workshop meeting • Councilmembers discussed the promotion of community meetings associated with City projects and community meetings directed by individual council members.
MOTION BY MELENDEZ, SECOND BY CONTRERAS TO: ALLOCATE
$201,387.66 FROM 2023 YEAR-END FUND BALANCE FOR CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF SIDEWALKS ON PLYMOUTH DRIVE; FORMALLY NOTICE
RESIDENTS OF COMMUNITY PLANNING MEETING; DIRECT STAFF TO APPLY FOR AVAILABLE GRANT FUNDING; DIRECT STAFF TO INCLUDE
PLYMOUTH DRIVE SIDEWALKS ON STATE AND FEDERAL EARMARK
REQUESTS; AND DIRECT STAFF TO COLLABORATE WITH DEVELOPMENT
APPLICANT AND COORDINATE THE SCHEDULE OF SIDEWALK
IMPROVEMENTS.
MOTION FAILED: 2-2-1 (MAYOR FRANKLIN AND GREEN OPPOSED; O’DONNELL ABSTAIN)
MOTION BY MELENDEZ, SECOND BY CONTRERAS TO: APPROVE
CONCEPTUAL DESIGNS FOR SIDEWALKS ON PLYMOUTH DRIVE; DIRECT STAFF TO APPLY FOR AVAILABLE GRANT FUNDING; DIRECT STAFF TO
INCLUDE PLYMOUTH DRIVE SIDEWALKS ON STATE AND FEDERAL
EARMARK REQUESTS; DIRECT STAFF TO DEVELOP SIDEWALK
PRIORITIZATION LIST; DIRECT STAFF TO ADD PREVIOUSLY APPROVED
SUNSET DRIVE SIDEWALK PROJECT TO SIDEWALK PRIORITIZATION LIST AND TO BRING TO CITY COUNCIL FOR REVIEW; AND ADD PLYMOUTH DR.
AND N. SANTA FE AVENUE TO SIDEWALK PRIORITIZATION LIST.
MOTION FAILED: 2-3 (MAYOR FRANKLIN, GREEN, AND O’DONNELL
OPPOSED)
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
FEBRUARY 13, 2024
5 MOTION BY FRANKLIN, SECOND BY CONTRERAS TO DIRECT STAFF TO
PREPARE A PEDESTRIAN PROJECTS PRIORITY LIST INCLUDING
PLYMOUTH DRIVE, SUNSET DRIVE, N. SANTA FE AVENUE, CURRENTLY
FUNDED PROJECTS, AND SUGGESTIONS FROM STAFF FOR DISCUSSION AT A WORKSHOP MEETING; AND TO APPLY FOR GRANTS TO SUPPORT PLYMOUTH DRIVE SIDEWALKS.
MOTION CARRIED: 4-1 (GREEN OPPOSED)
D2. STATE AND FEDERAL COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING (EARMARKS AND SPECIFIED
GRANTS) (CC)
Assistant City Manager Imelda Huerta and Grants Writer Angela Baggett introduced the item.
Joe Houde spoke to the lack of information for public review and suggested there be input from the General Plan Update and Environmental Commission.
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• The City can propose new projects or continue to pursue funding for projects that have already started.
• Representatives have different funding priorities; it is helpful to understand what each representative has an interest in and present projects that reflect their respective area of interest.
• Councilmember Contreras reported that North County Transit District will be voting to approve a microtransit plan. If approved, would like to obtain funding for Vista’s microtransit and be able to move implementation from 2025 to 2024.
• Councilmembers identified priority projects as: Emerald Drive Complete Streets, W. Bobier Drive Complete Streets Project, Rancho Minerva Safe Routes to School, Matagual Park, W.
Vista Way Street Rehab, and AVO/Curbside Parcel Redevelopment Feasibility Study.
No vote taken.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
REMARKS
City Manager Conley gave a reminder that the Civic Center, recreation centers, and the McClellan Senior Center will be closed on February 19, in observance of Presidents’ Day and invited residents to participate in the following upcoming community meetings: Emerald Drive Complete Streets Community Meeting on February 22; South Melrose Tree Trimming & Landscaping Maintenance Community Meeting on February 28; Townsite Phase 2 Complete Streets Community Meeting on March 27.
Councilmember O’Donnell thanked residents that came out to his townhall event; announced that he will be bringing forward support for Assembly Bill 1999 regarding the repeal of fixed energy charges; announced that San Diego State University will be compiling and publishing data as a resource for elected officials; and expressed his thanks to the City of Vista social media team.
Councilmember Contreras wished Jovita Serafin a happy birthday and expressed appreciation for her dedication to Guerrer@s En Acción Por Un Vista Limpio.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
FEBRUARY 13, 2024
6 Councilmember Green thanked Director of Finance Mike Sylvia and Finance Manager Matt McDonald for their hard work on the City’s successful audit; and thanked the 100+ residents who came out to the Parks Master Plan workshop.
Deputy Mayor Melendez thanked residents that came out to the General Plan Update workshop meetings and announced a Community Meeting for the Emeral Drive Complete Streets Project on February 22, 2024 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Bella Mente Montessori Academy at 155 N. Emerald Drive.
Mayor Franklin encouraged residents to participate in the City Council Goals Survey before March 8, 2024, and announced City of Vista’s Leadership Academy Spring Session registration is now open.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Franklin adjourned the meeting at 8:41 p.m.
____________________________________
Kathy Valdez, City Clerk