VISTA CITY COUNCIL (CC)
CITY OF VISTA
WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES
APRIL 4, 2024
The April 4, 2024, Workshop Meeting of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, was called to order by Mayor Franklin at 5:31 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
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
Kallison Leahy Assistant City Clerk
Joe Vacca Community Development Director
Greg Mayer Engineering Director
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
Chris Mitchell Information Technology Director
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Contreras led the Pledge of Allegiance.
DISCUSSION
D1. 2024-2026 CITY COUNCIL GOALS (CC)
Assistant City Manager Imelda Huerta introduced the item. Mike Letcher, The Bridge Group, LLC, provided a presentation and facilitated the workshop discussion.
Anthony White spoke about affordable housing.
After previously surveying each of the Councilmembers for their own strategic goal priorities, Mr.
Letcher compiled the Councilmembers responses into one document. Mr. Letcher led the City Council through the facilitation guide of 2024-2026 City Council Goals and Outcomes with the suggested changes and additions.
The City Council identified subgoals in each of the following categories:
• Homelessness and Housing
• Public Safety
• Fiscal Responsibility
• A Cleaner, More Beautiful Vista
• Climate and Environmental Responsibility
WORKSHOP MINUTES
APRIL 4, 2023
2 •Parks and Recreation
•Economic Development
•Traffic: Continue to improve the flow of traffic for all forms of travel, reduce congestion, and improve our roads and sidewalks.
Each of the Councilmembers thanked their colleagues for their collaboration and efforts.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Franklin adjourned the meeting at 8:12 pm.
____________________________________
Kathy Valdez, City Clerk
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2024-2026 Goals
Homelessness and Housing a. Focus on successful implementation of existing programs and implement the Strategic Plan to Address Homelessness and receive regular updates and modify the plan based on program outcomes, community priorities, legislation, and new funding opportunities. b. Improve analysis of data and outcomes. c. Market and raise awareness of the City’s response to homelessness including the Homelessness Outreach Team and hotline. d. Implement transportation options for homeless individuals needing assistance with Shelter options. e. Expand homelessness and housing services and increase the number of affordable housing units. f. Pursue legislative advocacy efforts to improve access to mental health services. g. Eliminate childhood homelessness and partner with Vista Unified School District. h. Identify location to create City-owned shelter.
Public Safety a. Ensure adequate number of public safety personnel. b. Continue to reduce crime rates. c. Establish appropriate criteria to determine the appropriate number of public safety positions needed.
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d. Pursue grant funding/identify funding or allocate year-end funding to build a Community Center at Luz Duran Park and move the Sheriff’s Substation to the City owned property at 986 Vista Village Drive. e. Increase awareness of Domestic Violence and Family Crisis issues. f. Consider multiple strategies to improve public safety outcomes including programs, infrastructure and emergency response.
Fiscal Responsibility a. Maintain Emergency Reserves at 30-35 percent. b. Maximize the return on City investments. c. Meet CalPERS Pension Reserve Obligation of 1-1.5 years (115 Trust). d. Seek more grant funding; with priority for shovel-ready projects.
A Cleaner, More Beautiful Vista a. Increase litter cleanup activities. b. Eliminate visible blight, illegal graffiti, junk and debris. c. Continue to work with Caltrans to improve the on/off ramp areas. d. Implement beautification projects in neighborhoods that are neglected. e. Enhance the public right-of-way where possible.
Climate and Environmental Responsibility a. Establish Certified Cool Zones. b. Ensure high enrollment rate in our Clean Energy Alliance.
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c. Pursue grant funding for climate and environmental responsibility. d. Increase the solar at City facilities. e. Increase the number of electric vehicle charging stations. f. Create more tree canopies, community gardens, pocket parks, etc. g. Encourage more food pantries to deal with food resiliency.
Parks and Recreation a. Prioritize potential land for acquisition of future space to include all types of parks. b. Create more green space. c. Expand the trail system to include connectivity between trails d. Increase recreation services to the public including arts and cultural programs. e. Prioritize cleanliness and state of good repair of our parks and facilities. f. Increasing awareness and accessibility to City-funded youth scholarship programs.
Economic Development: a. Continue to implement the Economic Development Strategic Plan. b. Continue to attract new revenue and job generating businesses. c. Advance equity through workforce development, education opportunities and childcare resources. d. Facilitate repurposes vacant retail and office spaces. e. Focus on cleanliness and safety in our Downtown and Paseo Santa Fe corridor.
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f. Improve success for Vista businesses and development in our community through review of City codes and ordinances.
Traffic: Continue to improve the flow of traffic for all forms of travel, reduce congestion, and improve our roads and
sidewalks a. Continue to add sidewalks in older neighborhoods based on the City’s Sidewalk Inventory using CDBG funding. b. Improve pedestrian and bike safety and work towards funding protected bike lanes in accident prone areas. c. Implement Vision Zero initiatives. d. Evaluate strategies to improve neighborhood traffic calming and prevent cut through traffic. e. Implement AB 43 and reduce speeds where appropriate f. Increase mobility options. g. Improve safety and traffic flow on arterial roadways to improve travel times.