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
AUGUST 13, 2024
The August 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 5:30 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
Kathy Valdez 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 Chris Arce Acting Public Works Director
Mike Sylvia Finance Director
Chris Mitchell Information Technology Director
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
City Manager John Conley stated there were no changes to the Agenda.
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.
PRESENTATIONS
P1. The Mayor and City Councilmembers presented a Letter of Appreciation to the Apparatus Committee members Battalion Chief Sam Craig, Captains Ross Vagelatos, Jeff Bauer, and Matt Kennedy, Engineers Josh Spann, Mike Romeo, and Jeff Gazdayka, and Firefighter/Paramedics Jake Shumate and Jeffrey Reyes, and Robert Capperauld, Gabriel Arrango, Oscar Gonzalez, Michael Lopez, Albes Pineda, and Christopher Javier of the Fleet Maintenance team for their efforts in obtaining a new fire apparatus.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
AUGUST 13, 2024
2 P2. Letter of Appreciation presented to North County Transit District representatives Katie Persons and Andy Untalan for their support and collaboration in addressing the needs of those experiencing homelessness.
P3. Presentation by Carlisle Dockery and Octavio Garcia of Circulate San Diego regarding walk audits in the City of Vista.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
• James Valles, Burtech Family Vineyard, requested the City modify the sign regulations to allow for temporary signs for tasting rooms
• Joe Houde spoke regarding the need for tree covered walking trails and microgrids • Omer Acikel spoke regarding the enforcement of short-term rental regulations • Cristina Iacobelli spoke about the bocce ball courts at Brengle Terrace Park • The following people from United Sovereign Americans read from a resolution they asked the City Council to consider at a future meeting: Skip Hammann, Susan Kennedy, Barbara Carnahan, Jackie Zoellick, and Ann Matchinske
• Barbara Gordon spoke about increased marijuana use among young people.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION BY MELENDEZ, SECOND BY GREEN, TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING CONSENT CALENDAR.
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
C1. Received the May 2024 check register. (CC)
C2. Approved the following meeting minutes: June 25, 2024, Consolidated Meeting. (CC/CDC/BSD/SA); June 16, 2024, Special Meeting. (CC)
C3. Received and filed Treasurer’s Cash Report for the month ending May 31, 2024. (CC)
C4. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-130, 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 Optimist Way.” (CC)
C5. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-131, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Awarding a Contract to Piperin Corporation for As-Needed Sewer Repair Services”; and adopted Buena Sanitation District Resolution No. 2024-10, entitled, “A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Buena Sanitation District, Awarding a Contract to Piperin Corporation for As-Needed Sewer Repair Services.” (CC/BSD)
C6. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-132, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving and Executing a Contract Between the City of Vista and Meals on Wheels San Diego County for As-Needed Home-Delivered Meal Services.” (CC)
C7. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-133, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving the Fiscal Year 2023 State Homeland Security Program Grant Funding and Amending the Operating Budget for Fiscal Years 2023/24 and 2024/25”; and adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-134, entitled “A Resolution of the City
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
AUGUST 13, 2024
3 Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving the Fiscal Year 2023 State Homeland Security Program Grant Assurances.” (CC)
C8. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-135, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Establishing Parking Restrictions on Huff Street.” (CC)
C9. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-136, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving the Purchase of One Enforcer Pierce Aerial Ladder Truck from South Coast Fire Equipment, Inc.” and adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-137, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Amending the Operating Budget for Fiscal Years 2023/24 and 2024/25.” (CC)
C10. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-138, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Authorizing and Approving the Summary Vacation of a Portion of a Public Sewer Easement at APN 177-052-70-00." (CC)
PUBLIC HEARING
PH1. APPEAL OF P23-0216, 1264 OAK DRIVE SKATEBOARD RAMP (CC) Joe Vacca, Director of Community Development, introduced the item and Michael Ressler, City Planner, provided the staff report.
Skateboard ramp owners Evandro and Courtney Menezes provided an overview of the history and current use of the ramp and requested the City Council deny the appeal.
The following individuals spoke in favor of the skateboard ramp and asked that the appeal be denied:
Ian Levine Elizabeth Shahbazi Gregg Witt Christiano Goulart Thomas Augusto
The following individuals spoke in opposition to the skateboard ramp and asked that the appeal be approved:
Connie Brown Toni Hutchinson Tom Payne Alicia Hutchinson
Mayor Franklin stated reasons to deny a minor use permit, as identified in the appeal letter he submitted, and made a motion to approve the appeal. The motion failed due to lack of a second.
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Additional limit on hours of use; no skating after 5:30 Monday through Thursday (other hours to remain as already conditioned)
• Require stadium seating to be removed; if the ramp is for personal use there is no need for the seating
• Limit the number of events per year to one or two; must go through the Planning Commission for approval
• Lighting of the ramp is prohibited
• City noise restrictions apply – maximum average level over a one-hour period cannot exceed 50 decibels
• Requiring the ramp to be moved to meet standard setbacks would result in the ramp being closer to the neighbor that has concerns; City Council has the discretion to set other setback requirements; the neighbor on the side with limited setback submitted a letter and verbally stated she does not have a concern and does not want the owners to be required to move the ramp
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
AUGUST 13, 2024
4 • Support for denying the appeal with hours limited to Monday-Thursday 10:00 – 5:30, Friday/Saturday 10:00 – 7:00, no use on Sunday or holidays; removal of the stadium seating; and eliminating the requirement to move the ramp
MOTION BY GREEN, SECOND BY CONTRERAS, TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND ADOPT CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2024-139, ENTITLED, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED
CITY OF VISTA, CALIFORNIA, DENYING THE APPEAL AND APPROVING A
MINOR USE PERMIT FOR A SKATEBOARD RAMP EXCEEDING SIX FEET
IN HEIGHT AT AN EXISTING SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE LOCATED AT 1264 OAK DRIVE (APN 173-183-45-00) WITH REVISED CONDITIONS
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
PH2. UNAUTHORIZED CAMPING ORDINANCE (CC/SA)
Walter Chung, City Attorney, introduced the item provided the staff report. Assistant City Manager Imelda Huerta and Homeless Services Manager Jonathan Lung reviewed the current and planned outreach and enforcement efforts.
Holly Herring spoke in opposition to a camping ban.
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Enforcing the current law is reasonable, but need to continue to offer housing and services • Provides an incentive for seeking services
• Interest in seeing results from other cities enforcing complete ban • Do not want to see people suffer on the streets
• Camping is defined in the code; interpretation is determined by objective reasonable determination
• Violators are subject to fines and jail time, but these can be avoided by participating in services • Look at options for expanding regulations to cover private property
MOTION BY FRANKLIN, SECOND BY MELENDEZ, TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND ADOPT CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2024-140, ENTITLED, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTED
CITY OF VISTA, CALIFORNIA, DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY
PROSECUTOR TO ENFORCE VISTA MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION
9.20.020(B) AND TO CONTINUE TO OFFER SERVICES AND/OR SHELTER WHEN AVAILABLE.”
MOTION CARRIED: 4-0 (CONTRERAS ABSTAINED)
DISCUSSION
D1. OPTIONS FOR ADDING PICKLEBALL COURTS (CC)
Mike Pacheco, Director of Recreation and Community Services, introduced the item and provided staff recommendations.
The following members of the public spoke in support of adding additional pickleball courts:
Gary Duffield Jason Tinling Rich Landi Juan Alvarez
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
AUGUST 13, 2024
5 City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• There is a growing community interest in increasing the number of pickleball courts in the city • Hold off on building a new tennis court, see if it is identified as a need through the Parks Master Plan; fix Court 1
• Remove pickleball courts from Thibodo and return courts to tennis; add additional pickleball courts at Brengle Terrace Park
• Solicit feedback from tennis and pickleball players on remaining courts; post signs at courts; include results in Parks Master Plan
MOTION BY O’DONNELL, SECOND BY GREEN TO CONVERT THE
PICKLEBALL COURTS AT THIBODO TO TENNIS COURTS, CONVERT
BRENGLE TERRACE PARK TENNIS COURTS 5 AND 6 AND TO PICKLEBALL COURTS, AND TO IMPROVE TENNIS COURT 1.
VOTE: 5-0
Item D4, Excess Cannabis Revenue Scholarship Program, was taken next.
D2. TRAFFIC CALMING AND EFFECTS ON EMERGENCY RESPONSE TIMES UPDATE AND
VISTA FIRE DEPARTMENT ROUTE MAP (CC)
Gerard Washington, Fire Chief, introduced the item and provided the staff report. Assistant Chief Bret Davidson and Paul Rottenberg of FireStats were available to answer questions.
The following individuals spoke in support of staff recommendations:
James Elliott, Vista Fire Protection District
John Ploetz, Vista Fire Protection District
The following individuals spoke in support of adding speed humps in their neighborhoods:
Daniel Hopkins Marcela Nocon Rich King Jeffrey Laird
The following individual spoke in opposition to speed humps:
Elizabeth
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Maps will be available on the City’s website so residents can determine if their street qualifies for speedhumps or other traffic calming measures
• Looked at frequency of use to determine fire maps; studies from other areas provide estimates of impact of speed humps on response times
• Many factors impact response times
• Speedhump requests on hold may be impacted by decision to adopt map; applicants were not notified about this agenda item
MOTION BY FRANKLIN, SECOND BY GREEN, TO APPROVE THE VISTA FIRE DEPARTMENT ROUTE MAP.
VOTE: 5-0
Councilmember Green left at 11:14 pm, prior to Item D3 being heard.
D3. AVENIDA DE BENITO JUAREZ (CIP NO. 8336) & LUZ DURAN PARK IMPROVEMENTS (CIP NO. 8351) – CONCEPTUAL DESIGNS (CC)
Mike Pacheco, Director of Recreation and Community Services, introduced the item.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
AUGUST 13, 2024
6 Adrian Schweizar spoke in support of concept 3 and the need for additional parking at Luz Duran Park.
Jovita Serafin registered support for concept 2 for Luz Duran Park.
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Need for a restroom at the Avenida de Benito Juarez pocket park • The grant received for Luz Duran Park was for a community center
MOTION BY CONTRERAS, SECOND BY FRANKLIN TO APPROVE
CONCEPTUAL DESIGN CONCEPT 2, WITH THE ADDITION OF A BATHROOM, FOR AVENIDO DE BENITO JUAREZ POCKET PARK, AND CONCEPT 2, WITH
THE CONVERSION OF THE PARKING LOT TO A GAZEBO AREA AND
ADDITION OF ON-STREET PARKING, FOR LUZ DURAN PARK.
MOTION CARRIED: 4-0, GREEN ABSENT
D4. EXCESS CANNABIS REVENUE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (CC)
Kathy Valdez, City Clerk, introduced the item and provided the staff report.
The following individuals spoke in support of continuing the scholarship program:
Jovita Serafin Rubi Maldonado Karina Jarquin Angel Jarquin Blanca Cruz Peggy Walker Becky Rapp Maria Martinez
Megan Stuart
The following people registered their support for the scholarship program:
Naomi Wade Kevin Hall
The following members of the NAACP Youth Council requested expanding the scholarship program to include academic scholarships for college:
Taylen Hall Deborah Matthews Lancie Branch
The following members of the NAACP Youth Council registered their support for expanding the scholarship program to include academic scholarships for college:
Aniyah Ezell Maleata Hall
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Support for staff recommendations
• Academic scholarships – some support, others do not; staff to do research on other programs; discuss at future meeting
• Question of gift of public funds; is a public purpose, so is allowable • Need to set annual limit on funds
MOTION BY CONTRERAS, SECOND BY O’DONNELL, TO ADOPT CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2024-141, ENTITLED, “A RESOLUTION OF
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEARS 2023/24 AND 2024/25.”
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
AUGUST 13, 2024
7 REMARKS
Mayor Franklin stated that, unless someone had a pressing comment, remarks would be foregone due to the late hour.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Franklin adjourned the meeting at 11:22 p.m.
____________________________________
Kathy Valdez, City Clerk