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
OCTOBER 8, 2024
The October 8, 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 5:00 pm in the City Council Chambers, 200 Civic Center Drive, Vista, California.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT
Mayor John Franklin, Deputy Mayor Katie Melendez
Corinna Contreras
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT
Joe Green, Dan O’Donnell
CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Franklin called for a Closed Session at 5:00 p.m. for the following:
CS1. Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation: (CC)
Case Name: California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement v. City of Vista Case Number: 33-CM-838427-22
RECESS, OPEN SESSION, AND CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Franklin recessed the Closed Session at 5:18 p.m. and called the meeting to order in Open Session at 5:32 p.m.
DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT
John Conley City Manager
Walter Chung City Attorney
John Boyce Sheriff’s Captain
Gerard Washington Fire Chief
Imelda Huerta Assistant City Manager
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 Public Works Director
Mike Sylvia Finance Director
Chris Mitchell Information Technology Director
CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Walter Chung stated there was no reportable action taken.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Deputy Mayor Melendez led the Pledge of Allegiance.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
OCTOBER 10, 2024
2 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 that Item C5 Second Amendment with Interfaith Community Services for Shelter Beds (CC) is removed from the agenda and will be placed on the next Standing Committee on Homelessness agenda for discussion prior to coming back to the City Council for consideration.
PRESENTATIONS
P1. The Mayor and City Councilmembers presented a Proclamation to San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Crime Prevention Specialist George Hernandez for his exceptional service and unwavering dedication to public safety.
P2. The Mayor and City Councilmembers presented a Proclamation to Captain Hanns Botz, Engineer Joshua Spann, Engineer Dominic Puccio, and Firefighter Paramedic Chase Sessions for their extraordinary bravery and steadfast commitment to public service.
P3. The Mayor and City Councilmembers presented a Proclamation to Code Enforcement Manager Clarence Rich declaring October 6-12, 2024 as “Code Enforcement Officer Appreciation Week” in the City of Vista.
P4. The Mayor and City Councilmembers presented a Proclamation to Downstown staff Javier Cruz and residents Allison Hobbs, Laura Hallett, Donovan Wooley, Time Gerber, and Knight of Columbus Roger Roe, declaring October 18-20, 2024 as “Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll Drive Days” in the City of Vista.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
• Joe Houde spoke regarding the October 3, 2024 City Council Climate Action Plan Workshop meeting and the imminent dangers of global warming.
• Louisa Viereck spoke regarding concerns about a neighboring property. • Tania Yager from Twisted Heart Puppetworks promoted the upcoming “Dark Christmas Market”. • Aleta Dirdo from Vista Art Foundation promoted the upcoming “Dark Christmas Market”. • Vince Obarsky from Twisted Horn Mead + Cider promoted the upcoming “Dark Christmas Market”.
• Chuck D. Yager promoted the upcoming “Dark Christmas Market”. • Sarah Spinks from Backfence Society promoted the upcoming “Dark Christmas Market”. • Megan Stuart spoke about Mental Health Awareness Week and effects of cannabis on mental health in youth.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION BY MELENDEZ, SECOND BY CONTRERAS, TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING CONSENT CALENDAR.
MOTION CARRIED: 3-0 (GREEN AND O’DONNELL ABSENT)
C1. Received the August 2024 check register.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
OCTOBER 10, 2024
3 C2. Approved the following meeting minutes:
September 24, 2024, Consolidated Meeting (CC/CDC/BSD/SA) September 18, 2024, Special Meeting (CC)
C3. Received and filed the Treasurer’s Cash Report for the month ending July 31, 2024. (CC)
C4. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-156, 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. 2024-157, 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. 2024-158, 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)
C5. This item was removed from the agenda.
C6. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-159, 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)
C7. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-160, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Authorizing the City to Enter a Purchase Agreement for a Parcel of Real Property Located at 727 Ascot Drive (APN 163-270-17-00)”; and adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-161, 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)
DISCUSSION
D1. COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER DOWNTOWN STREET CLOSURES AND PUBLIC SPACE (CC) Larry Vaupel, Director of Economic Development, introduced the item and gave staff’s presentation.
Joe Houde voiced support of the ad-hoc committee and asked for consideration of local pollution reduction and increase in public transportation.
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Directed staff to include a member of the Community Safety Commission to the ad-hoc committee.
• At March CVBID meeting, local business owners voiced general support for exploring downtown street closures but had concerns regarding parking in the area. • Nominated Councilmember Contreras to be the City Council stakeholder committee member. • Want to provide opportunity to bring people to the downtown area during “off-peak” days of Monday-Thursday.
• Discussed the scope of work of the Traffic Engineer and Landscape Architect consultants and if any amount of the work could be done by staff, the ad-hoc committee, or the public. • Mayor Franklin stated his opposition to delegation of City Council authority to the ad-hoc commission, and funds allocated for a Traffic Engineer and Landscape Architect consultant. He requested for the item to be brought back to the City Council for further discussion.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
OCTOBER 10, 2024
4 MOTION BY CONTRERAS, SECOND BY MELENDEZ TO FORM AN AD-HOC
COMMITTEE TO EVALUATE THE CLOSURE OF PUBLIC STREETS, ONE-WAY
STREETS, PARKING CONSIDERATIONS, AND PUBLIC OPEN SPACE IN THE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN AREA; DIRECTED STAFF TO ADD A COMMUNITY
SAFETY COMMISSIONER TO THE COMMITTEE, APPOINTED
COUNCILMEMBER CONTRERAS TO THE COMMITTEE, AND TO BRING THE ITEM BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION; AND ADOPT CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2024-162, 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.”
VOTE: 3-0 (GREEN AND O’DONNELL ABSENT)
D2. CITYWIDE PARK RESTROOM MASTER PROGRAM – UPGRADE OF CITY PARK
RESTROOMS (CC)
Chris Arce, Director of Public Works, introduced the item and gave staff’s presentation.
Erubey Lopez expressed concerns about the closure of the skatepark bathrooms and the effect it has on his nearby business.
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Priority grading of facilities is based on frequency of needed repairs, the age of the facility, and degree of public use.
• Proposed fixtures to be installed in restrooms, including toilets, urinals, and sinks, are designed to inhibit vandalism.
• Request for further information on magnetic locking systems for restrooms, if staff deems them beneficial.
• The Public Arts Commission is working on the development of a public art program to address graffiti; recommendations will be brought to the City Council at a future meeting.
DISCUSSED THE STATUS OF PARK RESTROOMS AND APPROVED STAFF’S RECOMMENDATION.
NO VOTE TAKEN.
REMARKS
City Manager John Conley announced as part of the City’s Climate Action Plan, the Civic Center parking lot at Civic Center and Alta Vista Drive is closed for solar panel installation until March 1, 2025.
Councilmember Corrina Contreras publicized Guerrer@s En Acción Por Un Vista Limpio’s trash cleanup walk every Wednesday morning at Luz Duran Park; the NCTD microtransit pilot program will be starting in Vista next year; and NCTD is working with the City to place cigarette ash cans on NCTD property.
Deputy Mayor Katie Melendez encouraged residents to check out the calendar on the City’s website for a list of upcoming events.
Mayor John Franklin encouraged residents to join the Vista Sheriff’s Office and the City of Vista on October 12 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Pepper Tree Frosty in Vista for Ice Cream with the Community; and invited residents to come out to the Vista Fire Department’s Open House events each Saturday in October from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. at different fire stations each week.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
OCTOBER 10, 2024
5 ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Franklin adjourned the meeting at 7:30 p.m.
____________________________________
Kathy Valdez, City Clerk