VISTA CITY COUNCIL (CC)
CITY OF VISTA
WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 23, 2025
The January 23, 2025, Workshop Meeting of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, was called to order by Mayor Franklin at 4:31 pm in the City Council Chambers, 200 Civic Center Drive, Vista, California.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT
Mayor John Franklin, Deputy Mayor Katie Melendez
Corinna Contreras, Dan O’Donnell, Jeff Fox
CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Franklin called for a Closed Session at 4:31 p.m. for the following:
CS1. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2): (CC)
Facts and Circumstances that might result in litigation and are known to plaintiffs.
RECESS, OPEN SESSION, AND CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Franklin recessed the Closed Session at 5:41 p.m. and called the meeting to order in Open Session at 5:45 p.m.
DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT
John Conley City Manager
Beverly Roxas Assistant City Attorney
Imelda Huerta Assistant City Manager
John Malan Sheriff’s Captain
Gerard Washington Fire Chief
Natalie Jacobs Human Resources Director
Kallison Leahy Assistant City Clerk
CLOSED SESSION
Assistant City Attorney Beverly Roxas stated there was no reportable action taken in tonight’s Closed Session.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Contreras led the Pledge of Allegiance.
DISCUSSION
D1. UPDATE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN TO ADDRESS
HOMELESSNESS AND APPROVING A SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT
WITH INTERFAITH COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR SHELTER BEDS (CC) Jonathan Lung, Homeless Services Program Manager, Daniel Sturman, Management Analyst, and Johannah Knieff, Management Analyst, provided staff’s presentation.
The following individuals spoke in support of the item:
• Bea Palmer and Marylynn McCorke, Alliance for Regional Solutions
WORKSHOP MINUTES
JANUARY 23, 2025
2 •Brandon Duran, Interfaith Shelter Network
•Greg Anglea, Interfaith Community Services
•Tiffany “Esperanza” Zapico, Operation Hope North County •Antoinette Fallon, Catholic Charities
The City Council and staff discussed the following:
•Request for bed and use data from Alliance for Regional Solutions shelter and the Buena Creek Navigation Center (“BCNC”).
•Deputy Mayor Melendez raised concern for long wait time to obtain legal support for tenant protection services.
•City has engaged with tenants at Green Oak Ranch and are available to those who may need services.
•Request for social media promotion of the Vista Housing Innovation Pilot Program (VHIPP) with service provider, Townspeople.
•Request for data of unsheltered applicants applying to the Youth Scholarship Program and concern that noticing of the program is not reaching unsheltered population. •Request for rental assistance data by neighborhood.
•Request for domestic violence voucher program fund balance. •Request for data of exits by service provider.
•Staff did not have any concerns about the ability to build approved affordable housing at 211 Palm Drive and 902 Vista Village Drive due to the recent large-scale fires in Los Angeles County, but would follow up with contractor.
•Mayor Franklin requested staff to explore long-term affordable housing solutions that maximizes density.
•Direct staff to issue Request for Proposal for Permanent Interim Housing Project.
MOTION BY MELENDEZ, SECOND BY CONTRERAS TO ADOPT CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2025-08, ENTITLED "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING A SECOND AMENDMENT WITH INTERFAITH COMMUNITY SERVICES, INC. TO PROVIDE SHELTER BEDS TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS IN VISTA.”
VOTE: 5-0
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Franklin adjourned the meeting at 8:17 p.m.
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Kathy Valdez, City Clerk