VISTA CITY COUNCIL (CC) BUENA SANITATION DISTRICT (BSD) COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (CDC)
SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE VISTA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (SA) JOINT POWERS FINANCING AUTHORITY (JPFA)
CITY OF VISTA
CONSOLIDATED MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 25, 2025
The February 25, 2025, 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 Successor Agency to the Vista Redevelopment Agency was called to order by Mayor Franklin at 4:46 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 4:46 p.m. for the following:
CS1. Conference with Real Property Negotiators, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8: (CC)
Property Address: 1248 S. Santa Fe Ave, Vista, CA
Agency Negotiator: John Conley, City Manager and Imelda Huerta, Assistant City Manager
Negotiating Parties: County of San Diego
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms
RECESS, OPEN SESSION, AND CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Franklin recessed the Closed Session at 5:03 p.m. and called the meeting to order in Open Session at 5:31 p.m.
DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT
John Conley City Manager
Walter Chung City Attorney
John Malan Sheriff’s Captain
Gerard Washington Fire Chief
Kathy Valdez City Clerk
Imelda Huerta Assistant City Manager
Joe Vacca Community Development Director
Larry Vaupel Economic Development Director
Mike Sylvia Finance Director
Natalie Jacobs Human Resources Director
Chris Mitchell Information Technology Director
Chris Arce Public Works Director
Mike Pacheco Recreation and Community Services Director Matt Atteberry Engineering Division Manager
CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Walter Chung stated there was no reportable action taken in tonight’s Closed Session.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
FEBRUARY 25, 2025
2 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Deputy Mayor Melendez 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 were no changes to the agenda.
PRESENTATIONS
P1. Chris Mitchell, Director of Information Technology, gave a presentation on the Information Technology Annual Review and Strategic Plan Update.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
• Treena Priest spoke on the exposure of cannabis to youth through advertisement. • Madelyn Elledge spoke on local billboards advertising cannabis negatively affecting youth. • Dawn Taylor asked the City Council to ban smoking in apartment buildings. • Joe Houde asked the City Council to ban plastic bags. • Bryant Rumbaugh spoke on taking money out of political campaigns. • Carol Jefferies asked the City to re-open the coffee stand in the Civic Center lobby.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION BY MELENDEZ, SECOND BY O’DONNELL, TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING CONSENT CALENDAR.
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
C1. Received the January 2025 check register. (CC)
C2. Approved the following meeting minutes:
February 11, 2025 Consolidated Meeting (CC/CDC/BSD/SA/JPFA)
C3. This item was removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion. (CC)
C4. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-21, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving the Bulk Fuel Delivery Services Contract” (CC)
C5. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-22, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving a Contract with Blink Network, LLC for Electric Vehicle Equipment for the City-Wide Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Project (CIP No. 8902)” (CC)
C6. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-23, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving the On Duty Health Contract for Firefighter Health and Fitness Assessments.” (CC)
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
FEBRUARY 25, 2025
3 ITEM REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR DISCUSSION C3. TREASURER’S CASH REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2024 (CC)
Bryant Rumbaugh spoke on fiscal responsibility.
MOTION BY CONTRERAS, SECOND BY MELENDEZ, TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE TREASURER’S CASH REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2024.
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
PUBLIC HEARING
PH1. CENTRAL VISTA BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ANNUAL LEVY (CC) Larry Vaupel, Economic Development Director, introduced the item. TJ Crossman, Central Vista Business Improvement District Advisory Board Chair, gave the Board’s update.
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• The Downtown Vista Committee kickoff meeting will be held at the Avo Playhouse on March 7, 2025.
MOTION BY CONTRERAS, SECOND BY FRANKLIN TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2025-24,
ENTITLED, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA, CALIFORNIA, CONFIRMING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025/26
ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE CENTRAL VISTA BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AND LEVYING THE ASSESSMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025/26.”
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
DISCUSSION
D1. SAN DIEGO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE UPDATE (CC)
Captain John Malan introduced the item.
The following individuals spoke on the item:
Bryant Rumbaugh Joe Houde
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Request for community workshops to receive public input on surveillance camera and license plate reader technologies.
• Per California State law, it is unlawful for local law enforcement to share data with U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
• Request for additional information such as number of technology needed and potential locations, on surveillance camera and license plate readers. • Request for additional information for an additional Gang Detective. • The City of Vista is participating in the San Diego County’s Gun Violence Program. Once the study has been completed, data and recommendations will come back to the City Council for discussion.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
FEBRUARY 25, 2025
4 CONTINUED DISCUSSION ON THE UPDATE FROM THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND DIRECTED STAFF TO BRING BACK
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR AN ADDITIONAL GANG DETECTIVE TO THE MARCH 6, 2025 BUDGET WORKSHOP. DIRECTED STAFF TO
IDENTIFY SURVEILLANCE CAMERA AND LICENSE PLATE READER COST
AND POTENTIAL LOCATIONS AND PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE
TECHNOLOGIES TO THE PUBLIC TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THEIR USE.
NO VOTE TAKEN.
D4. STREET LIGHTING ASSESSMENT PROJECT (CIP NO. 8385) UPDATE (CC) Mayor Franklin announced that D4 Street Lighting Assessment Project (CIP No. 8385) Update will be heard after D1.
Imelda Huerta, Assistant to the City Manager, introduced the item and Josh Sino Cruz provided staff’s report. Dale Curtis from Fonroche Lighting, provided Contractor’s report.
Bryant Rumbaugh spoke on the item.
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• City Councilmembers thanked Fonroche Lighting and staff. • Request for analysis of cost to retrofit existing poles to solar. • Potential petition process for neighborhoods to request solar street lights. • In order to take current lights off the grid, staff would need to work with SDG&E to disconnect one block at a time.
RECEIVED AN UPDATE ON THE STREET LIGHTING ASSESSMENT
PROJECT (CIP NO. 8385).
NO VOTE TAKEN.
D2. PUBLIC ARTS MASTER PLAN (CC)
Mike Pacheco, Director of Recreation and Community Services, introduced the time and provided staff’s report.
Sarah Spinks spoke on the item.
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Direct the Public Arts Commission to develop a plan for additional public art throughout the City. • Allocate $100,000 from the Year End Fund Balance for public art installations. • Unique public art could include murals or sculptures regarding certain themes, historical placards, artists garden, geocache public art placards, oral history.
MOTION BY CONTRERAS, SECOND BY FRANKLIN, TO DIRECT THE
PUBLIC ARTS COMMISSION TO DEVELOP A PLAN FOR ADDITIONAL PUBLIC ART AND DIRECTED STAFF TO ALLOCATE $100,000 FROM THE YEAR END FUND BALANCE FOR PUBLIC ART INSTALLATIONS.
MOTION PASSED: 5-0
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
FEBRUARY 25, 2025
5 D3. CIVIL RIGHTS COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS (CC)
Councilmember Contreras introduced the item.
The following individuals spoke on the item:
Joe Houde Mary Cory Bryant Rumbaugh
Sarah Spinks Joe Albistegui Kristina
Mark Johnson (Due to technical difficulties, comment was read by Councilmember Contreras)
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Groups or members of the public may rent out various City facilities. • The rental fees collected are intended for cost recovery such as cleaning of the facility. • The City has a fee waiver process for groups to apply for to waive the rental fees. • All groups that rent out City facilities and apply for a fee waiver must be treated equally; cannot grant to deny fee waiver based on subject matter.
• City Councilmembers may host their own community workshop and the fee for reservation of the facility will be waived.
• City staff is encouraged to attend events that may affect their department.
DIRECTED STAFF TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW CURRENT FACILITY
RENTAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.
NO VOTE TAKEN.
ORAL COMMUNICATION
Due to technical difficulties, received Oral Communication was read by City Clerk Kathy Valdez. • Terry Mackenzie spoke on Item D3 Civil Rights Community Presentations. • Beck Rapp spoke on secondhand cannabis smoke.
REMARKS
City Manager John Conley announced that the pickleball courts at Thibodo Park are open; and the City is offering a free, eight-week Vista Leadership Academy March 12-May 13 for residents and business owners to learn how the City operates.
Councilmember Jeff Fox encouraged residents to check out the newly opened Burger Bench located at 230 Main Street in Downtown.
Councilmember Dan O’Donnell asked residents to send in comments regarding speed limits in District
4. Councilmember Corrina Contreras reminded everyone that Guerrer@s En Acción Por Un Vista Limpio’s trash cleanup walk is every Wednesday morning; and the North County Transit District grade separation will need a Memorandum of Understanding and will be coming back to the City Council for discussion.
Deputy Mayor Melendez announced that she toured modular housing in Victorville and Azusa and thanked Jonathan Lung and Johannah Knieff.
Mayor John Franklin announced that the City is launching the Housing Innovation Pilot Program in partnership with Townspeople to support shared housing opportunities; and the City and EDCO Disposal are hosting a free mulch and compost giveaway from February 28-March 2 at Vale Terrace Drive and Williamson Street from dawn to dusk.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
FEBRUARY 25, 2025
6 ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Franklin adjourned the meeting at 9:41 p.m.
____________________________________
Kathy Valdez, City Clerk