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
MARCH 11, 2025
The March 11, 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 5:30 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
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
Greg Mayer Engineering 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
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.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
City Manager John Conley stated there were no changes to the agenda.
PRESENTATIONS
P1. The Mayor and City Councilmembers presented a proclamation to local heroes, Battalion Chief Samuel Craig and Deputy Chief Robbie Ford.
P2. The Mayor and City Councilmembers presented a proclamation to Melinda Thrasher declaring March 9-15, 2025, as “MS Awareness Week” in the City of Vista.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
• Treena Priest spoke about concerns regarding the Farmer’s Cup cannabis event held at Brengle Terrace Park.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
MARCH 11, 2025
2 • Brook Schlange spoke about services provided by Green Oak Ranch. • Junior Vassallo spoke about services provided by Green Oak Ranch. • Hannah Gailey spoke about concerns for program funding for services provided by Green Oak Ranch.
• Madison Rapp spoke about concerns regarding the Farmer’s Cup cannabis event held at Brengle Terrace Park.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION BY MELENDEZ, SECOND BY O’DONNELL, TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING CONSENT CALENDAR.
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
C1. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-25, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, Establishing Gift Limitations in Accordance with Chapter 2.33 of the Vista Municipal Code.” (CC)
C2. Approved the following meeting minutes:
February 25, 2025 Consolidated Meeting (CC/CDC/BSD/SA)
February 19, 2025 Special Meeting (CC)
C3. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-26, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, Accepting Encampment Resolution Funding, Round 3, Grant Funds from the California Department of Housing and Community Development”; and adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-27, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, Amending the Operating Budget for Fiscal Years 2023/24 and 2024/25” (CC)
C4. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-28, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Awarding a Contract to CJC Construction Consulting, Inc. for As-Needed Construction Management Services”; adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025- 29, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, Awarding a Contract to Dudek for As-Needed Construction Management Services”; adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-30, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, Awarding a Contract to Reddy Engineering Services, Inc. for As-Needed Construction Management Services”; and adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-31, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, Awarding a Contract to Valley CM, Inc. for As-Needed Construction Management Services” (CC)
C5. Received and filed the Fiscal Year 2024/25 Second Quarter Financial Report; adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-32, 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, and Amending the Capital Project Budget for Fiscal Years 2024/25 and 2025/26”; and adopted Buena Sanitation District Resolution No. 2025-01, entitled “A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Buena Sanitation District, Amending the Operating Budget for Fiscal Years 2023/24 and 2024/25, and Amending the Capital Project Budget for Fiscal Years 2024/25 and 2025/26.” (CC/BSD)
C6. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-33, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving the Submittal of the Fiscal Year 2025 California State Homeland Security Program Grant Application.” (CC)
C7. Confirmed appointments to various City Commissions, Boards and Committees. (CC)
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
MARCH 11, 2025
3 C8. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-34, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Supporting a Partnership with the County of San Diego for the Live Well San Diego Program.” (CC)
C9. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-35, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Authorizing and Supporting the Submission of Priority City Projects for State and Federal Funding Consideration.” (CC)
PUBLIC HEARING
PH1. NUISANCE ABATEMENT HEARING – 853 CRESCENT DR. (CC) Imelda Huerta, Assistant City Manager, introduced the item and Josh Sino Cruz, Assistant to the City Manager, gave staff’s presentation.
The following individuals spoke on the item:
Daniel Soraci Bill Froelich Kerry Michel
Anna Strawn
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Staff attempted to reach out to the property owner and rental agent numerous times and through multiple forms of communication with no response. Satisfaction of reasonable notification has been met.
• Staff is looking into pursuing back Transient Occupancy Taxes owed for operating short term rental without a license.
MOTION BY O’DONNELL, SECOND BY MELENDEZ TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2025-36,
ENTITLED, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED
CITY OF VISTA, CALIFORNIA, DECLARING THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 853 CRESCENT DRIVE (APN 179-070-26-00) CONSTITUTES A PUBLIC
NUISANCE AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ABATE THE
PUBLIC NUISANCE.”
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
DISCUSSION
D1. AVO THEATER ADVISORY STAKEHOLDER COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION (CC) Larry Vaupel, Director of Economic Development, introduced the item and provided staff’s report. Mike Pacheco, Director of Recreation and Community Services was available for questions.
The following individuals spoke on the item:
Jacob Friedrichs Rachel Beld
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Request to re-evaluate policies, programs, fee schedules and calendaring of the AVO Theater. • Funds from the Year End Fund Balance are available to subsidize rental fees. • Request for staff to bring back further information on facility expenses such as staff time, cleaning costs, etc.
• Consideration of day-to-day fee model, e.g. mid-range fees on Mondays-Thursdays, higher premium fees on Fridays-Saturdays, low fees on Sundays. • Staff to issue a Request for Proposals/Information for operators to run the AVO Theater.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
MARCH 11, 2025
4 • A public access element must be maintained
• Request to review Recreation and Community Services cost recovery model and to look at alternative formulas.
• Request staff to develop fee schedule for Vista non-profits. • Request for facility usage data.
• Request for staff to bring back possible funding sources for repairs.
MOTION BY FRANKLIN, SECOND BY FOX TO RECEIVE THE
RECOMMENDATION OF THE AVO THEATER ADVISORY STAKEHOLDER
COMMITTEE AND DIRECT STAFF TO ISSUE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
THAT INCLUDES PUBLIC ACCESS ELEMENT AND BRING BACK POTENTIAL
FUNDING SOURCES FOR REPAIRS, AVO THEATER USAGE DATA, AND LOWER FEE RATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW.
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
D3. APPROVAL OF OPERATOR SERVICES WITH URBAN STREET ANGELS FOR TRANSITION
AGE YOUTH TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM (CC)
This item was heard after D1.
Jonathan Lung, Homeless Services Program Manager, introduced the item, and Daniel Sturman, Management Analyst, provided staff’s report. Eric Lovett-Maerz, Founder and CEO of Urban Street Angels, gave contractor’s presentation.
The following individual spoke on the item:
Zee King
City Councilmembers expressed thanks and gratitude for the program.
MOTION BY FRANKLIN, SECOND BY CONTRERAS TO ADOPT CITY
COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2025-37, ENTITLED, “A RESOLUTION OF
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING AN AGREEMENT WITH URBAN STREET ANGELS, INC. FOR OPERATOR SERVICES OF THE CITY’S TRANSITION AGE YOUTH
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM.”
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
D2. SPEED LIMIT UPDATES IN COUNCIL DISTRICTS 2 AND 4 (CC) This item was heard after D3.
Husam Hasenin, Traffic Engineering Division Manger, introduced the item and Darra Woods, Principal Transportation Mobility Planner, provided staff’s report.
The following individual spoke on the item:
Carol Jefferies
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Request for staff to add flashing sign on Melrose in front of Rancho Buena Vista High School to indicate school zone.
• Request to bring back in five years to analyze safety impact.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
MARCH 11, 2025
5 •Update speed limits on GIS mapping system; if possible identify areas that are 35 mph or less MOTION BY O’DONNELL, SECOND BY CONTRERAS, TO APPROVE
UPDATE OF SPEED LIMITS FOR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 AND DISTRICT 4 AND DIRECTED STAFF TO BRING ITEM BACK FOR REVIEW IN 5 YEARS TO DISCUSS ANALYSIS OF SAFETY IMPACT.
MOTION PASSED: 4-1 (FRANKLIN OPPOSED)
REMARKS
Councilmember Jeff Fox reported that the cost to the City for North County Dispatch Joint Powers Authority is up 1% and that he will be traveling to Round Rock, Texas, with the San Diego North Economic Council.
Councilmember Dan O’Donnell reported from Encina budget workshop and asked attendees of the Farmers Cup to be safe.
Councilmember Corrina Contreras reminded everyone that Guerrer@s En Acción Por Un Vista Limpio’s trash cleanup walk is every Wednesday morning and reported that North County Transit District is working with Vista Unified School District regarding the Rancho Minerva Middle School bus route.
Deputy Mayor Melendez announced that March 15th is “Shoe the World Day” and is hosting a shoe drive.
Mayor John Franklin gave an update from a CalCities meeting and announced Kids Eco-Explorer Day on March 22 at 10:00 am at the Buena Vista Creek Trail.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Franklin adjourned the meeting at 9:30 p.m.
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Kathy Valdez, City Clerk