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
MAY 27, 2025
The May 27, 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, Successor Agency to the Vista Redevelopment Agency , and Joint Powers Financing Authority was called to order by Mayor Franklin at 3:30 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
CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Franklin called for a Closed Session at 3:31 p.m. for the following:
CS1. Conference with Real Property Negotiators pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8:
Property location: 444 S. Santa Fe Ave, Vista CA 92083 Agency Negotiators: John Conley, City Manager; Imelda Huerta, Assistant City Manager Negotiating Parties: Tideline Partners
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms
CS2. Conference with Labor Negotiators pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6: (CC)
Agency Representatives Attending Closed Session:
John Conley, City Manager; Imelda Huerta, Assistant City Manager; Walter Chung, City Attorney; Beverly Roxas, Assistant City Attorney; Natalie Jacobs, Human Resources Director; Mike Sylvia, Finance Director
Employee Organization(s):
Vista City Employee Association (VCEA); Vista Chief Officers’ Association (VCOA), Vista Fire Fighters Association, Local 4107 (VFFA), and Vista City Maintenance Association (VCMA)
RECESS, OPEN SESSION, AND CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Franklin recessed the Closed Session at 5:12 p.m. and called the meeting to order in Open Session at 5:30 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
Greg Mayer Engineering Director
Mike Sylvia Finance Director
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
MAY 27, 2025
2 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
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 that there were no changes to the Agenda.
PRESENTATIONS
P1. The Mayor and City Councilmembers presented a p roclamation to Max Disposti and Roxanne Deatherage from the North County LGBTQ Resource Center declaring June 2025 as “LGBTQIA+ Month” in the City of Vista.
P2. The Mayor and City Councilmembers accepted a proclamation from Adrienne Selekman Cisneros, Supervisor Desmond’s office, and received a pre sentation by HHSA Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Dr Kimberly Giardina on Live Well San Diego.
P3. North County Transit District CEO Shawn Donaghy provided a presentation on NCDT+.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
The following individuals addressed the City Council:
Emily Mc Cowin Cliff Kaiser Treena Priest
Benjamin Liedblad Fernando Solis Sean Zhou
Madison Kerry Ann Skelly Becky Rapp
AJ Cheryl McLeod
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION BY MELENDEZ, SECOND BY O’DONNELL, TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING CONSENT CALENDAR.
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
C1. Received and file the Treasurer’s Cash Report for the month ending March 31, 2025. (CC)
C2. Approved the following meeting minutes:
May 13, 2025 Consolidated Meeting (CC/CDC/BSD/SA)
May 7, 2025 Special Meeting (CC)
C3. Received and filed the Fiscal Year 2024/25 Third Quarter Financial Report ; Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-78, 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 ;” adopted Buena Sanitation District Resolution No. 2025-04, entitled “A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Buena Sanitation District, amending the Operating Budget for Fiscal Years
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
MAY 27, 2025
3 2023/24 and 2024/25;” and adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-79, 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)
C4. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-80, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, approving an agreement with Specialty Mowing Services, Inc. for weed abatement and fire fuel reduction services.” (CC)
C5. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-81, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, approving the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan, authorizing the submittal of the plans to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developmen t, and authorizing the City Manager to approve and execute all documents related to the implementation of said plans.” (CC)
C6. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-82, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, awarding a contract to Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. for professional services for the N. Santa Fe Ave Corridor Landscape and Irrigation Project with New Pedestrian Crossing at Washington Street (CIP No. 8360).” (CC)
C7. This item was removed from the Consent Calendar for further discussion.
C8. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-83, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, approving the Community Safety Commission Crime Reduction Workplan.” (CC)
C9. This item was removed from the Consent Calendar for further discussion.
C10. This item was removed from the Consent Calendar for further discussion.
C11. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-87, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, approving the Fiscal Year 2024 State Homeland Security Program Funding and amending the Operating Budget for Fiscal Years 2024/25 ” and City Council Resolution No. 2025- 88, approving the Fiscal Year 2024 State Homeland Security Program Grant Assurances.” (CC)
C12. Adopt City Council Resolution No. 2025- 89, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, approving the Wittman Enterprises, LLC, Contract for ambulance and paramedic billing and collection services.” (CC)
C13. Adopt City Council Resolution No. 2025- 90, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, authorizing the Settlement of the Workers’ Compensation Claim of Edward Jimenez.”
(CC)
C14. Adopt City Council Resolution No. 2025- 91, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, approving a reimbursement agreement with Shea Homes Limited Partnership for acquisition of property interests in connection with off -site improvements.” (CC)
C15. Confirmed the Mayor’s youth appointments to various commissions. (CC)
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
MAY 27, 2025
4 ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
C7. VISTA AGE-FRIENDLY PLAN (CC)
Sid Rothenberg spoke on the item.
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Various departments will be involved in implementing the plan • The City Council should revisit the plan annually or every two years
MOTION BY MELENDEZ, SECOND BY CONTRERAS, TO ADOPT CITY
COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2025-83, ENTITLED “A RESOLUTION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE VISTA AGE-FRIENDLY PLAN.”
MOTION CARRIED: 4-1 (FRANKLIN OPPOSED)
C9. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION 2025-2027 WORKPLAN (CC)
The following individuals addressed the City Council:
Joe Houde Janis Jones
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• The plan is a good start; integrate into City Council discussions. • Appreciation for the work of the Commissioners.
• Franklin stated he will vote in opposition because he does not support banning the use of certain materials.
MOTION BY CONTRERAS, SECOND BY O’DONNELL, TO ADOPT CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2025-85, ENTITLED “A RESOLUTION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE 2025-2027 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
WORKPLAN.”
MOTION CARRIED: 4-1, FRANKLIN OPPOSED
C10. LGBTQIA+ PROGRESSIVE PRIDE FLAG (CC)
The following individuals spoke in support of the item:
Dr. John Rott Dolores Gascon Max Disposti John MacDowell Eva Rose Emily Barker Lonna Leghart Roxanne Deatherage Nanci Oechsle Caroline Theiss-Aird Jim Riggenbach Josh Como Joe’ll Wesner Rowan Law
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Vista has a history of raising the flag; raising the flag promotes acceptance and unity
• The American flag represents everyone
• Concern about raising other flags and implication on ability to limit what flags are flown; consider looking at flag policy
MOTION BY MELENDEZ, SECOND BY O’DONNELL, TO ADOPT CITY
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
MAY 27, 2025
5 COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2025-86, ENTITLED “A RESOLUTION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA, CALIFORNIA,
DIRECTING STAFF TO FLY THE PROGRESSIVE PRIDE FLAG AT THE CIVIC CENTER DURING EVERY MONTH OF JUNE.”
MOTION CARRIED: 3-2, FRANKLIN AND FOX OPPOSED
PUBLIC HEARING
PH1. VISTA CITYWIDE STREET MAINTENANCE ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 2025-1 (SMAD)
AND THE CITY OF VISTA, VISTA CITYWIDE LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING MAINTENANCE ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 2025-2 (LLMAD) BALLOT TABULATION RESULTS (CC) Mike Sylvia, Finance Director, introduced the item. City Clerk Valdez read the ballot tabulation results.
Joe Exline spoke on the item.
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Is difficult for the City to maintain the same level of service with fees that were set in 1997 • Will discuss the districts again in the Fall
MOTION BY O’DONNELL, SECOND BY CONTRERAS, TO ADOPT CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2025-92, ENTITLED “A RESOLUTION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA, CALIFORNIA,
DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE CITY OF VISTA, VISTA CITYWIDE STREET MAINTENANCE ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 2025-1 (SMAD)
BALLOT PROCEEDING AND ABANDONING PROCEDURES TO FORM THE DISTRICT;” AND CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2025-93, ENTITLED “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF
VISTA, CALIFORNIA, DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE CITY OF VISTA,
VISTA CITYWIDE LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING MAINTENANCE
ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 2025-2 (LLMAD) BALLOT PROCEEDING AND ABANDONING PROCEDURES TO FORM THE DISTRICT.”
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
PH2. COMPLIANCE WITH NEW LEGAL OBLIGATION RE: PUBLIC HEARING ON VACANCIES AND RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION EFFORTS (ASSEMBLY BILL 2561/GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 3502.3) (CC)
Human Resources Director Natalie Jacobs provided the staff report.
MOTION BY O’DONNELL, SECOND BY MELENDEZ, TO CLOSE THE
PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2025- 94 ENTITLED, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING PROCEDURES FOR
PUBLIC HEARING ON VACANCIES AND RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION EFFORTS AS REQUIRED BY ASSEMBLY BILL 2561.”
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
MAY 27, 2025
6 DISCUSSION
D1. PROTECTED BIKE LANES PROJECT (CIP NO. 8362) DISCUSSION (CC) Mayor Franklin provided an overview of why he asked for the item to be on the agenda.
The following individuals spoke in favor of the protected bike lanes:
Shannon Goan James Myres Maria Joliff Duncan Poling
Gayle Martin Natassia Patin Asher Law Edward Richardson Lisa Wellens Matthew Mahon Janis Jones Jim Riggenbach Elizabeth McMillan Steve Tompkins Sarah Spinks Kenneth Zuniga-Diuguid Cy Rigmaiden Karina Valdespino Cristian Martinez Leif Park Jordan Josh Clark SD Bicycle Coalition
The following individuals spoke in opposition of the protected bike lanes:
Karin Kammerer Kathy Martinet Jim Kelley Frank Piperato Caroll Johnson Julie Kelly Richard Kelly Diane & Jim Manning Roger Mayton Garry Garretson Nathaniel Sherlock Armen Kurdian Joe Exline Ray Siposs Sean Zhou Char
The following individuals registered their opposition, but did not speak:
David Ochs Judy Bird Tim Reynolds Olenka Langen Zarrage
The following individuals spoke on the item:
Scott Harrison Katie Norris
Mayor Franklin invited Dr. Ron Medak to provide a presentation on research he did on protected bike lanes in Encinitas.
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Cyclist and motorist have expressed concerns about the protected bike lanes, particularly of the berms
• Roughly an equal amount of people have expressed support for the protected bike lanes • The initial rollout was not done well
• More education is needed
• Protected bike lanes help pedestrians as well
• The plan was developed with input from first responders; staff are working with the street sweeping contractor to have the bike lanes cleaned twice a month • The City Council adopted Project Zero and Safe Streets; protected bike lanes support these efforts
• Look at areas of concern as they are identified and address them as needed • Costs for removal and to continue implementation
• Work with San Diego Bike Coalition to explore other bike lane options • Concern about ensuring connectivity throughout the City
Motion by Franklin to remove all berms.
No second.
Motion by Melendez to keep project going, do more education and noticing, remind people they can’t park in bike lanes. Second by Contreras.
Motion by Melendez, Second by O’Donnell to extend the City Council meeting to 11:00 pm.
Motion carried: 5-0
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
MAY 27, 2025
7 Substitute Motion by O’Donnell to remove all berms and delineators on Melrose from Shadowridge Dr to Dawson; remove berms from Dawson to Faraday and add more delineators, and provide more education to the public.
Friendly amendment to substitute motion to hold off on installing protected bike lanes on E Vista Way in District 2.
Friendly amendment not accepted because E Vista Way is split between districts 1 and 2.
Substitute motion by Franklin to stop the installation of protected bike lanes and save a half a million dollars.
Melendez second O’Donnel’s substitute motion.
Fox Second Franklin’s substitute motion.
Consensus to extend the meeting until 11:15 pm.
Vote on whether Franklin’s substitute motion should be considered.
Motion failed: Melendez, Contreras Opposed; O’Donnel abstained
Vote on whether O’Donnell’s substitute motion should be considered.
Motion carried: 5-0
M
OTION BY O’DONNELL, SECOND BY MELENDEZ TO REMOVE ALL
BERMS AND DELINEATORS ON MELROSE DR FROM SHADOWRIDGE DR TO DAWSON; REMOVE BERMS FROM DAWSON TO FARADAY AND ADD
MORE DELINEATORS, AND PROVIDE MORE EDUCATION TO THE PUBLIC.
MOTION CARRIED: 4-1, FOX OPPOSED
D2. SPEED HUMP POLICY (CC)
Mayor Franklin introduced the item.
Motion by Franklin to increase the required percentage of residents in favor to 65%.
No second.
Substitute motion by O’Donnell to put a moratorium on speed humps and use funds for speed reduction fees.
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Speed humps are driven by residents
• Willingness to look at prioritizations
• Requests have continued to be received, but less completed applications are being returned
MOTION BY O’DONNELL, SECOND BY CONTRERAS TO PLACE THE ITEM ON THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
MAY 27, 2025
8 REMARKS
No remarks due to time c onstraint.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Franklin adjourned the meeting at 11:14 p.m.
_____
_______________________________
Kathy Valdez, City Clerk