Standing Committees
June 23, 2025

Downtown Vista Committee Meeting
June 23, 2025
Minutes
• Welcome
o Meeting called to order at 6:07 pm.
o Committee Members Present:
 Chair Councilmember Corinna Contreras, City Council
 Lisa De Jesus, Planning Commission
 Sharon Larimer, Traffic Commission
 Nicole Halle, Community Safety Commission
 Mike Zane, Business Owner
 Julie Lowen, Property Owner
 Clay McCarthy, Property Owner
 Anne Pate, Resident
 Deanna Faraone, Resident
o Committee Members Absent:
 Terry Woods, CVBID Advisory Committee
 Lev Gershman, Chamber of Commerce
 Deanna Faraone, Resident
 Natalie Trevino, Business Owner
o Council/Staff Present:
 John Conley, City Manager
 Imelda Huerta, Assistant City Manager
 Joe Vacca, Community Development Director
 Sam Hasenin, Engineering Division Manager
 Darra Woods, Principal Transportation Mobility Planner  Esmeralda Romero, Staff Assistant
 Mark Juglar, Rick Engineering, Traffic Consultant
 Jorge Cuyuch, Rick Engineering, Traffic Consultant
• Approval of Minutes
o Lisa De Jesus moved to approve the minutes of June 3, 2025. Seconded by Anne Pate.
 Motion to approve: 9-0
• Rick Engineering provided a presentation regarding the three traffic scenarios analyzed and the findings of the traffic analysis.
o Rick Engineering staff provided a recap of the findings of the June 3rd meeting. o The three options are: (1) converting Vista Village Drive and East Broadway to one-way streets while keeping the remaining downtown streets two-way; (2) fully closing Indiana Avenue; or (3) implementing partial closures of Indiana Avenue as needed.

Downtown Vista Committee Meeting
June 23, 2025
Minutes
• Alternation One:
o This option would provide more parking opportunities. o One-way concept for Main Street and E Broadway.
o This alternative would increase the use of public space for parking. o Would create 12 new head-in parking spaces in front of Shaks Mediterranean Bistro.
o Deanna Faraone, Resident, asked if Rick Engineering accounted for the traffic this would create.
 Yes, they accounted for both pedestrian and vehicular traffic. o Chair Contreras, City Council member, raised concerns about pedestrian safety.

She suggested installing raised crosswalks or flashing beacons. o This option would create 62 on-street parking spaces and could possibly include a parking lot on the southwest corner of Main Street.
o Emergency access will be impacted.
o This alternative would meet acceptable levels of service. o There would be opportunities to enhance the use of public spaces. o Concerns were raised that alleyways could be used as shortcuts to bypass downtown traffic.
o Traffic:
 would be at a minimum because there are no street closures.  disruption is at an acceptable level.
 would be affected the most during the morning and afternoon rush hour. o The greatest disruption this would create is the need to reroute due to one-way traffic.
o Rick Engineering’s team mentioned that although traffic volume may increase, the one-way design would improve flow and maintain the same level of service. o The traffic study was conducted during the afternoon rush hour. • Alternative Two:
o Proposes a permanent street closure of Indiana Avenue. o The traffic study was conducted during peak hours: 7:00–9:00 a.m. and 4:00–6:00 p.m.
o Anne Pate, Resident, expressed concern about traffic at the corner of Rylan and requested a review of that area.
o Emergency access will be impacted.
o Traffic interruption will be minimal, as the main streets will continue to allow two- way traffic.
o This alternative would enhance public space by fully dedicating the area to pedestrian use.
o Traffic would be redirected toward Hanes Place.
o The committee expressed concern that alleyways may be used as shortcuts. o Clay McCarthy, Property Owner, noted that the alleyways are not intended to serve as through streets for general traffic.
• Alternative Three:

Downtown Vista Committee Meeting
June 23, 2025
Minutes
o Two-way streets between Main Street and East Broadway, with temporary closures of Indiana Avenue as needed.
o The City would have the flexibility to close the street, when necessary, which would help maintain traffic flow.
o Nicole Halle, Community Safety Commission, asked about the purpose of the street closures.
 The street would be closed for special events.
o Sharon Larimer, Traffic Commission, raised concerns about parking and the lack of green space.
o Clay McCarthy expressed support for opening the alleyway for trash services but not for through traffic.
o Lisa De Jesus, Planning Commission, supported the idea of street closures. She noted that the City of Carlsbad uses a similar approach, opening and closing the street as needed.
o This alternative would maintain acceptable levels of service. o Traffic operations would be impacted, but the plan is considered feasible. • Summary of Three Alternatives:
o The first alternative includes a one-way system for Main Street and East Broadway and would provide 570 parking spaces, including 62 on-street spaces and 12 new head-in spaces near a local bistro. It allows for increased public space and the potential development of a parking lot at the southwest corner of Main Street.

While emergency access could be affected, traffic studies show minimal disruption and acceptable service levels, with the greatest impact during rush hours. Concerns were raised about pedestrian safety, alleyway usage as shortcuts, and whether traffic impacts were fully considered. Public space enhancements are possible, depending on landscaping choices. o The second alternative proposal involves permanently closing Indiana Avenue to vehicles, redirecting traffic toward Hanes Place while keeping main streets open for two-way traffic. A traffic study was conducted during peak hours, and concerns were raised about safety and traffic flow in certain intersections, as well as the potential misuse of alleyways as shortcuts. While emergency access may be affected, the closure would significantly enhance public space by dedicating the area to pedestrian use.
o The third alternative proposes two-way streets between Main Street and E Broadway, with the flexibility to temporarily close Indiana Avenue for special events. The ability to open and close the street as needed would help manage traffic flow. It maintains acceptable levels of service, though traffic operations

Downtown Vista Committee Meeting
June 23, 2025
Minutes
would be impacted. Concerns were raised about limited parking, lack of green space, and the use of alleyways for non-through traffic. Overall, the plan allows for controlled closures while keeping traffic manageable.
• Selection of Preferred Alternative
o Nicole Halle asked if pedestrians were considered when developing these models.
 Yes, both pedestrians and vehicles were considered during the planning process.
o Alternative one is more pedestrian-friendly, with fewer obstacles and more predictable traffic.
o Julie Lowen, Property Owner, preferred alternative three. She explained that it allows for better traffic flow related to school traffic and is less likely to cause disruption.
o Alternative three was seen as a balanced option. The City can close the street when needed and reopen it when not in use.
o Several concerns were raised about alleyways being used as streets and vehicles speeding through them. It was proposed to find measures to prevent speeding in the alleys.
o Although space is limited due to trash and storage, Julie Lowen suggested repurposing the alleyways into uses such as trash enclosures, pedestrian walkways, or areas for public enjoyment. She recommended involving all Downtown business owners to create a cohesive downtown environment. o The committee requested a comprehensive plan for the downtown area, noting that having a clear end goal would make collaboration easier. It would also help property owners organize their spaces to benefit both the City and their business. o Concerns were raised regarding safety access. It was noted that current access is limited, and the City is working with the Fire Department to develop a safety plan. o Julie Lowen made a motion to adopt alternative three as the plan to present to City Council for consideration. Seconded by Sharon Larimer.
o John Conley, City Manager, clarified that this was a traffic circulation meeting and that the proposed plan is expected to go before City Council for consideration. o Continued concerns included:
 Gazebo
 Circulation
 Reorganization of landscaping
 Cost of traffic calming measures
 Installation of speed humps in all alleys
 Unpermitted parking in the alley
o Julie Lowen proposed installing movable planters in place of billiards. o The idea of forming a sub-downtown committee composed of downtown business owners was proposed.
o The City will work with Planning to assess which areas of the downtown are City- owned and determine the best use of those spaces.

Downtown Vista Committee Meeting
June 23, 2025
Minutes
o Concerns were expressed regarding the current organization of the downtown area and ensuring future plans support cyclists, business owners, and pedestrians alike.
• Public Comments
o Lev Gershman email attached
• Next meeting is on August 28, 2025, in the Community Room • Results of the traffic will be reported
• Meeting adjourned at 7:27 p.m.