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
AUGUST 26, 2025
The August 26, 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 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
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
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Deputy Mayor Melendez led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Franklin convened the meeting in honor of the memory of Lemon Grove Councilmember Sitivi “Steve” Faiai.
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 Item D5, City Council Meeting Start Time Adjustment is removed from the agenda.
PRESENTATIONS
P1. Chris Arce, Director of Public Works, and Leslie Webb-Blanco, Administrative Program Manager, gave a presentation on the Public Works Department Update for Fiscal Year 2024/25.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
AUGUST 26, 2025
2 ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
The following individuals addressed the City Council:
• Sid Rothenberg spoke about nighttime pedestrian visibility concerns on Jim Porter Way in Brengle Terrace Park.
• Terri-Ann Skelly spoke about drug use treatment programs for teens and young adults. • Madison Rapp spoke about cannabis use disorder in children and teens. • Becky Rapp spoke about traffic safety and the trend of use of cannabis infused beverages. • Megan Stuart spoke about the dangers of marketing campaigns of cannabis. • Judi Strang spoke about tobacco pollution and harm to human health. • Lou Callies spoke about access to safe cannabis and against policies restricting cannabis.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION BY MELENDEZ, SECOND BY FOX, TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING CONSENT CALENDAR.
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
C1. Designated Councilmember Jeff Fox to serve as the City’s primary voting delegate and Councilmember Dan O’Donnell and City Manager John Conley to serve as the alternates to the 2025 League of California Cities Annual Business Meeting. (CC)
C2. Approved the following meeting minutes:
August 12, 2025 Consolidated Meeting (CC/CDC/BSD/SA)
C3. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-152, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving a Contract with Hunsaker & Associates San Diego, Inc. for As-Needed Civil Plan check Services”; adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-153, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving a Contract with CValdo Corporation for As-Needed Civil Plan check Services”; and adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-154, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving a Contract with NV5, Inc. for As-Needed Civil Plan check Services” (CC)
C4. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-155, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving a Contract with Tory R. Walker Engineering, Inc. for As-Needed Professional Development Review Services in Relation to Stormwater Drainage and Water Quality Impacts”; adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-156, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving a Contract with REC Consultants, Inc. for As-Needed Professional Development Review Services in Relation to Stormwater Drainage and Water Quality Impacts”; and adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-157, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving a Contract with NV5, Inc. for As-Needed Professional Development Review Services in Relation to Stormwater Drainage and Water Quality Impacts.” (CC)
C5. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-158, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Awarding a Construction Contract to Montano Pipeline, Inc. for Michigan Avenue Parking Lot Project (CIP No. 8332).” (CC)
C6. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-159, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving the Agreement with Jax Mechanical for Civic Center Hydronic Heating System Replacement Project.” (CC)
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
AUGUST 26, 2025
3 C7. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025-160, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Authorizing Acceptance of California Office of Traffic Safety Grant.” (CC)
DISCUSSION
D1. CITYWIDE SIDEWALK PRIORITIZATION PLAN (CC)
Darra Woods, Principal Transportation Mobility Planner, introduced the item and provided the staff report. Husam Hasenin was available to answer questions from the City Council.
Sasha Jovanovic, Consultant from CR Associates, was available to answer questions from the City Council.
The following individuals spoke on the item.
Frank Pendleton Sid Rothenberg
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• If grant funding is secured for a project, it may be taken out of the ranked order. • Amending the ranking criteria as follows: 1) increase Safe Routes to Schools point value to 5 points; 2) Add Emergency Response Routes with a point value of 3 points; 3) increase High Injury Network locations point value to 5 points; and 4) add Proximity to Institutions That Serve the Disabled with a point value of 3 points.
• Whether to amend the ranking criteria immediately and adjust the list or amend the ranking criteria and apply those criteria in two years. The cost for immediate reanalyzing would be $15- 25,000. Councilmembers agreed to approve the list as-is and amend the ranking criteria to be applied when the list is reanalyzed in two years.
• Councilmembers will still be able to bring projects forward that are not on the list.
MOTION BY MELENDEZ, SECOND BY FOX, TO APPROVE CITYWIDE
SIDEWALK PRIORITIZATION PLAN AND AMEND FUTURE RANKING
CRITERIA AS FOLLOWS: 1) INCREASE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS POINT VALUE TO 5 POINTS; 2) ADD EMERGENCY RESPONSE ROUTES WITH A POINT VALUE OF 3 POINTS; 3) INCREASE HIGH INJURY NETWORK LOCATIONS POINT VALUE TO 5 POINTS; AND 4) ADD PROXIMITY TO INSTITUTIONS THAT SERVE THE DISABLED WITH A POINT VALUE OF 3 POINTS.
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
D2. VISTA TRANSIT CENTER GRADE SEPARATION STUDY (CC)
Darra Woods, Principal Transportation Mobility Planner, introduced the item and provided the staff report.
The following individuals spoke on the item.
Sid Rothenberg
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• The next phase study will cost approximately $1,000,000. Councilmember Contreras will be bringing a future item to discuss potential funding for the study as well as to discuss the Memorandum of Understanding between the City and North County Transit District. • City Councilmembers expressed appreciation to staff for bringing this item forward.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
AUGUST 26, 2025
4 RECEIVED REPORT ON THE VISTA TRANSIT CENTER GRADE
SEPARATION STUDY.
NO VOTE TAKEN.
D3. SAN DIEGO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAFESTREETS PROGRAM (CC) Sheriff’s Captain John Malan introduced the item and provided the staff report.
The following individuals spoke in opposition to the item:
Kenneth Zuniga Bradlee Diuguid Tazheen Nizam
Lou Callies Sandra Zuniga
Sarah Spinks Camille T
Andrew Escalante spoke in favor of the item.
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Concerns over recent alleged illegal sharing of data by the San Diego Sheriff’s Office. Captain Malan stated that he would look into the matter and report back. • Request for crime prevention and solvency data; social programs that have contributed to a decrease in crime.
• Request for ALPR data from participating cities.
• The Sheriff’s Office case reporting system does not currently collect information on whether an ALPR was used to identify the location of a suspect/victim; will be adding a place to capture this information on reports.
• The large majority of cars that are captured by the ALPR are not involved in crime; the technology is used to find “the needle in a haystack”
• Councilmember Contreras expressed concern over no policies currently in place to protect privacy of individuals from this technology.
• Councilmember O’Donnell inquired about “false positive” hits on ALPR and if there are any safeguards to protect individuals. Lieutenant Noah Zarnow stated that hits on the ALPR go through a very select number of individuals who then personally verify the information. • The ALPR system is accessible by select individuals from the San Diego Sheriff’s Office throughout the County. Mayor Franklin requested to hear about privacy concerns and how the San Diego Sheriff’s Office is mitigating those concerns and protecting data. • Cost of ALPR and maintenance for one year is $3,000 plus $150 installation; can pilot test for one year.
• Councilmember Contreras and Deputy Mayor Melendez expressed opposition to pole cameras.
Mayor Franklin and Councilmembers O’Donnell and Fox expressed an openness for further discussion of camera technology.
• Gunshot technology is currently being tested in San Maros. Councilmembers requested more information on the effectiveness of this technology.
Motion by Contreras to decline installation of Automated License Plate Readers.
Motion by O’Donnell to approve ALPRs for a pilot program and review impact of program after one- year; second by Franklin. Motion withdrawn by O’Donnell after the following substitute motion was made by Melendez and seconded by Contreras.
MOTION BY MELENDEZ, SECOND BY CONTRERAS, TO DIRECT STAFF TO
GATHER CRIME PREVENTION AND SOLVENCY DATA, INSTANCES OF
AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS (ALPR) DATA
BREACHES/VIOLATIONS, AND ALPR DATA FROM PARTICIPATING CITIES
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
AUGUST 26, 2025
5 AND PRESENT THE INFORMATION AT AN UPCOMING MEETING.
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
D4. POTENTIAL HOMEKEY+ PROJECTS IN VISTA (CC)
Jonathan Lung, Housing and Homeless Services Program Manager, introduced the item and provided the staff report.
Joanne Price, Co-Founder and Chief Real Estate Office of Dignity Moves, gave a presentation.
The following individuals spoke on the item.
Sid Rothenberg Mabi Castro
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Councilmembers expressed opposition to housing behind the Senior Center. • Rent is determined by Annual Median Income for the area. Mayor Franklin expressed desire to set the rent to very-low / acutely-low AMI.
• Councilmembers discussed supportive housing needed for veterans, seniors, Transitional Age Youth (TAY), families, and individuals leaving shelters. • Future supportive housing program can be designed with desired partner services. • Directed staff to schedule a Closed Session meeting to discuss potential real estate acquisition for projects.
• ~$78,000,000 in funding is available for San Diego County.
MOTION BY CONTRERAS, SECOND BY FOX, TO DIRECT STAFF TO
SCHEDULE A CLOSED SESSION MEETING TO DISCUSS POTENTIAL REAL ESTATE ACQUISITION FOR HOMEKEY+ PROJECTS.
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
D5. CITY COUNCIL MEETING START TIME ADJUSTMENT (CC)
This item was removed from the agenda.
REMARKS
City Manager John Conley reminded the community that City offices are closed on September 1 for Labor Day.
Councilmember Jeff Fox will report from North County Dispatch Joint Authority at the next meeting.
Councilmember Dan O’Donnell reported that due to AB 205 (2022) there will be a rate increase for SDG&E customers on the October bill and commended the City for it’s efforts toward homelessness solutions.
Councilmember Corinna Contreras encouraged residents to attend the August 28 Downtown Vista Committee meeting and reminded everyone that trash pickup is every Wednesday morning at Luz Duran Park.
Deputy Mayor Katie Melendez thanked Senator Catherine Blakespear and announced that the 35th annual Vista Rod Run is August 31st from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm in the downtown area.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
AUGUST 26, 2025
6 Mayor John Franklin announced the final show of Fiddler on the Roof is August 30; the Wave Waterpark will be open through September 1; and the 35th annual Vista Rod Run is August 31st from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm in the downtown area.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Franklin adjourned the meeting at 10:24 p.m.
____________________________________
Kathy Valdez, City Clerk