Downtown Vista Committee Meeting
August 28, 2025
Minutes
• Welcome
o Meeting called to order at 6:17 pm.
o Committee Members Present:
Chair Councilmember Corinna Contreras, City Council
Vice Chair Terry Woods, CVBID Advisory Committee
Sharon Larimer, Traffic Commission
Nicole Halle, Community Safety Commission
Natalie Trevino, Business Owner
Clay McCarthy, Property Owner
Anne Pate, Resident
Deanna Faraone, Resident
o Committee Members Absent:
Lisa De Jesus, Planning Commission
Lev Gershman, Chamber of Commerce
Mike Zane, Business Owner
Julie Lowen, Property Owner
o Council/Staff Present:
John Conley, City Manager
Imelda Huerta, Assistant City Manager
Joe Vacca, Community Development Director
Michael Ressler, City Planner
Cassidy McCarthy, Climate Action Plan Program Administrator Husam 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
Patricia Trauth, Rick Engineering, Traffic Consultant Alexander Wade, Rick Engineering, Traffic Consultant
• Approval of Minutes
o Natalie Trevino moved to approve the minutes of June 23, 2025. Seconded by Deanne Farone.
Motion to approve: 7-0-1 (Woods abstained)
• Rick Engineering provided a presentation regarding draft Downtown site plan including three plaza conceptual designs for the open space plaza
Downtown Vista Committee Meeting
August 28, 2025
Minutes
o Public Space & Amenities:
Seating areas along Main Street, pet-friendly zones, landscaping, public art installations, and wayfinding signage to create a more welcoming and accessible environment.
o Mobility & Access:
Bike racks and designated rideshare areas to improve transportation options o Events & Community Engagement:
Temporary street closures for special events to activate public spaces and encourage community participation.
o Environmental Efforts:
Pedestrian access along Buena Vista Creek cleanup to support sustainability and enhance the natural surroundings.
o Chair Contreras requested a change to the street texture on Indiana, where the street closure is planned
o It was noted that creating this new area presents a great opportunity to enhance pedestrian safety through improved crosswalks.
o Vice Chair Woods, raised concerns about the art in the Downtown area The existing art will remain but may be relocated if necessary o Landscaping will be cohesive and thoughtfully integrated o A suggestion was made to cover the Buena Vista Creek and convert it to a trail way and create an opportunity to move across Downtown easier o Chair Contreras commented on alleyway circulation opportunities and noted that Hanes Place is a potential location for adding a sidewalk o Chair Contreras mentioned some areas of the Downtown area have been called out for sidewalk prioritization
o Some businesses have started to set up space for outdoor dining and the Committee wants to ensure that all railing and open space will remain the same
o In this new plan, streetlight may need to be replaced with accent lighting o The possibility of adding shading over the parking lot was covered o A question was asked about temporary road barriers
It was suggested to use bollards whenever temporary street closures are needed this would allow us to still have access to Indiana whenever needed
o Nicole Haile, Committee member, asked about the implications to the conceptualized creek walk.
Downtown Vista Committee Meeting
August 28, 2025
Minutes
John Conley and Contreras responded that it would be a costly project that requires a larger discussion, with timing and costs as major considerations.
Has an environment report has been conducted for this work • Rick Engineering reviewed historical records for this area and staff prepared prior environmental documentation for the Downtown Specific Plan
o Anne Pate, Committee member, mentioned that there is an opportunity to not only change a portion of the Indiana Ave surface but the entire length of it to stretch to the new apartment development that is being constructed on the south end.
o Natalie Trevino, Committee Member, asked since this area is becoming one- way, are any stop signs being removed? Also, would you consider reinstalling the walkway in front Twice?
o A comment was made about the lack of ADA scoot access in the Downtown area
Rick answered that in the new concept all sidewalks will be ADA compliant
o A comment was made to expand the sidewalks
Rick is unsure if it’s possible because they need space for parking, bike lanes, and walkways
o Vice Chair Terry Woods presented alternative traffic ideas which were noted as being out of order since traffic consensus was reached at the last meeting o It was noted that in this change, traffic patterns would not be affected o Husam Hasenin, Engineering Division Manager, noted that even if parking were reconfigured, it would not result in any additional parking spaces and would be quite costly
o The chosen alternative includes a notable increase in parking, with the conceptual design adding 62 additional spaces and allowing flexibility for future adjustments
o A comment was made to propose more ADA parking stalls throughout the downtown area
• Conceptual Plaza Design Options
o Rick Engineering provided three alternatives for the parking lot and gazebo area
o Option 1
Downtown Vista Committee Meeting
August 28, 2025
Minutes
o Vice Chair Terry Woods mentioned that with this alternative there would be a loss of parking spaces
Contreras and Rick Engineering commented that they are aware of the loss of spaces for this plan
o This option includes rebuilding the gazebo, adding landscaping and hardscaping, creating space for pop-up markets, and designing areas for people of all ages to enjoy
o While this option results in some loss of parking, it includes a new gazebo, activities for all ages, and space for future pop-up markets o Option 2
o This option provides a traditional form trellis (possibly metal) with greenery surrounding
o This option allows for the inclusion of a small play area, art displays, game tables, a terrace, and adult swings
o There were concerns that these features could limit potential vendor space Rick Engineering could alter the design to create more space o It was suggested to include movable furniture, vendor designated space, play structures, and create more hardscaping to support flexible use of the space and accommodate various activities
o Option 3
o This option provides a blend of the other two with a more curvilinear design o E. Gurrero Asked if there was a stage area, was confirmed that there is no “stage” but opportunity for flexibility in stage space, also the covers/shade structures could be used as a stage area
o Rick Engineering noted there was no water feature because they tend to not last overtime
Concerns were raised about the cost and maintenance of a water feature
o Vice Chair Terry Woods asked if cost was equal between designs and it was answered that while they are not designed yet, but the estimate is that option 3 is most expensive option 2 is least and option 1 is middle expense o Sharon Larimar, noted that the proposed shade structures would not provide a lot of shade
o Chair Contreras asked if we wanted an additional meeting on the 29th, and it was confirmed unanimously that we would need another meeting, confirmed that we had some time to go through likes and dislikes of all options from the committee
o Nicole Halle, Committee member, said she did not like design 2 at all, seemed like wasted space and a pass through not a destination, likes design
Downtown Vista Committee Meeting
August 28, 2025
Minutes
3 the most but with an elevated stage in a corner perhaps. She also noted that movable furniture might not be the best move and suggested a drinking fountain
o Natalie Trevino, Committee member, liked option 1 the most, because it is classic and timeless, have concerns on option 3 because the items could be “quick fashion” and easily abused
o Vice Chair Terry Woods said he likes option 1 as well but with the circular gazebo in the corner because it could be more practical, they could play to the street or park
o Anne Pate, Committee member, noted that there could be a hybrid of 1 and 2, suggested not having the corner too close to the corner because it creates more of a welcoming atmosphere from multiple directions o Clay McCarthy, likes option 1 with the circular gazebo in the corner, likes the idea of vendor accessibility, like 5 on 1 could look more like 5 on option 3, have more green space for more grassy sitting areas for kids and picnics, it’s a very small space, so with 2 you don’t want to have more sidewalks in a space you can walk around in one minute
o It was noted that there is a walking point in a diagonal which is how many people walk through
o Rick Engineering noted that the park is using space as a destination and a passageway
o Natalie Trevino, Committee member, made a note that there isn’t a lot of grass but turf, members noted that grass is hard to maintain and there are other natural fill and turf types available
o Sid Rothenburg noted that there need to be more handicapped spaces downtown, and all those spaces should be reserved for handicapped spaces o Cassidy McCarthy noted there isn’t a lot of green, but it would be good to find good ground covers that satisfy the need for greenery while also not bringing plastics
o Chair Contreras confirmed with Rick Engineering that they could have a modified recommendation
o John Conley, City Manager, said there was a consensus for option 1 with aspects of 2 and 3, with the round gazebo in the corner, adding the mounding, making sure area for kids and the diagonal path is good, and potential for adding more ADA parking
o Clay McCarthy, Committee member, noted that there is a good amount of handicapped parking available, but expressed support for exploring opportunities to add more
o Vice Chair Woods confirmed that we are coming back on sept 29th with a revised singular space plan and make final tweaks to recommend to council, and there will be priorities given with short term, mid-term and long term
Downtown Vista Committee Meeting
August 28, 2025
Minutes
o Chair Contreras suggested the committee start to think on what items should go to each priority to make it quicker
o John Conley, City Manager, said he would make a list and send it to the committee for them to see what they would prioritize
o It was confirmed that traffic calming in the alleys and lighting were included as well
o Clay McCarthy, Committee member, mentioned that the long game was to connect the creek walk from where it is to the Wave Waterpark, it is still in the general plan, but it’s the connection issues
o Chair Contreras also highlighted the need for increasing connectivity from Veterans Park to downtown and confirmed there was consensus to recommend that
o Confirmed the next meeting is on the 29th of Sept because the website says otherwise
o A general consideration is to include focal feature desired at the street corner for option 1. Perhaps including the “circular” gazebo from option 2 as a focal element to option 1
o Sid Rothenburg asked for consideration of handicapped accessible turf when conceptualizing
o It was suggested that Rick Engineering take another look at the existing vs proposed lighting
• The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 29th • meeting adjourned at 8:02 pm