VISTA CITY COUNCIL (CC)
CITY OF VISTA
WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 4, 2025
The September 4, 2025, Workshop Meeting of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, was called to order by Deputy Mayor Melendez at 4:00 pm in the City Council Chambers, 200 Civic Center Drive, Vista, California.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT
Mayor John Franklin (arrived at 4:09), Deputy Mayor Katie Melendez Corinna Contreras, Dan O’Donnell (appeared telephonically), Jeff Fox
CLOSED SESSION
Deputy Mayor Melendez called for a Closed Session at 4:01 p.m. for the following:
CS1. Conference with Real Property Negotiators, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8: (CC)
Property Address: 468-472 West Los Angeles Drive, Vista, CA 1029 Poinsettia Ave, Vista, CA
Agency Negotiator: John Conley, City Manager, Imelda Huerta, Assistant City Manager,
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms
RECESS, OPEN SESSION, AND CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Franklin recessed the Closed Session at 5:09 p.m. and called the meeting to order in Open Session at 5:31 p.m.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT
Mayor John Franklin, Deputy Mayor Katie Melendez
Corinna Contreras, Jeff Fox
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT
Dan O’Donnell
DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT
John Conley City Manager
Walter Chung City Attorney
Kathy Valdez City Clerk
Imelda Huerta Assistant City Manager
Mike Sylvia Finance Director
Chris Arce Public Works Director
CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Walter Chung stated there was no reportable action taken in tonight’s Closed Session.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Contreras led the Pledge of Allegiance.
WORKSHOP MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 4, 2025
2 DISCUSSION
D1. ASSESSMENT DISTRICTS FUNDING AND FISCAL UPDATE (CC) Mike Sylvia, Director of Finance, and Chris Arce, Director of Public Works, gave the presentation.
The City Council and staff discussed the following:
•Staff recommended Option 2 - move City-wide tree review to 8-year cycle instead of the current 4-year cycle. Potential impact is reduced overall health of trees and higher costs in the long run. Eucalyptus trees are currently being reviewed on a 2-year cycle. Directed staff to look at liability impact of tree maintenance in 8-year cycle. •Councilmember Contreras requested a future agenda item to discuss costs to the City of traffic accidents.
•Drought tolerant landscaping in roadway medians will take about 2 years from planting to establish at which point it could result in a 35% reduction of costs. Median landscape maintenance is funded through the General Fund. Councilmembers expressed support for phasing in drought-tolerant median landscaping.
•Mayor Franklin asked staff to explore more cost reduction measures in budget in order to maintain level of landscaping and maintenance. He stated his opposition to reducing the subsidy for the Assessment District.
•Deputy Mayor Melendez expressed desire to prioritize landscaping in areas where people spend the most time, such as parks.
•Current level of service will continue through June 2027. •Councilmember Fox suggested staff find some savings each year and scale back slowly rather than remove the subsidy completely.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Franklin adjourned the meeting at 7:16 p.m.
____________________________________
Kathy Valdez, City Clerk