VISTA CITY COUNCIL (CC)
CITY OF VISTA
WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES
OCTOBER 2, 2025
The October 2, 2025, Workshop Meeting of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, was called to order by Mayor Franklin at 6:00 pm in the City Council Chambers, 200 Civic Center Drive, Vista, California.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT
Mayor John Franklin, Deputy Mayor Katie Melendez
Corinna Contreras (appeared via Zoom), Dan O’Donnell, Jeff Fox
DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT
John Conley City Manager
Walter Chung City Attorney
Kathy Valdez City Clerk
Imelda Huerta Assistant City Manager
Aldo Hernandez Public Works Operations Manager
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Deputy Mayor Melendez led the Pledge of Allegiance.
DISCUSSION
D1. UPDATE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN TO ADDRESS
HOMELESSNESS (CC)
Jonathan Lung, Homeless Services Program Manager, and Johannah Kneiff, Management Analyst, gave the presentation.
The following service provider representatives spoke:
• Daniel Schacht, San Diego Rescue Mission
• Nanette Steenstra, ReTread, Buena Creek Navigation Center • Jesse Mendez, Jewish Family Services
• Bea Palmer, Alliance for Regional Solutions
• Lina Soto-Thomas, Operation HOPE-North County
• Filipa Rios, Interfaith Community Services
The City Council and staff discussed the following:
• City Councilmembers expressed appreciation to staff and service providers. • Staff has considered parking space when touring potential locations for the new Permanent Navigation Center Facility. If adequate parking space is available, staff is considering relocating the Safe Parking Program.
• Aggressive panhandling is illegal, non-aggressive is not regulated. Any complaints that the City receives regarding panhandling is forwarded to the Sheriff’s Department and a deputy will respond.
• San Diego County representatives are currently attending monthly meetings with staff.
The County is sending staff weekly updates regarding individuals being housed at Vista hotels.
• City Councilmembers, staff and service providers discussed various circumstances that determine a client’s length of stay at a shelter. Reasons discussed: if an individual is serious about permanent housing or is just seeking shelter; time needed to save money;
WORKSHOP MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 4, 2025
2 time needed to enter workforce; ability to find available affordable housing; shift in mindset; ability to accrue enough funds on a fixed income;
•City Councilmembers discussed possible standardized housing application. •City Councilmembers discussed including mortgage assistance in the VEHAP. Any substantive changes made to the program will need to come back to City Council for discussion and approval. City Councilmembers support limiting the amount of funding available for 80% AMI to 25 percent, but not holding those funds for that group if it is needed for those in the lower AMI category.
•Requested staff to prepare visual way to express success metrics across shelters and programs.
•Deputy Mayor Melendez and Councilmember Contreras expressed support for a subsidy for seniors.
•Councilmember Contreras asked staff to look into a program that would provide car repair services for individuals enrolled in the Safe Parking Program. •Operation HOPE-North County is working with HomeShare but difficult to place families in a shared space. Buena Creek Navigation Center is working with HomeShare to place clients in housing. Mayor Franklin directed staff to grow the HomeShare program.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Franklin adjourned the meeting at 8:11 p.m.
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Kathy Valdez, City Clerk