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
JANUARY 13, 2026
The January 13, 2026, 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 4:30 pm in the City Council Chambers, 200 Civic Center Drive, Vista, California.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT
Mayor John Franklin, Deputy Mayor Dan O’Donnell
Corinna Contreras, Katie Melendez, Jeff Fox
CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Franklin called for a Closed Session at 4:30 p.m. for the following:
CS1. Conference with Real Property Negotiators, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8: (CC)
Property Address: 952-958 Postal Way, Vista, CA
Agency Negotiator: City Manager John Conley, Assistant City Manager Imelda Huerta, Housing and Homeless Services Manager Jonathan Lung
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms
RECESS, OPEN SESSION, AND CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Franklin recessed the Closed Session at 4:49 p.m. and called the meeting to order in Open Session at 5:31 p.m.
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
Greg Mayer Engineering Director
Mike Sylvia Finance Director
Natalie Jacobs Human Resources Director
Chris Mitchell Information Technology Director
Chris Arce Public Works Director
Margaret Hamer Recreation & Community Services Director
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Fox led the Pledge of Allegiance.
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.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
JANUARY 13, 2026
2 APPROVAL OF AGENDA
City Manager John Conley stated there were no changes to the agenda.
PRESENTATIONS
P1. The Mayor and City Councilmembers presented a proclamation recognizing Conor Frasher as Firefighter of the Year for 2025.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
The following individuals addressed the City Council:
• Tammie Momant spoke to the City Council about housing services needs. • Carol Jeffries spoke about low visibility speed humps. • Peggy Walker spoke about substance use disorder and cannabis substance abuse. • Becky Rapp spoke about the dangers of cannabis use on brain development.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION BY MELENDEZ, SECOND BY FOX, TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING CONSENT CALENDAR.
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
C1. Received the November 2025 check register. (CC)
C2. Approved the following meeting minutes:
December 9, 2025 Consolidated Meeting (CC/CDC/BSD/SA)
December 3, 2025 Special Meeting (CC)
November 19, 2025 Special Meeting (CC)
C3. Received Treasurer’s Cash Report for the month ending October 31, 2025. (CC)
C4. Confirmed Councilmember Contreras’ recommendation to fill an unscheduled vacancy on the Planning Commission. (CC)
C5. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-01, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Amending the City-Wide Classification and Compensation Index, and Repealing the Provisions of Any Resolutions In Conflict Therewith.” (CC)
C6. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-02, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving a Contract with Carahsoft Technology Corporation for ACH and Vendor Management Software (PaymentWorks).”
C7. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-03, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Awarding a Construction Contract to In The Dirt Engineering for the Luz Duran Park Community Room Restroom Project (CIP No. 8351)”; and Adopt City Council Resolution No. 2026-04, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving Construction Change Order No. 1 to the Contract with In The Dirt Engineering for the Luz Duran Park Community Room Restroom Project (CIP No. 8351)” (CC)
C8. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-05, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving a Goods Purchase Contract with Fonroche Lighting America Inc for the Solar Streetlight Project (CIP No. 8385)”; adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-06, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista,
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
JANUARY 13, 2026
3 California, Awarding a Construction Contract to Select Electric, Inc. for the Solar Streetlight Project (CIP No. 8385)”; and adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-07, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving Construction Change Order No. 1 to the Contract with Select Electric, Inc. for the Solar Streetlight Project (CIP No. 8385).”
C9. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-08, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving a Side Letter of Agreement Between the City of Vista and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States and Canada Local No. 122 (IATSE), and Repealing the Provisions of Any Resolutions In Conflict Herewith.” (CC)
DISCUSSION
D1. CITY LOGO REDESIGN AND BRANDING (CC)
Imelda Huerta, Assistant City Manager, introduced the item and Fred Tracey, Communications Officer, provided staff’s report. Jamie Muehlhausen, contracted graphic designer, answered questions from the City Council about the logo options.
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Mayor Franklin stated he doesn’t support any of the options provided and suggested opening the logo redesign for public submission.
• Councilmembers stated their logo design preference:
o Councilmember Melendez - Option 2 design
o Deputy Mayor O’Donnell – logo on the bottom set of five provided as an Add to Packet o Councilmember Contreras – same logo as DM O’Donnell, as well as Option 3 design o Councilmember Fox - Option 3 design; likes best without the outside circle • The cost of the logo rollout is still yet to be determined. Once the City Council has chosen a design, staff will be able to provide an estimate of the rollout. • Appreciate the time that has been spent on this project and the artist’s working with the individual City Council members
• Directed staff to present the three main logo designs in a survey for the public to vote on their preferred logo.
o Discussed whether to include an option of “none of the above” or a comment box; settled on a comment box, limited to 180 characters.
o The survey will be open to the public for a period of 60 days and staff will advertise through social media.
• Results of the survey will come back to the City Council for discussion, final selection of design, and estimated cost of rollout.
• The City Council discussed altering various design elements of the logo options. Once a design is selected, the City Council may edit coloring or minor aspects of the design, such as font shadowing.
MOTION BY MELENDEZ, SECOND BY O’DONNELL TO DIRECT STAFF TO
CONDUCT A PUBLIC SURVEY FOR CITY LOGO PREFERENCE WITH THE
THREE OPTIONS PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL AND A COMMENT BOX, LIMITED TO 180 CHARACTERS, AND RETURN WITH RESULTS FOR
DISCUSSION; APPROVE THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT FOR GRAPHIC DESIGN SERVICES.
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
JANUARY 13, 2026
4 D2. CLIMATE ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE (CC)
Josh Sino Cruz, Assistant to the City Manager, introduced the item and Cassidy McCarthy, Climate Action Plan Program Coordinator, provided staff’s report.
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
•The Civic Center is wired for photovoltaic battery storage but currently does not have it. Staff received assessment from contractor that based on size and usage, the Civic Center is unable to get to 100% energy independence. Councilmember Contreras directed staff to explore options to raise the Civic Center’s current 50% energy independence. •The City’s Sustainable Transportation Plan, currently underway, will have data on mode share, including cycling.
•The City’s tree giveaway program has been a great success; asked staff to bring back for discussion on funding.
•Asked staff to look into a zero waste goal and related strategies. •Looking forward to seeing how the CAP connects with the General Plan update RECEIVED REPORT ON THE CITY’S CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS.
NO VOTE TAKEN.
REMARKS
City Manager John Conley welcomed new Recreation & Community Services Director, Margaret Hamer; announced that the City was awarded a Devvie award for excellence in support of small businesses by the San Diego North Economic Development Council; and noticed that City facilities will be closes on January 19 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Councilmember Jeff Fox attended a SANDAG meeting.
Deputy Mayor Katie Melendez will be attending a Clean Energy Alliance meeting on January 29, focusing on looking at providing relief to customers who are paying higher rates.
Councilmember Corinna Contreras announced NCTD is planning on establishing platforms at Del Mar Fairgrounds and the San Diego Convention Center; and trash pick up is every Wednesday at Luz Duran Park.
Councilmember Dan O’Donnell updated that the traffic light at Dawson & Melrose will be done by mid- February; congratulated the new CalCities president, Gabriel Quinto; and honored Ted Cole.
Mayor John Franklin encouraged residents to apply for open Commissions, Boards, and Committees; and encouraged youth residents to register for the Vista Sheriff’s Office Rise Above Academy.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Franklin adjourned the meeting in honor of Ted Cole at 7:31 p.m. ____________________________________
Kathy Valdez, City Clerk