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 27, 2026
The January 27, 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 4:31 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 4:31 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
CS2. Conference with Real Property Negotiators, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8: (CC)
Property Address: 955 S Santa Fe Ave, 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 5:17 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
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
JANUARY 27, 2026
2 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Deputy Mayor O’Donnell 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.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
City Manager John Conley stated there were no changes to the agenda.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
The following individuals addressed the City Council:
• Mirna Casillas spoke about housing and homelessness.
• Gayle Martin asked the City Council to consider changing the Senior Citizens Affairs Commission meetings to monthly instead of every other month. • Joaquin Vanzzini spoke about a student led effort to establish humanitarian centers for unsheltered individuals.
• Barbara Gordon spoke about drug use trends in the region. • Madison Rapp spoke about physical and mental harms of cannabis and alcohol.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION BY FOX, SECOND BY O’DONNELL, TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING CONSENT CALENDAR.
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
C1. Confirmed Mayor Franklin, Deputy Mayor O’Donnell, and Councilmembers Contreras, Melendez, and Fox’s appointments to the Homelessness Commission. (CC)
C2. Approved the following meeting minutes:
January 13, 2025 Consolidated Meeting (CC/CDC/BSD/SA/JPFA)
C3. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-09, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving the Agreement with The Garland Company, Inc. for Jim Porter Recreation Center Roof Replacement Project Materials.” (CC)
C4. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-10, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving a Joint Fuel Facility Agreement with the Vista Unified School District.” (CC)
C5. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-11, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Giving Notice of Intention of the City Council to Levy an Annual Assessment of the Central Vista Business Improvement District, and Fixing a Date and Time of a Public Hearing to Consider the Annual Levy.” (CC)
C6. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-12, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving the Purchase of Three Pierce Fire Engines from South Coast Fire Equipment, Inc.” and adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-13, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Amending the Operating Budget for Fiscal Years 2025/26 and 2026/27.”
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
JANUARY 27, 2026
3 C7. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-14, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving the San Diego Workforce Partnership – Fire and EMS Program Grant Award and Amending the Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2025/26 and Fiscal Year 2026/27.” (CC)
C8. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-15, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving a Second Amendment to the Agreement with ReTread, Inc. to Provide Buena Creek Navigation Center Operator Services.”.
C9. Approved the 2026 Legislative Platform and Legislative Policy Objectives. (CC)
C10. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-16, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving an Agreement with Interfaith Community Services, Inc. to Provide Shelter Beds to Address Homelessness in Vista“ and adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-17, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Amending the Operating Budget for Fiscal Years 2025/26 and 2026/27.”
PUBLIC HEARING
PH1. SPEED LIMIT ON SYCAMORE AVE (CC)
Husam Hasenin, Engineering Division Manager, provided staff’s report.
MOTION BY O’DONNELL, SECOND BY CONTRERAS TO CLOSED THE
PUBLIC HEARING AND INTRODUCE AND ADOPT CITY COUNCIL
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-01, ENTITLED, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA, CALIFORNIA,
ESTABLISHING A PRIMA FACIE SPEED LIMIT OF 45 MILES PER HOUR ON SYCAMORE AVENUE BETWEEN GREEN OAK ROAD AND S. MELROSE
DRIVE.”
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
DISCUSSION
D1. FIRST AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT WITH SAN DIEGO RESCUE MISSION, INC TO
PROVIDE HOMELESS OUTREACH, HOUSING NAVIGATION, AND HOUSING STABILITY
SERVICES (CC)
Imelda Huerta, Assistant City Manager, introduced the item and Jonathan Lung, Housing & Homeless Services Division Manager, provided staff’s report.
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• The source of funding is through Encampment Resolution Funding, Round 3. • The rapid rehousing program can provide security deposits and rental assistance. There is no maximum per month but clients need to demonstrate that they can become self-sufficient. • San Diego Rescue Mission clients and other provider clients are eligible for referral to program. • San Diego Rescue Mission will provide case management once clients are housed.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
JANUARY 27, 2026
4 MOTION BY CONTRERAS, SECOND BY MELENDEZ TO ADOPT CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2026-18, ENTITLED, “A RESOLUTION OF
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA, CALIFORNIA,
APPROVING A FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH SAN
DIEGO RESCUE MISSION, INC. TO PROVIDE HOMELESSNESS
OUTREACH, HOUSING NAVIGATION, AND HOUSING STABILITY
SERVICES.”
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
D2. LUZ DURAN PARK COMMUNITY CENTER BUILDING (CC)
Councilmember Contreras introduced the item.
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Councilmember Contreras stated that she would like $500,000 to be used for rehabilitation and refurbishing of the building and $500,000 to be used for programing over a period of 5 years. • Councilmembers directed staff to bring back estimated costs for building rehabilitation and refurbishing.
• Councilmembers discussed various community programing that could utilize the community center building and directed staff to bring back potential programming and costs. • The long-term plan is to raze the building and build a completely new community center. A ground up build would cost approximately $3-4M and would take 18-24 months. One million dollars is currently available.
• Most grant funding has a requirement to match 20-25% of funds. Councilmembers discussed reserving a portion of the earmarked funding for potential grant matching. • Request for staff to continue to engage community to create visionary plans for future use of center.
DIRECTED STAFF TO BRING BACK BUILDING REHABILITATION AND
REFURBISHING NEEDS, POTENTIAL PROGRAMMING, AND ESTIMATED COSTS.
NO VOTE TAKEN.
D3. REPRESENTATIVE APPOINTMENTS TO THE SAN DIEGO ASSOCIATION OF
GOVERNMENTS (CC)
Councilmember Contreras introduced the item.
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Councilmember Contreras explained that she recently had changes to her professional experience and would like to be the primary representative to SANDAG. • Councilmember Melendez stated she is fine with the change and would be happy to serve as an alternate.
• Deputy Mayor O’Donnell suggested Councilmember Melendez replace him as first alternate. • Committees and subcommittees will be reassigned by SANDAG.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
JANUARY 27, 2026
5 MOTION BY O’DONNELL, SECOND BY FOX TO BRING BACK A
RESOLUTION TO APPOINT CORINNA CONTRERAS AS REPRESENTATIVE,
KATIE MELENDEZ AS FIRST ALTERNATE REPRESENTATIVE AND JEFF
FOX AS SECOND ALTERNATE TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
SANDAG.
MOTION CARRIED: 4-1 (MAYOR FRANKLIN OPPOSED)
REMARKS
City Clerk Kathy Valdez said that Commission applications will be accepted through February 9, 2026; and encouraged residents to register for the Spring 2026 Vista Leadership Academy.
City Manager John Conley wished a happy 63rd Incorporation Day to the City of Vista.
Councilmember 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 reported that she is working with NCTD to prioritize the Vista Village grade separation project; and trash pick-up is every Wednesday at Luz Duran Park.
Councilmember Dan O’Donnell applauded the Communications Department for their State of the City video; reported that he attended the RSWA meeting where EDCO shared the impacts of tariffs on their operations; and gave a PSA to tape off the ends of batteries before throwing them away.
Mayor John Franklin thanked staff for their work on the State of the City video and encouraged the public to check out the video.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Franklin adjourned the meeting at 6:51 p.m.
____________________________________
Kathy Valdez, City Clerk