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
FEBRUARY 24, 2026
The February 24, 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 5:00 pm in the City Council Chambers, 200 Civic Center Drive, Vista, California.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT
Mayor John Franklin
Corinna Contreras, Katie Melendez, Jeff Fox
COUNCIL MEMBER ABSENT
Deputy Mayor Dan O’Donnell
CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Franklin called for a Closed Session at 5:00 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 5:19 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
REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Walter Chung stated that in Closed Session, the City Council approved the purchase of 952-958 Postal Way for $13,100,000. Vote: 4-0 (O’Donnell absent).
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
FEBRUARY 24, 2026
2 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Melendez 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 that Item D1, Wayfinding Signage Program Proposal for Tasting Rooms, has been removed from the Agenda.
Councilmember Contreras requested that D4 Letter of Support for Student Transportation Option to Mission Vista High School be moved to be heard as the first discussion item. There was no objection.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
The following individuals addressed the City Council:
•Debbie Yates spoke about concerns of the proposed City logo. •Michael Pawelski spoke about concerns of the proposed City logo. •Becky Rapp spoke about concerns of cannabis use of Vista residents. •Madison Rapp spoke about mental health dangers of cannabis use in teens and young adults.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION BY FOX, SECOND BY FRANKLIN, TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING CONSENT CALENDAR.
MOTION CARRIED: 4-0 (O’DONNELL ABSENT)
C1. Received the January 2026 check register. (CC)
C2. Approved the following meeting minutes:
February 10, 2026 Consolidated Meeting (CC/CDC/BSD/SA/JPFA) C3. Received the Treasurer’s Cash Report for the month ending December 31, 2025. (CC) C4. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-27, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving the SDG&E Power Your Drive for Fleets Make- Ready Infrastructure Program Participation Agreements and Addendums” and adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-28, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Amending the Capital Project Budget for Fiscal Years 2024/25 and 2025/26.” (CC)
C5. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-29, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving the Agreement with the Reinhart Corporation for the Fire Station Vehicle Exhaust Venting System Upgrade Project.” (CC) C6. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-30, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving the Sixth Amendment to the Contract with Rick Engineering Company for the Vista General Plan Update and Program Environmental Impact Report.” (CC)
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
FEBRUARY 24, 2026
3 C7. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-31, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Authorizing Joint Application to Participation in the Homekey+ Program”; adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-32, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving a Purchase and Sale Agreement for 952-958 Postal Way, Vista, CA 92083”; adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-33, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving a Buyer-Broker Representation Agreement with Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc. for Services related to the Acquisition of 952-958 Postal Way”; and adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-34, 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”. (CC)
PUBLIC HEARING
PH1. CENTRAL VISTA BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ANNUAL LEVY (CC) Imelda Huerta, Assistant City Manager, introduced the item and provided staff’s report. TJ Crossman, Chair of CVBID Advisory Board presented the CVBID report.
City Councilmembers thanked the CVBID Advisory Board for all of their hard work.
MOTION BY CONTRERAS, SECOND BY MELENDEZ TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2026-35,
ENTITLED, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA, CALIFORNIA, CONFIRMING THE FISCAL YEAR 2026/27
ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE CENTRAL VISTA BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AND LEVYING THE ASSESSMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026/27.” VOTE: 4-0 (O’DONNELL ABSENT)
DISCUSSION
D1. WAYFINDING SIGNAGE PROGRAM PROPOSAL FOR TASTING ROOMS (CC) This item was removed from the Agenda.
D4. LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR STUDENT TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS TO MISSION VISTA
HIGH SCHOOL (CC)
Councilmember Contreras introduced the item. Mission Vista High School student Eden Cohen and Youth Commissioners Mats Dykstra and Joaquin Vanzzini gave the presentation.
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
•City Councilmembers complimented the students on their presentation and data collection. •City Councilmembers directed staff to prepare a letter of support to Vista Unified School District and North County Transit District for expanded student transportation to Mission Vista High School.
•Councilmember Contreras asked staff to prepare and submit letters to SANDAG, County, State and Federal representatives for funding of expanded transportation options.
MOTION BY CONTRERAS, SECOND BY FRANKLIN TO DIRECT STAFF TO
PREPARE A LETTER OF SUPPORT TO VISTA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
AND NORTH COUNTY TRANSIT DISTRICT FOR EXPANDED STUDENT
TRANSPORTATION TO MISSION VISTA HIGH SCHOOL AND TO SUBMIT
LETTERS TO SANDAG, COUNTY, STATE, AND FEDERAL
REPRESENTATIVES IN SUPPORT OF FUNDING FOR THIS PURPOSE.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
FEBRUARY 24, 2026
4 VOTE: 4-0 (O’DONNELL ABSENT)
D2. ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS (CC)
Husam Hasenin, Traffic Engineering Division Manager, provided staff’s report.
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
•Councilmember Contreras requested staff study Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI); support for looking at a limited number of intersections using available modeling. •A contractor will need to assess each of the City’s 113 intersections for infrastructure upgrades to install Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS). Each intersection assessment is approximately $1,000.
•City Councilmembers requested staff look at high pedestrian counts, routes to school, and proximity to other sensitive uses when prioritizing assessments.
DIRECTED STAFF TO PROCEED WITH ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN SIGNAL
ASSESSMENTS OF INTERSECTIONS WITH HIGH PEDESTRIAN COUNTS
THAT ARE ON ROUTES TO SCHOOL OR OTHER SENSITIVE USES AND TO
STUDY LEAD PEDESTRIAN INTERVALS AT FIVE INTERSECTIONS MEETING THESE CRITERIA AND ALSO HAVING HIGH RIGHT TURN VOLUMES.
NO VOTE TAKEN.
D3. SENIOR RENTAL SUBSIDY PROGRAM PARAMETERS (CC)
Imelda Huerta, Assistant City Manager, introduced the item and Jonathan Lung, Housing and Homeless Services Program Manager, provided staff’s report.
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
•Limiting eligibility to City of Vista residents. Residents living in the unincorporated area are served by San Diego County; funds for the County’s senior subsidy program have run out.
Councilmembers discussed concerns about individuals living in the unincorporated areas potentially receiving double subsidies or running out of funding for Vista residents. •Limit eligibility to seniors with an AMI of 30% or lower. •Concerns about participants being able to get off the subsidy because recipients will likely be on a fixed income and will not have any future potential sources of income. Requested staff determine the length of time an individual can be enrolled in the program. •Mayor Franklin proposed transferring subsidy program funds to a fund for future senior housing and stated his disapproval for the subsidy program.
•Increase the minimum age to 70 and older and add a disability. •City Councilmembers directed staff to take the item to the Senior Citizens Affairs Commission for review and input.
DIRECTED STAFF TO TAKE THE SENIOR RENTAL SUBSIDY PROGRAM
PARAMETERS, WITH THE CITY COUNCIL RECOMMENDATIONS (CITY OF VISTA RESIDENT, 30% OR LOWER AMI, AGE 70 AND ORDER, WITH A DISABILITY), TO THE SENIOR COMMISSION FOR INPUT.
NO VOTE TAKEN.
REMARKS
City Manager John Conley encouraged residents to apply for the Spring 2026 Leadership Academy.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
FEBRUARY 24, 2026
5 Councilmember Jeff Fox stated that he has an upcoming NCJDA meeting and will report out at the next City Council meeting.
Councilmember Katie Melendez announced that Clean Energy Alliance approved cost saving measures.
Councilmember Corinna Contreras reminded everyone that trash pick-up is every Wednesday at Luz Duran Park.
Mayor John Franklin invited residents to participate in the General Plan Workshop Series #3 March 2- 5 at locations across all four Council districts.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Franklin adjourned the meeting at 7:27 p.m.
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Kathy Valdez, City Clerk