1 Standing Committee on Homelessness
February 26, 2026
Meeting Minutes
The February 26, 2026 Standing Committee on Homelessness was called to order By Chair Melendez at 8:31 am in City Council Chambers, 200 Civic Center Drive, Vista, California.
Committee Members Present:
Deputy Mayor Katie Melendez, Chair
Mayor John Franklin, Vice Chair
Staff Present
John Conley, City Manager
Beverly Roxas, City Attorney
Kathy Valdez, City Clerk
Imelda Huerta, Assistant City Manager
Jonathan Lung, Homeless Services Program Manager
Pledge of Allegiance
Chair Melendez led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes
Approved the August 28, 2025, meeting minutes.
D1. Homelessness Commission Roles and Responsibilities Homeless Services Program Manager Jonathan Lung provided an overview of the plans for the first Homelessness Commission meeting on March 26.
Committee members suggested using the first meeting to provide an overview of the Strategic Plan to Address Homelessness and subsequent meetings to focus on one strategy at a time to allow for more in-depth review of programs and service providers.
D3. General Homelessness Updates
Homeless Services Program Manager Jonathan Lung introduced the item and each of the following individuals gave an update from their respective program:
Garry Crite, Interfaith
Kenneth Tolbert, San Diego Rescue Mission
Nannette Steenstra, Retread
Jesse Mendez, Jewish Family Services
Tanya Zepeda, VisTAY
Stacey Drew, Townspeople
2 Committee members, staff, and providers discussed the following:
• VEHAP participants can not have received other rental assistance; want to know if they’ve received other services and as much about each client as possible; provide examples at next meeting
• Want VEHAP clients included on HMIS system; work with RTFH to allow • San Diego Rescue Mission (SDRM) to change title of slide from “Client Destination/Location” to “Where Are They Now” and “New to Area” to “New to Vista”
• Looking forward to seeing success of rapid rehousing funds which started in January
• Master lease allowable under rapid rehousing, but first try to get client their own lease of shared housing
• Need to consider how services are offered/promoted to help ensure that Vista residents are being served and that we are not attracting people from other areas • Service providers should be able to look up clients in HMIS after they’ve completed their program to determine if they are receiving other services; can see what services were received in the past
• Need more emphasis on data collection and sharing
• Look at data by quarter (rather than monthly)
• Safe Parking is promoted through 211 and the distribution of postcards by staff; want to review post card and training provided to staff • Flexible funds are important for Safe Parking program to address car repairs, assist with first months rent or other needs to get someone into housing • Expect to run out of shelter bed funding in a few months • Want to learn more about CalAIM; ensure that all other service options are looked at first before using City resources
• VisTAY has been working with neighbors to address concerns; difficult clientele • Want breakdown of Townspeople program: number of months by number of people, cost per adult per month
• Would like to see step down in amount of subsidy provided through Townspeople • Need to have stricter enforcement of lease agreements; would like to see sublease and to know if City has any liability if master lease is not paid • Discuss BCNC continuing case management with clients after they exit
Committee members requested that data provided to the Standing Committee and Homelessness Commission be presented by quarter and 12 month increments and the data presented to the full City Council be 12 months and cumulative since inception.
Adjournment
Chair Melendez adjourned the meeting at 11:30 am