VISTA CITY COUNCIL (CC)
CITY OF VISTA
WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES
APRIL 2, 2026
The April 2, 2026, Workshop Meeting of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, was called to order by Mayor Franklin at 5:32 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
DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT
John Conley City Manager
Walter Chung City Attorney
Imelda Huerta Assistant City Manager
Kallison Leahy Assistant City Clerk
Chris Mitchell Information Technology Director
Chris Arce Public Works Director
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Contreras led the Pledge of Allegiance.
DISCUSSION
D1. UPDATE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN TO ADDRESS
HOMELESSNESS (CC)
Jonathan Lung, Housing and Homeless Services Program Manager, and Johannah Knieff, Management Analyst, gave the presentation.
• Paul Webster commented on the high volume of outreach service provider interactions and the impact of those interactions.
• Kenneth Tolbert, San Diego Rescue Mission, answered questions from the City Council. • Stacey Drew, Townspeople, answered questions from the City Council. • Amanda Cohen, VisTAY House, answered questions from the City Council.
The City Council and staff discussed the following:
• Mayor Franklin asked staff and service providers to gather data on individuals who have been unhoused for less than one year for how and why they found themselves in Vista.
Mayor Franklin requested the Vista Sheriff’s Station COPPS team provide input at the next update meeting.
• Councilmember Melendez requested staff to update the Strategic Plan to Address Homelessness document on the City’s website more frequently. She asked staff to add advocation for funding for transitional housing to the City’s Legislative Platform. • Deputy Mayor O’Donnell asked staff to clarify the County’s responsibility for referred clients through their voucher program.
• Councilmember Contreras requested staff contact the County regarding payments for ambulance services to the County Jail complex and requested a future discussion item regarding the same. She asked staff about the negative exit data at the VisTAY house and requested categorization of exits for future updates. • Councilmember Fox asked if inquires could be made to off-market properties that would
WORKSHOP MINUTES
APRIL 2, 2026
2 be ideal for the navigation center and asked staff to discuss with broker. •The City Councilmembers discussed a full-time social worker on staff at the City. Directed staff to provide potential scope of work and cost analysis. •The City Councilmembers discussed potential permanent navigation center sites, the status of the contractor and requested staff provide updates on this issue. •The City Councilmembers discussed transitional housing and requested staff to explore developing transitional housing program and seek funding for transitional housing.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Franklin adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m.
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Kathy Valdez, City Clerk