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
APRIL 28, 2026
The April 28, 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 recessed the meeting at 4:30 p.m. and called for a Closed Session 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 Division Manager Jonathan Lung Under Negotiation: Price and Terms
RECESS, OPEN SESSION, AND CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Franklin recessed the Closed Session at 4:48 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
CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Walter Chung stated there were no reportable actions from Closed Session.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Melendez led the Pledge of Allegiance.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
APRIL 28, 2026
2 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 there were no changes to the Agenda.
PRESENTATIONS
P1. The Mayor and City Councilmembers presented a proclamation to Tazheen Nizam of the Tri- City Islamic Center, declaring April 2026 as “Arab-American Heritage Month” in the City of Vista.
P2. The Mayor and City Councilmembers presented a proclamation to members of the Vista Garden Club declaring May 2-3, 2026 as “Vista Garden Club Days” in the City of Vista.
P3. The Mayor and City Councilmembers presented a proclamation to Rachel Beld, Vista Chamber of Commerce CEO, declaring May 3-9, 2026 as “Small Business Week” in the City of Vista.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
The following members of the public addressed the City Council in person:
•Kaitlyn Williams spoke about Love To Swim school and swimming safety. •Mary Cottle spoke about concerns for the Camino Largo development.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council via Zoom:
•Madison Rapp spoke about drug use and waste in public parks. •Becky Rapp spoke about the negative effects of cannabis on the brain. •Judi Strang spoke about strokes related to exposure of second and third hand smoking exposure.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION BY O’DONNELL, SECOND BY CONTRERAS, TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING CONSENT CALENDAR.
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
C1. Received and filed the March 2026 Check Register.
C2. Approved the following meeting minutes:
April 14, 2026 Consolidated Meeting (CC/CDC/BSD/SA/JPFA) April 15, 2026 Special Meeting (CC)
C3. Received and filed the Treasurer’s Cash Report for the month ending February 28, 2026.
C4. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-69, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving the 2026-2027 Annual Action Plan, Authorizing the Submittal of the Plans to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Authorizing the City Manager to Approve and Execute All Documents Related to the Implementation of Said Plans” (CC)
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
APRIL 28, 2026
3 C5. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-70, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Supporting the Designation of Downtown Vista Census Tract 06073019503 Under the Federal Opportunity Zone 2.0 Program.” (CC) C7. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-71, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Setting June 23, 2026, as the Public Hearing Date for Commercial and Residential.” (CC)
PUBLIC HEARING
PH1. COMPLIANCE WITH NEW LEGAL OBLIGATION RE: PUBLIC HEARING ON VACANCIES AND RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION EFFORTS (ASSEMBLY BILL 2561/GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 3502.3) (CC)
Natalie Jacobs, Director of Human Resources, introduced the item and Erica Valdovino Smith, Human Resources Analyst, provided staff’s report.
MOTION BY FOX, SECOND BY O’DONNELL TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
DISCUSSION
D1. CITYWIDE FACILITIES MASTER PROGRAM UPDATE (CC)
Chris Arce, Director of Public Works, introduced the item and Aldo Hernandez, Public Works Operation Manager, provided staff’s report.
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
•Have a discussion regarding Prop L funded projects at a future meeting.
MOTION BY CONTRERAS, SECOND BY O’DONNELL TO APPROVE CITYWIDE FACILITIES MASTER PROGRAM FISCAL YEAR 2026/27 PROJECT LIST.
MOTION CARRIED: 5-0
D2. SENIOR RENTAL SUBSIDY PROGRAM PARAMETERS (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:
•Treat as a pilot project
•Have the contractor collect data of program applicants and recipients; seek a contractor with a history of providing senior services; local experience preferred. •Potential changes to eligibility requirements:
o lower age to 65 years or better
o allow for homeownership; if add, require 12+ years of Vista residency o increase or better define amount of total assets allowed o disability requirement limited to head of household
o add waitlisted for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program •Should address those with the greatest need first
•Consider having a rolling application process
•Add “Emergency” to the title of the program
•Mayor Franklin expressed concerns with the broad eligibility criteria, greater number of residents with need than can assist, and whether participants will continue to need assistance.
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
APRIL 28, 2026
4 • All seniors enrolled in the program will have case management to help ensure that participants are enrolled in all needed benefit programs and to assist with financial planning.
Mayor Franklin made a motion to re-commit the allocated funds to the Housing Fund and bring an RFP for a senior housing development to City Council for discussion.
The motion did not receive a second.
MOTION BY MELENDEZ, SECOND BY CONTRERAS, TO APPROVE
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SENIOR CITIZENS AFFAIRS
COMMISSION WITH THE FOLLOWING ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
AMENDMENTS: LOWER AGE TO 65 YEARS+, ADD SECTION 8
WAITLISTED, LIMIT DISABILITY REQUIREMENT TO HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD; AND DIRECTED STAFF TO ISSUE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.
MOTION CARRIED: 4-1 (MAYOR FRANKLIN OPPOSED)
D3. CONSIDERATION OF ADDING ONE GANG DETECTIVE (CC)
Deputy Mayor O’Donnell introduced the item. Captain John Malan and Sergeant Creighton answered questions from the City Council.
The following member of the public spoke in support of the item:
Sean Marchand
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Staffing at the Vista Sheriff’s station compared to other North County cities. • Gang investigations are very involved and time consuming; requires specialized training • The current case load is too high for one detective
• The City has upcoming contract negotiation with the San Diego Sheriff’s Office; requested staff to seek reimbursement for ambulance and medical services provided at the Vista jail; ask for cost sharing since gangs are a regional issue.
• Discuss the addition of motor deputies at a future meeting.
Councilmember Contreras made a substitute motion to not make any changes to the contract until the County pays the City for the past five years of medical services provided at the jail by the Vista Fire Department; the funds collected could be used for activities suggested by the Captain.
The substitute motion did not receive a second.
MOTION BY O’DONNELL, SECOND BY FRANKLIN, TO APPROVE THE
ADDITION OF ONE GANG DETECTIVE POSITION TO THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE VISTA STATION.
MOTION CARRIED: 4-1 (CONTRERAS OPPOSED)
There was unanimous direction given to City staff to seek reimbursement for medical services provided by the Vista Fire Department at the jail.
D4. LICENSING OF CANNABIS-RELATED USES (CC)
Councilmember Melendez introduced the item.
The following members of the public spoke on the item:
• Jon Jesse
• Madison Rapp (via Zoom)
CONSOLIDATED MINUTES
APRIL 28, 2026
5 •Peggy Walker (via Zoom)
•Cynara Velazquez (via Zoom)
•Wade Olsen (via Zoom)
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
•Zoning and land-use requirements for distribution
•Interest in expanding distribution licensing to allow in areas where current retailers exist •City Councilmembers discussed a potential ballot measure to reform Measure Z •Solicit input from cannabis businesses and the public on potential changes to Measure Z; consider a 2028 ballot measure
DIRECTED STAFF TO DRAFT AN ORDINANCE TO EXPAND THE
AVAILABILITY OF DISTRIBUTION LICENSES.
NO VOTE TAKEN.
D5. RANKED CHOICE VOTING (CC)
Councilmember Melendez introduced the item.
The following members of the public spoke in support of the item:
•Cynara Velazquez (via Zoom)
•Steve Chessin (via Zoom)
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
•Mayor Franklin, Deputy Mayor O’Donnell, and Councilmember Fox stated they do not see a need for rank choice voting in Vista
•Councilmember Contreras stated her support for the voting system and that she would like to have more education on it
DISCUSSED RANKED CHOICE VOTING.
NO VOTE TAKEN.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Franklin adjourned the meeting at 9:48 p.m.
____________________________________
Kathy Valdez, City Clerk