Consolidated Meeting Minutes
September 22, 2026
The September 22, 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 3:30 pm in the City Council Chambers, 200 Civic Center Drive, Vista, California.
COUNCILMEMBERS 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 3:30 p.m. for the following:
CS1. Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release, pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b) (CC)
RECESS, OPEN SESSION, AND CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Franklin recessed the Closed Session at 5:28 p.m. and called the meeting to order in Open Session at 5:32 p.m.
DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT
John Conley City Manager
Walter Chung City Attorney
David LaDieu Sheriff’s Captain
Gerard Washington Fire Chief
Kathy Valdez City Clerk
Imelda Huerta Assistant City Manager
Joe Vacca Community Development Director
Matt Atteberry Acting 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
Mayor Franklin stated there were no reportable actions from Closed Session.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Melendez led the Pledge of Allegiance.
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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 Alma Gutierrez from the Vista Chamber of Commerce, declaring September 15 through October 15, 2026 as “Hispanic Heritage Month” in the City of Vista.
P2. The Mayor and City Councilmembers presented a proclamation to Kyle Kensing, declaring September 2026 as “National Service Dog Month” in the City of Vista.
P3. The Mayor and City Councilmembers presented a proclamation honoring local hero San Diego County Sheriff’s Deputy Jennifer Albright.
P4. The Mayor and City Councilmembers presented a proclamation honoring local hero Caylie Valenta and the memory of Vista Firefighter Andy Valenta.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
The following members of the public addressed the City Council in person:
• Phil Church spoke about easements and the public right-of-way. • Manuel Vasquez spoke about pedestrian and traffic safety on S. Santa Fe Ave. • Matt Schwartz spoke about AI.
• Natanael Martinez spoke in opposition to Flock cameras. • Joe Houde spoke about climate change.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council via Zoom:
• Madison Rapp spoke against driving under the influence of cannabis and alcohol.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion by O’Donnell, Second by Contreras, to approve the following Consent Calendar.
Motion carried: 5-0
C1. Check Register (CC)
Received the July 2026 check register.
C2. Approval of Minutes (CC/CDC/BSD/SA/JPFA)
Approved the following meeting minutes:
September 8, 2026 Consolidated Meeting (CC/CDC/BSD/SA/JPFA) August 19, 2026 Special Meeting (CC)
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C3. Treasurer’s Cash Report for the Month Ending June 30, 2026 (CC) Received and filed Treasurer’s Cash Report for the month ending June 30, 2026.
C4. Community Safety Commission 2026-2028 Workplan (CC) Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-161, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving the Community Safety Commission 2026-2028 Workplan.”
C5. Homelessness Commission 2026-2028 Workplan (CC)
Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-162, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving the Homelessness Commission 2026-2028 Workplan.”
C6. Stop Sign on Alta Vista Terrace at Alta Vista Drive (CC) This item was removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion.
C7. Stop Sign on Beaumont Drive at Alta Vista Drive (CC) This item was removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion.
C8. Sharp Performance Contract for Firefighter Coaching and Training (CC) Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-165, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving a Contract with Sharp Performance for Firefighter Coaching and Training.”
C9. Speed Humps on Brookhaven Pass (CC)
1. Approved the installation of two speed humps on Brookhaven Pass between Mountain Pass Circle and Sycamore Avenue.
2. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-166, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Amending the Capital Project Budget for Fiscal Years 2026/27 and 2027/28.”
C10. Final Map – 1860 E. Vista Way (P22-0342) (CC)
Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-167, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving a Final Map for Fifty-One Condominium Residences on a 3.6-Acre Site Located at 1860 E Vista Way (APNs: 171- 232-13-00, 171-232-16-00, 171-232-17-00).”
C11. Approve Utility Box Painting (CC)
Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-168, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving the Public Arts Commission’s Recommendation for Marie K. Lim to Paint Her Proposed Artwork on the Utility Box Located on the Southeast Corner of S. Melrose Drive and Oak Ridge Way.”
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ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR
C6. Stop Sign on Alta Vista Terrace at Alta Vista Drive (CC)
Phil Church spoke on the item.
Motion by O’Donnell, Second by Fox to adopt City Council Resolution No. 2026-163, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Establishing a One-Way Stop Control at the Intersection of Alta Vista Drive and Alta Vista Terrace to Control Traffic from Alta Vista Terrace.”
Motion carried: 5-0
C7. Stop Sign on Beaumont Drive at Alta Vista Drive (CC)
The following members of the public spoke on the item:
• Phil Church
• Patty Baca
• Melody Booher-King
Motion by Fox, Second by O’Donnell to adopt City Council Resolution No. 2026-164, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Establishing a One-Way Stop Control at the Intersection of Alta Vista Drive and Beaumont Drive to Control Traffic from Beaumont Drive.”
Motion carried: 5-0
PUBLIC HEARING
PH1. CDBG 2025-2026 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) (CC)
Imelda Huerta, Assistant City Manager, introduced the item and Johannah Knieff, Management Analyst, provided staff’s report.
Gayle Martin spoke on the item.
Motion by O’Donnell, Second by Fox to close the public hearing and adopt City Council Resolution No. 2026-169, entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the Chartered City of Vista, California, Approving the 2025-2026 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report and Authorizing the Submittal of the Report to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.”
Motion carried: 5-0
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PH2. Amendments to Municipal Code and Development Code Regarding Cannabis Distributors (Type 11) (CC)
Joe Vacca, Director of Community Development, introduced the item and provided staff’s report.
The following members of the public spoke in opposition to the item:
• Aaron Garcia
• Carina Delgado
• Madison Rapp (via Zoom)
• Barbara Gordon (via Zoom)
• Becky Rapp (via Zoom)
City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• City Councilmembers set the number of Type 11 licenses as one per 10,000 residents. This limit includes the existing two Type 11 license holders. • The licenses will be available for any business to apply, not just the current retailer license holders. Applications will be processed in the order they are received.
Once the limit has been reached, a notice will be posted when a distributor has ended their license and a license is available to another applicant. • The City has funded prevention programs and is actively working to address any concerns regarding cannabis retailers.
Motion by Fox, Second by O’Donnell to close the public hearing and introduce and adopt Ordinance No. 2026-08, entitled, “An Ordinance to Amend Vista Municipal Code Chapter 5.98, Licensing of Cannabis Testing, Distribution, and Manufacturing Facilities, and Vista Development Code Chapters 18.35, 18.38, 18.44, and 18.46, Regarding Cannabis Distributors (Type 11)” and allow for one per 10,000 residents for Type 11 licenses.
Motion carried: 5-0
DISCUSSION
D1. Council Roadmap: Local Control, Oversight and Restrictions on Mass Surveillance Technology (CC)
Councilmember Contreras introduced the item.
The following members of the public spoke on the item:
• Barbara
• Kenneth Zuniga
• Lord Farquaad aka Anthony Rouse
• Elijah Barnes
• Noemi Ramirez (via Zoom)
• Sarah Ross (via Zoom)
• Lilian Serrano (via Zoom)
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City Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Councilmember Contreras proposed direction to staff as follows: 1. Create a report of surveillance technology the City owns or has access to, including data-sharing agreements with the Sheriff, county, state, or federal agencies; 2. Draft an ordinance titled “Prohibition on City Acquisition, Use, and Support of Mass Surveillance Technology”; 3. Create an independent inventory of Automated License Plate Readers (“ALPR”) camera locations within the City and within the City’s “Sphere of Influence” and to create a GIS map layer of these camera locations; 4. Prepare a comparative briefing of what other cities or counties have done to establish more control, oversight, and restrictions on mass surveillance technologies; and 5. Schedule public workshops for public discussion and policy co-creation.
• City Councilmembers discussed Councilmember Contreras’ proposal. Consensus was reached to support the proposal and have further discussion. Councilmember Fox stated his preference for staff to prepare a comparative briefing and conduct public workshops before drafting an ordinance.
• City Councilmembers discussed seeing the benefits of ALPRs but acknowledge that regulations need to be established.
• City Councilmembers discussed the potential impacts that a ban of surveillance technologies would have on law enforcement.
Discussed local control, oversight and restrictions on mass surveillance technology and directed staff to research and inventory surveillance technologies within the City and surrounding areas, prepare draft ordinance regarding regulation of surveillance technologies, and schedule public workshop for public discussion on surveillance technology policy.
No vote taken.
REMARKS
Councilmember Katie Melendez encouraged residents to attend Cyclovia on September 26 in downtown Vista.
Councilmember Corinna Contreras invited residents to participate in the Bobier Neighborhood Park Plan Review on September 24; will be attending the SANDAG awards where the City is a recipient of an award; and will be on the celebration bike ride of the Phase 3 completion of Inland Rail Trail to Cyclovia.
Deputy Mayor Dan O’Donnell announced the Fire Department will be hosting a series of open houses in the month of October to celebrate Fire Prevention Month.
Mayor Franklin thanked the Buena Vista Creek cleanup volunteers.
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ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Franklin adjourned the meeting at 8:20 p.m.
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Kathy Valdez, City Clerk