Unlike many cities in California, Vista has not suffered a structural deficit that has forced it to cut back on city services and pursue an additional sales tax increase to balance the books. However, the priorities of those seeking two open seats on the Vista City Council are much the same as they are in municipalities facing more dire fiscal headwinds.
Public safety, especially regarding homelessness, and maintenance of shared civic resources figured significantly in the concerns of candidates competing for Vista’s District 2 and District 3 seats.
Incumbent Joe Green is walking away from his spot on the dais representing northeastern District 2, providing an open field for newcomers Jeff Fox and Anthony White. Incumbent Katie Melendez seeks her first re-election after serving a four-year term that started in 2020, representing District 3 which straddles state Route 78, generally west of Melrose Drive, including the county courthouse and jail complex. She faces challenger Denisse Barragan, a local business owner.
One of the council’s significant tasks in the coming four years will be working with Solutions for Change, the Vista-based nonprofit that runs a holistic life transformation program for families experiencing homelessness, regarding its plans for Green Oak Ranch. The bucolic 100-acre property became a bit of a public opinion lightning rod over the summer when the county announced its hopes to turn the last large and undeveloped parcel in the city into a mental health care and substance abuse treatment hub.
Solutions for Change plans to move much of its operations to the property and expand its 700-day vocational program there, meaning some parts of the property will be redeveloped, and there will be more people living there for longer durations than has been the case with its current use, which includes summer camps and private and public events. Increasing Green Oak’s intensity of use was a big part of the push-back from residents, and Solutions will need to work with the City Council to execute its vision for the property, which currently hosts many events from weddings to camps for kids.
Asked Monday whether they approve of the plans that Solutions for Change has put forward, Barragan and Fox responded. Both voiced their support.
Noting that he grew up on the property, Fox said that he was happy that the city has retained some local control of what happens there.
“Solutions for Change has been an amazing asset for our city in getting people off the streets and has a lot of success already,” Fox said. “Hopefully, with this additional land, they will be able to expand their successful model to more of our residents.”
“Ultimately, I believe that residents should have a say in what goes into their neighborhoods, and I’m proud that our community’s voices were heard, preventing the county’s mental health hub proposal from moving forward,” Barragan added.
Candidates were also asked to share their top three priorities:
Jeff Fox, owner of Fox Media, a digital marketing and video production company, works exclusively with small businesses operating a “hub” in downtown Vista.
Top-three issues: Public safety, especially regarding Vista having “one of the highest violent crime rates in North County, influenced heavily by local youth gangs and drugs,” and “the least Deputies per capita out of all of the North County contract cities.” Investing in housing and infrastructure, which “will create a huge strain on our infrastructure unless we properly plan for it,” and economic development “to streamline the process for opening a business here and create a culture of getting it done at City Hall.”
Anthony White works in financial services for Navy Federal Credit Union. He is a Marine Corps veteran and has worked extensively with organizations advocating for affordable housing and other initiatives fighting homelessness.
Top three issues: Promoting affordable housing by “streamlining the approval process for housing developments and expanding programs for first-time homebuyers,” increasing public safety by pushing for “expanded funding for our fire and police departments,” and “better traffic management and enforcement to reduce speeding, running red lights and accidents,” and infrastructure modernization ” to secure state and county funding to improve our city’s roads, sidewalks, and facilities.”
Denisse Barragan is co-owner of auto collision repair center Fix Auto Vista and was named Businessperson of the Year in 2023 by the Vista Chamber of Commerce. She also serves on the chamber’s board of directors.
Top three issues: Public safety and safe routes to school, especially “speeding and unsafe conditions along Emerald Drive, near schools and parks “and Olive Avenue, “which have been ignored for far too long.” Creating a “business friendly environment” by “strengthening downtown businesses and our business Park as well as supporting Latino and small businesses.” Addressing homelessness with “a balanced approach that supports both shelter services and programs addressing mental health and addiction.”
Katie Melendez is a former social worker and Vista deputy mayor. She was elected to the Vista city Council in 2020. She represents Vista on the San Diego Association of Governments board of directors and the League of California Cities housing and homelessness committee.
Top three issues: Homelessness, including efforts to address this issue and which “I have been able to bring in over $10M in homelessness grant funds for programs like rental assistance and our new homeless shelter,” public safety infrastructure “from pedestrian crossings so kids can get to school safely to securing $1.8M in street lights” and climate action which has included bringing “100% renewable energy to our city” through the clean energy alliance and” and leading “our city to ban pesticides in the parks.”
