Some challengers have expressed concerns or questions about the direction of our great city. They cite the below issues:
1-Traffic
2-Building affordable apartments
3-Marijuana dispensaries of Measure Z
4-Sanctuary City/State status
5-Homeless population crisis
6-Graffiti and petty crimes
7-Climate Action Plan
8-Bike trails, dog park,
9-Public Art
10-Parks to keep pace with population growth
11-Communication
12-Sidewalks and safe routes to school

UPON FURTHER REVIEW!   Do not let their headlines mislead you.

1-Most of the traffic is cut through from neighboring cities as they grow and as they commute to the 24,000 jobs in our south Vista Business Park. The city has approved the purchase of a traffic management program to coordinate lights and help process traffic through the city. Forty-seven percent of big projects are non housing (Dealership, motel, storage, car wash, eating establishments, office buildings, etc.).  The city website indicates 60 projects over the last 15 years. The population of Vista has increased only 1.5% per year since 2000 (89857-101659). The population increase for residents having kids is almost all of that.

2-The state of California has mandated that cities provide a certain number of affordable apartments or they will intervene and bypass the city zoning and planning guidelines. Vista has approved, built or considering the following:

545 Multi-family apartments 25%

817 Attached condos 38%

264 Detached condos 13%

518 Single family houses 24%

59% of projects have been/will be north of Route 78 and 41% south of Route 78.

349 affordable units
62 Senior housing units

3-Marijuana measure Z is not what the voters thought they were getting when they signed a petition nor when they voted in the poll. It is a marijuana industry initiative, written for them, minimizing local control and opening up where the 11 dispensaries could go.

4-The city will not have a vote on SB 54. The local vote was to support the opposition to becoming a sanctuary state which would ignore federal enforcement of immigration laws.

5-The Homelessness crisis is multi-faceted, which needs local, county, state and federal intervention. The city supports Solutions for Change, Operation Hope and North County Lifeline in providing options. The city opposes the closing of the psychological unit at Tri-City Hospital.

6-Vista implemented Access Vista app to make it convenient for residents to report any concerns they see, send a photograph, and get a memo when it has been completed. We now have over 500 sets of eyes monitoring, reporting and achieving correction. Every citizen can download and utilize the App for Android or Apple mobile devices.

7-Vista’s Climate Action Plan was developed in 2013 and is currently being updated with public input through public reviews with the community, Planning Commission and City Council.

8-The city is working with the county and state to complete the rail trail beside the Sprinter line. It is now completed from Escondido to San Marcos. The Trail to Mar Vista Drive in Vista will be completed in the Summer of 2019. Additional work is being done on other parts of the trail that will eventually connect to the Oceanside coast. The city is working on additional grants to complete the remaining miles. Vista has approved off leash all day at the South Buena Vista Park. An additional dog park is under review at Bub Williamson Park, but many neighbors object.

9-The Vista Public Arts Commission is doing a great job on many projects, like the Kites Over Vista program.  The Commission is supported by the existing council.

10-The Vista General Plan has a mandate to expand parks with the rate of population growth. Vista is presently in compliance with that plan and are continually reviewing potential future sites.

11-Communication concerns are centered on development and general information. The city is addressing the issue as follows:
➖All meetings are posted and the general public can speak on agenda items for current meetings as well as speak on any subject for future meetings (no council/commission/board discussion or vote can take place).
➖Every resident can sign up to get a monthly newsletter of updates.
➖The following process is followed for every major project:
A-The development is posted on the city web site. A map with all large projects is always available.
B- A big  yellow sign is placed on the site being proposed for development to alert neighbors and passer-byes.
C- If an EIR (Environmental Impact Report) is required, the public has an opportunity to provide input.
D-A letter is sent via USPS to neighbors within 1000 feet of the development.
E-If the approval can be made at the staff level, a noticed public meeting is scheduled, with the residents invited.
F-If the development is housing, an Early Design Review (EDR) is scheduled for community and Planning Commission input prior to developing proposed plans.
G-The Planning Commission will schedule a noticed public meeting to consider the proposal. All public input is welcomed. The Commission can approve some projects but certain changes must go to the City Council for approval.                                                                   H-All decisions can be challenged with a review by the City Council, as they are the final decision makers.                                                                                                                                         I-The City Council conducts public meetings to define future goals for the city. The Council meets with the commissioners as a group over dinner to discuss the past years accomplishments and to improve relationships and communication. The Mayor presents an annual State of the City at the scheduled Vista Chamber of Commerce event.
12-The City and The Vista Unified School District work closely to improve safety of children walking to school.

Bottom line?   Why vote against the incumbents?  No good reason.   It’s just politics.

 

🔵🔹Measure Z is so bad that proponents either did not read it thoughtfully, did not read the objective legal perspective completely, are basing their support on a bogus poll (did they study the poll and ALL that Vista participants required for support), or they refuse to see all the evidence supporting how bad it can get. Either reason is not acceptable to get my vote. Proponents major platform for support seems to be financial, although the passage could have a very negative financial impact on Vista, long term.

🔵🔹Past accomplishments are the best predictor of future performance.
New businesses and jobs over the past few years include: Mossy BMW of Vista, Living Spaces, John Deere Water, Hyatt and Marriott hotels and soon to be constructed Honda dealership; generating funds that provide for fire and sheriff’s services, as well as other city services that keep the city operating.

• Over 6,500 pothole repairs annually, 172 miles of sewer lines cleaned every three years, and graffiti removal within 48 hours of notification. The Paseo Santa Fe Phase I Improvements were completed in 2016 and Phase II is under construction. Vista has the emerging distinction as the micro brewery capital of North County.
• The crime rate is at a twenty year low.
• Added Access Vista for improved reporting and delivery of services
• New ambulance added
• Our fire department received a full accreditation of compliance with national standards of performance that only few in California have accomplished.
• Over $14 million invested in road projects and other public works infrastructure over the past five years.
• Initiated Strategic Collaboration efforts to bring prosperity to the North County region with cities of Carlsbad, Escondido, Oceanside, and San Marcos which resulted in Innovate 78 efforts.
• Vista’s Business Park growth of over 900 local, national, and global companies employing over 24,000 people. The occupancy of the park is 97%.
• The city unemployment rate is less than 3%.
• Increased emergency reserves to 29% of annualized budget for a rainy day fund.
• Collaborating and using resources regionally with adjoining cities and Sheriff on gang suppression.
• Homeless Master Plan was initiated with the goal of ending homelessness in the area.
• Completion of major public improvement projects:
• Vista Civic Center constructed with one-stop customer service center.
• Three new fire stations constructed (*remodel of Station No. 1).
• Vista Sports Park built for youth and adult sports field programs
• Two new skate parks constructed.
• Most parks have seen major upgrades, new shade covers and bridge to make parks more accessible and more user friendly
• State of the Art Moonlight Amphitheatre constructed.
• General Plan and Zoning map updated.
• Climate Action Plan being updated.
• Historic downtown area experienced revival with new businesses and tourism opportunities.
• Vista was one of the first cities in San Diego County to require employees to contribute their full share (8%) towards their pension costs.
• Vista established itself as a Charter City, saving Vista tax payers millions in city construction expenses.
• 27-acre Vista Village downtown district established.

Regional / State Government Involvement
• North County Mayors and Managers
• SANDAG Board of Directors since 1998
• SANDAG Transportation Committee, currently Vice Chair
• SANDAG Borders Committee (past member)
• SANDAG Regional Planning Committee (past member)
• Encina Wastewater Authority, Chair
• North County Transit District (past member, chair two years)
• League of California Cities (past member)
• North County Regional Gang Task Force Committee
• Five City Mayor’s Innovate 78 Partnership
Community Involvement
• Vista Chamber of Commerce
• American Legion Auxiliary
• Elks Club Member
• Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary
• Vista Community Clinic Board of Trustees
• North San Diego County Board of Realtors member
• Vista Downtown Master Plan Committee
• Solutions for Change Leadership Board
• Alta Vista Gardens Member
• Comerciantes Latinos Association Member
• Community Development Association Member
• Historical Society Member
• Friends of the Library Member
• Vista Village Business Association (one of founders and past member /chair)
• Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors (past member)
• Vista Rotary (past member)
• Sunrise Kiwanis (past member)
• Shadowridge Rotary (past member)
🔵🔹My unidentified inner prompt
tells me leadership change will be neutral at best, and potentially very harmful. We are fortunate that all of the candidates seem to possess deontological ethics, which is my first qualifier. I then consider their track record, their vision and my confidence that good things will happen under new leaders. Without a candidates track record, we would be voting in the dark. After watching each candidate forum, I would like to be a friend or neighbor with each of the candidates for Mayor or City Council. However, I love my family but would not vote for them just because of those feelings. I have been fortunate to see our incumbents in action during my past 20 years of volunteering, and have observed their future vision, positive actions, and fanatical finishing of goals.

Vote for Judy Ritter for Mayor, John Aguilera for District 1 City Council and John Franklin for District 4 City Council.
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