CITY NEWS

Vista City Council Meeting Set for Tuesday

Tuesday, April 14, 2026⁠ | 5:30 p.m.⁠

City Council Chambers at the Vista Civic Center, 200 Civic Center Dr.

▶️ Presentations

1). Proclamations recognizing the recipients of the 2025 City of Vista Employee Awards: John Torres (Mayor’s Excellence in Service), Chris Schuchardt (Manager of the Year), Shelby Caughron (Employee of the Year)

2). Proclamation declaring April 2026 as “Earth Month” in the City of Vista

▶️ Consent Calendar⁠

Please consult the agenda for the Consent Calendar, which can be enacted in one motion. Items removed from the calendar by the City Council or a member of the public will be considered individually by the Council.⁠

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▶️ Discussion Items

1). Agreement for Concession Services at the Moonlight Amphitheatre

2). Amendment to the Public Employees’ Retirement System Contract

3). Pension Funding Strategies to Address Unfunded Actuarial Liabilities

4). Street Lighting Assessment Project Update

5). The Circle Neighborhood Traffic Improvements

This meeting is accessible to all, and we invite you to participate in person or virtually.⁠ Click the agenda link below for more information on participating.

Click this Link to Access the City Council Meeting Agenda & Staff Reports

April is Arts and Creativity Month:

Join the Celebration

You're invited to join the City of Vista and Vista Public Arts Commission in celebrating local art by participating in one of the many featured April activities. From pop-up art workshops to exhibits to performances, there's something for everyone!

Bring the family to ShredTalk on Saturday, April 11 to meet skateboarding legends and learn more about the documentary featuring Vista and other SoCal skateboarders. ShredTalk is from 3-8 p.m. at the Avo Playhouse (303 Main St.).

Vista Unified School District's (VUSD) Visual Art Under the Stars Artist Reception will feature powerful artwork created by middle and high school students across the district. Explore pieces in Media Arts, Studio Arts, Ceramics, Design, Sculpture, Photography, and more. Stop by the Civic Center Gallery (200 Civic Center Dr., 2nd floor) on Wednesday, April 15, 4:30-6:30 p.m. to support their art and creativity.

Prefer expression through painting? Then we invite you to Inspirational Rock Painting at the Alta Vista Botanical Gardens on Tuesday, April 21, 3-4 p.m. This free, family-friendly experience invites participants to use uplifting designs, patterns, and positive messages to personalize and paint a rock they can either take with them or choose to transform a stone into artwork. Your personalized rock can either become part of the Alta Vista Botanical Garden's Inspirational Rock Garden, or you can take it home as a keepsake!

... and more!

Click to view the April Arts Month calendar

Summer Camps Are Just Around the Corner!

Make waves in your child's summer break by registering them for Splash Camps! These weekly camps at the Wave Waterpark are sure to be the highlight of their summer. Registration is open now, and weekly camps are from June 8 - August 7, M-F, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Head over to Thibodo Park for Playworks Camps, an opportunity to use Lego materials to put creativity and design skills to the test. Radical Rides is perfect for kids ages 5-8 and helps them learn about the engineering principles behind motors, gears, and everything that vrooms and zooms. Machine Mayhem is open to kids ages 8-12, and gives them experience in sparring with friends, overcoming obstacles, and applying real-world engineering concepts to help them bash and crash their way to victory! Both camps are from July 6-10 at the Thibodo Auditorium (1150 Lupine Hills Dr.).

Summer Day Camp at Brengle Terrace Park offers arts and crafts, sports, science activities, hiking, water play, guest presenters, and more. With camps for ages 3–11 and a Counselor in Training program for teens, there’s something for everyone. Camp runs from June 8th-August 7th, Monday - Friday, 7am–6pm and includes breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack at no extra cost. Different camps are offered depending on age, so check out all the options below:

Mini Explorers Camp 1 Calendar (Ages 3-5)

Explorers Camp 1 Calendar (Grades K-3)

Explorers Camp 2 Calendar (Grades 4-8)

Multi-Sports Camp 1 Calendar (Grades K-3)

Multi-Sports Camp 2 Calendar (Grades 4-8)

Scholarship Application Now Open

The City of Vista Youth Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to Vista youth for participation in City-approved recreational or enrichment activities. Click here to read about requirements and apply for a scholarship today.

Click here to register for summer camps today!

Senior Center: Drawing on Memory Class &

Everything About Avocados Lecture

Join public television cartoonist Mark Kistler for a free Drawing on Memory Art Class on April 15, 1-2:30 p.m. in the Azalea Room at the Gloria McClellan Senior Center! This fun How-to-Draw workshop for adults 55+ is designed to build skill, confidence, and brain power. Please register for this event at the Azalea building. All materials will be provided!

Ever wanted to know more about avocados? On Monday, April 27, 1-2 p.m. in the Azalea Room at the Senior Center, join Rob Crisell for his comedic and informative Avocados Lecture. Now's your chance to learn everything you ever wanted to know about avocados but were afraid to ask.

Click to read the Senior Center's April newsletter

Clean up the Community, Help the Environment

Join the City of Vista on Saturday, April 25, for the 24th Annual Creek to Bay Cleanup! Volunteer alongside community members and clean alongside city staff at the Buena Vista Creek Trail from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Volunteering is a impactful way to give back to your community while defending our waterways and meeting like-minded people.

Founded in 2002 by I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD), the Creek to Bay Cleanup is one of the largest single-day environmental action events in San Diego County. Over 100 cleanup sites will be hosted across the county, including our very own Buena Vista Creek Trail. Registration for this event is now open.

Click here to register for the Creek to Bay Cleanup

Adobe Days Summer Tours

This summer, embrace adventure and step back in time as you explore one of Vista's most cherished historic sites, the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe! Tour this beautifully preserved adobe home from the 1800s that offers a window into early California ranch life. This guided tour involves a hands-on weaving craft, is suitable for all ages, and makes a perfect summer family trip!

Tours are available Tuesdays and Thursdays this summer, from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., and are just $15 per person. We can't wait to see you at the Adobe (640 Alta Vista Dr.) this summer!

Click here to register for a summer tour

Protecting Vista's Stormwater System

Did you know protecting Vista's stormwater system starts at home? Stormwater runoff plays a vital part in carrying rainwater away from streets, neighborhoods, public spaces, and more. However, if best practices for stormwater safety are not followed, contaminants and debris can enter the runoff and direct those pollutants directly into local waterways.

How can residents help protect the stormwater system? You can do your part by managing irrigation runoff to avoid overwatering lawns/landscaping, as excess water can carry soil and fertilizers into storm drains and streets. Other key waste management practices include closing trash/recycling bin lids, not flushing wipes (even those labeled "flushable"), and putting oil/grease into the trash rather than kitchen drains.

Click here for more information & tips

Annual Landscape Contest

Are you proud of your water-efficient yard? Enter the WaterSmart Landscape Contest! Now until May 8, submit qualifying photos of your water-efficient landscape to be judged by WaterSmart judges. Basic judging criteria include overall attractiveness, efficient methods of irrigation, design, and appropriate plant selection and maintenance.

Per WaterSmart regulations: "To enter this contest, your water agency (to which you pay your water bill) must be a participating member." Click here for participating agencies. Winners from each participating water agency will receive a prize. WaterSmart offers submission tips and advice on ensuring your photos qualify.

Learn more & enter the landscape contest

CITY OF VISTA EVENTS

2026 Arbor Day Celebration & Earth Day Fest

🗓️ Date: April 18

⌚ Time: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

📍 Location: Brengle Terrace Park/Alta Vista Botanical Gardens

💲 Admission: FREE

Free Mulch & Compost
Self-serve event (bring your own containers, gloves, shovels)
No commercial vehicles allowed
Open-bed trucks must be covered with a tarp

🗓️ 1st and 3rd weekends every month

⌚ Time: Dawn to dusk

📍 Location: Vacant lot at Vale Terrace Dr. & Williamston St.

💲 Admission: FREE

E-Bike Training Class: Classroom Style and Practical Training

🗓️ Date: May 16

⌚ Time: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

📍 Location: Vista Civic Center Community Room, 200 Civic Center Dr.

💲 Admission: FREE

Click this link for the City of Vista's Calendar