Frequently Asked Questions
City Hall | Mayor and City Council | Commission, Board & Committee | City Codes | Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) | Law Enforcement | Weed and Seed | New Capital Projects
How do I know when City Hall is open?
Vista City Hall is open Monday through Thursday and every other Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. To find out which Fridays and Holidays City Hall is closed, you can check the calendar on the City's website home page.
How do I participate in a City Council meeting?
Any member of the public may address the governing bodies for three minutes on agency related matters that are not on the agenda by submitting an Oral Communications slip to the Clerk Secretary. The Mayor Chairperson will call the speakers forward at the appropriate time. Click here to download "A Citizen’s Guide to the City Council Meeting Process"
Are the Council meetings televised?
Yes, Council meetings are shown on cable television - Fridays at 5 p.m. on Cox Communications (Channel 19).
How do I contact the Mayor or a member of the City Council?
You can write the Mayor or City Council at:
Name of Elected Official
City of Vista
600 Eucalyptus Avenue
Vista, CA 92084
or
Contact Ms. Doris Calvo, Secretary to the City Council, at (760) 639-6130 to schedule an appointment.
How do I apply for a position on a commission, board or committee?
Applications are available in the City Clerk’s office, or from the City’s website here. For questions or comments, please contact the City Clerk’s office at (760) 639-6125.
How do I report a housing code or property maintenance violation?
Please call the City at 760-726-1340 ext. 1606. For other violations, please see the “Who Ya Gonna Call” ("A Quien va a Ilamar") flyer for the phone numbers of the City of Vista and other agencies that can help.
How do I report a noise violation?
Please call the City at 760-940-4551. For other violations, please see the “Who Ya Gonna Call” ("A Quien va a Ilamar") flyer for the phone numbers of the City of Vista and other agencies that can help.
How do I report graffiti?
To report graffiti anywhere within the City of Vista, call the Graffiti Hotline at (760) 726-1340 ext. 1611. Make sure to note the address where the graffiti is located and what type of surface/object is painted.
If your private property or business is tagged by graffiti, take a picture of the graffiti then report the vandalism to the Sheriff’s Department Graffiti Officer at (760) 597-2603. Once you file a report, you have seven days to paint over the vandalism with a matching paint color.
If you witness any suspicious activity or have information regarding graffiti, please contact the Sheriff’s Department at (760) 940-4987 or 911 if it is an emergency. You may be eligible for an award of up to $1,000 for information leading to the conviction of those involved in graffiti activities.
How do I get information on an obtaining an ABC (Alcohol Beverage Control) license?
Please see the information and application on the city’s website under ABC.
Who provides the City’s police services?
Law enforcement is provided by the San Diego Sheriff's Department, who is under contract with the City. The Sheriff's Department provides a full range of services from a station, substation and a storefront office within the city. These services include general patrol, investigations, narcotics and gang investigations, crime prevention, juvenile intervention, community policing and administrative services. Other specialized functions are available to the city through the Sheriff's Department. Some of the specialty investigative areas include homicide investigations, helicopter patrols, SWAT teams, bomb and arson investigations, fraud and forgery investigations, and licensing investigations.
How do I contact the Sheriff’s Department in an emergency?
For emergencies that threaten life or property and require immediate attention, please call 911.
How do I contact the Sheriff’s Department in a non-emergency?
Please see the ‘Who Ya Gonna Call’ ("A Quien va a Ilamar") flyer that details who to call in specific non-emergencies (such as reporting graffiti, dangerous animals, car/building alarms, etc.).
How do I find information on Megan's Law?
Please visit the Megan’s Law State of California Department of Justice Website.
How do I form a Neighborhood Watch program?
Neighborhood Watch programs are administered through the Sheriff's Department Crime Prevention Division. For more information, please call (760) 966-3586.
What is the Weed and Seed Program?
Weed and Seed is a strategy within the U.S. Department of Justice- Office of Justice Programs that incorporates an innovative and comprehensive multi-agency approach to law enforcement, crime prevention, and community. The Weed and Seed strategy aims to prevent, control, and reduce violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity in targeted high-crime neighborhoods across the country. The strategy involves a two-pronged approach: law enforcement agencies cooperate in "weeding out" criminals and "seeding" brings services and resources to the target area. For more information, please visit the city’s Weed and Seed website.
What is the Vista target area for Weed and Seed?
In February 2002, the City of Vista became recognized as an official Weed and Seed site. The target area is the area known as “Townsite”. The Townsite neighborhood is bordered by Escondido Ave, E., Vista Way, Bobier Drive, N. Melrose Dr., and (roughly) Lado de Loma Drive. Townsite is a densely populated area whose residents face social and economic challenges. The Weed and Seed program provides the framework for strategies aimed at improving the quality of life for Townsite residents.
How can I get involved in Weed and Seed?
If you would like to become involved or would like more information, please contact Kathy Valdez, Community Outreach Programs Manager, at 760-597-2607.
Where do I find out about the new high-priority Capital Projects?
Updates on these projects, including press releases and RFQ's issued, are posted on the city's Capital Projects website. These projects are made possible because of increased revenue provided by Proposition L, a half-cent sales tax increase approved by Vista voters on in November 2006. For more information on the sales tax, please visit the city's Vista Sales Tax Information website.