City of Vista Promotes Natalie Jacobs to Deputy City Manager
We’re excited to announce the promotion of Human Resources Director Natalie Jacobs to the position of Deputy City Manager! In her new role, she joins the city’s executive leadership team alongside City Manager John Conley and Assistant City Manager Imelda Huerta.
Natalie brings more than 22 years of public service experience, including more than 18 years in progressively responsible human resources leadership positions. She holds a master’s degree in management and leadership, a bachelor’s degree in human resource management, and an associate degree in accounting.
As Deputy City Manager, Natalie will assist with the direction and coordination of assigned city departments and divisions, oversee special projects, and help develop and implement policies supporting the City Council’s goals and priorities.
“Vista has been an important part of my professional journey, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving this community in a broader capacity,” Natalie shared. “I look forward to bringing my experience, energy, and commitment to this role while working alongside our employees, city leadership, community partners, and residents. I am excited about what we can accomplish together as we build on the great work already underway and continue moving Vista forward.”
Wildfire Risk and Hot Weather
Stay alert and keep cool, Vista! This upcoming week, take necessary precautions to stay cool and monitor the hot weather. Cool Zones are available in Vista; you and your loved ones can go to the Gloria McClellan Senior Center (1400 Vale Terrace Dr.) and the Vista Library (700 Eucalyptus Ave.) for a safe space to cool down.
The region should anticipate an increased wildfire risk beginning this weekend and extending through all of next week. Prepare your family for emergency situations by having a to-go kit ready, reviewing your evacuation plan, and making sure you’re signed up to receive evacuation alerts/warnings (click here to sign up for Ready San Diego).
Visit our webpage to learn about emergency preparedness from Vista Fire Rescue (VFR).
Vista STABLE Program
The new Vista STABLE (Senior Tenant Assistance for Balanced Living Expenses) program provides partial rental assistance to eligible low-income Vista seniors. The first application period for this rental assistance program closes October 26. Ten seniors will be chosen to participate in this first round of applications.
Who qualifies for Vista STABLE? Those eligible include individuals age 65 years or older and have a disability, live in a rental unit within city limits, be the leaseholder or have legal tenancy, and not currently receive rental assistance from another program.
For income and financial requirements, click here to view the Vista STABLE flyer (available in both English and Spanish).
For more information, visit www.interfaithservices.org. Interfaith can be contacted at (760) 489-6380, or via email at getservices@interfaithservices.org.
Click here for more information
What You Need to Know:
Campaign Signs in Public Right-of-Way
As of September 29, 2026, campaign signs for the November 3, 2026 election can be posted in the public right-of-way.
Temporary Signs During Campaign Election Periods:
The following excerpts are from the Vista Municipal Code §12.20.080 and §18.52.060 pertaining to candidate signage throughout the city.
A. Provided that the requirements of paragraph (B) are satisfied, temporary signs during election periods may be placed on City property that is part of a public right of way dedicated to the City.
B. Signs authorized by this section must satisfy all of the following requirements:
1. The sign may not be located on a roadway median or any portion of the right of way designed for vehicular use.
2. The sign shall not be placed or affixed to any trees, utility poles, traffic signs and devices, concrete, pavement, or any publicly maintained fixtures within any public right of way, or in any manner that presents a hazard or threat to public safety as determined by the City Engineer.
3. Placement and maintenance of the sign within a parkway strip may occur only with the consent of the person or entity which owns that parkway strip.
4. The sign may not exceed six square feet (measured one side).
5. The sign shall not be erected, installed, placed or maintained by any person prior to 35 days preceding any federal, state, or local election, and shall be removed, by the person responsible for placing or installing such sign, within 5 days following such election.
6. Signs may not be placed in a manner that presents a hazard or threat to public safety as determined by the City Engineer.
Political Signs on Utility Poles: San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) Company’s General Counsel warns that tacking election campaign signs on power poles is prohibited by the California Criminal Code and anyone who does so can face criminal prosecution.
Temporary Political Signs Outside City’s Jurisdiction: There are areas in the city that fall outside the City’s jurisdiction and may be under the control of CALTRANS, the State, County, or Federal government. For example, the freeway right-of-way is part of CALTRANS’ jurisdiction and no temporary political sign shall be placed within 660 feet of the edge of, and visible from, the right-of-way of a landscaped freeway. Please be aware that it is up to each candidate to fully investigate each jurisdictional issue to determine which public entity’s laws or rules controls the placement of signs.
Vista Voters to Decide Mayor, District 1, & District 4 Seats in 2026
Vista’s next General Municipal Election will be held on Tues., November 3, 2026, with voters deciding races for Mayor and City Council seats in Districts 1 and 4. Municipal elections are held every even-numbered year and are consolidated with the State General Election.
Eligible California residents who are U.S. citizens and at least 18 years old may register to vote online through the San Diego County Registrar of Voters or the Secretary of State. Voters may check or update their registration at sdvote.com. The registration deadline for the November 3 election is October 19, 2026. Conditional voter registration will be available after the deadline through the County Registrar of Voters.
Vista will host two vote centers. The Morris B. Vance Community Room (200 Civic Center Dr.) will be open October 24 through November 3, and the Gloria McClellan Senior Center (1400 Vale Terrace Dr.) will be open October 31 through November 3. A full list of vote centers and ballot drop boxes will be available at sdvote.com.
Hand-delivered ballots must be received by the close of polls on November 3. Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before November 3 and received by the San Diego County Registrar of Voters by November 10.Click for the San Diego County Registrar of Voters website
Inland Rail Trail Phase 3 Now Complete & Cyclovia Recap
Saturday, September 26 was quite the cycling-centric morning in the City of Vista! SANDAG officially opened Phase 3 of the Inland Rail Trail (IRT), a multiuse path that runs through the cities of Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos, Escondido, and a portion of the unincorporated County of San Diego. Phase 3 of the trail spans from Mar Vista Drive to Civic Center Dr. and, like the rest of the trail, is physically separated from vehicle traffic to accommodate bike, pedestrian, and other nonmotorized traffic.
In addition to the opening of the Inland Rail Trail, Vista hosted its 3rd annual Cyclovia event Downtown. Live at this event were bike rodeos, e-bike test rides, community rides, a BMX stunt show, local musicians, community organizations, and more! This year was once again well-attended by our community and brought out many experienced and new riders to our open streets. Thank you all for attending and participating, and we’re looking forward to seeing you next year!
Want to learn more about cycling in Vista and around the County? Join the San Diego County Bike Coalition at their upcoming Advocacy Committee meeting on Saturday October 3rd at Kung Fu Noodle (1233 E. Vista Way), from 12-1:30 p.m. They will be discussing Bike Coalition updates, the SANDAG Bike Program, and Vista’s Sustainable Mobility Plan, which is currently in development. If you have any questions, please reach out to Ian Hembree at ian@sdbikecoalition.org Learn more about the Inland Rail Trail (IRT)
Vista Fire Rescue’s 1st Open House: Tomorrow, October 3!
Vista Fire Rescue’s 2026 Open Houses take place each Saturday, starting TOMORROW October 3 through November 7, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Activities and demonstrations will be set up throughout the event, so make sure to stop by each one!
Kids who complete the passport book earn a Vista Fire Rescue Junior Firefighter Badge and an exclusive Halloween Sticker! Your kiddos can participate by picking up a passport book at the Welcome and Information Table, collecting a sticker at all five Activity Stops, then bringing their completed book back to the Welcome and Information Table to claim their prize.
Open House activities include fire hose demonstrations, firefighter gear demonstrations, fire engine tours, and more!
We’ll see you tomorrow, October 3, at Fire Station 1 (175 N. Melrose Dr.) at 11 a.m.!
Add the 2026 Open Houses to your calendar!
Don’t Let FOG Clog the Flow
Did you know? Sewage goes to the sewer line and gets treated, while stormwater flows directly to our local waterways without any treatment.
Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) can cause serious problems when poured down the kitchen sink. As they cool, they harden and build up inside your pipes, and over time this can cause a complete blockage, leading to sewer backups in your home and in the surrounding neighborhood.
Simple steps to keep FOG out of your drain:
- Instead of pouring fats, oil, or grease down the drain, cool it, then scrape it into the trash.
- Scrape food scraps and grease off dishes and pans into the trash before washing.
- Use a strainer in your sink to catch particles and grease before they go down the drain.
- Dispose of produce labels and stickers in the trash, not down the drain.
When FOG clogs the sewer system, it can cause backups and overflows that reach our storm drains, flowing untreated straight into local waterways. Keep FOG out of the drain to protect your home and our waterways. If you observe something being dumped into the storm drain or street, or observe water running into the street, please report this to the water quality hotline. You can call the hotline: (760) 643-2804, or use the online Report a Problem form, or by email: waterquality@vista.gov
City of Vista Events
VFR Open House: Fire Station 1
Date: October 3 – Time: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Location: Fire Station 1, 175 N. Melrose Dr. Admission: FREE
Integrated Weed Management Public Seminar
Date: October 7 – Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual (Zoom webinar)
Admission: Free, but registration is required.
VFR Open House: Fire Station 2
Date: October 10 – Time: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Location: Fire Station 2, 1050 Valley Dr. – Admission: FREE
E-Bike Training: Practical Training Session
Date: October 17 Time: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Location: Vista Civic Center, 200 Civic Center Dr. – Admission: FREE
VFR Open House: Fire Station 3
Date: October 17 – Time: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Location: Fire Station 3, 1962 E. Vista Way – Admission: FREE
VFR Open House: Fire Station 4
Date: October 24 – Time: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Location: Fire Station 4, 2121 Thibodo Road – Admission: FREE
Date: October 30 – Time: 5-9 p.m. (Trick-or-Treating ends 8 p.m., Haunted House closes 9 p.m.)
Location: Downtown Vista Village Admission: FREE (except for the Haunted House)
VFR Open House: Fire Station 5
Date: October 31 Time: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Location: Fire Station 5, 2009 S. Melrose Dr. – Admission: FREE
VFR Open House: Fire Station 6
Date: November 7 – Time: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Location: Fire Station 6, 651 E. Vista Way – Admission: FREE
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
Click this link for the City of Vista’s Calendar
Community Events
Date: October 4 – Time: 1-5 p.m.
Location: The Commons, 802 S. Santa Fe Ave.
Date: October 8 – Time: 4-7 p.m.
Location: Arcadia Place, 1080 Arcadia Ave. – Admission: Donations, Raffle entries
Date: October 10 – Time: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Location: Alta Vista Botanical Gardens, 1270 Vale Terrace Dr. – Admission: FREE
Date: October 11 – Time: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Location: The Commons, 802 S. Santa Fe Ave. – Admission: FREE
The Tell All- A Public Event for Writers
Date: October 13 – Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Location: The Commons, 802 S. Santa Fe Ave.
Admission: $5 for general admission, free for members
Date: October 17 – Time: 1-6 p.m.
Location: Vista Gazebo parking lot, 102 S. Indiana St. – Admission: FREE
Date: Every Saturday – Time: 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
Location: Vista Courthouse Parking Lot, 345 S. Melrose Dr.
Date: First Sunday of every month
Time: 1-5 p.m. – Location: The Commons, 802 S. Santa Fe Ave.
Popular Services
- Parks & Facilities Rentals
- Access Vista Mobile App (report issues and access City information and resources).
- Report a Problem
- McClellan Senior Center
- Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility
- Youth Recreation Programs
- Adult Recreation Programs
- Code Enforcement
- Housing & Homeless Services
- City of Vista Calendar
Coty of Vista 200 Civic Center Drive, Xista
