VISTA — The City Council unanimously approved a new policy allowing residents to request new streetlights in their neighborhoods — or oppose them.
The policy is part of the ongoing Street Lighting Assessment Project, which completed its pilot phase in March 2025, according to a staff presentation at Tuesday evening’s council meeting.
During the pilot phase, the city installed 12 solar-powered streetlights in the neighborhood west of North Melrose Drive along Cocapah, Onley, Spires and Tatum streets. The city installed an additional 97 streetlights throughout Vista during the program’s second phase earlier this year.
The city has $1.3 million remaining in the project budget, enough to install approximately 121 additional streetlights. Staff reported that each light costs approximately $9,600.
Councilmember Corinna Contreras called it a “fantastic program.”
“I’m going to get to see a lot of lights in my district where they’ve been needed for a long time,” Contreras said. “… This is going to be great for safe routes to school … especially when we get to winter, and it gets dark sooner.”
Although residents can request or oppose new streetlights in their neighborhoods, the city also considers criteria including crime levels, existing lighting, vehicle collision rates, foot traffic, the absence of sidewalks and crosswalks, and public transportation corridors.
A map presented by staff showed that most of the new lights would likely be installed in the northern portions of the city.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the council approved:
- Development of a 19-home subdivision at 1800 Monte Vista Drive, with Contreras voting “no.”
- Acceptance of a $4.5 million state grant funded through Proposition 64, the 2016 ballot measure that legalized and taxed marijuana. The Vista Unified School District will use the money for marijuana prevention programs, while the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office will use its share for drug enforcement. The San Diego Association of Governments will oversee the grants and measure the effectiveness of the two programs.
- A $334,000 contract with Diamond Designs LLC to renovate the ballfields at Brengle Terrace Park.
- A $211,000 contract with RGC General Engineering Inc. for ongoing street, sidewalk, gutter and curb repairs throughout the city.
- A $172,000 disability settlement with former city firefighter-paramedic Matthew McComas.
