Vista City Council · Nov 3, 2026
Katie Melendez
Councilmember, District 3; term 2024–2028City of Vista
Katie Melendez (Councilmember, District 3) is not on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot and will stay on the Vista City Council after the election.
District 3 councilmember first elected in 2020 and Vista's deputy mayor in 2024 and 2025. She serves on the SANDAG and Clean Energy Alliance boards of directors.
Where Katie Melendez stands: positions on the record
Immigration enforcement1 sourced position
Voted yes on the Community Safety and Due Process Resolution (passed 3-2, Nov. 2025).
Council voteVista City Council minutes, Nov. 18, 2025 (special meeting) · Nov 18, 2025
Sheriff's staffing1 sourced position
Voted yes on adding a gang detective to the Sheriff's Vista Station (passed 4-1, April 2026).
Council voteVista City Council minutes, April 28, 2026 · Apr 28, 2026
Protected bike lanes1 sourced position
Voted no on removing berms on S. Melrose Drive and Sycamore Avenue and pausing protected lanes on E. Vista Way (passed 3-2, June 2025).
Council voteVista City Council minutes, June 24, 2025 · Jun 24, 2025
Surveillance technology3 sourced positions
Voted yes on directing staff to gather crime data and license-plate-reader breach data before any decision on the Sheriff's SafeStreets program (passed 5-0, Aug. 2025).
Council voteVista City Council minutes, Aug. 26, 2025 · Aug 26, 2025
As reported by The Coast News; not a direct quote
Said she was strongly opposed to pole-mounted cameras in public spaces.
Forum answerThe Coast News · Sep 1, 2025
Said she had no information on how effective license plate readers are compared with their risks.
“I’m not a fan of making our community a guinea pig for anything”
Forum answerThe Coast News · Sep 1, 2025
Wave Waterpark3 sourced positions
As reported by The Coast News; not a direct quote
Said she is not opposed to seeking outside proposals for the Wave later but does not see the need now.
Forum answerThe Coast News · Sep 15, 2025
Voted no on a motion for a cost analysis of Wave options and a list of non-negotiable terms for a potential lease (failed 2-2-1, Feb. 2025).
Council voteVista City Council minutes, Feb. 11, 2025 · Feb 11, 2025
Voted yes on adding Wave Waterpark repair funding to the capital budget and reinstating lap swimming (passed 5-0, Aug. 2025).
Council voteVista City Council minutes, Aug. 12, 2025 · Aug 12, 2025
Homelessness1 sourced position
Voted yes on preparing a one-year funding extension for the Buena Creek Navigation Center (passed 5-0, Aug. 2026).
Council voteVista City Council minutes, Aug. 25, 2026 · Aug 25, 2026
Housing costs1 sourced position
Voted yes on an agreement with Interfaith Community Services to run a senior tenant assistance program (passed 4-1, Aug. 2026).
Council voteVista City Council minutes, Aug. 11, 2026 · Aug 11, 2026
Past candidacies2 sourced positions
Ran for Vista City Council, District 3 in 2020 (won).
Council voteSan Diego County Registrar of Voters
Ran for Vista City Council, District 3 in 2024 (won).
Council voteSan Diego County Registrar of Voters
What Katie Melendez said vs. how Katie Melendez voted
Surveillance technology
In their words
Said she had no information on how effective license plate readers are compared with their risks.
Sep 1, 2025 ·The Coast News · Sep 1, 2025
On the record
Voted yes on directing staff to gather crime data and license-plate-reader breach data before any decision on the Sheriff's SafeStreets program (passed 5-0, Aug. 2025).
Aug 26, 2025 ·Vista City Council minutes, Aug. 26, 2025 · Aug 26, 2025
On the ballot this time
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