Stay Tuned: Old Town Improvements Ahead

September 18, 2013

A number of initiatives and projects with an Old Town focus are in the works. Have you noticed?… Over the summer, the City’s contractor, Granite Construction, repaved Hollister Avenue between Fairview and Kinman Avenues. The City has heard many comments of appreciation for this much–needed upgrade.

OWNERSHIP OF THE GVCC The City took over ownership of the Goleta Valley Community Center (GVCC) earlier this year and performed a comprehensive seismic and ADA study of the property. A feasibility study has also been initiated for the GVCC and will occur over the next several months. The study will include: review of existing facilities; sizing of a suitable City Hall building on the existing site; an analysis of reuse opportunities; identification of site constraints; cost estimates for building construction and public improvements; and a conceptual design for a future City Hall and/or other civic and recreational uses. In addition, the study will also evaluate the acquisition of the adjacent maintenance and bus yard owned by the Goleta School District.

HOLLISTER AVENUE The Council met in August to learn about possible redesigns for Hollister Avenue between Kellogg and Fairview Avenues. Several alternatives were presented:

• Two-lane option with bike paths (thus removing two lanes of vehicle traffic)

• Four-lane option with reduced parking on the south side

• Four-lane option with a reduced center lane

• No change

Many people attended the meeting and voiced support and opposition to various elements of these plans. The Council asked staff to return with more information about the timelines and cost of the alternatives. Look for this item in the coming months to be on the City Council agenda.

SAN JOSE CREEK PROJECT The City’s contractor is hoping to have the San Jose Creek Project completed by the end of the year as work inside the creek will have to wrap up in October per environmental regulations. The completion of this project is expected to take over 200 parcels out of the flood plain (pending FEMA’s approval after phase two is completed). Additional work outside of the creek will include sidewalk improvements and landscaping.

SAFETY AT CROSSWALKS Public Works is in the process of designing an improvement to the crosswalk near the Wendy’s restaurant. This technology, called the HAWK system, is similar to a pedestrian activated signal but may be more appropriate for mid-block situations like this one. Design work is currently being completed with the goal of installing it by the end of the year.

MOVING FORWARD AFTER RDA Finally, construction drawings are in process for the Old Town Park. The City continues to work to clarify some ownership issues that have resulted from the loss of the redevelopment agency (RDA). Over $930,000 in grant money has been received for the project and the City hopes to break ground in 2014.

GET UPDATES! The City has established an Old Town Update email list and encourages you to sign up. This is part of our goal to better educate and inform the public. To sign up, visit our website.

Reflections on Goleta’s Progress

September 18, 2013

I have had the good fortune to serve the Good Land as City Manager for eight years now. Goleta is still an incredibly young city but our accomplishments in such a short period of time are truly remarkable. Our progress in enhancing our community’s quality of life is worth some added attention.

Public Safety

Goleta is well-served through our contract with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff ‘s Office and by Santa Barbara County Fire. Despite challenging economic times, our City Council has placed a high emphasis on meeting the changing needs of our community. Since incorporation, a Community Resource Deputy has been added and a School Resource Deputy and active Traffic Safety Unit have all been sustained. It should have been no surprise when, this past year, Goleta appeared in the Top 100 Safest Cities in the United States for communities with a population above 20,000.

Infrastructure

Large capital improvement projects take years to engineer and develop and millions of dollars to achieve. Goleta currently has more than 28 projects in the planning or construction stage at a cost of some $113 million. Yet only a fraction of those funds have come from local tax dollars as Goleta has successfully competed for grants and lobbied for state and federal assistance.

Roadway interchanges like the new Highway 101 overpass at Cathedral Oaks and Hollister or the new roundabout on Los Carneros and Calle Real are a few examples of the progress Goleta has made. These projects address better, more efficient circulation and safety for our motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. Enhanced crosswalks, new floodway improvements and street extensions are a few of the projects currently underway. Keeping our roads in top shape is one of the Council’s highest priorities as was demonstrated during our budget process when the Council added millions of dollars to our road maintenance budget.

Recreation

Goleta is fortunate to have an active regional park, Girsh Park, along with 16 parks, and a well-used community centering Old Town. Our City Council has had the vision and leadership to not only fund improvements at these current facilities and a future public skating rink, but they have also purchased land for a new active use park in Old Town. In addition, a Parks & Recreation Commission has recently been established.

Preservation and Open Space

As a coastal community, Goleta is blessed with natural resources and scenic beauty. Preserving our environment has been a core theme of our adopted General Plan and sets the stage for thoughtful and careful changes to our built environment. Not only did the City lead the way in acquiring over 140 acres of open space along our coastline, but we played a leading role in requiring UCSB to preserve 90 acres of coastal preserve.

Development

Goleta still has pockets of land that have been earmarked in our General Plan for future development. And growth always carries with it an element of controversy and concern, but the General Plan calls for urban infill projects—not suburban sprawl. Therefore, our City Council stood firmly against projects like the Bishop Ranch proposal and the conversion of Glen Annie Golf Course to housing. We also negotiated a beneficial agreement with the University to guarantee that they pay for public improvements as they grow.

Finally, the Council has also invested in economic development tools and in staff to help support our existing corporate business base to keep good paying jobs here in the area. We now have a partnership with the University and the Chamber to encourage entrepreneurship and local start-up companies to help them stay and grow in Goleta.

Public Outreach

As the City has grown up, the Council has emphasized the importance of keeping our community informed by hiring a dedicated Public Information Officer and incorporating numerous tools designed to educate and inform. Nextdoor, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, ProjectGoleta.com, and GoletaButterflyGrove.com are a few of the ways the City communicates.

When you consider that we have just come out of a deep recession, it is important to step back and view the City’s achievements. Our elected officials have brought vision and leadership to our young, healthy and safe community. I, for one, am proud to be a part of that success.

Good Stewardship in Action

September 18, 2013

The City of Goleta was once again honored for doing more with less with our Nextdoor.com program. 3CMA, the nationwide City-County Communications & Marketing Association presented the Silver Circle award to the City in the category of “Most Creative Activity with Least Dollars Spent”. This highly competitive process saw over 500 entries for 30 awards. With nearly 20% of the City’s households participating in the program, Goleta sees it as a great tool for its residents. The program was implemented for just $320 plus staff time. This equates to less than a penny per resident and a nickel per household.

City to Update Zoning Code

September 18, 2013

City to Update Zoning Code

The Planning and Environmental Review department’s Advance Planning division recently began the process of updating the City of Goleta’s Zoning Code. Through this extensive process, the City aims to create a zoning code that is clear, easy to understand and reflects the goals and character of our town. Why is the Zoning Code important? A zoning code is a collection of ordinances that guides city planning and development. Its purpose includes defining zoning districts, setting building standards and developing efficient permitting procedures. The City of Goleta inherited its current zoning code from Santa Barbara County. Written more than 30 years ago, this code is no longer a good match for our city and does not reflect the goals and character put forth in our General Plan.

How do I become involved in the process? Over the next two years, our citizens will have many opportunities to express their opinions during this collaborative process. These will include educational workshops, community meetings and public hearings.