The City has a number of different Boards and Commissions for community members serve on. We encourage you to apply today for upcoming vacancies on the Planning Commission, Design Review Board, Parks and Recreation Commission, and Public Tree Advisory Commission. It’s a great way to get to know your city and be a part of helping to shape the future of Goleta. Apply here by January 4, 2021. Email CityClerkGroup@cityofgoleta.org for any questions.
The Planning Commission consists of five members who each serve a four-year term. The Planning Commission sits as a decision-making body on land use issues for the City. Their role is to review and take appropriate action on discretionary development applications and to make recommendations to the City Council regarding any proposed legislative actions, including the General Plan and its implementation, as required by law. The Planning Commission meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month starting at 6:00 p.m. Compensation is $100 per meeting. There will be four vacancies (two members will be re-applying, but the application process is open to all). To be eligible, applicants must reside within City limits and be a qualified elector.
Community members with an eye for design may be interested in applying for the Design Review Board (DRB). This seven-member body encourages development that uses the best professional design practices to enhance the visual aesthetics of the community and prevent poor quality of design. Vacancies will be for one (1) Licensed Architect, two (2) At-Large Members (must reside within City Limits), and one (1) at-Large Member. Of the four vacancies, three of the current members will be re-applying, but anyone in the community is invited to apply. Members are appointed to a three-year term. The DRB meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 3:00 p.m., and the position is compensated $50 per meeting.
Residents who spend time in the City’s parks and open space may be interested in our Parks and Recreation Commission. This seven-member Commission advises the City Council on all issues related to parks and recreational opportunities in Goleta. There will be three vacancies (two current members will be re-applying). All applicants must reside within City limits. The Parks and Recreation Commission meets every two months on the first Wednesday of every even month. Commissioners are compensated at the rate of $50 per meeting.
The Public Tree Advisory Commission provides advice to staff and the City Council in developing plans and goals for the Goleta Urban Forest, represents the interests of the community, and informs the community of the Urban Forestry program as directed by the City Council. There will be two vacancies (two current members will be re-applying). Eligible applicants must live within the City of Goleta. The Commission holds six regular meetings per year, and may hold additional meetings as necessary.
Put your skills to use in the community and apply today!
Karis Clinton, MLA, was reappointed to the Design Review Board (DRB). She has extensive landscape architecture training and experience in land stewardship, project management, event organization, master planning, permitting, landscape design, and art. Karis is working to create a sustainable local “green” economy based on watershed protection, renewal and ecological restoration. She teaches part time at Allen Hancock College to develop a network to train workers, fund projects, and create green jobs through healthy collaborations. She sits on the Board of Directors for the Santa Ynez Valley Botanical Gardens and is involved with revitalizing the ancient art of outdoor education.
Martha Degasis joins the DRB as a new member. She has been employed with Arcadia Studio (formerly Cunningham Design) since 1985. As Senior Associate of the firm, she has been involved in a broad range of landscape architectural projects, varying from site planning studies to commercial and residential design. Her areas of specialization include the design of children’s play areas, in both public and private settings, housing for the elderly and handicapped, multi-family housing, and horticultural research and implementation. During her tenure with the firm, she has participated in design and preparation of construction documentation of over thirty projects for the City of Santa Barbara, including acting as lead designer for the four-phase State Street Sidewalk Replacement project.
Jonathan Eymann is another new member of the DRB. He is a native Californian, born and raised in Palo Alto. He moved to Goleta to attend UCSB where he met his future wife. Their three sons and six grandchildren still live in the area. For a number of years they were privileged to own and live in the historic Joseph Sexton House, which they were able to have designated as a County Historical Landmark in order to preserve part of our local history for future generations to enjoy. Both Jonathan and his wife are ordained ministers and they have been pastoring a non-denomination Christian church in Goleta for 48 years. In addition, Jonathan is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a member of the Adjunct Faculty at Antioch University in the graduate program in Clinical Psychology. He served the community as a therapist in the County Mental Health division for 13 years.
Gregg Hart, not to be mistaken for the current Santa Barbara County Supervisor, has been the owner/operator of Hart Computer Consulting for over 20 years. He is new to the Design and Review Board, and prior he served as Commissioner and as Chair from 2013-2019 of the inaugural Goleta Parks and Recreation Commission. His first contribution in governance was as a two-term member of the Circle of Trustees for the Santa Barbara Charter School & Home Based Partnership. Civically minded, he has volunteered for wide range of organizations and activities. Currently he is a regular volunteer at the SB Foodbank.
Craig Shallanberger was reappointed to the Design Review Board and is a licensed Architect and General Building Contractor. He has a 27-year career in the construction and design industry, having designed and built a multitude of different types of projects, including: health care, assisted living, schools, dining facilities, mixed-use multifamily, and single family detached homes. Craig holds a degree in Construction Management from Chico State University, Chico. His involvement with the Design Review Board stems from a desire to serve the community he loves.
Ed Holdren has been involved with recreational and fundraising endeavors in Goleta and Santa Barbara for over 50 years and graduated from San Marcos High School and UCSB. He is new to the Parks and Recreation Commission but has served on the Board of Directors for the Page Youth Center, Goleta South Little League, Santa Barbara Youth Football League, Downtown Santa Barbara Organization, Goleta Valley Community Center, and Goleta Youth Basketball Association. He also served as executive Director of the Page Youth Center for 12 years and has coached in a number of youth sports activities, including at San Marcos high School.
Jonika Ronkainen is the Parks and Recreation’s new Student Commissioner. She is a senior at Dos Pueblos High School where she is president of the Sunrise Climate Action Club and a captain for the varsity Mock Trial team. She also graduated from the City’s first LEAD (Learn, Empower, Advocate, Discuss) Goleta Community Academy in July 2019. Growing up in Goleta, Jonika has spent much of her time in the city’s parks, running around the many playgrounds as a child and playing volleyball with friends, and now walking her dog and hosting occasional socially distanced book clubs. As a member of the commission, Jonika wishes to be “a representative for her peers in communicating their concerns and sharing the student perspective.” 
Patricia Kistler has been reappointed by the Goleta City Council as the Goleta representative to the Santa Barbara County Library Advisory Committee. She has served in this capacity for the past four years. As a member of Rotary, she grant funded and started up two free lending libraries in the country of Panama, and currently works with the staff of both to keep them running smoothly. Kistler has a strong work history in community and business outreach in addition to governmental relations, marketing and public administration for the Carpinteria Chamber of Commerce, the Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS, the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, the Ventura County Community College and Santa Barbara Community College Districts, plus the Cities of Santa Barbara and Anaheim. She has owned a consulting business in the governmental and public relations field for the past 20 years, following retirement from public service.
