Share Your Talent and Time with Goleta

Are you looking for a new way to get involved in your community? The City of Goleta is looking for community members to #JoinTeamGoleta by serving on several of our Commissions and Committees including two youth positions. The City has openings for a Parks and Recreation Youth Commissioner and a Public Engagement Youth Commissioner. The City also has two additional openings on the Public Engagement Commission, two vacancies on the Library Advisory Commission, one vacancy on the Santa Barbara County Library Advisory Committee and two vacancies on the Naming Committee. Applications are available here and are due by July 23, 2021, or until filled.

Goleta City Clerk Deborah Lopez said, “This is a great opportunity for those that want to put their skills to good use, for those interested in making a difference in Goleta, and for those who want to be more involved with the City.”

City of Goleta residents between the ages of 15 and 21, who enjoy spending time in the City’s parks and open space are encouraged to apply for the Parks and Recreation Youth Commissioner position. The Commission advises the City Council on all issues related to parks and recreational opportunities in Goleta. The Parks and Recreation Commission meets every two months on the first Wednesday of every even month.

If you are interested in looking for opportunities and ways to increase public engagement in City government, then you may be interested in serving on the Public Engagement Commission (PEC). Currently there are three positions open including a youth representative. To be considered, you must be a resident of the City of Goleta and not employed by the City. For the youth position, you must also be between 15 and 21 years of age. The Commission has six regularly scheduled meetings per year. Currently, the PEC is assisting with the district mapping process to determine district lines for the City’s first District Elections in November of 2022.

If you are interested in learning how libraries work and helping guide services in the greater Goleta Valley area, then you may be interested in applying for the Library Advisory Commission. This Commission meets the first Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. There are two vacancies, one member of the incorporated service area of the City of Goleta Valley and one member suggested by the Board of Supervisors and residents of the unincorporated service area of the Goleta Valley. The role of this Commission is to increase citizen participation in library issues by analyzing the library’s needs, considering goals, anticipating future needs and problems, acting as a liaison, and helping to develop consensus for advisement to the Goleta Library Board of Trustees.

The City is also looking for a member to serve on the Santa Barbara County Library Advisory Committee. This Committee’s role is to advise the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors.  It reviews and maintains the master plan for each County library service zone, makes recommendations to ensure adequate library services to all, determines the per capita level of service, reviews budgets, considers site locations and building programs, and reviews the operation of the library. The member represents all of Zone 4, which includes Goleta, Buellton and Solvang.

Finally, if you are interested in naming City Parks, Facilities, open spaces and City buildings, there is also an opportunity to serve as a member of the City of Goleta Naming Committee. You must live in the City of Goleta to apply.

All of the positions are compensated at the rate of $50 per meeting. The Youth Commissioners may choose to waive his/her compensation and receive community service credit instead.

For more information, go to https://tinyurl.com/goletaboards-commissions or e-mail cityclerkgroup@cityofgoleta.org.