Author Archives: Valerie Kushnerov

We Thought You Should Know

While there are many projects going on within the City of Goleta, these four projects are worth highlighting as the work may impact the routes you take on a daily basis.

Los Carneros Overhead Bridge

The Los Carneros Overhead Bridge, the bridge that goes over Union Pacific Railroad, will be replaced. It will take approximately 18 months to complete and the project is expected to start this spring. Construction will be staged so that at least one lane is open in each direction.

This project will replace the existing bridge which is structurally deficient. The new bridge will be widened to accommodate an additional right turn lane, with modifications designed for experienced and inexperienced cyclists. This new right turn lane is needed to accommodate future increases in vehicles taking the southbound on-ramp onto Highway 101.

Culvert Replacements (CalTrans Project)

Culvert replacements may not sound like something that will impact your commute, but this project will have an impact on Calle Real, the Los Carneros Interchange, the Fairview on and off-ramps and Hollister Avenue (when the Fairview ramps are closed).

First, let’s fully understand project. Two culverts go under Calle Real, Highway 101 and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. One is for San Pedro Creek and the other is for Las Vegas Creek. The existing culverts do not adequately handle the volume of water running through these creeks during winter storms—thus the flooding in the Carlo Drive/Calle Real area. These culverts will be replaced with larger volume bridge structures that will increase the capacity to handle a 25-year storm event. (They are currently designed to handle a 10-year storm event.)

While the project is underway, the Fairview northbound on-ramp is expected to be closed for 12-18 months, and the Fairview southbound on-ramp is expected to be closed for six months. While the northbound on-ramp is closed, traffic will be rerouted to use the Los Carneros on-ramp. Having the new roundabout at Los Carneros and Calle Real will help handle the increased volume.

Caltrans is leading the project and will be doing the work under Calle Real and Highway 101. As part of the project, Santa Barbara County Flood Control will be replacing the bridges that carry the railroad tracks over these creeks as well. The project is tentatively scheduled for 2014. However, because of the impacts, it is important to notify the community that it is upcoming.

Ekwill Fowler Roads Extension Project

This project will extend Ekwill Street and Fowler Road across Old Town Goleta from Kellogg Avenue to Fairview Avenue. The new streets will make it easier to get across Old Town without having to use Hollister Avenue and will improve access to the airport. In addition, the project will create roundabouts at the Hollister Avenue and Route 217 ramp intersections as well as at Fairview and Fowler Roads and Ekwill Road and Pine Avenue. The project is in final design now, and work is expected to begin in early 2014.

Hollister Avenue Bridge Replacement 

The Hollister Avenue Bridge which crosses over San Jose Creek has been found to be structurally deficient and needs to be replaced. Once the Creek Project is completed, work will begin on replacing this bridge. When the project is underway, lane closures on Hollister Avenue will be in effect. However, at least one lane will stay open in each direction. This project is expected to begin in early 2014 and last for 12-18 months. The City is working with the other involved agencies to stagger these projects to minimize the impacts.

For more information on all of our Capital Improvement Projects, visit http://cityofgoleta.org/projects-programs.

Community Input Leads Old Town Park Process

Plans for a park in Old Town Goleta are moving forward, and the community is excited to see what will fill the four-acre parcel near the corner of Hollister Avenue and South Kellogg Avenue. Over the last 18 months, the City held three well-attended community meetings as well as several smaller stakeholder meetings with youth, seniors and other residents of the neighboring park areas. At the most recent meeting, three conceptual park designs were unveiled. The public had the opportunity to weigh-in on their preferred plan as well as individual design components, site layout issues and a range of amenities and activities.

The design team then took all of the feedback and created a single concept plan. This latest plan envisions a multi-use sports field, basketball court, handball court, bocce ball court, skateboard plaza, playground, picnic areas, walking paths, fitness nodes, restrooms and a small parking lot. It also includes enhancement of the existing habitat and protection of the Sister Witness Tree.

With the park project comes the opportunity to create a creekside multi-use path along the west side of San Jose Creek from Armitos Avenue to Hollister Avenue. This effort is part of a larger bike path plan that would connect Cathedral Oaks to Goleta Beach.

What is the current project status?

Staff is conducting environmental review, and the City is processing a General Plan amendment and rezone of the site from residential and commercial to the more appropriate designation of parks and recreation. The park design will receive review by the Design Review Board, Planning Commission and City Council within the next few months.

When would would the park open?

The City would like to begin construction in 2013 and open the park by summer 2014. The timeline is dependent upon whether the governing bodies make any significant changes and weather conditions during construction. Visit http://www.ProjectGoleta.com for park updates.

Sworn In

Councilmembers Jim Farr and Ed Easton took their Oath of Office at the December 4 council meeting. The newly-elected Farr and reelected Easton will serve four-year terms. Roger Aceves was appointed Mayor and Michael T. Bennett was named Mayor Pro Tempore. Margaret Connell was also recognized for her eight years of service to the City. She was elected in 2002 and 2008 and served as the City’s first mayor. Thank you Margaret!

Apply Today! $20,000 in Community Grants Available

Goleta’s Community Project Grant Program offers a unique opportunity for local organizations and groups to receive funds for programs that serve City residents.  The goal of the program is to benefit as many people as possible while supporting a range of community activities.

This year the City has $20,000 budgeted for this program, and the Council looks forward to granting this money to be used in our community. Awards are limited to $2,500 per grant with the average grant being $1,000. Last year’s recipients included Pathpoint, Friendship Adult Day Care Center, Food from the Heart, SB Channelkeeper, Goleta Valley Community Center, Goleta Valley Senior Center, Friends of the Goleta Library, City at Peace, Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center, Goleta Valley Historical Society and Partners in Education.

The application period ends on January 11. The Mayor and two appointed community members evaluate the applications and make a recommendation to the City Council. The Council then awards the grants at a meeting in the spring. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to help your non-profit or community group.

For more information, download an application from the City’s website or contact Karen Dorfman at 805-961-7523 or kdorfman@cityofgoleta.org.

Your Vote Made a Difference

Goleta voters overwhelmingly passed Measure H which increased the local transient occupancy tax (TOT) from 10% to 12%, effective January 2013. It was one of 15 of 18 TOT increases passed statewide including three local measures in Buellton, Carpinteria and Solvang. This increase, which is generated through hotel stays, is expected to provide the city with an additional $1 million annually. The City Council will be looking at how to best allocate these funds. Additionally, the Council will begin working on its two-year budget which begins in July 2013. A number of Council workshops will be held during the first six months of 2013 to review priorities and funding requests by the City’s various departments.

Look for more information on how your tax dollars are being used in upcoming issues of the Monarch Press.

Butterfly Plan Flits Forward

Each fall, monarch butterflies in the western United States migrate to the coast of California, and the City of Goleta is one of their favorite locations to roost during winter. The City is preparing a Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan for the over-wintering sites located on the Ellwood Mesa. This plan is intended to document existing habitat conditions, identify low impact habitat improvement strategies to promote the long-term stability of the butterfly population, implement related policies in the City’s General Plan and the Ellwood Mesa Open Space Plan and support community awareness of butterflies and their habitat.

The City hosted a public workshop in February 2011 to garner input on the development of the plan. A second public workshop was hosted by the City in November 2012 to present the draft plan and proposed habitat management concepts. Community members were able to learn about the plan and dialogue with City staff and the butterfly consultants who helped create the plan. The draft plan is now in its final stages of revision. The Goleta City Council will receive a status report on the development of the Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan in early 2013. Environmental review and permitting will follow in 2013.

For more information visit our website www.cityofgoleta.org or contact Anne Wells, Advance Planning Manager, at 951-7557 or awells@cityofgoleta.org.

Goleta Welcomes New Director of Planning and Environmental Services

After an extensive search, the City of Goleta hired Jennifer Carman, AICP, as the new Director of Planning and Environmental Review. Ms. Carman started this position on December 10. She replaces Steve Chase who left the City in June to take a position as Community Development Director for the City of Stockton. “We are fortunate to find a candidate with Ms. Carman’s strengths and experience to manage our Planning and Environmental Review Department,” said City Manager Dan Singer. “As Goleta moves into its next 10 years, we have a number of opportunities and challenges, and Ms. Carman will be an instrumental part of our management team as we seek to address them. We are glad to have her working in the City of Goleta.” Ms. Carman comes to the City of Goleta from the City of El Cerrito where she was the Development  Services Manager, overseeing building, planning and code enforcement. She has experience in developing zoning policy, implementing a permit tracking system and achieving certification of a housing element—all items which are on Goleta’s project list. Ms. Carman received her Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies at the University of California at Santa Cruz and her Master of City Planning at Georgia Institute of Technology. She began her career in Ketchikan Gateway Borough in Ketchikan, Alaska. From there she moved to the City of Seattle and later to the City of Mercer Island.

Trails Project Design Underway: Community Input Needed

Ellwood Mesa provides one of the largest contiguous open space areas along the South Coast and provides a range of opportunities for outdoor activities. In the spring of 2012, the Santa Barbara County Trails Council approached the City of Goleta with a proposal for a trail and habitat restoration design project on Ellwood Mesa, focusing on the Coastal Trail and the Juan Bautista de Anza Trail. The City and the Trails Council entered into a Memorandum of Understanding that enabled the Trails Council to utilize Coastal Conservancy and Goleta Valley Land Trust funding for the project.

Two public workshops were held last fall to garner input from the public regarding possible trail design concepts and restoration ideas. The City and the Trails Council are in the process of refining the design based on this input. Next steps include a presentation to the City Council and the development of project alternatives so that environmental review can begin.

For more information, visit the project page at http://www.projectgoleta.com/ or contact Sara Iza, Advance Planning Division Associate Planner, at 961-7544 or siza@cityofgoleta.org.

Green Building Encouraged

The Goleta City Council demonstrated its commitment to sustainability when it adopted a largely voluntary Green Building Program last October. The new program, which took effect on January 1, will include access to free resources such as information about green building best practices, utility rebates and financing options.

To promote the use of green building practices,a variety of incentives are available. These include rebates of 50% of the land use permit fees for residential additions and other small projects, priority processing through the city’s planning and building process and expedited building plan checks. These incentives are for projects that voluntarily meet certain standards or complete the Energy Upgrade CA and/or emPowerSBC programs.

The Green Building Program was developed over the last two years through a community stakeholder process that included the City’s advisory group, the Green Ribbon Committee. The Green Ribbon Committee included representatives from the design, construction and development communities.

Leading by example, the Council committed to a higher standard for its own government facilities when it adopted a policy requiring LEED Silver certification for most new City buildings.

Information on Goleta’s Green Building Program can be found on our website at www.CityofGoleta.org or by contacting Cindy Moore, Senior Planner, at cmoore@cityofgoleta.org or 961-7547.

Goleta Honored

The City of Goleta received the 2012 Public Policy Leadership Award from the Central California Coast Chapter (C4) of the U.S. Green Building Council for its efforts in the areas of green building and sustainable living on the Central Coast.

“Goleta’s program represents a significant success in bringing  greener buildings to the community, said Michelle Zimney, Chair of the Green Awards. “The City’s focus on listening to multiple stakeholders meant they were able to craft a code that is flexible, yet meaningful. Builders and architects will have a variety of green rating tools available to them to help design and construct better performing buildings.”