Author Archives: Valerie Kushnerov

Inquiring Minds Want to Know Why…

Have you ever wondered how a road project is funded and why one project is being done when another is seemingly needed more? Government financing (or lack of!) is complex. The City receives its money through a variety of sources and some of these sources (such as Measure A funds) have restrictions on their use.

A large pot of money, called the general fund, is comprised of funds that can be used to pay for basic services, special projects and a host of other things. The City Council sets priorities and makes choices on how to spend this money during each budget cycle. The designated or “restricted” funds can only legally be spent on a designated type of project or for a specific use.

For example, in 2011-12, the City of Goleta received $24,000 in developer impact fees for library facilities also known as DIF fees. These fees can only be used for things like library facility improvements or book collection acquisitions. So even though the City Council has expressed a desire to fund a recreation department, it cannot do so with these fees.

Another example of restricted monies are Measure A funds. These monies are collected through our local sales tax and can only be used for transportation projects,such as the City’s annual street maintenance program and the Los Carneros Roundabout.

Grant funding is a third example of money that has a restricted use. The City actively seeks grant funding for its projects and has received grants for the San Jose Creek Capacity Improvement Project, the traffic signal at the intersection of Fairview Avenue and Berkeley Road, the construction of the new park in Old Town, and for many other projects. In this fiscal year, the City expects to see over $2 million in grants.

Finally, general fund monies can be used for any public purpose. This year, approximately 40% of the City’s budget is expected to come in the form of restricted funds. If Measure H passes, the City is expected to receive an additional $900,000 annually in general fund revenue from transient occupancy taxes.

One of the most important jobs the City Council has is setting a budget. The choices are often very tough to make because of the many important and worthy goals and priorities the Council has set. However it’s important to  understand that each pot of money is different and that funding is limited.

Caution: Construction Activities Ahead

Changes are being made all over Goleta as private development projects approved by the City’s General Plan begin construction. A number of projects are underway or expected to break ground before the end of the year. Here’s an overview of what you’ll see. The numbers listed below correspond to the map on page 5.

Building activity will begin near Sandpiper Golf Course as the Haskell’s Landing – 1 gets underway. This project includes 102 units of single family, duplex and triplex residential units. Site grading is to begin in September 2012 followed by construction through Fall 2014.

The Bluffs – 2 along the Ellwood coast consists of 62 single-family residences. The completion of the final 24 homes is underway. Construction is anticipated to be completed in Winter 2013.

The Hotel Marriott Courtyard – 3 is complete and open for business. A ribbon-cutting was held on August 23 and guests can now make reservations for one of 106 rooms and suites. It has a meeting space and beautiful outdoor patio for guests to enjoy.

Ice in Paradise – 4 is hoping to break ground by the end of this year so that ice skaters throughout the region will have some place to show their figure-skating style, slap a puck and enjoy another opportunity for recreation. Ice in Paradise will be home to two ice rinks, a main regulation hockey rink and a The rink will be located at 6985 Santa Felicia Drive, just to the west of Storke Road and adjacent to Girsh Park. Construction is expected to last seven to nine months.

Construction on Deckers Outdoor Corporation’s – 5 worldwide headquarters is moving along with grading at the corner of Hollister Avenue and Los Carneros Road. These are the first buildings at Cabrillo Business Park with several to follow in the coming years. Road work on Hollister Avenue will continue into the new year and these improvements are part of the development agreement with Cabrillo Business Park. Construction of the Deckers buildings will last through Summer 2013.

One hundred condominium units have just been approved at Willow Springs II – 6. This project is located north of Willow Springs I on the parcel south of Highway 101 and east of Los Carneros Road. Construction is expected to take a year.

Construction of the Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital – 7 is significantly underway. Construction of the adjacent Medical Office Building at the corner of Hollister/ Patterson Avenues is anticipated to begin by the start of 2013. While the new facilities are being constructed, the existing facilities must be kept open, which results in a longer construction timeline. After the new facilities are constructed, the existing facilities
are to be demolished and landscaping will be installed. Construction activities associated with the hospital are anticipated to last through the end of 2014. Construction activities associated with the Medical Office Building are expected to last 12 to 18 months.

The Planning Department is processing a number of other projects as well. The most commonly asked question is about whether a Target will be coming to Goleta. The Target Corporation is working on an application for the City to process. Once it has been resubmitted, it could take several years to work itself through the City’s review process.

If you would like to be notified of future public meetings regarding this project, please email Scott Kolwitz, Senior Planner (skolwitz@cityofgoleta.org), Senior Planner, to be added to the interested parties list.

The roundabout at Los Carneros and Calle Real – 8 is anticipated to be completed shortly, and construction of the San Jose Creek Capacity Improvement Project – 9 is on schedule for completion in late 2013. See article on page 3 for information about our new project videos.

Evergreen Park – 10 has recently undergone some upgrades. The City’s contractor removed the existing outdated play structure and sand play area and installed new playground equipment and safety surface to make a safer place for our youth to play.

Information about all of the City’s Capital Improvement Projects can be found at www.ProjectGoleta.com.

First City-Sponsored Initiative on Ballot

The Goleta City Council voted earlier this year to ask voters to decide if they want to raise the city’s transient occupancy tax (TOT) or bed tax.

A bed tax is something visitors pay when they stay at one of the City’s many hotels and motels. This tax is intended to help the City pay the visitors’ share of using the City’s services and infrastructure while staying in Goleta. Whether it is an overnight stay or longer, visitors use our roads, sewer and water systems. They sometimes require assistance from our public safety officials just as other residents.

The cost to visitors is a percentage of the cost of their room. Currently the city’s TOT is 10%. The ballot measure asks city voters to raise it 2%.

Increasing the City of Goleta’s TOT will bring it into alignment with neighboring Santa Barbara and 65 other cities throughout California who have this rate or higher.

Called Measure H, this tax is expected to bring in at least $900,000 per year in additional revenues the City may spend on a variety of services and programs. The City is not limited in how it uses the revenue to support any general purpose activity or service.

All revenues generated by the Goleta TOT will stay under the control of the City of Goleta. Neither the County of Santa Barbara nor the State will share in any of this revenue.

TOT is local revenue the City currently uses to fund a variety of pro-grams and projects, such as public safety, road and park maintenance. Should Measure H pass, the additional revenue could be used to fund other identified priorities such as:
• Enhancing public safety services in the area of gang enforcement,parking enforcement, and greater
public open spaces
• Investing in upkeep of the City’s growing list of public facilities,
including the soon-to-be-acquired Community Center
• Reinvesting in local visitor-serving services for promoting Goleta to visitors
• Providing for the maintenance and upkeep of a new park in Old Town
• Sustaining and enhancing the City’s reinvestment in our public street infrastructure

Election Information for Goleta

On Election Day, Tuesday, November 6th, voters in Goleta have the opportunity to weigh in on a number of important races and ballot measures. Two City Council seats are up for election this year and two candidates filed the paper work to run. Incumbent Ed Easton and newcomer Jim Farr will appear on the November ballot. Barring a successful write-in campaign by another candidate, they will assume office in December and serve four-year terms.

Two local measures will also appear on the Goleta ballot—Measure G2012 and Measure H2012. The complete measures, as well as the arguments for and against, are available on the City ’s website and will appear in your sample ballot.

For voter registration, polling place information and sample ballots, go to www.sbcvote.com.

New Names, Same Faces at City Hall

Growing a city is somewhat like raising a child. A young City learns through experience much like a toddler learns to walk. While the City may stumble at times, it will get back up and make changes to be able to move forward. The City recently made some organizational changes to better serve the public.

In this transition, some of the department names have changed. What used to be known as Community Services is now called Public Works. This department oversees the City’s parks and streets as well as the Capital Improvement Program.

Redevelopment, Neighborhood Services & Public Safety is now called Neighborhood Services & Public Safety because of the State’s decision to end redevelopment. This department manages public safety, code enforcement,housing policy and administers the Community Development Block Grants. Finally, Planning & Environmental Services is now called Planning & Environmental Review. This department reviews development plans and environmental documents, issues permits and oversees energy projects.

The City also created an Economic Development Coordinator position. This move reiterates the importance of economic development in our community. The success of the City relies heavily on the success of our businesses. Jaime Valdez, has been hired to fill this role. Valdez will continue work on the Economic Development Strategic Plan and devise a formal economic development program that focuses on business attraction, expansion and retention.

Am I In Or Am I Out?

The City occasionally receives work requests and suggestions on improving areas that fall outside of the City’s boundaries. The dividing line between the City and the County,particularly on the east side of Goleta can be confusing. Here’s a primer on what is within and outside of the City limits:

Santa Barbara Airport: OUT

The Santa Barbara Airport is in the City of Santa Barbara even though it is not contiguous with any other piece of the City of Santa Barbara.

Hollister Avenue adjacent to the Airport: OUT

This is one of the areas that we hear the most complaints about. This section of Hollister Avenue between Fairview Avenue and Los Carneros Road is in the City of Santa Barbara. Therefore, its maintenance also falls within their road maintenance program.

South of Highway 101 between Patterson Avenue and Lassen Drive: IN

This area, from Highway 101 south toward and including Ekwill Road, is part of the City of Goleta.

Twin Lakes Golf Course: OUT

This is in the unincorporated area of Santa Barbara County.

Glen Annie Golf Course: OUT

This is also in the unincorporated area of Santa Barbara county.

The next time you have a question about whether something is within the City of Goleta
or outside the boundaries, check the map at www.CityofGoleta.org. You’ll find the link to
“Community View” on the list on the left side of the homepage.

Land Use Changes

The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) is updating the countywide Airport Lane Use Compatibility Plan, and it may change what land uses are considered compatible for properties near the Santa Barbara Airport.  Once a draft plan is finalized, environmental review will be completed and additional opportunities for public input will be given.

Comments or questions on the proposed plan can be directed to Peter Imhoff, SBCAG, at pimhoff@sbcag.org.

If you have a property near the Santa Barbara Airport, you might be interested in the land use plan update.

Input Sought on Design for Ellwood Mesa Trails

The City of Goleta is looking for your input on trail improvement and habitat restoration on the Ellwood Mesa. A public workshop held last month was the first of several to discuss the history of the mesa and hear from the community about their vision for the future.

The City Council recently approved an agreement with the Santa Barbara Trails Council (SBTC) to begin design and engineering for the Trails Improvement and Habitat Restoration Project. SBTC received a grant from the California Coastal Commission to do this work with the City.

A project of this nature is identified in the City’s Capital Improvement Program Plan as a future, unfunded project. In addition, the City’s Ellwood Mesa Open Space Plan (adopted in 2004) identifies existing and future trails, including future trail design standards for the Coastal Trail and the Anza Trail.

Look for more information about future workshops on the City’s website or on the Capital Improvement Project website at www.ProjectGoleta.com.