Author Archives: Meredith Reeback

You Asked. We Answered. Here’s the Latest on …

… a number of active projects within the City of Goleta.

Here’s a short update on some of them (as of early September):

San Jose Creek Project The work within the creek should be completed by the end of October, while some of the improvements outside the creek are slated to be completed by the end of the year. Work outside of the creek includes roadway improvements on South Kellogg Avenue and landscaping in the project area.

Hollister Avenue Bridge Replacement This project is phase 2 of the San Jose Creek Project and will replace the bridge over the creek on Hollister Avenue. This is in the preliminary engineering and environmental review phase and will likely begin in late 2014 or early 2015.

Ekwill Fowler Roads Extensions Project This project to improve traffic circulation in Old Town is in final design, and the City is working with external agencies on permitting. The anticipated start date is late 2014 or early 2015.

Los Carneros Overhead Bridge Replacement Project This project will replace the Los Carneros overhead bridge. The construction contract will likely be awarded this fall, and the project will begin soon thereafter. Methacrylate Deck Sealing Project The City will be sealing seven bridges to prevent further water damage. Completion will take place over several weeks during the fall.

Las Vegas/San Pedro Culvert Project This Caltrans project will replace the culvert under Calle Real and Highway 101 near Fairview Avenue. 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. Caltrans put the project out for bid in September and work is expected to begin this fall. The City will be working closely with Caltrans to distribute information about the project.

A number of other projects are in the works, including:

• A flashing beacon on Cathedral Oaks at Santa Marguerita

• A HAWK signal on Hollister Avenue near Wendy’s

• Bike lanes

• Sidewalk improvements and more

Project descriptions and information can be found at www.ProjectGoleta.com.

Some of the private projects within the City include:

Westar  This mixed-use project on Hollister Avenue across from Camino Real Marketplace will be named Hollister Village. It will include 266 apartments and a retail center. Grading should be underway shortly. Offsite traffic improvements include numerous roadway improvements to Hollister Avenue, Storke Road, the Hollister Avenue/Storke Road intersection, a bus turnout just west of the Camino Real Marketplace/Hollister Avenue intersection and a new traffic signal at the Glen Annie Road/Hollister Avenue intersection. The project is expected to be completed in 2015. For more information, visit www.HollisterVillage.com.

Cabrillo Business Park  The public roadway improvements and landscaping on Hollister Avenue and Los Carneros Road have been completed. The first four buildings of the business park will be ready by early 2014 for the new world headquarters of Deckers Outdoor Corporation. The new traffic signals at Coromar Drive and Discovery Drive should be activated later this fall.

The Hideaway/Haskell’s Landing On the western end of the City, 101 units will be built near the Winchester Canyon exit off Highway 101. These will include single family, duplex and triplex units. Five model units are under construction and will be ready by the end of this year. The remaining units for sale will be built out over the next year or two in response to sales demand.

Target The Target Corporation completed their application requirements with the City in August. The next step is the completion of an environmental review document (EIR). This process takes approximately a year.

Willow Springs II Construction is underway on the Willow Springs II project. This 100-unit housing project has one, two, and three bedroom apartments spread over almost five acres. It will be connected to the existing apartments with an open space.

 

 

 

Stay Tuned: Old Town Improvements Ahead

Stay Tuned: Old Town Improvements Ahead

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.

GVCC

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.

HAWK

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

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

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.

Nextdoor logo

 

 

 

 

City to Update Zoning Code

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.

 

 

Looking Ahead for Goleta

Author Alvin Toffler said, “You’ve got to think about big things while you’re doing small things, so that all the small things go in the right direction.” This is what the Council did recently as it looked at its Strategic Plan.

During their full-day workshop, the Council had a lengthy discussion on the City’s vision statement and the City’s identity. They noted that Goleta has a number of unique elements that should be highlighted—natural beauty, being close to art and culture, and being walkable and bikeable. The concept of the “Good Land” was mentioned repeatedly as an appropriate description of Goleta.

The Council also revised their vision statements lightly. It landed on five strategies and major goals for the upcoming years:

The first is to Ensure Financial Sustainability through enhanced revenues, careful control of expenditures and policy review of structural financial buffers such as reserves.

Second is to ensure the City’s economic vitality through programs like GEM. GEM stands for Goleta Entrepreneurial Magnet and is a partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and the University to help high-tech businesses start and thrive in the Goleta Valley.

The third strategy is to Strengthen Infrastructure through transportation projects and the creation of a zoning code.

The Council felt strongly that a plan to return Old Town as the Vital Center of the City should be developed. They directed staff to investigate moving City Hall to Old Town. They had previously authorized a viability study on the Goleta Valley Community Center. Other initiatives, such as the development of the Old Town Park, the completion of the San Jose Creek Project and ideas that came out of the Love of Goleta events would help to support this initiative.

The Council’s final strategy was to Ensure that Goleta Remains a Safe Community. Some of the items that were discussed included a bicycle/pedestrian master plan, support for programs like Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training, concern about adequate fire services in western Goleta and sustainability of the contract with the Sheriff ’s Office. The conversation on the City’s strategic planning is expected to continue through the summer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rosemarie Gaglione

We Don’t Want to Brag…

…but the City has won TWO prestigious awards!

The City of Goleta received a ‘Best in Category’ award for the roundabout at Los Carneros and Calle Real from the American Public Works Association, Central Coast of California Chapter. The award was given in the category of Transportation Projects under $5 million. Wallace Group designed the roundabout and Granite Construction built it. It was completed on time and under budget. This is the second award the City has received from APWA. Rosemarie Gaglione was the City’s project manager.

Rosemarie Gaglione

Rosemarie Gaglione

The City also received an ‘Award of Excellence’ from the California Association of Public Information Officers (CAPIO) in the “dollar stretcher” category for its Nextdoor.com program. This award is given by the statewide association to the program that most exemplifies doing more with less. To participate in this free and private online network for neighborhoods, go to www.Nextdoor.com.

Valerie Kushnerov

Valerie Kushnerov

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sergeant Huddle

Traffic Corner: Pedestrian Safety

“Where can a pedestrian legally cross the street?”

“When is a driver required to stop for a pedestrian crossing the street?”

These are just two of the most frequently asked questions of the Goleta Traffic Unit. Unfortunately, the answers to these questions are not as simple as they might appear.

For Pedestrians…

A pedestrian can legally cross the street when they are crossing within any marked or unmarked crosswalk.

Pedestrians can cross streets outside of crosswalks, but there are several important factors to keep in mind. First, it is considered jaywalking if you cross a street between adjacent intersections that are controlled by traffic control devices. And jaywalking is illegal. Second, when you cross the street outside of a crosswalk you “shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway so near as to constitute an immediate hazard.”

As a pedestrian, whether you are crossing in a crosswalk (or at any other location of the roadway) never step out into traffic until it is safe to do so. Never assume all vehicles will stop for you. You are required to make sure that there are no vehicles so close that they would not have the appropriate amount of time/distance to stop.

It is also good practice to continue looking at oncoming traffic. You run the risk of being possibly injured or killed if you are careless while walking across a street.

For Drivers…

Drivers are required to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk. As a driver, you do not need to wait for the pedestrian to get all the way to the opposite curb before you drive forward. Once a pedestrian has crossed the path of a vehicle and is out of harm’s way of that vehicle, the driver is allowed to continue forward. The ultimate goal is the pedestrian’s safety.

A driver also may not pass another vehicle that is stopped for a pedestrian crossing the roadway. If you are driving along and see a vehicle stopped ahead of you or in the lane next to you, please slow down and take the time to determine why it is that vehicle has stopped. There might be a pedestrian crossing the street who will be stepping out from in front of the stopped vehicle and directly into your path of travel.

Drivers are not relieved of their duty of yielding to pedestrians crossing streets outside of crosswalks. Drivers need to exercise “due care for the safety of pedestrians” and stop for them whenever possible, pending the safety of themselves and other drivers.

During darkness it is harder for a driver to see a pedestrian. Whether you are driving or crossing the street at night, take into account the dark environment.

At the end of the day, the most important thing to remember is this: alert drivers and alert pedestrians create safer roads for everyone.

City Fights Over Funds for San Jose Creek

The fight over the bond proceeds used to fund the San Jose Creek Project is not over. City staff met with the State Department of Finance to explain the City’s action of transferring redevelopment bond proceeds. Unfortunately, after further review, the DOF determined that the City’s transfer did not comply with State rules. The City maintains that its actions were legal at the time they were taken and that the State cannot legally rewrite the rules and apply them retroactively. The City is suing the State in order to have the matter decided by a judge and not by a financial analyst at the DOF.

HERE’S A LITTLE BACKGROUND: City staff and legal counsel met with the Department of Finance in April 2013 to explain the City’s actions with regard to the transfer of redevelopment bond proceeds. The funds in question were transferred from the Redevelopment Agency to the City pursuant to an agreement for construction of the San Jose Creek Capacity Improvement Project. The need for increased capacity for San Jose Creek to protect public safety in the Old Town area was identified by the County of Santa Barbara as one of the primary reasons for creation of the RDA in 1998. The RDA was consistently working to bring this public safety project to fruition.

Like many cities which had redevelopment agencies with on-going contracts for projects, Goleta is now defending its actions which were in compliance with the laws at the time action was taken. It joins with over 100 other cities suing the State to protect local funds.

In spite of the disagreement between the City and the State, the San Jose Creek Project is moving forward. The Goleta City Council is committed to finishing the project (work resumed in May) this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be Smart! Be Alert!

Recently, there has been much discussion about residential burglaries in our community. Our Community Resource Deputy, Greg Sorenson, offers these tips to ensure that you and your family stay safe and your valuables protected:

• Keep doors (including garage) and windows, both to your home and your vehicle, locked. Also, keep yard gates locked and/or secured.

• Keep valuables out of sight.

• Mark and identify all valuables in the home for future identification purposes.

• When away from your house overnight, put house lights on a timer.

• Let your neighbors know when you will be away from the home and if there is supposed to be someone else on your property.

• Have a neighbor collect your newspapers and mail if you are gone.

• Call the Sheriff ’s Office at 681-4100 to have a Vacation Request Form filled out in order to have deputies check your home while gone on vacation.

• Create the illusion that there is always someone at home—even if there is not!

• Be wary of solicitors in your neighborhood:

> NEVER allow a solicitor into your home.

> Ask for identification.

> Ask for a business license that allows them to solicit in your neighborhood.

> Ask for specific information about the charity or organization they are soliciting for including their boss’s name and phone number.

> NEVER give them any personal information (i.e., social security numbers, credit card numbers, bank information, names and numbers of others residing with you, etc.).

If you don’t already, get to know your neighbors. Know who belongs in your neighborhood—and who doesn’t. Be vigilant and look for any suspicious activity. Please, if you see anything/anyone suspicious in your neighborhood, call 9-1-1.