Author Archives: Meredith Reeback

Spending Your Tax Dollars Wisely

The Goleta City Council recently passed its budget for 2013-14 and 2014-15. Over the last several months, the Council and staff had numerous discussions on what a budget package could look like and how it would represent the values and priorities identified by the City Council. The new budget is structurally balanced. This means that the City is planning to spend less money than it expects to take in.

Goleta’s anticipated revenue has grown for several reasons. The first is that hotel stays have increased, and this has generated additional revenue through collection of the transient occupancy tax (TOT). Second, the TOT rate increased from 10% to 12% on January 1, 2013, thanks to voter support of Measure H last fall. Finally, the City now retains 100% of the TOT collected (no longer sharing that revenue with the County as was required over the previous 10 years). However, other local taxes (such as sales and property taxes) continue to be shared with the County.

The City is cautiously optimistic about future revenues, but it is important to remember that not all sources of revenue are the same. Property tax revenue is fairly stable. However, TOT is variable and can change with any economic rise, down turnor natural disaster. Sales tax also fluctuates although it is less risky than TOT. The Council was careful to take these into consideration when looking at future income and has an ample reserve to be able to respond to any changes.

With this new revenue, the City Council decided to invest in a number of important items:

• An additional motorcycle police officer (bringing the total to four)

• Continued street repairs and maintenance

• Tourism initiatives through the Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce

• Greater funding for outside agencies and non-profits such as the Goleta Valley Senior Center and Safe Routes to Schools

• Additional staff to help move the City’s ambitious Capital Improvement Program forward

• A reserve for building a City Hall rather than continuing to lease space

The Council also allocated one-time money for a new zoning code and housing element, infrastructure needs at City Hall and environmental studies needed to complete the wild land fire and butterfly habitat management plans.

The complete budget document is available on the City’s website and at the public counters at City Hall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

FISH

Protecting Our Marine Life

Our coast and ocean are among Goleta’s most treasured resources. The wildness and beauty found on Goleta’s coast are an important part of the City’s identity and heritage. In 1999, the California Legislature safeguarded the long-term health of our marine life with the passage of the Marine Protection Act. This Act established a statewide network of marine protected areas designed, created and managed using science and input from local users, including commercial and recreational fishermen. Marine protected areas (MPAs) along the southern California coast have been in effect in state waters since January 1, 2012. The south coast network includes 50 new or modified MPAs that cover approximately 355 square miles or about 15 percent of the state waters along the south coast. The MPAs are managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW).

There are three new local MPAs: the Naples State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA), the Campus Point SMCA, and the Goleta Slough SMCA. These are no-take areas except for Naples MPA which allows for select recreational and commercial taking to occur. The Campus Point and Goleta Slough MPAs have boundaries that include areas below the mean high tide line on their respective beaches, which means that it also applies to any living resources which may be found in tide pools and on sandy wet beaches. The CDFW can cite anyone for taking any living resources from within any of these areas. If poaching is suspected in any of these areas, the public can report those activities to the CDFW anonymous hotline, CalTIP, at 1-888-334-2258.

To learn more about MPAs, their boundaries, regulations and the living resources within, visit www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/MPA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beach

Rules of the Beach and Bluffs

One of the great perks of living in Goleta is the easy access to a number of beaches, parks and open spaces. As you make your summer plans, please remember these things:

• Bonfires are illegal on all beaches and bluffs within the Goleta Valley.

• Dogs must be kept on leashes (unless otherwise posted).

• Responsible consumption of alcohol is permitted on beaches for those 21 years or older.

• If you’re going to consume alcohol be sure to carry identification.

• Be considerate of others and take your trash with you.

• No motorized vehicles of any kind are allowed on bluffs and beaches.

• If you’re under 18, you must wear a helmet while riding on bluffs or beaches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be Wildfire Ready This Season

We all know how unpredictable and destructive wildfires are in our area. But there are things you and I can do to be prepared—to slow them down—to protect our family and property. And the Santa Barbara County Fire Department’s Ready! Set! Go! Program makes that preparation easy…

Ready! Prepare yourself, your family and your property.

Set! Monitor fire weather / activity and prepare to evacuate.

Go! Leave early and when directed by public safety officials.

11 Tips to Being Ready, Set, Go!:

• Build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan.

• Design and landscape your home with wildfire safety in mind. Select materials and plants that can help contain fire rather than fuel it.

• Use fire-resistant (or noncombustible) materials on the roof and exterior structure of the dwelling, or treat wood or other combustible materials used in roofs, siding, decking or trim with fire-retardant chemicals.

• Plant fire-resistant shrubs and trees. For example, hardwood trees are less flammable than pine, evergreen, eucalyptus or fir trees.

• Regularly clean roof and gutters.

• Inspect chimneys at least twice a year. Clean them at least once a year. Keep the dampers in good working order. Equip chimneys and stovepipes with a spark arrester.

• Install a dual-sensor smoke alarm on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms. Test them monthly and change the batteries at least once each year.

• Teach each family member how to use a fire extinguisher (ABC type) and show them where it’s kept.

• Keep household items handy that can be used as fire tools: rake, axe, handsaw or chain saw, bucket and shovel.

• Keep a ladder that will reach your roof.

• Clear items that will burn from around your house, including woodpiles, lawn furniture, barbecue grills, tarp coverings, etc. Move them outside of your defensible space. (A minimum of 100 feet of defensible space is required around your home. This means that the area around your home be free of flammable plants and objects.)

The Ready! Set! Go! Program was launched to help raise awareness and reduce life and property loss caused by wildfires.