Pavement
The city determines the spending level for its annual pavement repair and maintenance program based on a target from our pavement condition index. We have been targeting our resources to the streets most in need, while trying to maintain those streets that currently need minimal funds to stay in good shape. This year, some of the primary city projects will include:
- Phelps Road (Pacific Oaks Road to Storke Road)
- Hollister Avenue (Cathedral Oaks Road to City Right of Way towards Bacara)
- Storke Road (Holliste rAvenue to US 101 On-Ramp)
Pavement Rehabilitation Scheduled Soon
However, like most cities, the city has relied on impact fees to fund the pavement program. This amount has proven to be inadequate, especially given the escalation in construction costs. Assuch, the city will create a spending plan, in which we will add additional funds each year to build to our target spending level in order to maintain the roads appropriately.
Firehouse 10
We need a new firehouse in western Goleta. The response times by the fire department do not adhere to best practices.The closest fire stations to the proposed site of the new facility are Station 11, just off Storke Road near Girsh Park, and Station 14 on Los Carneros Road, near Stow House, and each fall short of the 7½-minute target for response times.
Goleta and the County Fire had drafted an MOU in 2016,which the city indicated that it wouldpay for andbuild the firehouse. This was an odd decision for a number of reasons. First, much of the responsibility covered by the firehouse is outside the city limits, such as the Embarcadero Municipal Service District or Gaviota. Second, the fire department needs to be able to evaluate the size and design of the fire house to conform with its needs. Almost everywhere else in the state, fire departments, which receive their own tax revenues build their own fire stations.
Where we are now, is that working with the County Fire, we will create a new MOU to build Firehouse 10. The status of the process is described below.
Airport
Concerned about the airports noise, the city of Goleta wrote to the City of Santa Barbara so that we might find a way to improve the situation. We proposed 13 potential actions that the airport might take to mitigate, reduce, or avoid the noise. In response,Santa Barbara proposed a dual-track strategy. The bigger, more significant reforms will require a formal process of comprehensive updating the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Noise Compatibility Planning Study. Upon completion, this study will require FAA review.
However, there was much that could be accomplished in the meantime. To address the issue ofaircraft noise in the near-term, the Santa Barbara proposed the establishment of a Noise Working Group to develop practical and effective noise mitigation strategies. In particular, the group will explore getting the airlines to rely on the noise abatement corridors and to avoid residential neighborhoods. For example, encouraging all four airlines to use a “proprietary” instrument approach procedures and preparing charted visual approach procedures willencourage airlines to choose the flight paths that mitigate noise exposure over residential communities
Housing
In response to the state mandates, the city and county enabled more housing by rezoning. As a result, developers will propose new housing projects over the next 8 years. I have had some real concerns about this process.
However, we have emerged with a consensus. As we wrote to the state when we submitted the housing element, we wil lensure that the new projects are consistent with the goals of the General Plan in terms of not causing additional traffic congestion and protecting the environment. If a project cannot mitigate its impacts adequately, then the project will bereduced in size or density. Our second goal is to maximize the proportion of housing that is affordable, as projects are proposed.; and (b) increasing the proportion of the new housing thatis more affordable for the workforce.
An additional objective is to ensure that the affordable housing that we add benefits ourresidents. Therefore, we will pursue a local preference ordinance. The purpose of this ordinance will be, first to give apreference for affordable units to people living in the area. Second, to givea preference to people who are working near where they would live (ie where the new housing will be). When people live near where they work it encourages increased use of alternative transportation. It also potentially enables first responders, teachers, and others to get affordable housing and teachers.
Public Works
We will be developing a priority measure for comparing our public works projects. The idea is to develop an objective measure – an index that includes both project benefits and costs, as well as environmental justice to ensure we don’t burden or reward areas with undesirable or highly desirable projects, respectively. We can then ensure that the programs we pursue are the most important for the city.
One of our big future priorities will be to pursue funding for a bike and pedestrian 101 overpass.
Childcare
The state has required that local school districts provide universal transitional ageschool for children 4 and above (or age 3 1/2 for special needs children). This will createpotential availablecapacityfor new kidsin the existing childcare facilities when children exit forthepublic-schoolalternative.However, the greatest need for parents, where there is thegreatest shortage is for childcare for children aged 0-2. How can we enable childcare facilities tobetter addfocus on the younger ages? Also, we need to both train preschool teachers who willreplace thoseteacherswho become public school teachersfor the expandeduniversal TK
Future “To dos” and challenges
- Finding a new access point for the national forest in the Goleta/Gaviota area.