Stuart Kasdin
Housing and Transportation
RHNA Housing. First, we must accommodate state law, specifically the state housing agency’s (HCD) requirements. In the city’s original submission, we proposed the use of ‘infill’, that is underdeveloped sites within the city. HCD, however, required vacant land, not infill, for rezoning for housing. However, in our submission to HCD, we added that we would ensure consistency with the city’s General Plan, including controlling both traffic congestion and environmental impacts. As such, we will reduce the housing density on those rezoned sites, after the project-level review, if the developers can’t mitigate their impacts to meet the standards of General Plan. We created a buffer of housing to use as backfill to allow this to happen.
Heritage Ridge Housing Project. March, 2023, the council approved the Heritage Ridge residential project. The 332-unit apartment project includes 102 affordable housing units for both seniors and families. The project also includes a two-acre public park which will include a playground, Chumash cultural area, walking path with exercise equipment, a multi-use turf area and a nature habitat area.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety. In 2018, the city passed its Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. Part of how it is implemented is to ensure that each new road project considers the opportunities to add or enhance opportunities to improve the conditions for cyclists. For example, a 2023/24 Pavement Maintenance project this week will evaluate new opportunities for expanded bicycle lanes. In 2023, the city passed the Vision Zero policy statement seeking to end road fatalities and pursue measures to make our streets safer.
Housing affordability. Passed inclusionary housing policy ordinances both for for-sale housing and for rental housing. Also, passed tenant protection ordinances. Created affordable housing at Heritage Ridge.
Economic Development and Social Services
Homelessness: The city created a new Homelessness Issue Standing Committee and subsequently, in 2021, developed our Homelessness Strategic Plan. Our goal is to end homelessness in Goleta. Outreach and assistance to the encampments and vehicular homeless. We have expanded opportunities for interim housing (Hedges House of Hope, Path) and permanent housing. The city supported the Buena Tierra permanent supportive housing which will provide housing for 59 people currently living on the streets or in shelters in the area. We also worked to reflect the needs of the affected residents nearby, such as excluding people from camping in high fire risk locations and expanding the safe parking opportunities to shift the vehicular homeless away from using residential neighborhoods.
Childcare. As part of the tasks for our newly established (2023) Human Services committee, our goal is to make childcare more accessible and less expensive. We made it easier to start new preschools, such as changing the zoning to make it permissible in essentially every city location. We eliminated the imposition of permit fees for non-profit childcare providers and staff is looking at eliminating the costs for all childcare facilities. We provided funding to WEV (Women’s Economic Ventures) to support new start-ups.
Parks, Recreation, and the Environment
Creek and watershed. On November 17, 2020, City Council adopted the Creek and Watershed Management Plan (CWMP). The Creek and Watershed Management Program (CWMP) includes detailed information on the dozen creeks that run through our community, identifies impairments to these creeks, and outlines programs and specific future actions to address identified impairments. To support implementation of the plan, the city established a new committee, created a technical advisory committee, and is in the process of hiring a new staff person to manage the program.
Parks and open space. The 2017 Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment reported that there was a deficit of parks and open space in Old Town. Since then, the city has added Jonny D Wallace park and will have a new splash pad added this summer. We have expanded the playground in Armitos Park and added a community garden, and we have enhanced the playing field and added pickleball at Community Center. In addition, the extended bike path by Armitos Park has been fixed up so going south users will be able to go all the way to Goleta Beach. Outside of Old Town, at Stow Grove Park. We are adding the city’s first fully inclusive, universal playground.
San Jose Creek Bike Path. Creates access from Old Town to Calle Real. Creates access to shopping for families from Old Town to Calle Real. Also, increases recreational opportunities for bicycling, eventually to go from Calle Real to Goleta Beach.
Ellwood Mesa. In 2019, the Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan was adopted (it had been included as an action item in the General Plan, but deemed not a priority by the previous council) and the Coastal Conservancy granted $3.9 million for its implementation. The plan covers 60 acres and aims to restore the monarch butterfly habitats across the Ellwood Mesa. In addition, the city is pursuing hazardous fuel reduction and fire safety measures with a $1.7 million Cal Fire grant as part of its wildfire risk reduction efforts for the Ellwood Mesa Neighborhoods.
Sustainability. December 5, 2017, the City committed to moving the city’s municipal facilities and community-wide electricity supply to 100% renewable power by 2030, plus to have at least 50 percent of electricity use by municipal facilities come from renewable sources by 2025. The Strategic Energy Plan was adopted by City Council in 2019 and the city joined the Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) in 2021. By joining 3CE, we create competition for the So Cal Edison and ensure the best prices for our residents. We are also looking to enhance the reliability of our power to avoid shut-offs. We are looking for ways to accomplish our strategic goals in ways that are practical and efficient.
Other
Airport. The airport is located as an enclave, formally part of the city of Santa Barbara, but entirely within the city of Goleta. As such, Goleta has not formal role in the choices made by the airport. However, the level of noise generated by the airlines has risen significantly over the past several years, including early morning (5 AM) and late-night flights. This has impacted Goleta as the flights frequently fly over the residential of Ellwood. Accordingly, the city drafted a letter to the city of Santa Barbara outlining our concerns. In response, the city of Santa Barbara established an airport noise working group which is chartered to evaluate the issues and alternatives and report on potential solutions.
Public Engagement Commission. The Commission is charged with looking for opportunities and ways to increase public engagement in City government. Topics have included whether councilmembers should be paid greater compensation, whether regular City Council meeting should be scheduled after 5 p.m.; whether the directly elected mayor’s term should be 4 years; the district mapping process in determining district lines for future district elections; and more generally how to increase resident participation in government;
Library. In 2017, the city of Goleta formed its own library, separating from the management by the city of Santa Barbara. At present, the city also provides oversight and managerial assistance to the cities of Buellton and Solvang. In 2023, the California State Library has awarded the City of Goleta a $4.278 million dollar grant to be used for improvements to the facility. The city also provides essential library services to the unincorporated County areas of the greater Goleta Valley, Isla Vista, Hope Ranch, and Gaviota, including operating a book van for IV.
Grants: Goleta provided small grants were provided to local non-profits, but without any way of prioritizing or properly evaluating needs. The volume of small grants has more than doubled and now council first determines the allocation for each sector, with the work of evaluating individual grant recipients conducted by different specialized committees.
Management. Previously, with 2 council member votes, council members would propose projects and staff would choose which to pursue. Each council member would advocate to see their projects pursued with some frustrated when their project was seemingly neglected. Many projects received some cursory action, but many projects seemed not to get completed. We established work plans, made up of priority lists for the year’s projects for each department.
