Goleta Planners Examine Kenwood Village - Neighbors Raise Concerns About Traffic, Other Impacts

Goleta Planners Examine Kenwood Village - Santa Barbara Independent

With a general plan amendment initiation currently wending its way through the works of Goleta’s planning staff, Peikert Group Architects presented conceptual information for Kenwood Village — a 60-unit residential development proposed for the ten-acre agricultural parcel on Calle Real Road near El Encanto Heights, adjacent to the future site of recently approved Citrus Village — before the Goleta Planning Commission on Monday.

Goleta Kicks Off Old Spanish Days

Goleta Kicks Off Old Spanish Days - Santa Ynez Valley Journal

Locals from the valley through Montecito think of Fiesta as an August event, but Fiesta Ranchera at Goleta’s Stow House will bring together people from all over the South Coast June 25 in an early kick off to Old Spanish Days.

Glen Annie Golf Club says it will close - Pacific Coast Business Times

Glen Annie Golf Club says it will close - Pacific Coast Business Times

“We have no other options, and sadly, we are forced to close our doors on July 6,” the club announced in a June 22 newspaper advertisement. “We’re not sure what will happen to Glen Annie, but we know the closure directly affects the 75 people who work here, as well as the dozens of events planned in coming weeks.”

Glen Annie singled out the council’s vote as the driver for its decision to close.

“In a way, the city was being asked to bail out the owner for some unfortunate business decisions made years ago,” Connell said. “Essentially, the owner of the golf course is targeting the City Council with the onus of the golf course shutting down, but I don’t think they’ve explored all the options they have. They’re talking about 195 homes. I think that would more than cover their debt.”

Citrus Village Appeal Upheld by Goleta | Santa Ynez Valley Journal

APPEAL UPHELD BY GOLETA | Santa Ynez Valley Journal

Goleta Officials Project New Budget Will Break Even - Noozhawk.com

Noozhawk.com - Goleta Officials Project New Budget Will Break Even

Independent - Goleta Bans Medical Pot

The Santa Barbara Independent - Goleta Bans Medical Pot

Daily Sound - Goleta projects a $1.1 million deficit

Daily Sound - Goleta projects a $1.1 million deficit

City of Goleta Proposed Sphere of Influence

Did anybody attend the SB LAFCO Meeting this afternoon regarding the City of Goleta Proposed Sphere of Influence? Thoughts/comments/dislikes/likes?

Goleta Raises Stakes with County on Taxes

Goleta Raises Stakes with County on Taxes

Noozhawk.com

Tuesday was a day of bold moves for the city of Goleta, as council members voted to put two measures on November's ballot -- measures that if passed, would have far reaching consequences for Santa Barbara County. Both measures were vote in in an effort to offset the effects of the city's revenue neutrality agreement with the county and projected budget deficits.

"The voters giveth, and the voters taketh away," Bennett said.

"We're saying that we will not stop addressing the revenue neutrality agreement till we have exhausted every single opportunity to correct it," Onnen said. "The revenue neutrality agreement is improper."

Goleta State of the City 2008

On May 29, 2008, the City of Goleta held its first State of the City. The event was videotaped and it will be rebroadcast on Goleta TV Channel 19 throughout the month of June and July on Thursdays and Fridays at 10am and 5pm.

The State of the City Report can be viewed by clicking here.

Eric Onnen opens up at SB County Board of Supervisors Meeting

Did anyone else happen to catch Goleta Councilmember Eric Onnen at Tuesday's SB County Board of Supervisors Meeting, during the Public Comment period?

Onnen, who showed up not as a representative of Goleta, but as a concerned citizen, spoke in regards to the Revenue Neutrality Agreement between Goleta and the County of SB.

Chair Carbajal didn't appreciate Onnen showing up with 'threats', and cited a miscommunication between the governing body of Goleta, as Supervisor mentioned he had met with Mayor Bennett just the day before in an impromptu meeting, and discussed the revenue neutrality agreement at length.

If you missed it, here is a link to the archived meeting: February 12, 2008 County BOS Meeting

Thoughts? Comments?

General Plan Amendments - Public Workshop

The City Council will co-host with the Planning Commission three public workshops on proposed General Plan Amendments that are sponsored and initiated by the City. The first is on Saturday, September 15: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Michael Bennett Has Visions of Disneyland in Old Town

BlogaBarbara has an active discussion going on about The Pacific Coast Business Times reporting that Goleta Council Member Michael Bennett told his buddies at the Chamber of Commerce that he would like to create a "semblance of Disneyland" in Old Town Goleta.

Update: Bicyclist Killed By Truck in Goleta

SB Independent / Chris Meagher

A bicyclist was killed in Goleta Wednesday morning following a collision with a tractor trailer hauling sand, according to authorities. Sheriff’s department investigators believe the victim is a 26-year-old male resident of Goleta, but haven’t confirmed his identity. There was a Mexican identification card in the man’s possession.

The accident occurred just after 8 a.m. at the intersection of Hollister and Kellogg avenues. The truck was traveling westbound on Hollister, making a right turn Kellogg. Authorities are trying to determine where the cyclist was when he was struck by the truck and if he was moving at the time. According to reports, the driver of the truck wasn’t aware the biker was there. He became aware he hit something after he made the turn, Sgt. Erik Raney said.

Several witnesses were at the scene, but investigators are looking for more witnesses who might have seen the collision, including a group of four vehicles waiting at the traffic light traveling southbound on Kellogg. Anyone with information should call (805) 961-7518.

---
KEYT

Officials Look for Witnesses to Fatal Accident

A fatal accident occurred on Wednesday morning on Hollister and Kellogg in Goleta.

The accident occurred just after 8:00 am when a Tractor Trailer hauling sand turned right onto Kellogg and a bicyclist riding straight on Hollister collided. The bicyclist died at the scene.

Sheriff's Investigator's have interviewed several witnesses, but are looking for any additional witnesses to the accident. One witness reported that four vehicles were stopped at the traffic light on Southbound Kellogg when the accident occurred. Investigators would like to speak with those drivers, as they may have information pertinent to the investigation.

The victim is believed to be a 26 year old Hispanic male and resident of Goleta. The victim's identity has not yet been confirmed.

Any one with information should call Deputy George DeLuca at 961-7518.

Media M.I.A. - Goleta Bicyclist Killed

There was a bicyclist that was hit and killed by an 18-wheeler on Wednesday around 8:15am in Goleta at Hollister and Kellogg. There was little mention of it on KEYT news last night, however, there has been no other coverage that can be found.

Goleta General Plan Amendments

This coming Monday, August 6 at 6 p.m., the City Council will hold a second round public hearing to sponsor and initiate General Plan Amendments.

On Monday, September 4 at 6 p.m., the City Council will conduct a public workshop to receive input on the boundaries and objectives of a conceptual proposal for a City Sphere of Influence.

On Saturday, September 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the City Council will co-host with the Planning Commission a public workshop on proposed General Plan Amendments that are sponsored and initiated by the City.

On Saturday, September 22 from 9 a.m. to 3p.m., the City Council will co-host with the Planning Commission a second public workshop on proposed General Plan Amendments that are sponsored and initiated by the City.

On Friday, October 5 from 9 a.m. to 3p.m., the City will conduct a Housing Element certification public workshop and site visits.

Link To Documents

MTD Governing Board Gets Two New Members

SB Independent

The cities of Goleta and Carpinteria will each appoint a member to the Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District’s governing board, which will increase to seven members from its current five, thanks to a bill introduced by Assemblymember Pedro Nava and signed by Governor Schwarzenegger on 7/20.

Goleta goes back for more - City to seek less money from county in second bid

Santa Barbara Daily Sound
By Colby Frazier
July 9, 2007

Nearly two months after being denied $350,000 in Coastal Resource Enhancement Funds by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, the city of Goleta is set to ask for a slightly less amount at Tuesday's board meeting in Santa Maria.

If the money is approved by the board, Goleta plans to purchase a one acre parcel of land on the Ellwood Mesa known as the Doty property, which city officials say is integral to complete the Ellwood Mesa Preserve.

"I feel very confident that on Tuesday they will approve most of the money we're asking for to purchase this property, which is the last of the parcels needed to complete the reserve," said Goleta City Councilman Roger Aceves.

The city's original request for CREF money was based on a $475,000 purchase agreement with the city negotiated with the property owner. Third District Supervisor Brooks Firestone argued this total was too high because the property was appraised at $400,000.

The board voted 4-1 at that meeting to temporarily deny the allocation until further information was available.

Aceves said the city has worked closely with the county since then in order to come to a suitable compromise.

In order to quell concerns that the purchase agreement was too high, the city renegotiated it with the property owner, who agreed to lower the price to $400,000.

As a result of the lower asking price, the city lowered its CREF request to $300,000. The remaining $100,000 will have to be funded by the city.

First [sic] District Supervisor Janet Wolf was the lone dissenting vote in May, and made a motion at that time to give Goleta $250,000, but it failed with a 3-2 vote.

Wolf said she was happy to see the issue back on the agenda.

"I'm glad that they've been working on it and let's hope it passes," Wolf said.

CREF funds are paid out by oil and gas companies as a condition of being issued offshore oil and gas permits. The money is offered as a mitigation effort for impacts to coastal resources.

At the May meeting, the board approved funding for Rincon Park, Franklin Trail, Lookout Park, the Surf Exhibit at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, the Sea Center, Walter Capps Park, the Tide & Seek and Belly of the Whale exhibits at the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum and the Seabird Care Compound. The money allocated to these projects totaled $405,305.

Aceves said the Doty property is the missing link of the Ellwood Mesa, at which most of the trails and pathways meet.

"It's a really beautiful area," Aceves said. "It's really used a lot."

The Board of Supervisors meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in the Betteravia Government Center in Santa Maria.

BlogaBarbara: The Back Story on Onnen's Absence

To truly understand my approach to Eric Onnen's absence from the last Goleta City Council meeting, one has to review what happened the week before when a vote for employee raises for City of Goleta workers took council to the midnight hour. While watching the meeting, it was clear that Onnen was keeping the meeting going unnecessarily with questions that did not pertain to government but were more suited to his extensive experience in the private sector. He brought up bonuses, for instance, which can't be given to public employees as it would be a gift of public funds. The meeting, it seemed, continued because he did not do his homework.

More at BlogaBarbara...

DUI Checkpoint - City of Goleta

SBSO Press Release
The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department will conduct a sobriety checkpoint on June 29th 2007 in the City of Goleta area. Motorists approaching the checkpoint will see informational signs advising them that a sobriety checkpoint is ahead. Once diverted into the checkpoint lane, motorists will be detained for only a few moments while deputies explain the purpose of the checkpoint and check their driver’s licenses.

Sobriety checkpoints are conducted in accordance with guidelines for checkpoint operations outlined in the Supreme Court decision, Ingersoll vs. Palmer. Traffic volume permitting, all vehicles will be checked. If traffic volume becomes too heavy, vehicles will then be checked by a pre-set standard (such as every 3rd or 5th vehicle) to ensure objectivity.

By placing checkpoints on roads with identified DUI problems and detaining drivers for a limited time we help ensure the safety of our citizens. Checkpoints tend to reduce the number of drinking drivers on our roads, even though arrest totals do not rise dramatically. A major value of these checkpoints is their psychological influence. The news media is advised well in advance whenever a checkpoint is planned since extensive publicity is also viewed as a “legal safeguard.”

The checkpoint will be operated from approximately 6:30 pm to 3:00 am. Funding for these checkpoints is provided by a grant from the California Office of Public Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.