From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, June 10, 2022 4:11 PM
To: City Clerk Group <[email protected]>
Subject: Comment on 1% Sales Tax Proposal and Priority Spending Plan Good afternoon,
My name is Conor McMahon, and I am a resident of Goleta. I am a PhD student in the Department of Geography at the University of California, Santa Barbara. I am also the president of the UCSB bird conservation student organization, Goleta Coast Audubon Society.
I would like to voice my support for a 1% sales tax measure.
Out of the priorities considered for funding under this measure, I strongly support providing increased funding to implement provisions of the recently-passed City of Goleta Creek and Watershed Management Plan.
Our creeks have been degraded by declining water tables, loss of native tree cover, and invasion by non- native herbaceous plants like cape ivy. This leads to a cascading series of effects across both the natural and municipal realms. It is imperative that we invest in supporting regular biological and hydrological surveys of our creeks, followed by active management and restoration to prevent flooding damage to life and property, to safeguard our wildlife populations, and to ensure that our natural environment remains healthy for generations to come.
Thank you for your consideration and for your service to the community.
Best,
Conor McMahon
Graduate Student
Department of Geography
University of California, Santa Barbara
President
Goleta Coast Audubon Society
-----Original Message-----
From: Lisa Fritz <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, June 9, 2022 4:48 PM
To: City Clerk Group <[email protected]>
Subject: Proposed 1% tax increase
I a
m absolutely opposed to any tax increase. Particularly when we are facing record inflation, shrinkflation and gas prices. Better management decisions will go a long way towards best utilizing existing revenue. An increase in taxes will only increase people buying things outside of Goleta, and likely push for more online commerce. Our community businesses have already been hammered by the impact Covid and many are only just beginning to recover.
This policy is very short sighted and frankly is the “easy” decision for lawmakers. No difficult cost cutting or decrease in funding has to occur.
It’s time for our leaders to step up to the plate and make decisions that benefit our community.
Sent from my iPhone
1 From: Stephanie Moret <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2022 1:42 PM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: 1% sales tax -support local creeks and watershed request Greetings,
I’m delighted that you will be considering supporting a 1% sales tax measure. I teach Environmental Sciences and Conservation Planning at UCSB, and also serve on the board of the Santa Barbara Urban Creeks Council. I’m writing to encourage you to support funding to implement the Creek and Waterhshed Management Plan (CWMP). A recent city survey revealed that 92% of residents prioritize “protecting local creeks”. When we protect creeks, we protect birds, amphibians, fish, insects, and the native riparian zone that keeps our water clean.
Best,
‐Stephanie Moret
1 From: Elyse Babinski <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2022 3:02 PM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: New tax
Good god NOOOO I can barely afford to
stay in Goleta
Sent from my iPhone
1 From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2022 2:42 PM
To: City Clerk Group
Cc: dan mccarter; Brian Trautwein
Subject: Sales tax workshop; prioritization of funding
Attachments: CityGoletaSalesTaxWKSHP.pdf
Dear City Clerk Group,
Please provide attached letter for Mayor and City Council, S.B. Urban Creeks Council input on 6/14 workshop, prioritization of funding for creeks/watersheds.
Thank you,
Eddie Harris
for SBUCC
SANTA BARBARA URBAN CREEKS COUNCIL
P.O. Box 1467, Santa Barbara, CA 93102 (805) 962-8260 [email protected] www.sb-urbancreeks.org
June 13, 2022
Mayor and City Council Submitted by email to: [email protected] City of Goleta
130 Cremona Drive, Suite B | Goleta, CA 93117
Dear Mayor Perotte and members of the City Council,
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the workshop. Santa Barbara Urban Creeks Council (SBUCC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit with a thirty-three year history of protecting, cleaning, and restoring creeks in watersheds throughout the city. We speak for our many members and families who prize the natural environment of Goleta and who hold protection of local creeks as a top priority according to your own recent survey.
The recently adopted Creek and Watershed Management Plan (CWMP), adopted unanimously by Council in 2020, remains unfunded, despite wide support by city residents. To be successful the CWMP must be funded in a way that is similar to the City of Santa Barbara’s Creeks Program.
We urge that you prioritize funding of creek protection and CWMP recommendations in the November ballot proposal for city voters, in consideration of a 1% sales tax for city programs.
Thank you for taking our input. Please ensure that essential creek and watershed protections are prioritized for funding.
Eddie Harris
Member of Board of Directors
Santa Barbara Urban Creeks Council
1 From: Deborah Williams <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2022 5:26 PM
To: City Clerk Group
Cc: DARYL WEST; George Thomson; Scott Cooper; 'Linda Krop' Subject: Potential 1% Sales Tax Measure
Dear Mayor and Members of the City Council,
Thank you for accepting comments regarding the potential 1% sales tax measure.
As a resident of Goleta, I strongly support the sales tax. Given my engagement with City Government, including serving on the Goleta Parks and Recreation Commission, I have seen the significant funding needs that we have in keeping the Good Land a desirable place to live, work, visit and raise a family. The Park and Recreation needs alone, as evident at Lake Los Carneros Open Space and many other parks, are substantial. As the polling demonstrates, we care about our public areas, open spaces and natural areas, local creeks and coastal waters – all of which received over 90% scores of high or medium priority in terms of importance of community services.
If I may, I would recommend somewhat modifying the ballot language to make it more compelling. Using the language from the top polling issues (Over 80%) seems stronger, clearer and more persuasive. So, I would recommend the language be read as follows:
“To keep public areas safe and clean; To pave streets, remove potholes, and improve traffic safety; To support public safety and maintain rapid 911 response; To maintain and enhance open spaces and natural areas; To prepare for wildfires, floods, natural disasters, and public health emergencies; To protect local creeks and coastal waters from pollution; To help maintain services for low‐income senior citizens and other vulnerable residents, address homelessness and prevent fires from illegal encampments; and To meet other critical local family, children and business community priority needs ‐‐ Shall a measure be adopted establishing a 1¢ sales tax providing approximately $10,600,000 annually until ended by voters, and requiring public spending disclosure?” Thank you for your consideration of this alternative language and for continuing to emphasize ‐‐ as one of the priorities of the sales tax increase ‐‐ our parks, open spaces, creeks and other public areas.
Regards,
Deborah Williams
Deborah Williams, J.D.
Lecturer, UCSB, Environmental Studies Department
Website: https://50greatpubliclanddestinations.org/
Recent OpEd: https://www.independent.com/2022/05/20/annoy‐russia‐and‐conserve/ The truth i
s incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. ‐ Winston Churchill
1 From: bill kelley <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2022 6:03 PM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: 1%sale tax
Why would anyone consider a sale tax hike in today's environment. Our economy is already at an 8% inflation rate and there are a large number of people on fixed and low income in this area. It would be a waste of taxpayers money to put this on the ballot just to get voted down. Why doesn't the city council consider leaving Hollister ave as is since it is the only main through fare west of the freeway and you would save at least a million dollars not to mention making most business owner's happy.
Think about it
William Kelley
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
1 From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2022 7:02 PM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: Goleta City 1% tax increase
Considering the increased cost of gasoline, the increased cost of basic necessities such as food, water, the increased cost of electricity, and trash, the citizens of Goleta are amazed that the city of Goleta wants to impose an additional 1% tax. An additional 1% is a 12.9% increase in the existing
7.75% tax rate. That is an unrealistic 12.9% increase in taxes being imposed on the citizens of Goleta. If you are concerned about the well being of Goleta citizens, you would find ways to fund critical programs without placing this huge tax increase, this huge burden on the hard working Goleta citizens.
1 From: Ken Owen <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2022 9:03 AM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: Sales Tax Increase in Support of Goleta's Creek and Watershed Management Plan Dear members of the Goleta City Council:
I am writing you today in support of the proposal to increase the city’s sales tax by 1% in support of the city’s Creek and Watershed Management Plan. As a nonprofit organization that provides habitat restoration services and environmental education, we have had the privilege of working in Goleta along watersheds for the last 20 years. I know first had what wonderful resources the creeks provide for the public and the important habitat they provide for wildlife. As you know, a recent city survey found that an overwhelming majority of city residents support protecting local creeks, but the city lacks critical funding for management and restoration of its watersheds. The hotel occupancy tax in the City of Santa Barbara was raised to support local creeks, and the transformation has been incredible. The conditions along the creeks have improved markedly with the clean up of trash, removal of nonnative invasive plants, installation of native plants and the reduction of a massive amount of pollution from reaching the ocean.
I urge you to support the proposal to raise the sales tax, because it is a substantial measure that the Council and the citizens of Goleta can take to make a real change for our environment.
Thank you,
Ken Owen
Executive Director
Channel Islands Restoration
PO Box 40228
Santa Barbara, CA 93140
(805) 448‐5726
1 From: C. Dave G <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2022 9:31 AM
To: City Clerk Group
Cc: Dave G
Subject: A Strong Vote of “NO” regarding any new sales tax increase: Agenda Item A.1 22-305 “Priority Spending Plan Workshop for Enhanced Sales Tax Revenues,” meeting date 6/14/22.
When residents of Goleta can no longer afford to live in Goleta the concern of generating additional revenue sources to fund $104 Million in unfunded Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Projects becomes an obsolete priority. In the recent words of the President of the Santa Barbara & Tri-counties United Nations Association (i.e., UNA - USA), “sales tax is an unfair tax that taxes the poor who spend their hard earned money on the necessities and they have to pay more every time they shop.” Additionally, I have discussed this topic with multiple neighbors with two noteworthy local trends: 1) Does the Mayor and City Council know that it is very common for up to four college students to sleep in one bedroom due in part to the high costs of local rental rates (a current situation shared by a neighbor), and 2) Recent college graduates are now pooling their resources together in an attempt to live in Goleta whereby three graduates have budgeted $7200/month to find local housing (another neighbor shared this story regarding her daughter who is looking for local housing). Again, as stated in my June 05, 2022 email response regarding this matter, “City rents are out of control and have increased by 34% this past year with an average one bedroom apartment at $2,450.00.” As such, do these individuals desire to pay more to shop locally regardless of the intended uses of this money – obviously, the answer is “No” except, perhaps, if: A) 911 responders have spent their entire fuel budget and can no longer respond to every 911 call (another national trend that is currently happening due to out of control fuel prices: Can the General Fund be used to reimburse the fuel costs of 911 responders?), and B) Goleta is hit with an emergency drought situation without adequate local water reserves (Can the general fund be used for new storm water/rain water capture and storage facilities?).
On a related side note, it appears that the local homeless situation may be increasing and the development of new live-in car parking lot style facilities could be an appropriate option for the use of new General Fund revenues specifically for full/part-time local employees and locally enrolled college students.
My name is C. Dave Gaughen, email address of cdg55@earthlink. net, phone number of (805) 275-
6457, and currently I do not plan on speaking on this agenda item.
Thank you for your time - respectfully,
C. Dave Gaughen
1 From: Aaron Kreisberg <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2022 9:37 AM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: Sales Tax Increase Proposal for November Ballot Goleta City Council,
I am writing in support of the placement of the 1% sales tax on the ballot in this November's general election. I would particularly cite some identified initiatives in the Priority Spending Plan Workshop for Enhanced Sales Tax Revenues.
Under Section 4: Important Community Master Plans of special importance in my view are the:
The Creek and Watershed Management Plan. This plan involved considerable effort on the part of many partners and represents a roadmap to preserving and enhancing Goleta's riparian areas. It should be supported and implemented.
The Lake Los Carneros Master Plan. Lake Los Carneros is a true gem of Goleta, and this park should be managed effectively and habitat enhanced.
The Ellwood Mesa Habitat Management Plan. With impacts from drought, climate change, and pesticides impacting Ellwood, efforts to rehabilitate and enhance habitat there need to be supported.
Under Section 5: Other Unfunded Costs:
Parks and Open Space Maintenance is identified
The City of Goleta has some truly special open spaces and natural areas, and if the passage of the 1% sales taxes entails more support for these areas then I support the voters of Goleta getting to decide in November.
Thank you for your consideration,
Aaron Kreisberg
Staff Ecologist
Channel Islands Restoration
PO Box 40228
Santa Barbara, CA 93140
www.cirweb.org
(805) 448-4175
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1 From: Scott Cooper <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2022 10:01 AM
To: City Clerk Group
Cc: Lori Gaskin; Jessie Altstatt; Brian Trautwein
Subject: Comments for this morning's City Council workshop on the 1% sales tax ballot measure Dear City Clerk for the City of Goleta,
I would like to have the following comments read into the record at this morning's (June 14, 2022) City Council workshop on a ballot proposal for a 1% sales tax to support City of Goleta programs.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Scott Cooper
June 14, 2022
Dear City Council,
My name is Scott Cooper. I am a long‐time resident of Goleta and a member of the Conservation Committee for the Santa Barbara Audubon Society (SBAS). On behalf of SBAS, I would like to thank the City of Goleta’s Mayor and City Council for this opportunity to comment on this ballot proposal.
SBAS is a chapter of the National Audubon Society with approximately 1100 members in this area. The mission of the SBAS is to protect area birdlife and habitat and connect people with birds through education, conservation, and science. Our members, many of whom reside in Goleta, frequently use the open spaces, parks, and natural areas in and around the City of Goleta for recreational and outreach activities.
SBAS strongly supports the ballot proposal for a 1% sales tax whose revenues would fund City of Goleta programs. More specifically, we believe that it should be a priority to use the revenues from this tax to support the environmentally‐sensitive management and restoration of Goleta’s treasured open spaces and natural areas. Such a prioritization would support the activities of Goleta’s Open Space Manager and would allow the implementation of the approved Creek and Watershed Management Plan. We believe that the endorsement of this ballot proposal would be consistent with our community’s very strong support for its natural areas.
Sincerely,
Scott Cooper
Member, Santa Barbara Audubon Society, Conservation Committee 1 From: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2022 5:12 PM
To: City Clerk Group
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Letter in Support of the Proposed Sales Tax Proposal for Nov. 2022 Goleta Ballot Attachments: GoletaCityCouncil_SupportForProposedSalesTaxIncreaseonNov2022Ballot_LetterSubmittedJune2022. pdf
Dear Mayor Perotte and the City Council of Goleta,
Please see attached.
Thank you,
Lucy Lefkowitz
Lucy Lefkowitz
Policy Director
Heal the Ocean
1430 Chapala Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 965‐7570 I www.healtheocean.org
“Sentim
ent without action is the ruin of the soul.”
1430 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101;
PO Box 90106, Santa Barbara, CA 93190; Telephone (805) 965-7570; fax (805) 962-0651 www.healtheocean.org
June 15, 2022
TO: Mayor Perotte and the Goleta City Council
130 Cremona Drive, Suite B
Goleta, CA, 93117
via email: [email protected]
RE: November 2022 City of Goleta Proposed Sales Tax (1%) Ballot Proposal
Dear Mayor Perotte and the City Council of Goleta:
On behalf of Heal the Ocean (HTO), I submit the following letter in support of the measure to include on the November 2022 Goleta ballot a sales tax increase of 1% for the purpose of supporting city programs. Specifically, HTO urges the Council to prioritize funding for the recently adopted Creek and Watershed Management Plan (CWMP).
Heal the Ocean is a non-profit organization founded in 1998. We advocate for a cleaner ocean – and all watersheds feeding the ocean - through engagement with policymakers, scientists, industry, and the public.
The CWMP requires funding to ensure adequate implementation. Presently, the CWMP is unfunded. This proposal is an opportunity for the City Council to prioritize advancing environmentally sound management and restoration of Goleta’s watershed for present and future generations to come. Similar sales tax proposals, when effectively dedicated to environmental management, have proven successful in Santa Barbara. For example, HTO supported the increase in the Hotel Occupancy tax for the City of Santa Barbara to advance funding for sustainable creek management (Measure B). Since the tax was imposed, creek conditions have improved due to funds being used in the clean-up of trash, stormwater retention, restoration of native plants, and other measures. The Goleta City Council, in approving this ballot proposal, will help advance the values of the community of Goleta to ensure a healthy environment and a sustainable future for all.
Sincerely,
Hillary Hauser
Executive Director
Lucy Lefkowitz
Policy Director