From: George Relles <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, April 17, 2023 2:52 PM
To: Deborah Lopez <[email protected]>
Subject: Testimony for Goleta's April 18 City Counsel Meeting Dear Madam Clerk,
Please forward the following testimony to Goleta's Mayor, City Council and City Manager for the April 18 City Council Meeting.
I am writing regarding item D2, Measure B Framework, on your April 18 meeting agenda.
As you may know, several community members advocated for the passage of Measure B to our families and friends. We had to deal with the objections of many that revenues derived from Measure B would simply disappear into Goleta's general fund and not be targeted to any particular areas of community interest or concern.
We responded that even though it is a general tax, the city has given every indication that the new Measure B revenue should and would likely be spent primarily in three broad areas: improving roads and bikeways, renovating the Community Center, and following through on creek restoration.
We based our response on the City of Goleta's Measure B education campaign, the results of the survey Goleta had done, and on Goleta's list of strategic projects that are unfunded. All of these bolstered the idea that Measure B spending would be primarily directed toward the three areas in the paragraph above.
Now that Measure B has passed, it is time for your council to reaffirm its intent to focus Measure B spending on these kinds of projects. I am heartened to see the statement in the staff report that "All new revenues generated from Measure B will be accounted for in the General Fund (Fund 101) and reported as a separate line item." I suggest that your council should go further to reassure voters that these funds will not just disappear into the General Fund. For example, you could do some of the following regarding Measure B (this is not an exclusive list):
- Appoint a Goleta resident oversight committee to review and make Measure B spending recommendations.
- Pass an ordinance or a resolution that certain percentages of anticipated Measure B funds will be spent in the three specified areas.
- Make a 5 year plan that assigns certain percentages or amounts of anticipated Measure B funds to these three areas.
- Plan an annual review of Measure B funding and how it is being spent and receive public input and reactions.
It is true that the exact annual amount that will derive from Measure B is unknown. And it is also true that an unanticipated event - such as the recent pandemic - may require deviation from any plan. Despite those uncertainties, I strongly urge your Council to put forth a policy direction to make sure that public expectations regarding Measure B spending are honored and respected.
Respectfully,
George Relles
1 From: Brian Trautwein <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, April 17, 2023 7:01 PM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: Goleta City Council re Measure B Framework
Attachments: WatershedAllianceSalesTaxPrioritySign-on_22GroupsFinal_2022_06_20.pdf Dear Mayor PeroƩe, Mayor Pro‐Tem Richards, and Councilmembers, Please find the aƩached leƩer from twenty‐two local non‐profit organizaƟons urging the City to prioriƟze Measure B revenue for implemenƟng the Creek and Watershed Management Plan.
This leƩer was originally submiƩed to the City Council in June of 2022 before we worked so hard to pass Measure B. The signatory organizaƟons’ request is unchanged and just as important today as it was last year.
Thank you for considering this comment leƩer in advance of your April 18, 2023 hearing on the Measure B Framework.
Sincerely,
BRIAN TRAUTWEIN (he, him, his)
Senior Analyst / Watershed Program Director
Environmental Defense Center
(805)963-1622 ext. 108
www.EnvironmentalDefenseCenter.org
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE: The information contained in this communication may be confidential, is intended only for the use of the recipient named above, and may be legally privileged. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication, or any of its contents, is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please re-send this communication to the sender and delete the original message and any copy of it from your computer system. Thank you.
2 June 20, 2022
Mayor Paula Perotte
City Councilmembers
City of Goleta
BY EMAIL: City Clerk [email protected]
Re: City Budget and Sales Tax Reven ue Priorities: Creek and Watershed Protection and Restoration
Dear Mayor Perotte and Councilmembers:
The undersigned members of the Watershed Alliance support prioritization of the City’s watersheds and creeks as critically important community resources. Goleta’s creeks and watersheds recharge our aquifers, filter stormwater, nurture fish and wildlife, offer recreational opportunities including trails, outdoor labs for students, and accessible areas to appreciate nature.
Ninety-two percent of residents in the City’s survey prioritize creeks. 3 June 20, 2022
Goleta’s Creeks and Watersheds
The City made a significant investment by preparing the Cre ek and Watershed
Management Plan (“CWMP”) in 2020. However, the City lacks implementation funding.
Goleta’s sales tax measure could implement the CWMP fulfilling the commitment made upon Council adoption.
We recommend twenty percent (two million dollars) of the increased sales tax revenue be allocated to implement the CWMP. For comparison, the City of Santa Barbara’s Creeks Program receives two million dollars per year from the transient occupancy tax to manage three major creeks. Goleta has twelve creeks. The sales tax increase could provide matching funds for grants to protect and restore our treasured creeks and open natural spaces in our watersheds. Local contractors would restore our creeks, increasing fire safety, enhancing ecotourism, and replenishing valuable natural resources.
Please prioritize our important creeks and watersheds to benefit our community, residents, economy, and quality of life.
Thank you,
Linda Krop, Chief Counsel
Environmental Defense Center
Catherine Mullin, Conservation Chair
Sierra Club Santa Barbara-Ventura Chapter
Sigrid Wright, CEO
Community Environmental Council
Lindsay Johnson, Executive Director
Explore Ecology
Hillary Hauser, Executive Director
Heal the Ocean
Ken Owen, Executive Director
Channel Islands Restoration
Benjamin Pitterle, Science and Policy Director
Santa Barbara Channelkeeper
Katherine Emery, Ph.D., Executive Director
Santa Barbara Audubon Society
Dan McCarter, President
Urban Creeks Council
4 June 20, 2022
Goleta’s Creeks and Watersheds
Conor McMahon, President
Goleta Coast Audubon
Doug Kern, Ex
ecutive Director
Gaviota Coast Conservancy
Jeff Kuyper, Executive Director
Los Padres ForestWatch
Mark Morey, Chair
Surfrider Foundation Santa Barbara Chapter
Luke J. Svetland, President and CEO
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History & Sea Center
Vicki Allen, VP Communications
League of Women Voters of Santa Barbara
Ken Hough, Executive Director
SBCAN
Russell Marlow, South Coast Region Program Manager
California Trout
Nathan Irwin, Executive Director
Illuminate Conservation
Marell Brooks, President
Citizens Planning Association
Doug Campbell, Executive Director
Coastal Ranches Conservancy
Anannya Deshmukh, Chair
UCSB Associated Students Coastal Fund
5 From: Richard Smalldon <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2023 4:02 PM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: Measure B funding
Dear Mayor PeroƩe and City Council,
We support the Watershed Alliance’s request to allocate $2M of the Measure B revenue to implement the City’s important Creek and Watershed Management Plan.
Thank you,
Richard Smalldon | Sea Center Director
805-962-2526 ext. 111 | sbnature.org
he/him
SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Museum
2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
805-682-4711 | Fax 805-569-3170
Sea Center
211 Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
805-962-2526 | Fax 805-962-3483
Follow us:
6 From: Aaron Kreisberg <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2023 4:29 PM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: Measure B Allocation Public Comment
Dear Mayor Perotte and City Council,
We support the Watershed Alliance’s request to allocate $2M of the Measure B revenue to implement the City’s important Creek and Watershed Management Plan.
Thank you,
Aaron Kreisberg (he/him)
Staff Ecologist
Channel Islands Restoration
PO Box 40228
Santa Barbara, CA 93140
www.cirweb.org
(805) 448-4175
7 From: Daniel McCarter <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2023 5:34 PM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: Measure B funding for creeks and watersheds
Dear Mayor Perotte and City Council,
We support the Watershed Alliance’s request to allocate $2M of the Measure B revenue to implement the City’s important Creek and Watershed Management Plan.
Thank you,
Dan McCarter
President of the Santa Barbara Urban Creeks Council
8