From: Brian Trautwein <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, June 5, 2023 8:35 AM
To: City Clerk Group <[email protected]>
Subject: Comments to City Council re 6-6-23 Budget Update Hearing
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear City Clerk,
Please accept and post these comments to the City Council related to the budget update hearing. These were previously submited for a May 2023 budget hearing and remain relevant.
Thank you,
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.
From: [email protected]
Sent: Friday, May 5, 2023 10:00 AM
To: City Clerk Group
Cc: Brian Trautwein
Subject: SBAS Letter - Measure B
Attachments: 2023-05-05 SBAS_Goleta_SupportforMeasureBFundingNewCreekRestoration.pdf Dear Mayor Perotte and Councilmembers,
Santa Barbara Audubon Society (SBAS) is a chapter of the National Audubon Society with approximately 1100 members in the Santa Barbara and Goleta area. The mission of SBAS is to protect area birdlife and habitat and connect people with birds through education, conservation, and science.
SBAS thanks you for directing staff on Tuesday night to modify the proposed budget to fund the San Jose Creek Fish Passage Project with funds other than Measure B revenues. Please see the attached letter.
Thank you,
Katherine
‐‐
‐‐
Katherine Emery, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Santa Barbara Audubon Society
SantaBarbaraAudubon.org
** We invite you to watch our short outreach films Birds of Lake Los Carneros, Why are birds important?, and How to start birding. These beautiful films by Sage Hill Films teach about birds, birding, and important local habitats. Please join SBAS in protecting birds.**
1 P.O. Box 6737
Santa Barbara, CA 93160
www.SantaBarbaraAudubon.org
May 5, 2023
City Clerk [email protected]
City of Goleta
Re: Support for Measure B funding for new creek restoration Dear Mayor Perotte and Councilmembers,
Santa Barbara Audubon Society (SBAS) is a chapter of the National Audubon Society with approximately 1100 members in the Santa Barbara and Goleta area. The mission of 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 parks, natural areas, and open spaces in and around the City of Goleta for recreational and outreach activities.
SBAS thanks you for directing staff on Tuesday night to modify the proposed budget to fund the San Jose Creek Fish Passage Project with funds other than Measure B revenues. The San Jose Creek Fish Passage Project is required by a state permit and therefore should not be funded with Measure B.
Instead, Measure B should fund new voluntary restoration and enhancement projects, like the Phelps Creek Trash Capture CIP, Devereux Creek railroad culvert clearing, and feasibility studies for concrete channel removal projects.
Please allocate Measure B funds for such projects and please do not spend the Measure B funds on creek projects and maintenance which were already required of the City. Measure B’s creek allocations should be reserved for projects which protect and restore the City’s waterways and watersheds and go above and beyond the bare minimum required. Focusing Measure B funds on new restoration and enhancement projects will have a broader impact on improving bird habitat and will demonstrate the City's commitment to its stewardship role.
Thank you,
Katherine Emery, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Santa Barbara Audubon Society
2 From: Ken Palley <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, May 5, 2023 10:52 AM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: San Jose Creek restoration
Dear Goleta city Council,
Honorable Goleta city Council members,
A recent excellent article in Noozhawk highlights the issue of spending Measure B money for creek restoration. I'm writing to urge you to spend any money from Measure B on NEW CREEK RESTORATION PROJECTS, not to pay for previously approved and/or funded creek restoration projects. After all, that is what the wording of Measure B promised, that the money would be used among other things for creek restoration, and while the revenues are general fund dollars, they should not merely be stuffed into the general fund to go about business as usual.
Respectfully
Kenneth Palley
805 722‐4037
https://www.noozhawk.com/goleta‐city‐council‐talks‐library‐funding‐revenue‐from‐sales‐tax‐increase‐during‐budget‐ review/
3 From: Lisa Stratton <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, May 4, 2023 10:26 AM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: RE: Measure B Funds and Creek Restoration and Enhancement Dear City Council Members,
As the manager of North Campus Open Space which is the receiving wetland for most of the water that flows through western Goleta, I was very encouraged to see that you all are supporting the use of Measure B funds to advance the creek restoration concepts approved in the Creeks and Watershed Management Plan that go above and beyond required mitigation. I think the idea of dedicating at least a 50% staff or contracted person to help take advantage of the synergistic opportunities provided by Measure B funds and the unprecedented availability of State Funds for restoration, public parks and Conservation. See, for example (below), the list of grant opportunities from State Parks for public parks, trail and open space enhancement and more. Measure B funds could be matched. Given how busy both George T. and Melissa N. are, I think they could really use the support of someone focused on advancing projects like the trash interception device on Phelps Creek (we pull out huge amounts of cups and bottles and transient debris from Phelps creek every year), feasibility study for removing concrete from Phelps creek between Hollister Rd and Phelps Road, Repairing the erosive flows in Devereux Creek near the UPRR and Hide‐away development that will support enhanced butterfly activity in the Aggregation areas on Ellwood.. and more.
The City of Goleta has the opportunity now with the new management plan, great open space and water quality leadership, and local and state funding to really lead in increasing the ecological health of the creek and the pride of its citizens in a vibrant city.
Thank you for building on the momentum.
Sincerely,
Lisa Stratton
4 From: Torrie Cutbirth <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 10, 2023 10:38 AM
To: City Clerk Group
Cc: Brian Trautwein
Subject: Please allocate Measure B funds for voluntary creek/watershed restoration projects!!! Dear Mayor Perotte and Councilmembers,
Thank you for directing staff to modify the proposed budget to fund the San Jose Creek Fish Passage Project with funds other than Measure B revenues.
Please allocate Measure B funds for voluntary creek/watershed restoration projects, like the feasibility studies for concrete channel removal projects. Please do not spend the Measure B funds on creek projects and maintenance which were already required of the City.
I voted for Measure B to fund voluntary, proactive creek and watershed management projects that really advance creek management in the city, not so the city could implement required creek projects to comply with permits.
The San Jose Creek Fish Passage Project is required by a state permit and therefore should not be funded with Measure B.
Instead, Measure B should fund new voluntary restoration and enhancement projects, like the Phelps Creek Trash Capture CIP, Devereux Creek railroad culvert clearing, and feasibility studies for concrete channel removal projects.
Measure B’s creek allocations should be reserved for projects which protect and restore the City’s waterways and watersheds and go above and beyond the bare minimum required.
Thank you for
In Community,
Torrie Cutbirth (she/her/hers)
Director of Grants & Programs
El Gato Channel Foundation & Adrian Family Foundation
735 State Street, Suite 511 Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Living and working on unceded Chumash lands and waters
805-453-6351 (c)
5 From: Brian Trautwein <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2023 11:19 AM
To: Liana Campos
Cc: Blake Markum; David Cutaia
Subject: Creek Projects and Special City Council Hearing re CIP Budget Dear Mayor and City Council,
I am resending the below email as public comment related to the CIP budget hearing tonight.
One of the three recommended creek projects described below is currently on the CIP list (CIP 9106). This project, the Phelps Creek Trash Capture Device is listed at $3.1M in the Staff Report however community proponents believe the cost will be much less. There appears to be a different perspecƟve between staff and NGOs re what this project entails.
Furthermore, this project is listed for construcƟon in 2027‐28. This project should be expedited given what we see as consensus among staff and CWMP TAC NGOs that this project is a priority and results in important benefits.
The other two projects are not yet on the CIP list but are important creek and watershed management projects which should be funded e.g., by Measure B and pursued.
‐‐
Prior Email:
Thank you for direcƟng staff to include new, voluntary creek and watershed enhancement projects in the draŌ budget currently undergoing City review. Funding ongoing maintenance or required projects with Measure B funds is not what City voters had in mind when passing Measure B by over 63%.
We recommend including in the budget the following three projects which are suitable for Measure B funding.
1. Union Pacific Railroad (“UPRR”) Devereux Creek Culvert Cleaning Background: The Devereux Creek culvert under the UPRR railroad tracks and a short distance of Devereux Creek remains plugged with sediment, blocking and diverƟng flows from the Creek 860 meters west along the railroad tracks into Bell Canyon Creek. The City of Goleta Public Works Director prepared a leƩer to UPRR requesƟng UPRR clean the culvert in 2016. (April 12, 2016 email from Rosemarie Gaglione, City Public Works Director to EDC) UPRR “would prefer that water flow via the railroad’s Devereaux Creek bridge, and not west and down the right‐of‐way to Bell Canyon.” (November 11, 2022 email from LynneDee Althouse, Althouse and Meade, UPRR’s agent to EDC) UPRR agreed to clean the culvert in 2016 but then had to work on a separate “emergency repair elsewhere” and has not yet cleaned the culvert. (August 5, 2016 email from Paula Richter, Regional Water Quality Control Board to EDC) Numerous enƟƟes have recently expressed some level of interest in a collaboraƟve project to unblock the culvert and Creek, including the City, UPRR, County Flood Control District, The Hideaways, UCSB CCBER which manages The Hideaways’ creek restoraƟon project and North Campus Open Space located downstream from the plugged culvert, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Regional Water Quality Control Board, Army Corps of Engineers, UC Reserve which manages Coal Oil Point Reserve downstream from the culvert, Santa Barbara Audubon, Urban Creeks Council, and EDC.
7 Impacts and Benefits: Th
e reducƟon of flow in Devereux Creek likely desiccates the Creek’s riparian habitat. It may deprive the City’s Ellwood Mesa Preserve of water, harming eucalyptus trees, many of which have died during the drought, and may cause drying of the Ellwood Main Monarch BuƩerfly AggregaƟon Site which requires a certain microclimate, including humidity to aƩract Goleta’s beloved Monarch BuƩerflies.
Restoring Devereux Creek’s flows would likely:
A. Rehydra
te Devereux Creek’s riparian woodland.
B. Restore aquaƟc habitat in the Creek.
C. Increase moisture levels along the Creek, including within Ellwood Mesa thereby reducing fire hazards.
D. Provide added moisture for the drought‐impacted eucalyptus trees.
E. Enhance humidity levels needed by over wintering Monarch BuƩerflies.
F. Improve water quality by redirecƟng flows from along the railroad tracks in an area that is maintained through the use of herbicides.
G. Improve rail safety because the diverted creek “washed out” a secƟon of UPRR’s track in 1997‐98. (November 11, 2022 ema il from LynnDee Althouse to EDC)
Status: All permits have been secured and CEQA has been completed for creek work by County Flood Control District which is willing to consider this project part of its Annual Creek Maintenance Program if UPRR requests inclusion. (September 7, 2022 email from Andrew Raaf, County Flood Control District to EDC) This could also cover biological monitoring during construcƟon. The CWMP TAC is currently prioriƟzing projects. The TAC NGOs, Waters hed Alliance groups, and ciƟzen representaƟves which endorsed and worked to pass Measure B consider this a high priority project. (See e.g., May 5, 2023 leƩer from Santa Barbara Audubon Society and May 4, 2023 email from Dr. Lisa StraƩon, UCSB CCBER to Goleta City Council)
In 2016, “UP
RR’s maintenance supervisor has advised that they were just geƫng ready to start the work, but were called out on an emergency repair elsewhere. He indicated that they intend to get the culvert cleaned out in September” of 2016 but this did not happen. (Email from Paula Richter, Re gional Water Quality Control Board to EDC, August 5, 2016)
CWMP: AcƟon 7.12.1. “ConƟnue and improve coordinaƟon with the Union Pacific Railroad… to address impairments. CoordinaƟon should include… ensuring that culverts along the train tracks… do not impede drainage…” (CWMP at p 254; emphasis added.)
Next steps: Th
e next step is to complete two studies UPRR requested in November 2022:
o “a licensed land surveyor map the channel bed dimensions and elevaƟons between UPRR’s ROW and Hollister Road,” to determine how much sediment blocks the culvert and creek, and o “an engineering hydrologist verify that channel elevaƟons and capacity are sufficient to convey water through the constrained reach and u nder Hollister Avenue.” (Email from LynneDee Althouse, Althouse and Meade to EDC, November 11, 2022)
EsƟmated Cost: Up to $100,000 for the studies. (Rough esƟmate.) Project Scop
e: Removal of up to a two‐foot depth of sediment along approximately 200 linear feet of creek (75 cubic yards; 5 – 7 dump truck loads). (Rough esƟmate.) PotenƟal need to restabilize affected Creek banks by augmenƟng or reconfiguring the rocks currently located along the toe of the Creek’s banks.
2. Phelps Creek Trash Control (CIP Project 9106)
Background: This project was recently added to the City’s CIP list at th e suggesƟon of UCSB’s CCBER Manager for the North Campus Open Space (“NCOS”) Dr. Lisa StraƩon who serves on the CWMP TAC. The project would install a net at the Phelps Drive Bridge to capture liƩer.
8 Impacts and Benefits: Currently, during storms liƩer from stormwater runoff and homeless camps flows down Phelps Creek into sensiƟve habitats and the ocean. The project would prevent liƩer from flowing down Phelps Creek into Devereux Creek, the NCOS, the Devereux Slough, Coal Oil Point Reserve, and the Pacific Ocean.
Status: The CWMP TAC is currently prioriƟzing projects. The TAC NGOs and Watershed Allia nce groups which endorsed and helped pass Measure B consider this a high priority project.
CWMP: Strategy 14.3. “The City shall complete exisƟng Capital Improvement Program projects that will improve water quality within City creeks.”
AcƟon 14.3.1. “Complete the planned CIP project #9106 ‐ Phelps Ditch Flood Control Channel (El Encanto Creek) Trash Control Structure.” (CWMP at p 263)
Next Steps: Consider alternaƟve designs, conduct preliminary environmental and engineering, and design the project.
EsƟmated Cost: $650,000. (Note: this is the total engineering, environmental, and construcƟon cost idenƟfied in the CIP.)
Project Scope: Design, install, and maintain the trash capture device.
3. Phel
ps/El Encanto Creek (and/or Other Creeks) Concrete Channel Removal and Creek RestoraƟon Project Engineering Feasibility Analysis
Background: The CWMP idenƟfies secƟons of eight creeks in the City which are currently impaired by concrete channelizaƟon. (CWMP Table 29 at pp 193 – 194 and Figures 9a, 9b, and 9c at p 197 – 201) The CWMP idenƟfies significant impacts to the City’s creeks caused by concrete channels. (CWMP at p 203) The CWMP envisions removing concrete channelizaƟon and restoring natural creeks in the City of Go leta. (CWMP at p 260) Impacts and Benefits: Concrete channels cause severe impacts to the City’s creeks. “These channels essenƟally have no beneficial geomorphic value, having liƩle to no complexity to slow flows or to serve as habitat or migraƟon refugia for fish and other aquaƟc species, greatly reduce terrestrial wildlife movement, increase temperature, and typically provide no sediment storage/buffering capacity.” (CWMP at p 203) They “reduce the quanƟty of nat ural substrates and vegetaƟon in the creek; change the hydrology of the system; and result in fragmentaƟon of creek systems. ... Concrete‐lined channels have their greatest effects on aquaƟc organisms. They destroy natural substrates, flow paƩerns, shading, and geomorphology, elimi na Ɵng or reducing the habitat needed by many naƟve species. By eliminaƟng or reducing riparian vegetaƟon they also reduce riparian species and disconnect migratory corridors. … In general, habitat fragmentaƟon and isolaƟon of plant populaƟons may cause exƟncƟon of local populaƟons… (Wilcove et al. 1986; Wilcox and Mur phy 1985). Although these effects, including reduced geneƟc diversity in isolated populaƟons, are more readily observable in wildlife, there are potenƟal ecological effects, such as changes in pollinator populaƟons, that can result in altered plant community composiƟon and thus adversely affect special‐status vegetaƟon comm
uniƟes.” (CWMP at 215) Concrete channels prevent infiltraƟon of stream water into groundwater basins, reducing groundwater recharge and water supplies. Concrete channels prevent surfacing of shallow groundwater into streams as base flows to support aquaƟc fish and wildl ife. Concrete channels prevent filtraƟon, decomposiƟon, and assimilaƟon of pollutants within channelized streams which can result in increased levels of downstream polluƟon compared to non‐channelized streams. Concrete channels result in accelerated stream flows which can be a significant safety/drowning concern when a person becomes trap ped in a channel during a storm. (CWMP at p 222)
Status: The CWMP TAC is currently prioriƟzing projects. The CWMP TAC NGOs, experts, and Watershed Alliance groups which endorsed and helped pass Measure B consider this a high priority project. (See e.g., May 5, 2023 leƩer from Santa Barbara Audubon Society and May 4, 2023 email from Dr. Lisa StraƩon, UCSB CCBER to Goleta City Council)
9 CWMP: CWMP Strategy 12.4 states, “The City should, where funding and resources allow, prioriƟze and complete new capital projects to address the removal of concrete channels within the City.” (CWMP at p 260; emphasis added.)
AcƟon 12.4.1. Develop a CIP project or projects based on the Project DescripƟon Sheet (Appendix I, pages 3‐4) for removal of concrete channels within City creeks. This CIP may be a programmaƟc approach for removal of all such concrete channels or as separate projects for each individual creek id en Ɵfied with this impairment (Maria Ygnacio, San Jose, Las Vegas, San Pedro, Los Carneros, Glen Annie, El Encanto, and Winchester Canyon Creeks).
AcƟon 12.4.2. Consider prioriƟzing locaƟons that do not have exisƟng or pending projects to address impairments associated with concrete channels.
AcƟon 12.4.3. Condu ct engineering feasibility analyses in support of concrete channel removal and creek restoraƟon projects in a Ɵmely fashion. (CWMP ay pp 260 – 261; emphasis added.) Next Steps: Hire an e
ngineering firm to prepare an Engineering Feasibility Analysis to inform future acƟons, including conducƟng engineering and design studies and idenƟfy an esƟmated project cost. A Feasibility Analysis will enable the City and NGO partners to apply for many public agency and private enƟty grants to complete engineering and construct concrete channel removal/creek restoraƟon projects. (Note the Feasibility Study is merely a necessary first step and does not commi
t the City to compleƟng the project within any Ɵmeframe.) EsƟmated Cost: Engineering Feasibility Analyses cost an esƟmated $50 ‐ $75,000 (Rough EsƟmate.) (See also CWMP Appendix I for construcƟon cost esƟmate of “$1M+”.) (Note: There are a variety of grants which could be obtained for concrete channel removal/creek restoraƟon projects, including Coastal Conservancy, California Fish and Wildlife Department, Santa Barbara County Fish and Wildlife CommiƩee, Santa Barbara County Coastal Resources MiƟgaƟon Fund, and private foundaƟon grants. ED
C’s 2021 Report Goleta Watersheds and Wildland‐Urban Interfaces:
Enhancing Fire Safety and Riparian Forest Health idenƟfies 21 grant sources which could help fund concrete channel removal/creek restoraƟon projects. (EDC 2021 at pp 200 – 212) One strategy could be to use Measure B funding as a matching source of funds to obtain grants for final design and construcƟon. The City of Santa Barbara Creek RestoraƟon and Water Quality Division has had extensive success employing this strategy.) Project Scope: Complete Feasibility Analysis to inform next steps, idenƟfy esƟmated construc Ɵon costs, and help posiƟon the City and partners to obtain numerous grants.
Thank you,
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.
10 From: Brian Trautwein <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, June 6, 2023 4:38 PM
To: City Clerk Group <[email protected]>
Subject: City Council and Creek and Watershed funding
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear City of Goleta Mayor and Council members,
Goleta’s creeks and watersheds are a precious resource that are valued by the community which can't be taken for granted.
With the passage of Measure B we have an opportunity to fulfill the community’s vision for healthy watersheds.
I understand that you are reviewing a budget for those funds. We who are on the Technical Advisory Council feel that there are some actions you could take that would help move the City towards a successful Creeks management program.
Please consider taking the following action as part of the budget update tonight:
1. Increase the recommended annual creek project reserve allocation from $150,000 to $250,000 per year;
2. Recruit a full-time Creeks Program staff to support George and Melissa; and
3. Allocate at least $50,000 for 2023-24 to apply for a Coastal Development Permit for the very high priority Union Pacific Railroad Devereux Creek Culvert Project.
4. Continue to advance the goal of trash diversion in Phelps Creek.
Thank you so much for working hard to make the City of Goleta a leader in quality places to live for people and nature.
Sincerely,
Lisa Stratton
--
Lisa Stratton
Director of Ecosystem Management
Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration Harder South, Rm 1005
UCSB 93106-9615
W) 805-893-4158
From: Brian Trautwein <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, June 6, 2023 4:36 PM
To: City Clerk Group <[email protected]>
Subject: Channel Islands Restoration Comments re City Budget Hearing
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,
On behalf of Channel Islands Restoration, and as a member of the City’s creeks Technical Advisory Committee, I am writing to encourage your great work protecting Goleta’s creeks and watersheds. The passage of Measure B finally gives the city the wherewithal to set forth a vision and commitment to healthy watersheds. I would like to urge your support for Increasing the recommended annual creek project allocation to $250,000 per year. Like many folks that support local watersheds, I also suggest that you maintain full-time creeks program staff. Finally, the obstruction of Devereux Creek by a plugged culvert has come to my attention. Although there are challenges to this project, I ask that this project be considered a high priority to again bring back flow to that important creek.
Thank you,
Ken Owen
Executive Director
Channel Islands Restoration
PO Box 40228
Santa Barbara, CA 93140
(805) 448-5726