Public Comment Received — Goleta City Council, February 18, 2025

From: Kathleen McIntosh <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2025 11:48 AM
To: City Clerk Group <[email protected]>
Cc: Stuart Kasdin <[email protected]>
Subject: email for Goleta City Council Meeting 2/18/25 - Hollister safety issue

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Dear Madam Mayor, City Council and City Staff,

I live on Cannon Green and talk to some of the businesses in the area who are concerned about pedestrian safety. On numerous occasions, people cross 4 lanes of Hollister Ave to go to the shops across the street on Hollister Ave. As a driver it is unnerving when folks are in the middle median, especially at dusk.

An elderly customer regularly takes the bus from home to get her hair done at Monarch Salon - usually her hair stylists offer to take her to & from the bus stop because she isn't able to walk to the crosswalks as they are so far away.

Last year tragically a pedestrian was hit and killed crossing the street. At the City Council Meeting shortly afterwards, there was mention of a crosswalk. I would like to see this actively pursued.

A stop light and crosswalk is necessary for safety to Cannon Green at Hollister, especially for left turns when Ellwood School creates a high volume of backed up traffic.

Besides car traffic, there is also a high volume of electric bikes, bicycles, & pedestrians at Cannon Green and Hollister Ave. This has created a very dangerous environment that would be benefited by a traffic light and crosswalk.

Thank you in advance for addressing this issue at the City Council Meeting Tues, 2/18/25. I fully support staff's recommendations of traffic lights and crosswalks for the long overdue safety improvements in our neighborhood.

Best regards,
Kathleen McIntosh
805 284 4873
From: Karen Weiss
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: Traffic light and crosswalk at Cannon Green and Hollister Date: Thursday, February 13, 2025 4:12:29 PM
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I am writing to support the installation of a traffic light and crosswalk at the corner of Cannon Green Drive and Hollister Avenue. This is a dangerous intersection for pedestrians and car drivers. Traffic has become more congested in the thirty-two years since our family moved to Cannon Green. In former years our family had enjoyed a Sunday walk to Cal Taco for burgers, but we no longer attempt that as it is too risky to walk across the street.

Perhaps Marjorie Vasquez would not have been killed in her attempt to cross Hollister if there had been a safe way to walk. Most bus riders disembarking at that intersection need to cross the street to arrive at their homes. Drivers making a left turn from Cannon Green onto Hollister have a long wait to make a safe turn, as do drivers making a left turn from Hollister onto Cannon Green.

Karen Weiss
363 Cannon Green Dr., Apt. C
Goleta
From: SUSAN PARK
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: you requested comments
Date: Thursday, February 13, 2025 4:54:39 PM
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Fix the crumbling roads!!!
From: Bart Bader
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: City projects meeting
Date: Thursday, February 13, 2025 10:04:30 PM
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I wood like to see the city create a pot hole repair truck or 2 or 3.

The truck could carry 3 workers and materials in the truck to repair pot holes throughout Goleta.

We could call or email the locations with pics as we see them and when they come into the shop in the morning they go out in the truck and repair the potholes throughout Goleta out Goleta and we don’t have to continue to run our cars into potholes in our neighborhoods on a daily basis. Don’t use a subcontractor, do it ourselves.

I have called many numbers and talked to many people about potholes on Bradford and Manchester Place. It takes months to get someone to finally come out and fill them.

I have gone to open meetings at public places with Mr. Hart and Goleta Adminnistration and pitched this before…to no avail.

Let’s be a city that gets things done for our citizens. Keep it simple, and let’s make it work.

I am retired, but I will come in and help make this work if you wan5 to hire me for short term. I’ve done similar stuff in Aerospace for 40 years.

Goleta needs cleaning up. We can do this in house.

Thanks for reading this.

Let’s make a difference everyday.
-Bart Bader
805-717-1398
1 From: Rodolfo Villanueva <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2025 1:52 PM
To: City Clerk Group
por babor concéntrense en el estado de las calles de Goleta . Es una vergüenza la cantidad de agujeros en las calles
Gracias
Please, focus on the state of the streets of Goleta. The number of holes in the streets is a disgrace.

Thank you

From: Goleta Gogo
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: Public comment: Feb 18 meeting
Date: Friday, February 14, 2025 3:40:27 PM
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Regarding agenda item asking for public input on Prioritization of City Projects:

1. Install Internet fiber optic cables for Cox cable competitors such as Frontier and Verizon.

Cox has a monopoly and this must change.

2. Install 5G towers to improve cellphone service.

3. Improve dedicated bike lanes
(similar to the lanes from Santa Monica to Redondo Beach and new lanes on Las Positas in Santa Barbara) with dedicated green and white painted well indicated bike lane on Hollister Ave. from Ritz Carlton to SBA and Old Town.

It would be great to offer city rental e-bikes and be able to bike safely on Hollister. Some possible locations for city e-bikes: Ritz Carlton, Camino Real Marketplace, SBA and Old Town.

Thank you for asking.

Johanna Chase, Goleta
From: Charis van der Heide
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: City Council - Capital Improvement Program Comment Date: Friday, February 14, 2025 7:19:00 PM
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Dear City Council,
I would like to see an additional project be added to the Capital Improvement Program priority list.

The City needs to improve that walkability between Old Town Goleta, Santa Barbara Airport and Goleta Beach Park. I would love to see a lighted sideway that makes it safe for a pedestrian to walk from Old Town to the airport and Goleta Beach. Currently, there is a well- worn path in the dirt on the side of S Fairview Ave between Old Town and the airport and this is very dangerous after dark. Along James Fowler Rd, the only place to walk is on the curb between the long-term parking and the road. This area is also very dangerous for pedestrian traffic because the automobile traffic is fast and unaware of pedestrians.

There is a bike path from Old Town Goleta to Goleta Beach Park via Ward Drive, but this bike path is dangerous for pedestrian traffic and is not well lit.

A safe and well-lit sidewalk between Old Town and the airport/Goleta Beach will improve health/safety, environment/sustainability, and equity for the community.

I understand that undergoing this project will include collaboration with Santa Barbara County and City, but I believe it is worth the effort to connect Old Town with Goleta Beach and the airport for pedestrians.

Thank you for your consideration,
Charis van der Heide
From: Cheryl
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: Bicycles vs cars
Date: Friday, February 14, 2025 8:34:42 PM
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I feel we are being forced to give up our cars as lanes are being reduced and bicycles are given preference on our streets.

And with the new building developments make sure there are enough parking spots. Not everyone will ride a bike or take the bus. Families need cars.

Regards,
Cheryl Washburn-Lander
Sent from my iPhone
From: Lisa Kus
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: Capital Improvement Projects
Date: Friday, February 14, 2025 10:51:13 PM
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Hello.

I'm not sure where to begin, but start with, how did we get here? $36,000,000 in unfunded projects? And the option for $23,000,000 of it is going into debt with loans/bonds? I don't see CANCELLED next to any of these projects.

No new projects until the current ones in progress are completed and the debt paid. This includes the crib wall. Postpone until the money is saved. If it is so perilous, why wasn't it done before Project Connect and the train station.

No more grant money projects unless 100 %, or we have the needed matching funds already.

In other words, save money for possible future projects.

The millions spent on theses projects, like Project Connect and train station, should have gone to our roads.

The $2mil spent for the experimental old town restriping could have gone to the library.

In my opinion, you are spending MY money irresponsibly. Please stop.

Lisa Kus

Goleta City Council
Subject: Agenda item 25-049, Capital Improvements Program Dear Honorable Council Members
Thank you for your kind invitation to submit capital projects for funding consideration. We are writing to you on behalf of the South Coast Railroad Museum (SCRM), a dedicated non-proﬁt organization committed to preserving and celebrating the rich history of the railroad in our region. As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the museum experience for our visitors and ensure the preservation of our historic site, we have initiated a crucial Safety and Drainage project.

The Safety and Drainage project will both improve the safety for pedestrian museum visitors and to ensure that storm water is redirected from accumulating under the historic Depot structure.

As of this date working with the city staff the project has secured full approval of the engineering plans including a construction permit. The Museum has funded the cost of the plans and with the city staff’s able assistance have the project “shovel ready”.

At this juncture it is unfortunate that the Non-Proﬁt South Coast Railroad Museum does not have sufficient funds to complete the entire project as approved. While we intend to proceed with some early partial stages of the work that combine with a turf maintenance and restoration project in our birthday picnic area, we are unable to fund the entire project as shown on the approved engineering plans.

Our request is that the city includes the completion of the approved Safety and Drainage project including implementation and project management in its CIP . To date the SCRM has funded the engineering plans and portion of the drainage and access work for approximately $75,000 dollars. Furthermore, SCRM can commit to an additional $25,000 to help this work to proceed this coming ﬁscal year. The current construction cost estimate to complete this project is $225,000 which would require city funding of $200,000 in its CIP plan.

SCRM respectfully requests the city to consider funding and implementing this project Sincerely,

Board of Directors
From: Grayson
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: Road Maintenance
Date: Saturday, February 15, 2025 12:55:41 PM
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Please prioritize road maintenance. Many roads have potholes and rough areas. Many of the patches are of poor quality. Are the contractors accountable?
From: BILL WOODBRIDGE
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: Critical Housing Crisis should take priority over all other non-essential existing and proposed plans Date: Saturday, February 15, 2025 3:01:07 PM
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Goleta City Council Members:

The City of Goleta has had a critical crisis for a decade which is only getting much worse by the month. Yet City management seems to ignore it in any current or future planning proposals, projects or budgeting. The crisis IS NOT bikeways, train stations, libraries or parks. It IS a critical shortage of affordable, dignified housing for low income individuals, essential workers, families, students, seniors and the homeless. The Super 8 hotel purchase was just a drop in the bucket of what is needed.

We need thousands of additional dignified affordable units (not just the 49 Super 8) for our essential workers, teachers, nurses, retail and restaurant employees, students, seniors, and families living below the poverty line. Little 500 square foot shoe boxes with no storage are not appropriate or useable! They need to be large enough to house a family of at least four, or seniors with live-in space for a caretaker, and people moving from larger units to smaller units who need large storage rooms for their extra stuff. Without housing, we will soon run out of essential and retail workers to run our stores, schools, clinics and other operations.

Yet when I read the present and future proposals for budgeting and planning, I see nothing but non-urgent, non-life sustaining, “pet” projects that do not improve the quality of life or living standards for a majority of our above listed populations.

I am appalled that the City is planning on spending $48.7 million of our taxes on “Project Connect”. You could have limited the project to the $54.6 million in grant funds and spent our $48.7 million on much more urently needed housing projects.

It is astonishing that you find it more important (pet project) to spend $14.2 million of our local junds on a new train station rather than housing. You could have slimmed the budget down to just the $17.8 million in grant funds (more than enough!) and spent our money on housing. The new train station will not bring enough new travelers to justify this kind of local expense.

It is baffling that you would spend $1.1 million of our local taxes (plus $2 million unfunded) on a $7.3 million library. The one we have is fine until the housing shortage is solved. And $2.5 million on a needless “splash pad”. REALLY?!?!? I hate Elon Musk but this is exactly the type of unnecessary misuse of funds he is screaming about.

I hope you will seriously consider the importance and priority of some of these projects as compared to the critical urgent need for housing in our city, and substanitally reduce or eliminate some of these grandiose egotisitcal projects until substantial afforable/digified housing is available to our essential workers, students and seniors.

For instance, I am a 76 year old UCSB graduate with no pension. My social security is $2560 per month and my rent will soon be $2762 for a 55 year old 613 square foot apartment with no covered parking, no storage and no air conditioning (thanks to Towbes raising their rents by 10% per year, even for seniors). I have an additional $3000 per month in expenses and essentials. My savings are rapidly dwindling under this $5,000 per month deficit. So, I will soon have to leave Goleta or the county or even the state as million of others have had to do in the past few years due to housing expenses.

The City should also consider placing a cap on rent increases of no more than 5% per year, or the annual cost of living increase, whichever is less, especially for students and seniors on fixed incomes.

Thank you for your consideration of these matters.

Bill Woodbridge
Goleta
From: Michele Padron
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: Pot Holes
Date: Saturday, February 15, 2025 7:35:09 PM
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Calle Real between Patterson and Kellogg. The fire trucks got them started, rain made them worse. Please prioritize.

Michele Harris-Padron
805.455.3330
252 Pebble Hill Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93111
Thank you!!
From: [email protected]
To: City Clerk Group
Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: Written Submittal from Michael Miller for City Council Meeting on February 18, 2025 Date: Monday, February 17, 2025 11:42:17 AM
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FROM:

Michael Miller
6153 Braeburn Drive
Goleta, CA 93117
[email protected]

REGARDING:

Comments for Goleta City Council Meeting on February 18, 2025

Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments to the agenda items to be addressed at the February 18 City Council Meeting.\

Item C.1 25-053 Second Reading of Ordinance Amending Energy Performance Reach Code.

Comments : The original intent of the Goleta code was to mandate all-electric construction for new buildings. However, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in CRA v. City of Berkeley found that an ordinance requiring all-electric new buildings was pre-empted by the federal EPCA. Goleta’s amended energy performance reach code will be viewed as an attempt to mandate all-electric by making the mixed energy alternative allowable, but unaffordable. As stated by the city, the only path for a mixed energy design to meet the code is by adding PV+batteries. In addition, the mixed energy design will need to have 220V provisions at the electric panel and appliance locations for electric space heaters, water heaters, ranges, ovens, and dryers. As a result, the added requirements imposed on the mixed energy designs will make them significantly more costly and uncompetitive to your favored all-electric design. I believe this is a side step move to achieve an all-electric code that will be viewed as such by the courts. Therefore, it is recommended that Goleta utilize the California Building and Energy Code without local amendments.

Item D.2 25-061 2025-27 Strategic Plan Updates & Future Priorities Workshop.

Comments: Section 2.3 Support childcare initiatives and programs, focuses on childcare centers in future commercial and residential development which will both increase new housing costs and not address the child care needs of current families in our community. Our resources need to be focused on a solution that has broader access to child care such as child care centers.

Comments: Section 4.2 Response to emergency events. The new lithium battery power station represents a significant potential safety hazard as illustrated in the recent fire at a similar station. An emergency response plan for such an event should be developed and include evacuation zones for toxic gas, special fire fighting techniques for lithium as well as handling the toxic residue in the aftermath.

Comments: Section 5.6 Vision Zero approach to capital improvement program. Some implementations of the Vision Zero approach have had contrary results. One specific area in question is the pilings separating the roadway and bike lanes on Calle Real. The use of pilings may help separate traffic; however, street sweepers cannot access the bike lanes and the debris build-up poses a safety hazard to cyclists. Consideration should be given to removing the pilings and providing clean and safe bike paths. Associated road repair is also a key element of improving cycling safety.

Comments: Section 9 Equity, Inclusion and Access. The DEI plans associated with employment will be viewed as discriminatory and not merit based. Other DEI mandates, training and funding are also likely to be questioned. It is recommended that the City review the goals in this section.

Item D.1 Capital Improvement Program.

Comments: CIP Projects – Construction Phase Slide 4 (page 9). Please note that the JDW Splash Pad carries health risks due to contamination. Similar splash pads for children have caused significant health issues. As a result, diligent maintenance and cleaning will be required and will need to be funded. Simply deleting this item from the plan should be considered.

Unlisted Item Comments: America’s 250 year anniversary is approaching and celebration plans should be made for the City of Goleta. A fireworks display in particular would be a great community event.

Sincerely,
Michael Miller

From: [email protected]
To: City Clerk Group
Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: Written Submittal from Michael Miller for City Council Meeting on February 18, 2025 Date: Monday, February 17, 2025 11:42:17 AM
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FROM:

Michael Miller
6153 Braeburn Drive
Goleta, CA 93117
[email protected]

REGARDING:

Comments for Goleta City Council Meeting on February 18, 2025

Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments to the agenda items to be addressed at the February 18 City Council Meeting.\

Item C.1 25-053 Second Reading of Ordinance Amending Energy Performance Reach Code.

Item D.2 25-061 2025-27 Strategic Plan Updates & Future Priorities Workshop.

Item D.1 Capital Improvement Program.

Sincerely,
Michael Miller

From: Pat Snyder
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: Capital Projects Request
Date: Tuesday, February 18, 2025 11:18:28 AM
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I am unable to attend the City Council meeting tonight, but want to submit my strong request that the last northern section of Hollister Ave and the lower portion of Winchester Canyon Road be repaved asap. They are full of potholes and cracked asphalt and will be worse after this winter's rain.

I sincerely hope that these areas are already included in the capital improvement plan.

And thanks for the wonderful work done on the last section of Catherdral Oaks Road. It is a massive improvement appreciated by all of us living and working in North Goleta.

Pat Snyder
30 Winchester Canyon Rd., #105
Goleta, CA 93117
From: Frank DiMarco
To: Deborah Lopez
Cc: City Clerk Group
Subject: Re: Submitting photos on Zoom
Date: Tuesday, February 18, 2025 12:31:30 PM
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Thank you, Deborah,
I will be speaking, if time allows, about the urgent need to repave Pacific Oaks between Hollister and Phelps road due to the hazards both for bicyclists and vehicles and the need for upgrading the crosswalk at Girsh Park and Georgetown Road to include pedestrian actuated warning lights for traffic. Photo is attached.

I appreciate your assistance.

Best regards,
Frank
Frank DiMarco
Tel. 503.358.8119
Email: [email protected]
On Feb 18, 2025, at 11:51 AM, Deborah Lopez <[email protected]> wrote:
Frank, since you will be on as a public speaker, you will have audio rights only. What you can do is send us a copy of the photo you will be speaking to and we will forward this to the City Council and key staff.

-----Original Message-----
From: Frank DiMarco <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2025 11:45 AM
To: City Clerk Group <[email protected]>
Subject: Submitting photos on Zoom
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.

Hello,
I’m registered for the City Council meeting tonight via Zoom.

I would like to comment during the portion regarding the City plan for road paving.

Can I post a photo via Zoom while I am commenting?
Thank you,
Frank
Frank DiMarco
Tel. 503.358.8119
Email: [email protected]
Comments From Frank DiMarco to Goleta City Council 18Feb2025 Good evening Mayor Perotte, City Council and Staff Members.

After recently reading about the great repaving plans ahead for Goleta, I noticed that Pacific Oaks between Hollister and Phelps is not included in the paving plan.

At present, this relatively short stretch of road is in very bad shape with sharp ruts and potholes in both car and bicycle lanes.

As you know, this is both a main, posted bike route and a significant cut-through street for vehicles trying to avoid the Hollister/Storke bottleneck. It also is heavily used by large delivery trucks for the Albertsons market and other businesses in the Plaza shopping center.

We were very surprised and disappointed when the recent re-paving of Phelps Road between Pacific Oaks and Storke Road did not include this section of Pacific Oaks .

I’d like to also include in this request, an upgrade of the crosswalk you thoughtfully created at Georgetown Road and Pacific Oaks, which is now heavily used (as expected) by Girsh Park athletic participants, plus regular neighborhood pedestrians walking to and from the nearby shopping areas.

This crosswalk really needs a pedestrian-activated set of flashing signal lights like those we see in other parts of Goleta, especially given the width of Pacific Oaks with no pedestrian safety island for slower walkers.

Because of regular excessive traffic speeds, such lights will go a long way to meet Goleta’s Vision Zero goals and enhance the overall safety of this heavily traveled corridor.

Coordinating this upgrade with a top-knotch repaving of Pacific Oaks between Hollister and Phelps Road would be a much-needed and sound investment in public safety.

Please add this project to Goleta’s near-term paving plans.

Thank you for your efforts to make Goleta a great, safe place to live.

Goleta City CouncilFebruary 18, 2025

Goleta City Council
February 18, 2025