TO: Goleta Mayor Perotte and Council Members
FROM: George Relles
RE: Item C1 on your May 5, 2026 Agenda
DATE: May 4, 2026
Mayor and Council members, I respectfully request that you consider my testimony below regarding item C1 on your agenda.
I also respectfully request that you consider directing staff to return a recommendation for options for forming a standing committee or commission to deal with Goleta’s Transportation and Circulation issues.
WHY GOLETA SHOULD ESTABLISH AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE OR
COMMISSION FOR TRANSPORATION AND CIRCULATION (T&C)
IT’S IMPORTANT:
The dollars Goleta allocates to T&C issues is probably one of the very biggest portion of Goleta’s budget, so it demands full public engagement. T&C involves important issues that matter greatly to Goletans including safety, accessibility and support of local commerce.
The relatively moderate cost of a commission or committee, such as staffing and administration would be more than offset by saving expenditure of Public Works’ invaluable staff time and resources.
TRAFFIC AND CIRCULATION ISSUES ARE BOTH COMPLICATED AND
SUBJECTIVE
T&C issues require not just technical or engineering expertise. They also require quality of life and lifestyle choices; residents should have better opportunities on our how limited tax dollars are allocated.
T&C issues are wide ranging, interrelated, and so they require the kind of deliberations and discussion that commission and committee sessions lend themselves to. T&C issues include not just roads, but also traffic circles, sidewalks, bike lanes, train station and last mile, MTD, scooters, disability challenges, parking, crosswalks, signage, speed limits, ride sharing, Lyft & Uber, self-driving cars, and more.
Issues related to Goleta’s T&C are changing rapidly. A T&C commission or committee could provide a great starting place for the public to weigh in on emerging issues, such as regulation of electric bikes.
A T&C COMMISSION WOULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN GETTING
RESIDENT PARTICIPATION AND INPUT THAN RELYING ON
WORKSHOPS.
A standing T&C commission or committee would
increase resident participation by allow residents to participate by submitting testimony in advance, in person or via zoom, and allow people to view recordings after the meeting.
provide a central, highly visible venue for residents to direct their concerns and submit ideas regarding Goleta’s T&C issues.
avoid resident scheduling conflicting meetings by meetings being set on a pre- announced schedule for the entire year.
result in better documentation e.g. of agendas, and videos that could appear on Goleta’s website.
develop expertise similar to members of the Planning Commission. So, there would be more continuity and better discussions and deliberations.
ANALAGOUS TO EXISTING COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS
The City of Santa Barbara, the County of Los Angeles and many other jurisdictions have recognized the points above and thus have a formal T&C commission or committee.
Goleta already has many other committees, such as for finance, town & gown, economic development, etc.
Goleta also has many other commissions for trees, historical preservation, parks and recreation, library etc.
Compared to these existing committees and commissions, it would seem that for the reasons stated above, a transportation and circulation committee or commission is well warranted.