Agenda Item C.2
DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEM
Meeting Date: October 6, 2026
TO: Mayor and Councilmembers
SUBMITTED BY: JoAnne Plummer, Neighborhood Services Director PREPARED BY: Justin Wilkins, Parks and Recreation Manager SUBJECT: Goleta Community Center Strategic Plan Progress and Recommendation to Retain Ongoing Management
RECOMMENDATION:
A. Receive a status report on the activities and progress at the Goleta Community Center in relation to the adopted Goleta Community Center Strategic Plan; and B. Authorize the continued management and operation of the Goleta Community Center by the City’s Neighborhood Services Department as the ongoing operating model, subject to City Council budget appropriations.
BACKGROUND:
The Goleta Community Center (GCC), located at 5679 Hollister Avenue, is a City-owned community asset providing recreation, senior services, cultural activities, community gatherings, City programs and meetings, special events, nonprofit activities, and facility rentals. Originally constructed in 1927 as the Goleta Union School, the property has served the Goleta community for nearly a century.
Following incorporation in 2002, the City assumed the County’s lease and exe rcised its purchase option in 2013, acquiring the property from the Goleta Union School District.
The Goleta Valley Community Center Organization, an outside non-profit entity, operated the GCC for decades under a sublease. The City of Goleta assumed direct management on January 1, 2023, during the planned seismic and accessibility projects.
The transition occurred during a significant period of facility rehabilitation. Major seismic improvements were completed and the GCC reopened to the community in April 2024.
Additional accessibility, infrastructure, and facility improvements continue in coordination 1 Meeting Date: October 6, 2026
with the General Services Department. The City’s current Capital Improvement Program includes $3.3 million in identified GCC projects through F iscal Year (FY) 2028-29, including the GCC Campus Renovation, portable replacement, gazebo improvements, and pickleball court resurfacing.
Concurrently with the transition to City management, the City undertook a community - based strategic planning process that included community and student surveys, a provider survey, stakeholder engagement, and a working group of community leaders.
On April 18, 2023, the City Council adopted the GCC Strategic Plan as the long-term framework for operations, programming, community use, and financial sustainability. The Plan establishes the vision of the GCC as “a welcoming, safe, inclusive, and accessible place where everyone can go to gather, learn, and play.”
The GCC Strategic Plan contains five goals, 14 objectives, 25 strategies, and 98 tactics:
(1) create a welcoming space for the entire Goleta community; (2) maintain professional, friendly, and efficient operations; (3) ensure regular programming meets community needs; (4) conduct regular, responsive communications and proactive community engagement; and (5) achieve financial sustainability.
The Parks and Recreation Division has worked to transition the GCC from primarily a rental-focused operation into a broader c ommunity resource since taking on direct management. This transition has included expanded senior and recreation programming, increased pickleball opportunities, expanded access for community organizations and nonprofits, City-sponsored programs and events, improved rental policies and practices, and increased use of the facility for City and community purposes. A report on the current status of the GCC Strategic Plan was provided to the City of Goleta Parks and Recreation Commission on September 9, 2026. The Commission members inquired about the staffing resources necessary to support the projected expansion of programs and services at the GCC. They unanimously affirmed their support for the Parks and Recreation Division’s continued administration of the facility and its associated programs.
DISCUSSION:
Strategic Plan Implementation:
The focus has been to transform the GCC from primarily a rental -focused facility into a comprehensive community resource integrating City -operated programs, recreation, senior services, community events, partnerships, and public services following its assumption of direct management. This work has continued while construction, accessibility, and infrastructure projects have constrained portions of the facility. Rather than waiting for all capital work to be completed, staff has implemented the elements of the Strategic Plan that can be advanced within existing facility and resource constraints.
2 Meeting Date: October 6, 2026
The GCC is advancing the Strategic Plan through expanded senior programming, including a dedicated Senior Program Technician, a Senior Lounge, senior nutrition services, and additional activities and services for older adults. Recreation opportunities have expanded through pickleball, Mahjong, Tai Chi, clinics, and other programs. S taff has also increased opportunities for nonprofit, community, cultural, and private users; refined rental policies, fees, reservation practices, and advance -payment requirements; implemented the Xplor online reservation system; and increased use of the facility for City programs, meetings, trainings, events, and community engagement.
The facility is also increasingly functioning as a community hub. Recent uses include significant community events, City -sponsored gatherings, Library programs, cultural performances, nonprofit and service -provider activities, emergency preparedness programs, and community meetings. Partnerships with community organizations and service providers expand the services available at the GCC without requiring the City to independently provide every service. Staff continue to improve communication, marketing, and outreach regarding programs, rentals, services, and opportunities to use the facility.
Staff simultaneously advance the facility component of the Strategic Plan through planning for A mericans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and electrical improvements, Audio/Visual System improvements, security, parking and site improvements, pickleball entry and access improvements, and other building and infrastructure needs. These investments are intended to protect the City’s existing asset, improve accessibility and safety, and increase the GCC’s capacity to support the community over the long term.
Value to the City and Community
The value of the GCC extends beyond rental revenue. City management provides the City with a centrally located indoor facility for programs, public meetings, community engagement, special events, trainings, and other municipal activities. This provides operational flexibility and reduces the need to identify and potentially rent outside facilities.
As part of the Parks and Recreation system, the GCC allows the City to coordinate senior services, recreation, pickleball, community programs, cultural activiti es, and events with other City facilities and programs. Its size, location, and configuration also accommodate uses that may not be feasible at smaller facilities or outdoor parks.
Direct City management allows facility use to be balanced among revenue -producing rentals and community -serving uses. The City can prioritize access for seniors, nonprofits, community organizations, cultural activities, public meetings, recreation, and City programs rather than relying solely on the uses that produce the highest rental return. 3 Meeting Date: October 6, 2026
This is consistent with the GCC Strategic Plan’s financial sustainability goal while recognizing that the facility is a public asset with a broader purpose than revenue generation alone.
The GCC also provides indoor meeting and activity space that is limited elsewhere in the community. City fees intentionally provide access for nonprofits, community groups, seniors, residents, and other community-serving organizations at rates that may be below those of a fully commercial facility. The publ ic value therefore includes both the direct services provided and the opportunity for residents and organizations to use a City-owned facility for community-serving purposes.
Staff recommends authorizing the continued management and operation of the GCC by the City’s Neighborhood Services Department as a long -term City community asset, recognizing the facility's ongoing operating costs and General Fund investment, as well as the direct revenues and substantial public, recreational, cultural, and community benefits generated by the facility.
GOLETA CITYWIDE STRATEGIC PLAN
Continued City management of the GCC supports multiple City Council -adopted 2025– 2027 Citywide Key Initiatives and Strategic Goals. The GCC is not solely a Parks and Recreation initiative; its operation advances priorities related to community vitality, financial stability, economic vitality, infrastructure, Old Town, emergency preparedness, customer service, and equity, inclusion, and access.
2. Support Community Vitality and Enhanced Recreational Opportunities Strategic Goals 2.2.1 and 2.2.2 call for continued implementation of the Parks, Facilities, and Playgrounds Master Plan and the GCC Strategic Plan. The GCC advances both through expanded recreation and senior programming, pickleball, community events, cultural activities, nonprofit use, City programs, improved rental access, and continued facility planning. Direct management provides the structure needed to coordinate the GCC with the broader parks and recreation system and to implement the remaining GCC Strategic Plan tactics as capital projects are completed.
3. Ensure Financial Stability
Goal 3.3 and Objective 3.3.1 emphasize sound fiscal policies, budgeting principles, the Cost Allocation Plan, and the Comprehensive Us er Fee Study to support full cost recovery. GCC management advances these objectives through active monitoring of revenues and expenditures, rental policy and fee updates, improved reservation practices, long-term rental agreements, use of the Xplor reserv ation system, advance payment requirements, and continued identification of grant and partnership 4 Meeting Date: October 6, 2026
opportunities. The GCC is not projected to be fully self -supporting; however, direct management gives the City control over revenue-generating uses while allowing Council policy to determine where subsidized community access is appropriate.
4. Support Economic Vitality
Goals 4.3 through 4.7 include supporting local businesses and shoppers, regional partnerships, entrepreneurs, use of City property for communit y benefit, and organizations that support the Goleta workforce. The GCC contributes by providing affordable and flexible space for community organizations, service providers, cultural organizations, events, meetings, and activities that bring residents and visitors to Old Town. The facility also provides a City -owned venue that can support partnerships with local organizations, businesses, regional institutions, and community -serving agencies.
Continued City management increases the amount of City property actively available for these uses and allows the City to align facility use with broader community and economic objectives.
5. Strengthen Infrastructure
Goal 5.4 calls for protecting and maintaining City-owned facilities and critical operational assets, including completion of ADA improvements under Objective 5.4.3. The GCC is directly tied to this objective. The City has completed seismic rehabilitation, continues to address accessibility and infrastructure needs, and is advancing ADA, electrical, parking, site, AV, pickleball access, and other facility improvements. The current five-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) identifies approximately $3.3 million in GCC-specific capital projects, reflecting the City’s effort to preserve and modernize a major c ommunity asset rather than allowing deferred maintenance to reduce its usefulness or increase future costs.
6. Return Old Town to a Vital Center of the City
Goal 6.3 and Objectives 6.3.1 and 6.3.2 identify the GCC within the City’s broader Old Town revitalization strategy, including consideration of historic registry opportunities and the potential acquisition of the Maintenance, Operations, and Transportation site. The GCC’s historic role, central location, community programming, events, and ongoing rehabilitation contribute to the continued use and vitality of Old Town. Continued management also positions the City to coordinate the GCC’s future with other Old Town investments and planning efforts.
7. Maintain a Safe and Healthy Community
Goal 7.1 and Objectives 7.1.1 through 7.1.3 call for robust emergency preparedness programs, including CERT and LISTOS training and regular preparedness exercises. The GCC provides space for emergency preparedness and community resilience activities, including CERT and related community-serving programs. As a City-managed facility, the 5 Meeting Date: October 6, 2026
GCC can also serve as an accessible location for City preparedness activities, trainings, meetings, and emergency-related community outreach.
8. Enhance the Efficiency and Transparency of City Operations Goals 8.1 and 8.3 emphasize professional, efficient, responsible, and continuously improving customer service. GCC operations directly support these goals through standardized rental policies and procedures, transparent fees, online reservations and payments, improved customer communications, centralized City oversight, and ongoing evaluation of facility use and service delivery. These practices provide customers with clearer expectations while giving the City better informati on for managing demand, revenue, staffing, and facility capacity.
9. Ensure Equity, Inclusion, and Access in City Programs, Services, and Activities Goals 9.1, 9.3, and 9.6 emphasize an inclusive workforce, public outreach and engagement, access to City s ervices, and age -friendly planning. The GCC advances these objectives through senior programming and services, community and nonprofit access, culturally responsive programming and events, expanded recreation opportunities, community outreach, and partners hips with organizations serving diverse populations. Facility accessibility improvements and continued attention to ADA needs further support the City’s commitment to accessible services. The GCC’s role as a shared community facility also provides a physical location where residents can seek information about parks and recreation, rent park facilities, participate in programs, access services, and engage with City and community organizations.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
No additional appropriations are requested with this item. Continued Parks and Recreation management of the GCC will require an ongoing General Fund commitment, offset by facility-generated revenues. The financial picture should be considered in two parts: recurring operations and the separate, non -recurring or project -based capital investment required to rehabilitate and modernize the facility.
Audited FY 2024 -25 financial results show GCC revenues of $349,237 and operating expenditures of $617,016. The Community Center Special Revenue Fund received a $413,042 General Fund transfer. Thus, facility revenues covered approximately 57 percent of operating expenditures, while the City’s General Fund contribution supported the remaining operating and community -service costs and related facility needs. The City’s FY 2025-26 budget provided $218,398 in General Fund support, and is projected as $590,300 in FY 2026-27.
6 Meeting Date: October 6, 2026
The higher current General Fund contribution reflects the City's ongoing effort to stabilize operations, expand programming, and address facility needs. The amount of ongoing General Fund support may decrease over time if facility revenues increase or operating costs decline. However, completion of the current rehabilitation and capital program does not, by itself, establish a reduction in annual operating support. Future funding needs will depend on operating costs, facility maintenance, staffing, service levels, and revenue performance, and will be evaluated through the City's budget process or separate Council actions, as appropriate.
The City is also making significant capital investments that are separate from routine operations. The current five-year CIP identifies approximately $3.3 million in GCC-specific projects, including $1. 6 million for GCC Campus Renovation, $1.4 million for portable replacement, $5,000 for gazebo area improvements, and $348,000 for pickleball court resurfacing. These projects are intended to protect the City’s existing investment, improve accessibility and safety, and increase the facility’s long-term functionality.
The GCC cannot operate as a fully self -supporting enterprise. The facility provides significant community value, and its operations are supported through a combination of General Fund investment and approximately $349,000 in annual facility revenues in FY 2024-25. This funding approach enables the City to sustain a facility that delivers affordable public services, recreation, senior programs, community access, City operations, cultural activities, nonprofit use, and the stewardship of a key City -owned asset. Staff will continue to monitor revenues and expenditures, pursue appropriate grants and partnerships, evaluate fees and cost recovery, and identify opportunities to improve financial sustainability without eliminating community -serving uses. The table below summarizes the operating costs for the GCC over the last two years and does not include any CIP project expenses described above.
Table 1. GCC Financial Summary
Financial Measure FY 2024-25
Actual
FY 2025-26
Budget
Adopted FY 26-27
Budget
GCC operating
revenues $349,237 $392,761 $352,000
GCC operating
expenditures $617,016 $609,160 $942,300
General Fund
support $413,042 $218,398 $590,300
Financial Data Sources: FY 2024/25 actual revenues, expenditures, and General Fund transfers are from the City of Goleta Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27 General Fund support and GCC capital project amounts are from the City’s adopted FY 2025/26–2026/27 budget and five-year Capital Improvement Program.
7 Meeting Date: October 6, 2026
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the City Council not wish to affirm continued City management of the GCC at this time, Council may direct staff to maintain the City’s current operational oversight on a temporary basis and return to Council at a fut ure date with additional financial or operational information regarding the long -term management and operational structure of the facility , including evaluating contracted or hybrid management alternatives, that identifies service levels, costs, accountabi lity, and the responsibilities that would remain with the City.
LEGAL REVIEW BY: Isaac Rosen, City Attorney
APPROVED BY: Jaime A. Valdez, Assistant City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Goleta Community Center Strategic Plan Progress and Recommendation to Retain Ongoing Management Presentation
2. Goleta Community Center Strategic Plan
8 ATTACHMENT 1
Goleta Community Center Strategic Plan Progress and Recommendation to Retain Ongoing Management Presentation
9 Goleta Community Center
Strategic Plan Progress and
Recommendations to Retain
Ongoing Management
Presentation by:
Justin Wilkins, Parks and Recreation Manager
October 6, 2026
10 Recommendation:
October 6, 2026, City Council 2
1.Receive a status report on the activities and progress at the Goleta Community Center in relation to the adopted Goleta Community Center Strategic Plan; and
2.Authorize the continued management and operation of the Goleta Community Center by the City’s Neighborhood Services Department as the ongoing operating model, subject to City Council budget appropriations. 11 History of the Goleta Community Center
2002 City Assumes County’s Lease
2013 City Acquires Property from Goleta Unified
School District
Goleta Valley Community Center (GVCC) Organization
oper
ates the facility as a tenant
January 1, 2023 City of Goleta Assumes Management
April 2024 Facility re-opens to the public post Covid
and post Seismic
Retrofit Construction Project
October 6, 2026, City Council 3
12 The Goleta Community Center is a welcoming,
safe, inclusive, and accessible place where
everyone can go to gather, learn and play.
The Goleta Community Center provides
programs, services, activities, and a safe space
for social, cultural, educational, and recreational
offerings in an inclusive and welcoming way.
Goleta Community Center Strategic Plan
October 6, 2026, City Council 4
Vision:
Mission:
13 GCC Strategic Plan Goals
Create a welcoming
space for the entire
Goleta Community
Maintain professional,
friendly, and efficient
operations
Ensure regular
programming meets
community needs
October 6, 2026, City Council 5
Conduct regular,
responsive
communications and
proactive community
engagement
Achieve financial
sustainability
14 Strategic Plan Implementation
October 6, 2026, City Council 6
Expansion of Senior Programming
Staffing, Dedicated Space, food, essential services and activity/soci
al services
Increased Recreation Opportunities
Pickleball, Tai Chi, Community Clinics and Online Rentals f
or GCC and Park Use
Maximizing Facility Use
Nonprofits, community, cultural and private users.
15 Value to the City and Community
October 6, 2026, City Council 7
Centrally Located Indoor Facility
Programs, Public Meetings, Community Engagement,
Special E
vents and more
Balanced Facility Use
Revenue Producing Vs. Community Serving
Accessible/Transparent Pricing
Attractive fees for nonprofits community groups, seniors, residen
ts and community serving organizations
16 City’s Strategic Plan – Goals 2, 3 and 4
Support Community Vitality &
Enhanced Recreational Opportunities
• Goals 2.2.1 and 2.2.2
• Expanded recreation
and senior programs,
pickleball, community
events, non-profit use,
city programs,
continued facility
planning, improved
rental access, etc
Ensure Financial Stability
• Goal 3.3/Obj 3.3.1
• Monitoring
revenues/expenditures,
rental policy/fee
updates, improved
reservation practices,
long term rental
agreements,
partnership
opportunities and
identification of grants.
Support Economic Vitality
• Goals 4.3 through 4.7
• Providing affordable and
flexible space for
community
organizations, service
providers, cultural
organizations, events,
meetings, and activities
that bring residents and
visitors to Old Town.
October 6, 2026, City Council 8
17 City’s Strategic Plan – Goals 5 and 6Strengthen
Infrastructure
• Goal 5.4 and Objective 5.4.3
• The completion of the seismic rehabilitation,
ongoing infrastructure concerns related to
electrical, the skylight, security, parking, the
pickleball entry area and most significantly the
ADA project. The ADA project will also impact
the sewer lateral, which will address a long-
standing issue with the facility, upgrading the
restrooms for access and ongoing use. These
improvements do not include those associated
to the auxiliary structures associated to the
preschools, which are also slated for significant
renovations as well.
Return Old Town to a
Vital Center of the City
• Goal 6.3 and Objectives 6.3.1 and 6.3.2
• The GCC’s historic role, central location,
community programming, events, and ongoing
rehabilitation contribute to the continued use
and vitality of Old Town. The facility is often
referred to as the “hub” of Goleta.
October 6, 2026, City Council 9
18 City’s Strategic Plan – Goals 5 and 6
Maintain a Safe and
Healthy Community
• Goal 7.1 and Objectives 7.1.1 through
7.1.3 • The GCC provides space for emergency
preparedness and community resilience
activities, including CERT and related
community-serving programs. As a City-
managed facility, the GCC can also serve
as an accessible location for City
preparedness activities, trainings,
meetings, and emergency-related
community outreach.
Enhance the Efficiency and
Transparency of City
Operations
• Goal 8.1 and 8.3
• The operations at the GCC standardized
rental policies and procedures,
transparent fees, online reservations and
payments, improved customer
communications, centralized City
oversight, and ongoing evaluation of
facility use and service delivery.
October 6, 2026, City Council 10
19 Recommendation:
October 6, 2026, City Council 11
1.Receive a status report on the activities and progress at the Goleta Community Center in relation to the adopted Goleta Community Center Strategic Plan; and
2.Authorize the continued management and operation of the Goleta Community Center by the City’s Neighborhood Services Department as the ongoing operating model, subject to City Council budget appropriations. 20 October 6, 2026, City Council 12
Questions?
21 ATTACHMENT 2
Goleta Community Center Strategic Plan
22 City of Goleta
2023
Strategic Plan
for the Goleta
Community Center
23 Table of Contents
CITY OF GOLETA Page 1
Introduction2
Methodology5
Definitions6
SWOT Analysis7
Vision & Mission8
Goals, Objectives, Strategies, & Tactics9
Key Performance Indicators29
Goal 1: Create a Welcoming Space for the Entire Goleta Community10 Goal 2: Maintain Professional, Friendly and Efficient Operations16 Goal 3: Ensure Regular Programming is Offered that Meets the Community’s Needs
20 Goal 4: Conduct Regular, Responsive Communications and Proactive Community Engagement
23 Goal 5: Achieve Financial Sustainability25
Appendices32
Working Group Members33
Community Center Management Options34
Potential Partnerships36
List of Future Plans37
Summary of Survey Results40
Action Plan Template38
24 For many years the beloved and historic Goleta Community Center (GCC, the Center, the Community Center) has been an important gathering place for the surrounding community. In the City of Goleta’s 2021-23 Strategic Plan, the City Council identified improvements for the Community Center as an important strategy for returning Old Town to a vital center of the city.
The City of Goleta is committed to restoring and preserving this important resource, and has begun a critical renovation project, which includes much-needed seismic and accessibility improvements.
During the construction for these improvements, the City developed a strategic plan for the future of the Community Center, which includes input from community members and stakeholders on how to best utilize the facility and make it a more vibrant and inviting gathering place. The City Council is committed to ensuring that the programs and services offered at the Community Center match the needs and interests of the Goleta community.
The Strategic Plan establishes a vision for the Goleta Community Center and its purpose and role in the community over the short- and long-term. The plan outlines specific steps that will be taken to reach identified goals to achieve that vision. It also sets the expectations for future management of the Community Center, defining operational strategies and tactics, aligned with established City policies and procedures.
Introduction
CITY OF GOLETA Page 2
25 Background
As a City-owned facility, the Goleta Community Center is subject to City-wide plans and policies, in addition to this strategic plan document. This plan is designed to align with and must inevitably follow the City’s existing General Plan, Strategic Plan, the forthcoming Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan, City environmental sustainability ordinances and policies for City facilities and activities, and any future plans, policies, procedures, or ordinances adopted by the City. This strategic plan includes important issues for the GCC, including environmental sustainability and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), but does not feature these elements as standalone goals.
Rather, the plan incorporates these crucial elements throughout its goals, objectives, strategies, and tactics.
The plan draws upon the results of an extensive community outreach process, which included surveys, focus groups, and workshops. It reflects priorities and needs identified by the GCC Strategic Planning Working Group, community members, and other stakeholders. We would like to thank the Working Group and everyone who provided input on the future of the GCC for their time and dedication to this vital community resource.
CITY OF GOLETA Page 3
The City of Goleta’s Community Center property is located at 5679 Hollister Avenue and was formerly the site of the Goleta Union School, which was constructed in 1927. The school was closed in 1976 because it did not meet seismic standards for schools. In 1977, the property was leased, with an option to purchase, to the County of Santa Barbara to operate a community center. In 1984, the County sublet the property to the Goleta Valley Community Center (GVCC), a California non-profit corporation, for the purpose of operating a community center.
Upon incorporation in 2002, the City of Goleta assumed the existing lease from the County, subject to the continuing sublease of the GVCC organization. The City exercised the purchase option in 2013 and acquired the property from Goleta Union School District.
The GVCC organization rented out the rooms within the Community Center buildings, through long-term subleases and short-term event rentals to non-profit organizations, for-profit entities, and individuals. The GVCC also operated a Senior Program, which received separate annual financial support from the City through the Support to Other Agencies grant program. The City’s involvement in this operating model was largely as a property owner responsible for facility maintenance and providing a Councilmember to serve as a non-voting member of the GVCC organization’s Board of Directors, as well as having a City staff liaison to the Board of Directors.
The GVCC organization utilized the sublease and rental income to support its operations and facility maintenance commitment under the lease. The GVCC continued to lease the property from the City at no cost through December of 2022, at which time their lease expired and the City assumed direct management of the Community Center, due to the scheduled construction of seismic and accessibility upgrades. The City Council determined that it was appropriate for the City to assume control of the facility during construction of these improvements, and also 26 beneficial to use this opportunity to create a strategic plan to guide the future management of the GCC. The City is grateful for the dedicated stewardship of the Community Center that the GVCC provided over the span of 38 years.
It has long been acknowledged that there is a need to make significant repairs and improvements to the property, including seismic upgrades, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades, parking lot pavement replacement, and infrastructure and aesthetic upgrades. Two of the biggest rooms in the main building closed in January of 2021 due to seismic safety concerns. The City began a seismic retrofit construction project in the Spring of 2023 to address those concerns.
During the seismic retrofit construction, the main building is closed for several months, however operations in the auxiliary buildings, including the CommUnify/Head Start programs, Rainbow School, Kevin Long Training, and the Boys and Girls Club will continue as usual. Additionally, the back field and pickleball courts remain open. After a brief pause during the month of December 2022, the Senior Center program resumed operation as of January of 2023 under the management of the City of Goleta.
Following the seismic retrofit, the building will undergo disability access improvements to sidewalks, paths of travel, the bathrooms and sewer lines in the main building required under the ADA. These projects are largely funded by federal grants from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and a federal Community Project Funding grant secured for the project through the efforts of Representative Salud Carbajal. The goal is to re-open the facility for community use by late 2023, at which time smaller construction projects will continue. Once all construction is complete, the operator would begin to implement elements of the strategic plan.
CITY OF GOLETA Page 4
27 In the winter of 2020, the City of Goleta conducted the Antenore & Associates community survey and facilitated focus groups about the Goleta Community Center. Insights from these engagement efforts identified many needed improvements for the Center (results can be found in Appendix F),
including the need for a strategic plan.
During the spring of 2022, the City of Goleta conducted a request-for-proposals process to identify a contractor to facilitate the strategic plan for the Goleta Community Center. Work began to develop the strategic plan in fall of 2022.
The City assembled a Working Group of community leaders to work with the City Council’s Ad Hoc Committee to advise on the strategic plan. The Working Group and Ad Hoc Committee provided feedback through a series of in-person and virtual workshop meetings to ideate on the Goleta Community Center’s vision, mission, goals, objectives, strategies, and tactics, and to review the different phases of the plan as they were developed.
The City also issued three additional surveys in both English and Spanish to gather wider community feedback on the future vision for the GCC. A new community-wide survey was conducted from December 12, 2022 to January 13, 2023 which collected 658 responses on community priorities for the GCC. The City also surveyed school students from fourth through twelfth grade, collecting 62 responses. Finally, a targeted survey was sent to program providers serving the city to understand their programming needs that the GCC could accommodate, collecting 8 responses. Results from these surveys can be found in Appendix F.
The final strategic plan was developed based on data from all four surveys, focus group input, Working Group and Ad Hoc Committee feedback, and City staff reviews and recommendations.
The plan was presented to the Goleta City Council on April 18, 2023.
CITY OF GOLETA Page 5
Methodology
The Community-wide
survey collected 658
individual responses
from members of the
Goleta community
28 SWOT Analysis
[pg 7]
Analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of an
organization (internal) and the opportunities and threats of the organization’s environment (external).
Vision
[pg 8]
The dream for the future of the organization; an ideal
long-term end-state.
Mission
[pg 8]
A statement about why the organization exists and what it is doing to accomplish its vision.
CITY OF GOLETA Page 6
Definitions
Goals
[pg 9-28]
General statements of where the organization is going
and what it wants to achieve in the long-term.
Objectives
[pg 9-28]
Specific and quantifiable statements of what the
organization is to accomplish and when it is to be
accomplished in order to achieve its goals.
Strategies
[pg 9-28]
Specific action plans and initiatives that allow the
organization to accomplish its objectives, capitalizing on organizational strengths and environmental opportunities.
Tactics
[pg 9-28]
The specific actions the organization will take to
implement the initiatives outlined in the strategies.
Key Performance
Indicators (KPIs)
[pg 29-31]
A quantifiable measure of performance over time for a
specific objective.
GCC Reopening
[pg 9-31]
Timelines throughout the strategic plan are based on full reopening of GCC operations, which will occur once all
seismic and ADA construction projects are completed.
29 Strengths
Location
Old Town
Proximity to local businesses
Central location for community engagement and events
Space
Building size
Building versatility, flexibility, diversity of potential uses Outdoor space
History of facility and use
Affordable space
Existing equipment
Potential:
Renovated, upgraded kitchen
Space to bring people together
Outdoor activities
Aquatic center or pool on adjacent site
Satellite library
After school programming
Cooling and warming center and Red Cross
Emergency Evacuation Shelter
Public services hub
SWOT Analysis
CITY OF GOLETA Page 7
Weaknesses
Lack of awareness of Center existence, purpose, uses
and programming
Building condition
In need of significant infrastructure, operational,
and aesthetic repairs and improvements
Dark and unwelcoming
Deferred maintenance
Lack of upgrades
IT Infrastructure
Need for a commercial kitchen
Lack of balance between affordability for users
and financial sustainability for operators
Lack of teen and youth programming
Lack of community vision around the GCC
Lack of diverse leadership
Construction/Closures
Opportunities
Community interest in the GCC and in affordable,
accessible programming
Public interest in supporting or managing desired
programming (e.g. Pickleball)
Changes to Hollister traffic circulation and parking
City ownership
Ability to subsidize operations in order to charge
reduced rent for programming that meets
community needs
Desire for greater community engagement
MOT (school bus yard) site acquisition
Construction upgrades for ADA accessibility,
bathroom upgrades, facade
Public transit
High interest with growth opportunity
Community passion
Threats
Underutilization of GCC, especially from non-Old
Town Residents resulting from lack of public
awareness
Construction could delay re-opening and create a
greater need for temporary program relocation
Competition or resource redundancy
Space and programming alternatives
Multiple priorities for service providers
Limited accessibility by bike
Macroeconomic factors
Inflation
Potential recession
Political climate/Uncivil discourse
Public health concerns (COVID-related)
Funding
Limited existing use or users
30 Vision:
The Goleta Community Center is a welcoming, safe, inclusive, and accessible place where everyone can go to gather, learn and play.
Mission:
The Goleta Community Center provides programs, services, activities, and a safe space for social, cultural, educational, and recreational offerings in an inclusive and welcoming way.
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Vision & Mission
31 Goals, Objectives,
Strategies, and
Tactics
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This section details the goals, objectives, strategies, and tactics for the Goleta Community Center over the next three to five years to execute its mission after full re-opening. Key performance indicators for measuring progress of each objective can be found in the next section. An annual action plan template can be found in this report to be used for creating detailed action and implementation plans for each year of the strategic plan in Appendix E.
32 Goal 1: Create a
Welcoming Space
for the Entire
Goleta Community
CITY OF GOLETA Page 10
33 Objective 1.1: Create a culturally diverse, equitable, inclusive, and welcoming space for all community
members within 24 months of full reopening.
Strategy 1.1.1: Ensure Community Center staff are representative of the Goleta community, culturally sensitive, and welcoming to visitors.
CITY OF GOLETA Page 11
Strategy 1.1.2: Create visual and auditory vibrancy that represents different cultures in the Goleta community.
Tactic 1.1.1.1: Develop an outreach and recruitment plan for organizational growth that reflects community demographics.
Tactic 1.1.1.2: Host regular staff training in equity, inclusion, and access.
Tactic 1.1.1.3: Maintain staff trained with necessary skills, including regular safety, customer service and service referral training.
Tactic 1.1.1.4: Provide bilingual staff and interpretation services to meet community needs.
Tactic 1.1.1.5: Schedule staff appropriately for facility and community needs.
Tactic 1.1.2.1: Explore working with community artists to create visual vibrancy in the GCC, including youth artists and artists representing different cultural backgrounds in Goleta, through painting murals and artwork for the GCC, using a selection process that includes public input.
Tactic 1.1.2.2: Use portions of the Community Center as a gallery for local art.
Tactic 1.1.2.3: Have a diverse musical playlist that plays in open/drop-in spaces in the Center.
Tactic 1.1.2.4: Integrate historical displays with community art.
Tactic 1.1.2.5: Utilize community input in space design for the Community Center.
34 Strategy 1.1.3: Ensure the Community Center facility is accessible for all.
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Strategy 1.1.4: Develop culturally sensitive policies and procedures that allow everyone to feel welcome.
Tactic 1.1.3.1: Conduct needs assessment for hearing, and mental/emotional accessibility improvements, in addition to the physical mobility and sight ADA assessment that has already taken place.
Tactic 1.1.3.2: Implement an accessibility improvement plan that integrates current and ongoing ADA improvements with additional recommendations from the needs assessment.
Tactic 1.1.4.1: Develop a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Accessibility (DEIBA) plan for the Community Center.
Tactic 1.1.4.2: Evaluate potential for creating gender-neutral bathrooms.
Tactic 1.1.4.3: Ensure critical communications about GCC programs and offerings are available in English and Spanish.
Tactic 1.1.4.4: Explore other potential GCC user language needs.
Objective 1.2: Improve the physical aesthetic of the
facility within 24 months of full reopening.
Strategy 1.2.1: Improve the interior aesthetic of the facility to increase the brightness and vibrance of the Center.
Tactic 1.2.1.1: Improve the indoor lighting, painting, and carpeting.
Tactic 1.2.1.2: Create a welcoming entrance and exit area with bright lighting and new signage.
Tactic 1.2.1.3: Improve the comfort of the facility with new furnishings. 35 Strategy 1.2.2: Improve the exterior aesthetic of the facility to make it feel more attractive and inviting.
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Tactic 1.2.2.1: Create a welcoming entrance with new, clearly articulated signage, consideration of a digital marquee out front (following a Conditional Use Permit process), and enhanced lighting.
Tactic 1.2.2.2: Improve the landscaping and lighting in the front area of the Community Center.
Tactic 1.2.2.3: Remove unwelcoming items from the front of the building (sand pit, lawn mower, porta potties, shed).
Objective 1.3: Upgrade the Center’s functionality and
create community-focused, intentional spaces over the
next five years.
Strategy 1.3.1: Improve site infrastructure and amenities to better support Community Center programming and community needs as funding permits.
Tactic 1.3.1.1: Upgrade the HVAC system to allow for use of the facility as a cooling and warming center and Red Cross Emergency Evacuation Shelter.
Tactic 1.3.1.2: Upgrade the Wi-Fi system to allow for fast, reliable and free community internet access throughout the GCC Campus.
Tactic 1.3.1.3: Explore creating community access to computers through a laptop cart and printer.
Tactic 1.3.1.4: Renovate the kitchen to be commercial grade and code compliant for commercial use.
Tactic 1.3.1.5: Install a hydration station that allows for water bottle refills to reduce the use of single-use plastic bottles.
Tactic 1.3.1.6: Consider environmental upgrades, such as solar panels, permeable pavement and bike parking, as appropriate in alignment with the City’s environmental sustainability policies and priorities and the allowance of historic aesthetic modifications.
36 Strategy 1.3.2: Redesign Community Center spaces to meet functionality requirements.
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Tactic 1.3.2.1: Create welcoming drop-in and lounge spaces for the community to utilize.
Tactic 1.3.2.2: Consider opening up the facility by removing unnecessary storage closet walls to create larger, flowing open spaces and creating viable storage space.
Tactic 1.3.2.3: Consider remodeling spaces for better customer service, creating a window opening to the main office and a front desk for visitors.
Strategy 1.3.3: Acquire the neighboring Goleta Union School District (GUSD) MOT site (adjacent school district maintenance and operations yard) for additional community spaces, after site mitigation is completed.
Tactic 1.3.3.1: Engage with the Goleta Union School District Board of Trustees and staff to relocate their maintenance, operations and transportation functions and to purchase the current MOT site.
Tactic 1.3.3.2: Continue to work with a commercial real estate broker to locate a parcel suitable for use as a new site for the GUSD MOT site.
Tactic 1.3.3.3: Develop capital improvement project and funding plan for the MOT site, including researching grants and other funding sources for future site mitigation and improvements.
In 1977 when the Goleta Union School District leased the Goleta Union School site to the County of Santa Barbara, it retained a portion of the site located along the east site of the original parcel to continue to house the maintenance, operations, and transportation (MOT) functions serving all of the campuses throughout the district. An MOT site analysis conducted in 2022 concluded that all of the structures are non-compliant with the District’s safety standards and functional needs. The study recommended that the District modernize, expand, and update the MOT site, or relocate the facility to a space that could better accommodate its needs. The City of Goleta supports the recommendation to relocate the MOT site to another parcel that can accommodate the District’s needs.
Since 2016, the City Council has expressed an interest in acquiring the MOT site and utilizing it to accommodate some of the community’s unmet recreational needs. 37 CITY OF GOLETA Page 15
Tactic 1.4.1.2: Implement security assessment recommendations.
Tactic 1.4.1.3: Alter the camera system so it provides appropriate security without creating a perception of distrust, reducing the number of cameras while improving their strategic location.
Objective 1.4: Improve the physical security of the
facility within 12 months of full reopening.
Strategy 1.4.1: Develop a security assessment and improvement plan.
Tactic 1.4.1.1: Have the City conduct a security assessment of the facility. 38 Goal 2: Maintain
Professional,
Friendly, and
Efficient
Operations
CITY OF GOLETA Page 16
39 Objective 2.1: Ensure the Community Center operates efficiently and effectively.
Strategy 2.1.1: Develop an operations plan that includes rental, recreational, and Community Center functions.
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Strategy 2.2.1: Continuously assess needs, successes, and opportunities.
Tactic 2.1.1.1: Ensure opportunities at the facility are balanced to meet physical, social, educational, recreational, and leisure needs of the community.
Tactic 2.1.1.2: Implement clear and consistent rental policies and fees.
Tactic 2.1.1.3: Implement a streamlined rental and application process.
Tactic 2.2.1.1: Conduct quarterly performance management meetings with the GCC leadership to review progress on goal and objective measures and present updates to the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Tactic 2.2.1.2: Conduct regular community engagement to understand changing community needs via a periodic survey.
Tactic 2.2.1.3: Engage in regular communications with all service providers and partners working at the Center to ensure needs are being met.
Objective 2.2: Ensure the Community Center is
providing the best customer experience.
40 Goal 3: Ensure
Regular
Programming is
Offered that Meets
the Community’s
Needs
CITY OF GOLETA Page 18
41 Objective 3.1: Ensure programming and services are
accessible and equitable for all within 18 months of full reopening.
Strategy 3.1.1: Promote programming and events that bring different parts of the community together.
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Tactic 3.1.1.1: Ensure the provision of multi-generational programming.
Tactic 3.1.1.2: Ensure the provision of multicultural programming.
Tactic 3.1.1.3: Offer mass-appeal programming, targeted services, and courses.
Tactic 3.1.1.4: Host large community celebrations, events, and performing arts to bring everyone together.
Tactic 3.1.1.5: Provide access to healthy foods through partnerships with local non-profits, such as the Food Bank.
Tactic 3.1.1.6: Partner with the City’s community garden at Armitos Park for food and sustainability programming.
Tactic 3.1.1.7: Ensure any direct programming is affordable for all residents.
Tactic 3.1.1.8: Ensure programming is culturally responsive (in scheduling, price, language/translation and content).
Tactic 3.1.1.9: Explore the need for, availability of, and feasibility of offering social services with community benefit, such as blood drives, second-hand clothing exchanges, and other community service opportunities.
Strategy 3.1.2: Ensure the provision of programming for all ages, including children, youth, teen, adult, and senior programming.
Tactic 3.1.2.1: Assess programming needs and priorities of the community on a regular basis.
42 CITY OF GOLETA Page 20
Tactic 3.1.2.2: Provide guardian-child activities.
Tactic 3.1.2.3: Invite child serving organizations to provide classes and services.
Tactic 3.1.2.4: Create after school activities, K-12 classes, and enrichment opportunities that compliment but do not duplicate programming provided elsewhere in the surrounding area by collaborating with other service providers.
Tactic 3.1.2.5: Focus on providing services and programs for seniors.
Tactic 3.1.2.6: Partner to distribute free meals to seniors and low income families.
Tactic 3.1.2.7: Provide cooking and nutrition classes once kitchen has been renovated.
Tactic 3.1.2.8: Host seminars and lectures on topics of community interest.
Tactic 3.1.2.9: Provide visual and performing arts programming for all ages.
Tactic 3.1.2.10: Partner to provide needed family services that compliment but do not duplicate programming provided elsewhere in the surrounding area by collaborating with other service providers.
Strategy 3.2.1: Develop a GCC marketing and outreach plan to promote programs and services offered at the GCC, for both permanent services and programs as well as one-time or come-and-go services and events.
Tactic 3.2.1.1: Implement community outreach and engagement activities targeted to increase visitors and program participation, including menu of programming, event calendar, schedule and pricing options.
Objective 3.2: Grow program participation within 36
months of full reopening.
43 CITY OF GOLETA Page 21
Tactic 3.2.1.2: Consider creating a Community Center volunteer program that includes the exploration of an ambassadors network.
Tactic 3.2.1.3: Use of a variety of communication tools to ensure maximum exposure, including print communications, digital communications, local media announcements, and social media.
Tactic 3.2.1.4 Implement an online registration system for programming.
Strategy 3.3.1: Partner with local nonprofit and community organizations to collaborate on programming, events, and social service provision.
Tactic 3.3.1.1: Establish relationships with local organizations, including, but not limited to, those listed in Appendix C .
Tactic 3.3.1.2: Host community resource fairs.
Tactic 3.3.1.3: Include local nonprofit and community organizations as a target audience in the GCC marketing plan to educate partners about use of the facility for programs and rentals.
Tactic 3.3.1.4: Coordinate with service providers to rent the space to provide services regularly, such as resource referral, counseling, legal aid, computer literacy, and tutoring.
Objective 3.3: Partner with community organizations and businesses to provide a diverse variety of programming, events, and services within 18 months of full reopening.
Strategy 3.3.2: Partner with local small businesses and private organizations to collaborate on programming and events.
Tactic 3.3.2.1: Establish relationships with organizations such as the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and surrounding Old Town small businesses.
44 CITY OF GOLETA Page 22
Tactic 3.3.2.2: Include small businesses and private organizations as a target audience in the GCC marketing plan to educate partners about use of the facility for programs and rentals.
Tactic 3.3.2.3: Actively recruit for dance, theater, and art class providers.
Strategy 3.3.3: Partner with regional and national organizations for collaboration on events, marketing, networking and learning, and pursuing grant funding.
Tactic 3.3.3.1: Include potential regional partners and potential funders as a target audience in the GCC marketing plan to educate them about use of the facility for programs and rentals and about the programming and activities that occur at the GCC.
45 Goal 4: Conduct
Regular, Responsive
Communications and
Proactive
Community
Engagement
CITY OF GOLETA Page 23
46 Strategy 4.1.1: Improve marketing and communications to the community.
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Tactic 4.1.1.1: Implement the GCC marketing plan to relaunch the facility.
Tactic 4.1.1.2: Improve the website, making it bilingual and adding an events calendar with up-to-date program information.
Tactic 4.1.1.3: Explore creating a quarterly newsletter to share with the community to increase awareness and participation.
Tactic 4.1.1.4: Use of a variety of communication tools to ensure maximum exposure, including print communications, digital communications, local media announcements, and social media.
Objective 4.2: Maintain an ongoing understanding of
community wants and needs for the Center.
Strategy 4.2.1: Conduct regular community engagement through a visitor feedback program.
Tactic 4.2.1.1: Provide opportunities for continuous feedback from visitors, including drop boxes at the Center, a comment box on the GCC website, and a periodic survey.
Tactic 4.2.1.2: Train staff in customer service and ensure they are friendly and approachable for visitors to provide them with feedback.
Objective 4.1: Increase and improve transparency and
community awareness of the Community Center within
24 months of full reopening.
47 Goal 5: Achieve
Financial
Sustainability
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48 Objective 5.1: Create a sustainable 5-year funding plan within 24 months of full reopening.
Strategy 5.1.1: Develop a funding model.
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Tactic 5.1.1.1: Assess the revenue potential for different programming and space rental fees.
Tactic 5.1.1.2: Explore tiered pricing structure options that encourage and attract Goleta residents, non-profits, community groups, small businesses, and GCC neighbors to use the Center, including developing agreement schedules that allow small programs to startup and grow within the space.
Tactic 5.1.1.3: Evaluate philanthropic funding opportunities through public and private grant dollars.
Strategy 5.1.2: Generate new revenue.
Tactic 5.1.2.1: Develop a fundraising campaign for the GCC.
Tactic 5.1.2.2: Hire a professional grant writer to research and pursue public and private funding opportunities.
Tactic 5.1.2.3: Explore capital campaigns to raise funds for physical upgrades for the GCC.
Tactic 5.1.2.4: Develop fee schedules for specific program and service offerings, as well as for facility rentals, inclusive of nonprofit, individual, and commercial rates.
Tactic 5.1.2.5: Enable facility users to host weddings and other large celebrations at the GCC.
Tactic 5.1.2.6: Evaluate the opportunity to sell concessions (food, drink, and promotional goods) at the GCC.
Tactic 5.1.2.7 Explore creative ways for accepting donations or other gifts in conformance with City of Goleta policies.
49 Strategy 5.1.3: Increase public awareness and leadership focus on funding.
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Tactic 5.1.3.1: Conduct regular public operations updates to the Parks and Recreation Commission, including an annual presentation.
Tactic 5.1.3.2: Develop a creative way to publicly recognize donors in conformance with City of Goleta policies.
Strategy 5.2.1: Maintain a structurally balanced budget.
Tactic 5.2.1.1: Develop a plan to balance facility and program expenditures and ongoing revenues within five years.
Tactic 5.2.1.2: Scale frequency, volume and size of programming, activities and events to correspond with participant demand in order to avoid unnecessary expenditures.
Tactic 5.2.1.3: Maintain an updated fee schedule that reflects an appropriate level of cost recovery without deterring user participation.
Tactic 5.2.1.4: Minimize staffing costs by utilizing volunteer services where appropriate.
Tactic 5.2.1.5: Explore opportunities to work with other local non-profits on resource sharing.
Objective 5.2: Create a sustainable 5-year budget plan for operational and capital expenditures within 12
months of full reopening.
50 Objective 5.3: Adopt a sustainable reserve policy within 12 months of full reopening.
Strategy 5.3.1: Maintain a contingency reserve of 33% of operating expenditures.
CITY OF GOLETA Page 28
Tactic 5.3.1.1: Build a strong reserve balance annually by redirecting any unused expenditure allocations to a reserve fund.
51 Objective
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are quantifiable measures that will allow the GCC operator to track progress toward achieving the strategic plan objectives. By regularly monitoring KPIs and using the action plan (
Appendix E), the operator can stay on track for achieving the objectives and goals over three to five years. Given the change in operator, a lack of existing data for these specific measures, and the temporary closure of the GCC, these KPIs will need to be baselined following the full reopening and reestablishment of programing.
TimeframeMeasures
1.1 Create a
culturally
welcoming space
for all community
members
X% increase in diversity of art
X% increase in the number of art
exhibits/events
Staff demographics are representative
of community demographics
X% increase in the number of applicants
who are bilingual
X% increase in the number of
professional development and training
opportunities for Community Center
staff
X% increase in diverse users and/or
visitors
X% percent of Community Center
communications are bilingual
Baseline for the first
12 months.
Reach KPI targets
within 24 months.
Key Performance
Indicators
CITY OF GOLETA Page 29
1.2 Improve the
physical aesthetic
of the facility
X% increase in new visitors
X% increase in repeat visitors
Baseline for the first
12 months.
Reach KPI targets
within 24 months.
1.3 Upgrade the
Center’s
functionality and
create community-
focused,
intentional spaces
X% increase in new and repeat users
Increase in new programming areas due
to functional upgrades (i.e.
programming/events that use
commercial-grade kitchen, etc.)
Baseline for the first
12 months.
Reach KPI targets
within 5 years.
52 Objective TimeframeMeasures
1.4 Improve the
physical security
of the facility
X% decrease in the number of security
incidents
X% decrease in the number of injuries at
the GCC
X% decrease in the number of claims
filed
Baseline for the first
6 months.
Reach KPI targets
within 12 months.
CITY OF GOLETA Page 30
2.1 Ensure the
Community Center
operates
efficiently and
effectively
X% increase in visitor satisfaction with
facility offerings, policies, fees,
processes year over year
X% of strategic plan milestones
achieved on time
Baseline for the first
12 months.
Track target KPIs
each year for 5
years.
2.2 Ensure the
Community Center
is providing the
best customer
experience
X% of staff have customer service
experience or training
X% increase in visitor satisfaction with
facility offerings, policies, fees,
processes year over year
Baseline for the first
12 months.
Reach KPI targets
within 5 years.
3.1 Ensure
programming and
services are
accessible and
equitable for all
X% increase in the number of monthly
visitors
X% increase in the
diversity/representation of program
participants
Baseline for the first
12 months.
Reach KPI targets
within 18 months.
3.2 Grow program
participation
X% increase in program and service
participation
X% increase in the number of monthly
visitors
X% increase in percentage of classroom
utilization (monthly)
X% increase in percentage of overall
building utilization (monthly)
Baseline for the first
12 months.
Reach KPI targets
within 36 months.
53 Objective TimeframeMeasures
3.3 Partner with
community
organizations and
businesses to
provide a diverse
variety of
programming,
events, and
services
X% increase in the number of community
partners using the facility to host
programs
X% increase in the number of programs
or services offered
X% increase in the diversity of types of
programs and services offered
X% increase in demand for programs
and services at the Center
X% increase in funding for programs and
services at the center
Baseline for the first
9 months.
Reach KPI targets
within 18 months.
CITY OF GOLETA Page 31
4.1 Increase and
improve
transparency and
community
awareness of the
Community Center
X% increase in the number of views of
Community Center website content
X% increase in engagement on social
media
X% increase in the number of monthly
visitors
Baseline for the first
12 months.
Reach KPI targets
within 24 months.
4.2 Maintain an
understanding of
community wants
and needs for the
Center
X% increase in visitors and program
participants year over year
Baseline for the first
12 months.
Track target KPI each
year for 5 years.
5.1 Create a
sustainable 5-year
funding plan
X% increase in funds raised
X% increase in funds in reserve
X% increase in number of donors
Diversity of revenue streams (No single
revenue makes up more than X%)
X% increase in number of grants pursued
Baseline for the first
12 months.
Reach KPI targets
within 24 months.
5.2 Create a
sustainable 5-year
budget plan for
operational and
capital
expenditures
Ensure revenues meet or exceed
expenditures
Within the first 12
months.
5.3 Adopt a
sustainable reserve
policy
Ensure ongoing reserves total 33% of
operating expenditures
Within the first 12
months.
54 Appendices
55 GCC Strategic Plan Working Group Members:
Sarah Dent
Student; Former Youth Parks and Recreation Commissioner Lanny Ebenstein
GVCC Board Representative; Lecturer in Economics at UCSB Danny Fitzgibbons
Executive Director, Equalitech; Goleta Union School District Teacher Lori Lander Goodman
Executive Director, IVYP/LEAP: Learn. Engage. Advocate. Partner.
James Kyriaco
Goleta City Councilmember, District 2
Pedro Paz
Chair, Public Engagement Commission
Luz Reyes-Martín
Goleta City Councilmember, District 1
Graciela (Chely) Rodriguez
Community Resident and Past Parks and Recreation Commissioner; Educator at Adelante Charter School
We thank you for
your continued
support for the
Goleta Community
Center!
CITY OF GOLETA Page 33
Appendix A
56 Community Center Function Contracted
Management
City
Management
Facility Operations & Staffing X X
Partner for Program & Service Provision X X
Manage Rental Agreements for Programs & Events X X
Manage Lease Agreements with Preschools X X
Marketing & Communications X X
Building & Campus Maintenance by City X
Management of Pickleball Courts, Fields, & Future MOT Site by City X Oversight of Organizational Performance by City X
Parks & Recreation Office Location X
The Goleta City Council will be determining the future management model for the Goleta Community Center in 2023. They will be deciding between Contracted Management , which would place some Community Center functions under the management of a contracted organization, and City Management options :
CITY OF GOLETA Page 34
Appendix B
57 CITY OF GOLETA Page 35
Appendix B
The most popular community center operating model in the U.S. is one where facilities are owned and run by local government Parks & Recreation Departments with department-run programming and after-school programming. Many of these centers collaborate with local nonprofit and for- profit organizations to provide additional programming and services, serving as a central space for social welfare services and educational and recreational classes and programs alike. The most successful of these centers have a diversified funding model, including funding from the local government budget; federal, state, and philanthropic grants; rental fees from organizations hosting programming in the space; rental fees for one-time event space; and, occasionally, individual membership payment models (particularly for those providing gym or pool space).
The Goleta Community Center leadership should proactively partner with service organizations to engage and connect the community in a meaningful way. The leadership is responsible for maintaining the facility, providing programming, communicating with the public, and responding to changing community needs.
The Goleta Community Center should have an advisory board that is diverse and representative of the community. The Parks and Recreation Commission would serve this role under City management. Under contracted management, the operating organization’s board of directors would serve this role, as well as present regular updates to the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Regardless of which model is chosen, this Strategic Plan is a roadmap for the future operator. The GCC Strategic Planning Working Group has made the following recommendations for facility and organizational management for the eventual GCC operator:
58 AARP
Brown Bag
City of Goleta
Communify
Computers For Families
Cottage Hospital Population Health
County of Santa Barbara
Encina Royale
Farmer’s Market
Foodbank of Santa Barbara County
Gateway Educational Services
Girls Inc.
Goleta Valley Art Association
Goleta Valley Historical Society
Goleta Valley Library
Goleta Union School District
Hope School District
LEAP
Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County
Los Promotores
Maravilla
Mi Vida, Mi Voz
Mujeres Markets
NAACP Santa Barbara
Northstar Digital Assessments/Equalitech
QueWedta Dance Academy
Santa Barbara 211
SBCC Adult Education
Santa Barbara County Arts Commission
Santa Barbara Film Festival
Santa Barbara Unified School District
SFSP
Stowe House
UCSB Arts & Lectures Program
United Boys and Girls Club Goleta Clubhouse
Vitalant
Waldorf/other independent schools
Youth Makers Market
Potential Organizations for GCC Partnership Opportunities:
CITY OF GOLETA Page 36
Appendix C
59 Staff Outreach & Recruitment Plan
Accessibility Improvement Plan
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Accessibility (DEIBA) Plan Capital Improvement Project and Funding Plan for the MOT Site Security Assessment & Improvement Plan
Operations Plan, to include
Rental policies
Fee schedule
Performance management
Outreach & Marketing Plan, to include
Programs, services, and events marketing and community outreach Marketing and partnership strategies for
Nonprofit partners
For-profit partners
Regional & national organizations
5-Year Sustainable Funding Plan
5-Year Budget Plan
Sustainable Reserve Policy
The following plans are listed as tactics within this strategic plan:
CITY OF GOLETA Page 37
Appendix D
60 Annual Action Planning Template
On the following page is a template for an annual action plan. The annual action plan is a tool that allows staff to break down tactics into discrete action steps and monitor the status and timing of those actions through completion of each tactic. This tool is meant to be used frequently to monitor and track progress. It is an internal tool; it is expected to be flexible for the users and updated to align with the plan status at any given time.
This template is designed to promote data integrity through consistent formatting and entry. Each field is defined and formatted for the appropriate information. Each tactic within the strategic plan will have an individual action plan sheet and all of the actions will also be mapped in a gantt chart, organized by deadline.
It is important to note that not every tactic will have action items in each year of the plan. While many will be started and some completed in year one (within one year of full reopening), there will also be other tactics that do not start or are not completed until subsequent years.
The Excel file of the Action Planning Template will be provided to the GCC operator.
CITY OF GOLETA Page 38
Appendix E
61 CITY OF GOLETA Page 39
Appendix E
62 CITY OF GOLETA Page 40
Appendix F
2022-23 Community Survey
2023 Student Survey
2023 Program Provider Survey
The 2020 A&A Community Survey and Focus Groups Summary under Attachment 1 The 2022-23 Community Survey Results
The 2023 Student Survey Results
The 2023 Program Provider Survey Results
The summary findings of the following community engagement efforts can be found on the next few pages.
You can find the full survey results at the provided links below. 63 Community-Wide GCC
Vision Survey Summary
People are excited for the revitalization of the GCC, were grateful for the opportunity to give feedback, and want to see more programs, services, classes, and events at the Center.
An upgraded facility and spaces (while maintaining the historical character), a consistent calendar of programming, and available rental space and equipment are most important to respondents’ future experience at the GCC.
Over 70% of respondents identified classes as the most important programming to them, while over 60% identified community events, and over 40% identified social services.
Senior programs, dance classes, pickleball, and rollerskating were identified as desired programming trends in the comments.
Over 61% of respondents are most interested in senior programming, while over 50% want to see both adult programming and cross-generational programming.
Over 70% of respondents prefer to receive information about activities at the GCC via email, and almost 65% said they prefer to check the website with an event calendar. Spanish- speaking respondents were less likely to want to use the website as it is currently only available in English.
Over 80% of respondents said they prefer to provide feedback on the GCC in an annual survey.
Almost 90% of respondents would drive to get to the GCC, though there is growing excitement to bike there with the upcoming redesign of Hollister Avenue.
A new community-wide survey was conducted in both English and Spanish from December 12, 2022 to January 13, 2023. The c ommunity-wide survey collected 658 responses digitally and on paper surveys.
We collected both quantitative and qualitative insights from the survey questions and a large number of “other” responses and additional comments. Respondents were allowed to select more than one option for many questions, so percentages often do not add up to 100%.
Demographics
Of the 658 respondents, 21.8% live in District 2 and 7.5% live in Old Town, specifically. 36.2% of respondents were over the age of 65, while 28.7% have children under the age of 18 in the household. Only 10.9% of respondents speak Spanish is their preferred language.
Summary Insights
64 The most popular time for GCC programming was identified as afternoons and evenings, followed closely by weekends. Many respondents noted that their available time to go to the GCC would be flexible if there were more programs and activities that they wanted to attend.
Summary of open-ended comments at the end of the survey:
People overwhelmingly indicated they would come to the GCC more frequently if there was more programming AND if they knew about it.
People want more senior programming, including:
Line Dancing, Tai Chi, Zumba Fitness, Lunch Program, and Computer Literacy.
There is a great love of pickleball in the community, with players wanting more courts and more free-play hours.
There is strong community support for r ental rates that are affordable for non-profit programs and space rentals.
There is a strong indication that Goleta n eeds a community space for rollerskating.
There is a strong desire for adult education classes, potentially partnering with SBCC.
There is an indication that there is a n eed for a more welcoming environment for the Hispanic community, bilingual programming, and Spanish-speaking gatherings. 65 4th - 12th Grade Student
Vision Survey Summary
In addition to a community-wide survey, a survey for Goleta school students in the 4th through 12th grades was also conducted in both English and Spanish in January 2023. The survey collected 62 responses on student priorities for the GCC.
We collected both quantitative and qualitative insights from the survey questions. Respondents were allowed to select more than one option for many questions, so percentages often do not add up to 100%.
Demographics
All grade levels were represented in the survey
respondents, with 4th graders having the highest
representation, followed closely by 10th
graders.
Almost 45% of respondents attend Dos Pueblos,
but students also responded from Kellogg, La
Patera, Mountain View, Ellwood, Brandon,
Foothill, San Marcos, Isla Vista, La Colina, and
Hollister schools.
Over 50% of students indicated that their favorite activities outside of school are sports and video games. Over 40% indicated outdoor activities and art, each. "Other" responses included karate, swimming, gymnastics, automotive mechanics, faith collective, mock trial, photography, acting, writing, skating, football, Beat the Streets wrestling, and going to the library.
The most popular responses for what the students would like to try but haven't been able to yet were:
Art classes and activities, such as painting, pottery, and ceramics; Adventure activities, such as rock climbing, sky diving, deep sea diving, and paragliding; Learning to play a musical instrument;
Volleyball; and
Youth parkour.
Over 66% of the students who answered the survey had been to the Goleta Community Center before, and 87% said they could be interested in participating in the above listed activities at the GCC.
Summary Insights
66 Program Provider
Survey Summary
Finally, we conducted a survey with local program providers, service providers, and nonprofits, to better understand their programming needs and potential interest in using the GCC facility to host programs and services. This survey was distributed via email listservs in January of 2023.
Demographics
Only eight (8) providers responded to the survey, but they represented programs across the healthcare, education, social services, family services, and arts and culture spaces. Five (5) of the eight (8) respondents had previously hosted programming in the GCC facility.
Survey respondents identified their greatest challenges to providing programming to include finding affordable, accessible space; funding; transportation barriers; internet access barriers; and workforce recruitment.
50% of respondents currently have a consistent and quality space for their programming.
Of those who had previously provided programming at the GCC facility, the main reason for leaving was the space lacked what they needed, including reliable internet, quality and clean rooms, and an ability to secure a space for ongoing rather than one-time programming.
Seven (7) of the providers indicated interest in providing some form of programming at the GCC in the future if the following items can be provided:
Low- or no-cost rental agreements;
Reliable internet;
Space and furniture for facilitating group workshops;
Parking space; and
Space for consistent, repeat programming or drop-in services.
Summary Insights
67