ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND REVITALIZATION
STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING
October 12, 2026
2:30-4:00 PM
City Hall – Conference Room 1
130 Cremona Drive, Suite B
Goleta, California
Councilmember Luz Reyes-Martín
Councilmember James Kyriaco
Robert Nisbet, City Manager
Jaime Valdez, Assistant City Manager
Shannon Kirn, Assistant to the City Manager
Blake Markum, Management Analyst
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AGENDA
I. Public Comment (5 Minutes)
II. FY 2026/27 Economic Development Strategic Plan Initiatives (20 Minutes) III. Goleta Train Station Display Kiosks (10 Minutes)
IV. Next Committee Meeting – January 12, 2027 at 3:30pm (5 Minutes)
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: October 12, 2026
TO: Economic Development & Revitalization Standing Committee FROM: Jaime A. Valdez, Assistant City Manager
CONTACT: Shannon Kirn, Assistant to the City Manager
Blake Markum, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: October 12, 2026, Economic Development & Revitalization Standing Committee Meeting
ITEM I. Public Comment (5 Minutes)
ITEM II. FY 2026-27 Economic Development Strategic Plan Initiatives (20 Minutes)
RECOMMENDATION
Provide feedback on the proposed Economic Development Strategic Plan initiatives for Fiscal Year 2026-27.
BACKGROUND
At its July 14, 2026, meeting, the Committee reviewed the proposed FY 2026-27 economic development initiatives and requested that staff return with additional information regarding the South Coast Chamber of Commerce's (Chamber) data analysis proposal and an updated funding allocation.
The Committee also discussed establishing a process to review available funding and economic development priorities approximately three months before the end of each fiscal year.
At the September 22, 2026, meeting, the Committee reviewed and provided feedback on the revised FY 2026-27 economic development initiatives. Review of the Chamber’s proposal was continued to a subsequent meeting.
DISCUSSION
The Chamber’s full proposal containing additional details on the new Economic Development Foundation as well as each of their proposed budget items is included as Attachment 1. Table 1 below summarizes the proposed allocation of funding for economic development initiatives in FY 2026-27. No changes have been made since the September meeting.
Table 1. FY 2026-27 Proposed Allocation Summary
Imperative and Initiative July 2026
$ Estimate
Sept 2026
$ Estimate
Potential
Partner(s)
Old Town and Community Activation:
Meet Me in Old Town $45,000 $45,000 Chamber
Technology and Innovation:
TechTopia $15,000 $17,000 Chamber
Technology and Innovation:
Equity investment fund - needs
assessment and research
$10,000 $40,000 Finance,
Consultant
Supporting Local Businesses:
User fee/permitting process review $20,000 $20,000 Finance, PW, NS, PER Depts Partnerships and Entrepreneur
Support:
Coordination with local partners to
improve support to new firms and
entrepreneurs
Staff Time Staff Time Chamber, UCSB
Quantitative measures and software:
Data analysis, Online Business Directory $40,000 $28,000 Chamber, BluDot Strategic Opportunities Staff Time Staff Time
Chamber, Visit
Santa Barbara,
UCSB, BEAM,
REACH
Contingency 20,000 -
Total $150,000 $150,000
Chamber Proposal Items
• Meet Me in Old Town – Partner with the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce to continue the serious of Meet Me in Old Town summer events in 2027.
These events work to enhance the experience of Goleta for both residents and visitors by leveraging Old Town’s unique historical and cultural identity by having a regularly
occurring branded event centered around Old Town. Events will be scheduled in summer 2027, potentially coinciding with the Women’s World Cup. • Technology and Innovation – Staff would continue partnering with the Chamber on the TechTopia campaign and related outreach efforts intended to strengthen Goleta's reputation as a center for innovation and technology. Recent discussions have focused on increasing awareness of local career opportunities and strengthening connections between local employers, educational institutions, and the future workforce. The preliminary September estimate is $18,000, compared with $15,000 presented in July. • Quantitative measures and software – Data analysis – The data analysis component proposes a $25,000 partnership to develop and maintain a shared baseline of timely and reliable economic data to help Goleta and other South Coast cities track economic trends, inform priorities, and support policy decisions. For Goleta, the proposal would include monthly coordination with City staff to review and analyze relevant economic data, as well as participation in Committee meetings to present and discuss key trends.
Instead of purchasing its own subscription to a location intelligence and customer analytics platform, the City would have access to similar reports and analysis through this agreement with the Chamber.
NEXT STEPS
Staff welcomes the Committee's feedback on the proposed FY 2026-27 work efforts. Staff will use this feedback to guide implementation of the Plan during the upcoming fiscal year and continue to provide periodic updates as implementation progresses.
In preparation for implementation, staff has also considered the appropriate contracting structure for the proposed services. The Chamber has proposed shifting from the current project-by- project contract structure to a single comprehensive professional services contract encompassing all proposed work including organization of the Meet me in Old Town Events, administration of the TechTopia branding and marketing campaign, and delivery of economic data.
Per the Goleta Municipal Code Section 3.05 Article IV – Professional Services, contracts for professional services in excess of $45,000 are required to follow a request for proposal (RFP) process. For contracts under this threshold, it is suggested that departments contact a minimum of three consultants/firms before awarding a contract, in addition to the other guidelines set by City purchasing code.
If the City wishes to execute a single contract for all services the Chamber has proposed, the purchasing code would require staff to seek additional quotes or proposals and the City Council to approve the contract. Staff recommends continuing with separate project-by-project contracts for the proposed services in FY 2026-27. This structure allows the City to contract for and authorize payment for each project individually while maintaining the existing procurement requirements and oversight.
If the Committee is interested in exploring a different procurement structure, staff can evaluate options at the end of FY 2026-27 in preparation for the following fiscal year. This would provide
an opportunity to assess the appropriate contract structure and complete any necessary procurement process in advance of implementation.
ITEM III. Goleta Train Station Display Kiosks (10 Minutes)
RECOMMENDATION
Provide feedback on the use of the display kiosks at the Goleta Train Station.
BACKGROUND
Construction of the Goleta Train Station (Station) began in September 2024. The project constructs a new multi-modal train station adjacent to the existing Amtrak platform at South La Patera Lane. The newly constructed full-service station improves connections to bus transit, University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), and adds new bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
The Station includes a rentable meeting room, a bike storage room and exterior bicycle racks, an undeveloped space for café concessions, spacious outdoor plazas, ample parking, including electric vehicle (EV) charging, and a solar-generating roof. Other amenities include free Wi-Fi, device charging stations, tables and chairs, and food and beverage vending along with a bottlefilling station. The design also includes six (6) interior display kiosks and two (2) outdoor display kiosks.
On April 21, 2026, the Council adopted nine (9) policies to guide the operation of the Station including a display and exhibit policy and an advertising policy. The display and exhibit policy provides guidelines and criteria on how materials are selected to display. The advertising policy outlines allowable locations and appropriate content in commercial and promotional signage.
At the City Council meeting on September 15, 2026, the City Council received a presentation on the operations of the Station which included near-term potential revenue generating options including advertising space.
DISCUSSION
The Station represents an entirely new type of venture for the City. It will serve as an entry and departure point to the City for residents, commuters, visitors, and students. The café concessions area, outdoor plazas, seating areas, and publicly accessible Wi-Fi are designed to be inviting and accommodating. Additionally, unlike other City facilities such as the Goleta Community Center or Goleta Valley Library which both have strongly established programmatic purposes, the Station is not anticipated to host programs and will instead invite more organic community use of the space. With these ideas in mind, the purpose of this item is to discuss potential uses for the kiosks at the Station.
There are several potential options to consider including:
1. City displays and public service announcements: The kiosks could be used to promote City initiatives and programs, informational displays, and other public service announcements.
2. Displays from local organizations/nonprofits: The City could also engage with local organizations and nonprofits to curate and manage displays in accordance with the adopted display and exhibit policy. The policy outlines the process for individuals or organizations to request a display, and the City’s guidelines and approval process.
3. Advertisements: Staff has taken cues from the Santa Barbara Airport (Airport) which operates as an enterprise fund for the City of Santa Barbara. The Airport contracts with an advertising concessionaire who is granted non-exclusive advertising rights to ad space at the Airport in exchange for a portion of the ad revenue generated. This revenue source is fed back into the Airport enterprise fund to be used for general operating costs.
Staff has considered a similar arrangement at the Station to help offset the operating costs.
NEXT STEPS
Staff welcomes the Committee's feedback on the use of the display kiosks at the Goleta Train Station. Staff will work on implementation based on the Committee’s feedback and will return to the City Council for approval of contracts as appropriate.
ITEM IV. Next Committee Meeting – January 12, 2027, at 3:30pm (5 Minutes) ATTACHMENTS:
1. Chamber’s Economic Development Proposal
ATTACHMENT 1
Chamber’s Economic Development Proposal
Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce
Proposed Implementation Strategy for City of Goleta Economic Development Strategic Plan FY 26-27
Opening paragraph:
The Santa Barbara Economic Development Foundation was launched to create a mechanism for the first public-private partnership to address economic development on the South Coast of Santa Barbara County. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) and is integral to the Chamber's 2026-2030 Strategic Plan builds upon the current TechTopia initiative, attract grants and philanthropic investment, and strengthens public-private partnerships to support regional growth.
Our local economy has changed significantly over the past 40 years, and the pace of that change has only accelerated recently. Meeting this moment requires a level of public-private partnership and economic development activity the South Coast hasn't undertaken before.
The Foundation's model is built on formal contracts with each of the three cities we serve - Goleta, Santa Barbara, and Carpinteria. While programs already exist with each city individually, we're moving toward a more comprehensive contract structure with each partner, enabling consistent, connected work that creates economic impact throughout the South Coast.
These contracts are what create a true public-private partnership: each city can hold a seat on the board, with governance structured to serve the work and the people it's meant to benefit.
An October 1st start date is critical to keeping this contract on track. With the July 1st fiscal year, we continue to execute contracts mid-year and we are eager to start this important work. October 1st gives an opportunity to make real progress before the holidays. This timing gives us a solid stretch of Q4 to get the data-oriented portion of the work underway. We're asking all three cities for contracts that start by October 1st.
Background
On June 27, 2023, the Goleta City Council unanimously adopted the new, five-year Economic Development Strategic Plan. This plan provides a roadmap to guide the City’s efforts to support the business community and create a sustainable Goleta economy for all. The Plan was developed by key community and business leaders in response to a more than a yearlong robust community and stakeholder engagement process.
This 5-year plan was meant to be executed through the end of 2028. The Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce and other members of the core planning team, which helped to shape the plan, have expressed our concerns regarding executing the plans various imperatives and strategies within the 5-year timeframe.
Below is the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber’s proposal for a FY26-27 economic development budget aimed at accelerating the implementation of the Economic Development Strategic Plan.
Item Funding
Amount
Imperative Strategy
Meet Me in Old Town $45,000 Enhance the
experience of
Goleta for both
residents and
visitors by
leveraging Old
Town’s unique
historical and
cultural identity and
investing in district
placemaking.
Activating Old Town Goleta
through community events
and partnerships
Innovation and
Technology Branding –
continue improving local
awareness of the value of
the technology industry in
Goleta
$25,000 Amplify the
reputation of Goleta
as a world-class
center of innovation
and technology.
Support marketing and
branding campaigns
designed to position Goleta
as a technology and
innovation hub.
Workforce Pipeline and
Industry/Education
program
- Industry/Education
Internship Program
- Career fair
- Workforce
Connection Dinner
- BEAM
$25,000 City financial
support for the
Chamber’s
workforce
development
efforts to support
career pathway
opportunities (in
these industries) for
historically
marginalized
populations would
lead to more Goleta
residents achieving
careers that lead
directly to a living
wage in our region.
Improve access to
economic opportunity by
increasing the availability of
livable-wage jobs and
enhancing support for local
BIPOC and women-owned
small businesses and
entrepreneurs.
Data Research
Management and
Coordination
$25,000 The Foundations
goal to have
reliable, up-to-date
data is foundational
to several of the
City’s Strategic
Plan's core
imperatives,
including amplifying
Goleta's reputation
as a center of
innovation and
technology, to
improving access to
economic
opportunity for
BIPOC and womenowned businesses,
to strengthening
City government's
support for local
businesses and
economic
development
stakeholders.
Without consistent data
collection and reporting,
the City lacks the tools to
measure progress against
these imperatives,
benchmark outcomes, and
make the kind of informed,
targeted investments the
Economic Development
Strategic Plan calls for.
Item Narratives
• Meet Me in Old Town – Partner with the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce to continue the serious of Meet Me in Old Town summer events in 2027. These events work to enhance the experience of Goleta for both residents and visitors by leveraging Old Town’s unique historical and cultural identity by having a regularly occurring branded event centered around Old Town. Events will be scheduled in summer 2027, potentially coinciding with the Women’s World Cup.
• Innovation and Technology Branding – To support marketing and branding campaigns designed to position Goleta as the premier technology and innovation hub under the Chamber’s TechTopia brand which covers the entire South Coast region. Funding would be used for educational and promotional videos that highlight the nascent startup community and nationally competitive technology and innovation sectors (such as photonics, infrared, quantum computing, bio-med, software, nanotech, and defense/space) that Goleta is home to. This proposal would continue a plan for targeted Council and staff tours of a Goleta business, laboratory, research space, etc. all aimed at providing the City Council and staff a first-hand experience at what some of the businesses create and the wide variety of jobs and economic impact they have. City of Goleta would be recognized as a presenting sponsor of the 2027 TechTopia Summit.
Deliverables:
o City Presenting Sponsor of 2027 TechTopia Summit
o Four (4) Council Tours FY 26-27
• Workforce Pipeline and Industry/Education program – Convene and connect local industry to education for the purpose of creating a workforce pipeline for underserved communities into growing industries in our region. Funding would support an annual workforce connection dinner, the research and planning for the first South Coast Career Fair, industry internship programs and support of BEAM (Business Empowerment and Mentorship). The Chamber will continue to work closely with Partners in Education on connecting industry and education.
Deliverables:
o Promo code for Goleta Business License holders to attend BEAM workshops for free o Presenting Sponsor of Workforce Connection Dinner 2027 • Data and Research – The Foundation's plan is to gather timely, relevant, and high-quality business and economic data. One opportunity with Goleta could be co-managing the City's current Buxton subscription and working alongside its sales tax consultant to translate that data into a digestible format that helps drive policy decisions. While each City has unique highs and lows in their economy and different industry sectors that drive their local economy they do all have a common need for baseline economic data from which to measure forward progress or not. Up to now, various groups and agencies provide data points according to their perspective and availability, but the foundations goal to have the public-private partnership own a set of baseline data from which to create strategy, decide on priorities and improve the public narrative. Working closely with City staff to watch for signals in our shared data will be critical to helping business in Goleta.
Deliverables:
o Monthly meeting with City staff to gather and analyze key data points as they relate to the City of Goleta
o Participation in each City of Goleta Economic Development Subcommittee meeting to help present and discuss relevant data
Payment
The Foundation is proposing a shift from the past project-by-project payment structure to a onetime payment schedule. This approach provides the working capital needed to mobilize the nonprofit-led project team and sustain implementation, while still preserving monthly transparency, City review, and audit rights. As an alternative, we could structure payments across two installments — one in October and one in January.