Goleta Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem will attend Regional Water Board meeting to discuss sewage spill settlement

GOLETA, Calif. (KEYT) Goleta City Council Members heard the city manager give a presentation on of a million gallon sewage spill over Presidents Day weekend in February of 2024.

They also heard public comments from members of the Goleta West Sanitary District.

The sewage spill was caused by a ruptured pipeline.

It wasn't detected right away and became the largest sewage spill in Santa Barbara County history.

State regulators have proposed a $1.55 million dollar settlement with the Goleta West Sanitary District, but environmental groups including Channelkeeper and several elected leaders don't think that is sufficient.

Mayor Pro Tempore Jennifer Smith talked about the issue before Tuesday's presentation.

"Myself, Mayor Paula Perotte and Supervisor Laura Capps, we submitted a letter directly to the Water Control Board to say we don't think this proposed settlement of the issue is sufficient. We want to see accountability. This is the biggest spill in the history of the county and there was major communication problems that happened and that caused the spill to be worse," said Smith, "So, we really want to see accountability for the control board to use their own metrics, under their own metrics we don't think the fine is sufficient and we also want to be sure these communication snafus don't happen in the future we need to trust that the sanitary district has the leaders and staff that will communicated appropriately when these situations happen."

It took 14 hours to stop the sewage spill that impacted the Goleta Slough State Marine Conservation Area, a tributary leading to a creek and the ocean.

Signs went up closing Goleta Beach about a week after the spill and the beach closure lasted for more than three weeks.

Supervisors Laura Capps went to the beach to warn people to get out of the water and wash up.

The fine could cover the cost of an environmental project.

"It would be for the Goleta West Sanitary District to cope with the fine, there is also a proposal for a project for them to undertake and we simply ask that the project have some nexus to the damage caused, some nexus to the Goleta Slough, the Goleta Beach and you know to have some connection to what actually transpired," said Smith.

Councilmember James Kyriaco's made the motion that passed four to one on Tuesday night.

He said It authorizes Mayor Perotte and Mayor Pro Tempore Smith to speak on behalf of the city at the upcoming Central Coast Regional Water Board meeting.

Kyriaco said they will express the need for better pipeline safety practices and call for an action plan and better communication with the city and residents about future spills.

Luz Reyes-Martin was the only no vote.

Councilmembers learned there has been one smaller spill since the large one they discussed.

One Goleta West Sanitary District staff said they attending their own regular meeting before making public comments at the Goleta City Council Meeting.

When asked they said the spill impacted an estimated 39,500 customers including about 20,000 Goleta residents.

State Water Board members will determine what the fine will be and how the money will be used at a public meeting in San Luis Obispo on February 26th and 27th.

Goleta leaders would like the money spend on improvements locally.

Goleta West Sanitary District representatives said aging pipes will need to be replaced in five years at the cost of about $10 million.