Mayor of Goleta presents State of City address

GOLETA, Calif. – The Dos Pueblos High School Jazz Band performed as people arrived for the Goleta Community State of City.

The address returned to the Goleta Community Center for the first time in 2 years, following seismic improvements.

Visitors noticed fresh paint and flooring.

Community Relations Manager Kelly Hoover said it was hands down Goleta's biggest night of the year.

"It is a chance for us to explain like how the city's finances are going and what projects are coming and all the things we have accomplished," said Hoover. "So, it is a really fun night for staff to really inform the public about what is happening and to have an audience that is very interested in hearing about what is going on. " 

Hoover made sure there was music inside the community center, too, provided Andrew Manos.

City leaders and locals had a chance to mingle before the mayor and city manager spoke.

Resident Robert Voorhees said he liked the interaction you don't get everyday.

Mayor Paula Perotte talked about the challenges but said she wants people to know the city is strong in many ways.

Perotte said one of the best measurements is that people want to live and work in Goleta.

She said businesses want to expand.

City Manager Robert Nisbet said there are three ways the city covers its expenses.

They include property taxes, hotel transient occupancy taxes and sales taxes.

Nisbet showed graphs showing how the incomes of all three fell flat.

However he went on to say that the voter approved Measure B has been picking up the slack.

The measure adds a penny on every dollar in sales tax.

That could amount to $11 million a year.

Nisbet also talked about the importance of preventing pedestrian and bike fatalities with a net zero goal.

And he said Project Connect will connect Old Town Goleta to other parts the city in the future with about 15 years of planned road improvements that include roundabouts.

A question and answer period followed, with questions ranging from how cannabis dispensaries locations are chosen to the promise of another fire station that still needs funding.

The mayor also mentioned the return of the Ellwood Monarchs.

The butterflies, that inspired the city logo, have given the city a moment in the sun thanks to international attention.