Topics Include: Housing Authority Presentation, General Plan Amendment Initiation, General Plan and Title 17 Amendments, Density Bonus Guidelines, Goleta Valley Library Proposed Design and City Public Art Policy

We hope you will join us for the Goleta City Council meeting this Tuesday, August 19th at 5:30 p.m. (closed session begins at 4:30 p.m.). We encourage you to come in-person to Council Chambers, watch live, or participate via Zoom. Directions for how to do so can be found below.

Items on the agenda include:

• The City Council will receive a presentation from the Housing Authority of Santa Barbara County (HASBARCO) on the current status of their activities and projects in and around the City of Goleta. HASBARCO functions primarily to build, acquire, own, manage and maintain residential rental units for persons of very low and low income and to obtain rent payment assistance for similar households renting in the private market. The City partners with HASBARCO for affordable housing monitoring and provides funding assistance to the Buena Tierra Permanent Supportive Housing located in Old Town Goleta. Read the staff report and view the presentation here: https://tinyurl.com/3e659zvd.
  
  
• The Council will hold a public hearing to consider initiation of a General Plan Amendment for 421, 425, and 445 Pine Avenue to change the Land Use Designation from General Commercial (C-G) to Business Park (I-BP). The property is part of Goleta Business Park, which consists of five buildings with two different land use designations. The applicant is requesting a unified land use designation for Goleta Business Park. The staff report is available at https://tinyurl.com/2t466e75. 
  
  
• The City Council will hold a public hearing on Amendments to the General Plan and Title 17 (Zoning) to satisfy state law requirements. The proposed amendments to the General Plan focus on the Safety Element, Open Space Element, and Environmental Justice. Minor updates to Title 17 (Zoning) of the Goleta Municipal Code are proposed to help align with the proposed changes to the General Plan. View the staff report at https://tinyurl.com/yc44ss9d.
  
  
• The Council will discuss adopting the City of Goleta Density Bonus Guidelines. The City’s draft guidelines outline existing submittal requirements, permit procedures, and processing timelines. The proposed Density Bonus Guidelines reflect current state law and clarify how the City implements California Government Code 65915 to process applications for housing projects seeking benefits under density bonus regulations. Read the staff report here: https://tinyurl.com/4zmdn4cu.
  
  
• The Council will receive a presentation on the proposed design for the Goleta Valley Library ADA, Safety, and Building Improvements Project and consider authorizing advertising of the construction bid. The City received a $4.2M Building Forward Library Facilities Improvement Program grant (Grant) in October 2023 from the California State Library to make several infrastructure improvements to the Goleta Valley Library. In addition to the Grant-covered work, the City’s Neighborhood Services Department has commissioned JMAD to provide conceptual interior design services. The staff report and design presentation can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/4xxb57w5.
  
  
• The City Council will consider and provide feedback on a draft City Public Art Policy. The City currently lacks a formal public art policy for acquiring or accepting loaned and donated artwork, commissioning art in public places, and administering the permitting process for the art installations. This draft policy is meant to provide a framework for a City Public Art Program. After receiving feedback from Council, staff will update the draft Public Art Policy and return to Council with a final policy, resolution, and any other associated items for adoption. View the staff report and draft policy at https://tinyurl.com/c4cuxazw.

For the complete August 19, 2025, City Council agenda, go to: https://tinyurl.com/526yammy.