Four candidates vying for Goleta City Council District 1 and 2 seats cited public safety, affordability, and infrastructure as some of the city’s top issues during a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters at the Goleta Community Center. More than a dozen residents heard from the contenders, which include local business owners Rollin Gartzke and Phebe Mansur, challenging incumbents Luz Reyes-Martín and James Kyriaco for the District 1 and District 2 seats, respectively.
District 1 represents the city’s northeast and Fairview areas, while District 2 encompasses the southeast and Old Town neighborhoods. Candidates discussed a range of topics, including infrastructure, artificial intelligence, public safety, the revenue neutrality agreement, and whether Isla Vista should pursue cityhood.
All candidates identified infrastructure as a primary concern. For District 2, the interim striping project on Hollister Avenue was a prominent issue. Incumbent James Kyriaco emphasized the importance of completing Project Connect, the city’s largest capital improvement project, and then evaluating it for necessary adjustments. He acknowledged that any action would involve tradeoffs, citing back-in angled parking on Hollister Avenue as an example, noting increased off-street parking offsets reduced street parking. Challenger Phebe Mansur's campaign prioritizes "fixing Hollister Avenue" by bringing back four lanes, stating some businesses reported a 75% slowdown in visitor traffic.
In District 1, Rollin Gartzke brought attention to traffic patterns and street light changes in the Fairview and Calle Real areas, and highlighted sidewalks as a top issue, recounting nearly tripping on a sidewalk "raised 2½ inches." Incumbent Luz Reyes-Martín agreed that infrastructure extends beyond pavement, detailing the city’s five-year pavement plan and increased annual investment, while acknowledging that more is still needed.
The Hollister Avenue discussion also extended to District 1 candidates. Reyes-Martín sympathized with struggling businesses but emphasized they are "not the only stakeholder," explaining that Hollister is considered a neighborhood, not just a thoroughfare. She recalled residents' safety concerns regarding the corridor for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists, noting the current configuration resulted from council consideration of these issues. Like Kyriaco, she expressed openness to adjustments based on input from residents and businesses. Gartzke contended that the single lane through Old Town leads to "tremendous backup" when traffic lights are not synchronized, stating that better traffic flow requires not decreasing the number of travel lanes.
Candidates also disagreed on how to assess the backlog of infrastructure projects. Mansur called for "more pragmatism at the city when choosing the projects," criticizing city spending on projects she said benefited those who "don’t even live here," such as the Goleta Train Depot. She argued it is the role of a City Council person to decline what she termed "boutique projects." Gartzke similarly advocated for pausing new projects to focus on maintaining existing infrastructure. Kyriaco countered the characterization of human infrastructure, like the train depot, as "boutique projects," asserting they matter to residents. He also noted that street-related infrastructure remains a city priority, with $10.5 million invested through Measure B, and highlighted that Goleta maintains the second-lowest sales tax for any city in the county. Reyes-Martín stressed the necessity of balancing both short-term maintenance and larger projects like the Goleta Valley Library and train depot.
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in city operations also revealed differing opinions. Kyriaco acknowledged "valid reasons" for AI but cautioned against "unintended consequences" and cybersecurity threats, stating he would not want it near permitting systems. Reyes-Martín raised concerns regarding privacy and environmental impacts. Conversely, Mansur supported integrating AI into the city’s permitting system to "speed up" processes, drawing on her experience at her Old Town business, CopyRight Printing Systems, where AI significantly reduced the time for services like background and fingerprinting. Gartzke, who uses AI for image creation in his business, 805 Pool Table Services, suggested it could "completely cut the costs by getting rid of consulting firms" for plans and designs, but emphasized the need for a review process.
The city’s revenue neutrality agreement, which requires Goleta to perpetually share extra property and sales tax with Santa Barbara County, was another key topic. When asked how to eliminate these provisions, Kyriaco stated it was "the price we paid to become an incorporated city" and advocated for "frank conversations" between city and county staff. Reyes-Martín and Mansur agreed with Kyriaco. Gartzke proposed a negotiation with the county to help fund the construction of Fire Station 10.
Candidates also offered varied stances on cityhood for Isla Vista. The Isla Vista Community Services District is currently funding a fiscal analysis to research if the unincorporated college town could support itself as a city. Kyriaco and Reyes-Martín supported Isla Vista’s right to pursue cityhood, provided it is fair to Goleta and does not result in negative impacts. Reyes-Martín also voiced public safety concerns, noting that Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office deputies, who also serve Goleta, are "burdened" after cuts to the Isla Vista Foot Patrol. Mansur cited financial mismanagement concerns that would need to be addressed before she would support Isla Vista’s cityhood. Gartzke opposed Goleta annexing Isla Vista, suggesting instead it "should be annexed by Santa Barbara." He questioned if the income from Isla Vista’s businesses would generate sufficient revenue to support contracting for police and maintenance services.