[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6481940,"mediaKeyId","5603687-19a5eefb7529378353659e9d68a32b27","parentId",5603687,"title","Housing Authority briefs Goleta council on vouchers, waitlists and new developments","audioSeconds",864,"startMs",2766000,"endMs",3630000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5603687-19a5eefb7529378353659e9d68a32b27&start=2766&end=3630","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5603687-19a5eefb7529378353659e9d68a32b27/thumbnail_2766000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6481940/Goleta/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Housing-Authority-briefs-Goleta-council-on-vouchers-waitlists-and-new-developments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6481940-4c10469126480d7ef7a9395c3e7ab206/orig.mp4?Expires=1775541776&Signature=Eh0QLKsOjoQw6SgeTUkNE4On9R1HNgoviaGdLJbl0tuaEQc5XssvTdsMNnEC0RB2zGE~kgBuTu3OFhmY1iveSznX7iXA9F4IOsNbT4IBOAUfOGyLq3juU0whYyAJ4MmcEAdgoV0FOfdra9gCPHHd-RN5N3SRlL1NU~hHB32~DHiloKzZRuiK0nbfAYQJ8EFXsjmtsCLuU2~9x9mNEMM~PEOaBOYhtBAFEwbZkZdaYvt-ThBn03rs27iyiA9R3FVAlU9phf8Lw0pKBaV2blnOLbOv9dnJRCy9YI0SNVq74JoORDKxqTdnD51Z3GkqgTWUASEmDk-OyEVk6GK4vlR0gQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Goleta, CA","date","2025-08-20T05:56:21.287Z","article","Bob Havlicek, executive director of the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara, gave a state‑of‑operations briefing to the Goleta City Council on Aug. 19, summarizing local voucher work, wait lists, supportive services and upcoming developments in South County.

Havlicek told council members the housing authority serves roughly 3,570 households in the South County area with high occupancy rates and that about a third of households are seniors, a third disabled and a third working families; many residents pay about 30% of their income in rent under project‑based subsidy arrangements. He said the authority manages wait lists: “In the Goleta area we have over 1,100 names on the wait list,” and that demand “far outstrips supply.”

Havlicek discussed federal program funding and near‑term constraints. He said the nationwide housing choice voucher program had seen proposed federal cuts but that congressional appropriators largely rejected deep cuts, so funding remains in place. Still, he said rising market rents have created a structural funding shortfall: the authority is operating at approximately 92% utilization relative to the vouchers it administers, and overall funding for voucher payments is in shortfall. “When you’re in shortfall, the federal government has to find a way to give you more money to make you whole so we don’t have to let anybody go who currently has assistance,” he said, and noted HUD has previously addressed shortfalls but also limits issuance of new vouchers while shortfall persists.

Havlicek described local development activity and partnerships. He said the authority is involved in five new developments slated to begin construction within six to nine months, including two Heritage Ridge projects (a 41‑unit senior project and a special‑needs family project supported by a Homekey award), Hollister Lofts (a 35‑unit homeless‑serving project with 9% tax credits), San Marcos Ranch (236 units, half at 80% area median income), and a 106‑unit project on a Santa Barbara School District site designated for district employees and teachers with a few units for veterans. He said the authority obtained an A+ bond rating from Standard & Poor’s, which will lower interest costs on bond issuances and help finance new development.

On services, Havlicek said the authority operates several site‑based services and partnerships — with Dignity Health, Domestic Violence Solutions, Family Services Agency and others — and has a resident and supportive services director to help preserve housing stability. He described security strategies, including mobile security patrols and CPTED (crime prevention through environmental design). He noted operational details such as a 24‑hour maintenance on‑call service for tenants and a Yardi online portal for applications and landlord interactions.

Council members pressed on voucher usage in Goleta. Council members asked whether voucher holders can lease in Goleta given local market rents; Havlicek explained county payment standards are split by region (South County, San Ynez, North County) and the housing authority coordinates with the City of Santa Barbara housing authority to align standards; he said high local rents make leasing in Goleta more difficult but the agency manages regionally appropriate payment standards. Council members also asked about the authority’s planning for seniors and people with serious behavioral health needs; Havlicek said the authority is actively pursuing projects to serve seniors and employs a hybrid resident‑services model that mixes external service partners and internal supportive‑services staff to bridge gaps.

Havlicek said the housing authority expects to continue seeking targeted vouchers for special populations (veterans, other competitively awarded vouchers) but does not expect a general expansion of the housing choice voucher program in the near term.

Council members thanked Havlicek for the presentation and asked for follow‑up data on the composition of the wait list (percent families vs. single individuals, unit size needs) to inform city planning and housing strategy.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Goleta - City Council Meeting of August 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Bob Havlicek, executive director of the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara, told the Goleta City Council Aug. 19 that the authority serves roughly 3,570 South County households with project‑based vouchers, faces voucher funding shortfalls and has several new developments in the pipeline.","taxTitle","Goleta, Santa Barbara County, California","taxId",57867,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6481944,"Neighbors urge pause after Goleta crews remove trees on Berkeley Road; staff says some removals were for safety",1490,720000,2210000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5603687-19a5eefb7529378353659e9d68a32b27&start=720&end=2210","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5603687-19a5eefb7529378353659e9d68a32b27/thumbnail_720000.jpg","/articles/6481944/Goleta/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Neighbors-urge-pause-after-Goleta-crews-remove-trees-on-Berkeley-Road-staff-says-some-removals-were-for-safety","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6481944-bfc85beb799e1b8e37afe773edb34a52/orig.mp4?Expires=1775541776&Signature=D6tkM3YkNJ5Bsz2ObQOT1Og08mwRqMQouh3xnx8PKQS4GPWKBOmdGDGiDBcB8omC9b9ZnOc4RUUzrUaSyz8ypX8aTwVVDzSX8-iXbUjHmPXN1zqnsUvMvcxxD46xd5qwxyDd2JxE1h7ml-kfkNEafmMW4eig-RtLfqnu70wrUd1iRJuNSK9N3a5RcWS36amkDcNO94mkstXMMtVZDab~LQj8urnKLgI-bmp2mCuiWitL8-VvvXv-cAqXhpODVYxCLoFpZcKc4PzhXX00bTLG~j7CvgEynDvznL21lQtaYEK-bL8f7R0MAXBERlrlAYpfZRqzSumaJ7PGOK3KtM0OZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of Kellogg‑neighborhood residents urged the City Council to stop or slow tree removals on Berkeley Road, saying the trees define the neighborhood and some appeared healthy. Public Works staff told the council they had previously contracted an arborist, that eight or nine trees remained under review, and that further design changes could preserve some of those trees.

At a public‑comment block during the Aug. 19 Goleta City Council meeting, speakers including residents and members of the newly formed group SaveGoletaTrees described long‑standing neighborhood canopy, hired independent arborists to review several trees and asked the city to seek additional risk assessments before removing more mature trees. “These trees define our neighborhood. They give it character. They boost our property values,” said Jeff Kuiper, a Kellogg resident who said he had helped organize the community group Save Goleta Trees.

Professional arborist and Public Tree Advisory Commission participant Ken Knight urged the city to stop removals and commission a Level‑3 tree‑risk assessment — “the highest level analysis” — so a risk‑qualified arborist could advise how pavement and sidewalk work might be adjusted to preserve trees. Several residents said they had inspected trees themselves and that the contractors’ work had already disturbed root zones, reducing options for preservation.

Public Works presented the city’s timeline and risk findings. The department said the pavement project initially planned to preserve trees, but that as construction exposed roots and structural issues the city’s contract arborist reported health and safety concerns and the city posted some trees for removal. Public Works Director (presenting) said 16 trees had been identified originally, seven removed, and nine remained under review. After an internal follow‑up, staff reported that “with certain exceptions” three of the remaining nine could be retained with design modifications and construction monitoring; that would reduce the final number slated for removal to roughly five or six. The director said the contractor had not removed roots intentionally but had cut curb and gutter and asphalt to examine root systems; staff said further work had refined potential design changes and a four‑year monitoring plan would be implemented for preserved trees.

Council members pressed staff about impartiality and process. Council Member Reyes Martin asked whether the city should bring in an independent arborist because “if the community has lost trust or credibility with that person, it’s really difficult to come back from that.” Public Works said an additional arborist (a risk‑assessment‑qualified professional) was brought in, and that staff had re‑evaluated each tree individually. The city noted the firm that provided the second arborist was the same consultant firm but that the assessor had a different qualification track (tree‑risk assessment qualified) and had performed detailed follow‑up checks.

Residents pressed for a replanting plan and for replacement trees that are substantial (24‑inch box or larger rather than small saplings). Several speakers, including Kalia Rourke and Janice Graybill, also urged more public notice and participation in replacement planning; one speaker said prior correspondence had suggested neighbors were expected to purchase replacement trees themselves, a reply she said was inappropriate. Several speakers also highlighted sewer lateral and infrastructure concerns, arguing that root intrusion into older sewer lines is usually fixed by pipe replacement rather than tree removal.

Public Works said staff is preparing a replanting plan that will follow the city’s Urban Forest Management Plan. The department also said it would continue evaluating design modifications to preserve trees, include construction monitoring for preserved trees, and that a staged approach to removals and replanting was under consideration. Staff advised that unless directed otherwise the remaining removals were slated to begin the day after the meeting, with the three trees identified in the most recent review exempted from immediate removal.

The city did not take a council vote on policy at the meeting. Council members asked staff to consider a broader replacement‑policy discussion for a future meeting; Council Member Reyes Martin said she hopes the council will “come back with some kind of a program that we look at when we take out a tree, we replace the tree and different programs on how we could do that and have neighborhood involvement.”

The public‑comment period and staff update made the meeting an early forum for the neighborhood’s effort to preserve mature trees. City staff said they will continue additional arborist review, refine the replanting plan and report back to council with next steps and possible program options for tree replacement and community engagement.","Dozens of Kellogg‑neighborhood residents urged the City Council and Public Works to stop or slow tree removals on Berkeley Road, saying the trees define the neighborhood and some appeared healthy.","actionData","errors"]

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Housing Authority briefs Goleta council on vouchers, waitlists and new developments

Neighbors urge pause after Goleta crews remove trees on Berkeley Road; staff says some removals were for safety