Goleta council adopts Finance and General Government departmental work programs; motions pass unanimously

The Goleta City Council unanimously adopted annual work programs for the Finance Department and the General Government Department for fiscal year 2025–26 during its Oct. 27 meeting.

Finance work program: The council voted to adopt the Finance Department’s proposed annual work program after a presentation by the department that outlined staffing, major projects and technology upgrades. Finance staff said the department is staffed with 12 full-time equivalents and manages core functions including budget, treasury, payroll and business licenses. The department noted recent accomplishments including two bond issuances to support capital projects and awards from the Government Finance Officers Association.

General government work program: The council also approved the General Government Department’s annual work priorities, which cover city manager’s office initiatives, city clerk modernization, community relations and human resources programs. Key items highlighted during the presentation included continued oversight of major construction projects (Project Connect, the train depot and library improvements), a Vision Zero action plan coordination, implementing retirement plan options for staff and negotiating a new MOU for Fire Station 10.

Votes and formal actions - Finance Department annual work program: Motion to adopt (mover/second not specified in the record). Roll-call: Council Member Reyes-Martin — Aye; Council Member Kyriaco — Aye; Council Member Smith — Yes; Mayor Pro Tem Kasdan — Aye; Mayor Burton — Aye. Outcome: approved (5–0). - General Government Department annual work program (as amended): Motion to adopt the work priorities as amended (mover/second not specified in the record). Roll-call: Council Member Reyes-Martin — Aye; Council Member Kyriaco — Aye; Council Member Smith — Yes; Mayor Pro Tem Kasdan — Aye; Mayor Burton — Aye. Outcome: approved (5–0).

Why it matters: The adopted work programs set department priorities for the fiscal year, including multi-department projects such as an updated streetlight assessment review, stormwater funding study, Tyler ERP Pro implementations and capital project oversight. Council and staff discussed timelines for follow-up items related to Old Town Hollister and agreed to revisit some items early next year to allow data collection after planned temporary roundabouts come into service.

Quotes Finance Director (addressed as Mr. Rio) summarized the department: “We are staffed with 12 full time equivalents… we are projecting about a $50,000,000 ongoing general fund budget,” and noted software and process improvements planned for the coming year.

City Manager’s office remarks emphasized the workload tied to five major construction projects and the need to coordinate across departments: “There’s 5 now, the big 5, we can call them — Project Connect, the Cathedral Oaks scribe wall, San Jose Creek Multipurpose Trail, the train station and the library improvement project,” the city manager’s office said during the presentation.

Next steps: Staff will begin implementing items in the approved work programs and will return to council with specific project proposals and budget recommendations as needed (for example, staff indicated the Magnolia crosswalk will be added to the CIP process and that an MOU renegotiation for Fire Station 10 will be undertaken during the next year). The council also requested earlier follow-up on Old Town circulation and economic impacts once roundabout data are available.