Goleta leaders to decide on Sphere of Influence

ERIC LINDBERG
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

Goleta city leaders will decide whether to go forward with a proposed Sphere of Influence, possibly bringing outlying areas partly under the city's jurisdiction, at the Goleta City Council meeting this evening.
While the Council cannot establish a Sphere of Influence itself, its members will have to decide whether to submit and application to the Santa Barbara County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) to create the boundaries for such an area, which would represent the probable physical boundaries and service areas of the city.

"There are a number of reasons to consider establishment of a Sphere of Influence," Goleta city staff noted. "Chief among them are to create logical boundaries that provide sensible city service areas where the infrastructure is contiguous with the existing city boundary. Other benefits include having greater say in future development decisions for properties within the sphere."
Staff initially planned to consider at least seven separate areas for inclusion in a Sphere of Inclusion proposal, but whittled that figure down to three following a public workshop in early September.
Those three areas consist of a portion along South Patterson Avenue, an area along both sides of North Fairview Avenue north of Highway 101, and the Glen Annie Golf Course.
The Council will also consider a General Plan Amendment and Pre-Zoning to serve as guidelines for the County, which would maintain lead jurisdiction and public service for the affected areas, unless and until the city annexes the land.
Looming over Goleta's effort to expand its Sphere of Influence is a pending decision before LAFCo to expand the city of Santa Barbara's influence to Goleta's eastern city limits, including areas to the north and south of Goleta.
Two of the proposed areas for Goleta's Sphere of Influence — the Glen Annie Golf Course and the area along North Fairview Avenue — fall under the Committee for One's proposal to expand Santa Barbara's influence boundary to the eastern city limits of Goleta, an idea endorsed by the Santa Barbara City Council.
"The all-inclusive swallowing of the unincorporated Eastern Goleta Valley into the City of Santa Barbara's Sphere of Influence ought to be opposed by Goleta and rejected by LAFCo," Goleta city staff said.
Whether that proposal goes forward will be determined at a LAFCo hearing on October 11 at 2 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors' Chambers in Santa Barbara.
At tonight's meeting, city leaders can decide on a proposal including all or some of the recommended areas, use the existing city limits as a Sphere boundary, or take no action, which would leave the Sphere of Influence process up to LAFCo.