The Goleta City Council on Tuesday agreed to prioritize funding for six significant construction projects over the next few years.

The six — Project Connect, Goleta Train Depot, Goleta Valley Library Building, San Jose Creek Multipurpose Path, Cathedral Oaks Crib Wall Repair and San Jose Creek Fish Passage Modification Project — were identified as part of the city’s preliminary five-year forecast. 

The Tuesday discussion also gave city staff direction on priorities for the upcoming 2026–27 fiscal year. 

“This is probably the most important thing that is our responsibility to steward the financial health of the city,” Councilwoman Luz Reyes-Martín said. 

Goleta will focus on completing those six before taking on any additional large projects, Luke Rioux, city finance director, said.

The council also said maintenance funding is a priority, especially once a big six project, like the Goleta Train Depot, is completed.

The Jonny D. Wallis Neighborhood Park splash pad and the Heritage Ridge Park Project were two other projects identified that need ongoing maintenance and operation funding. 

The transition of new facilities like the Goleta Train Depot, the Wallis Splash Pad and Heritage Park from construction to operation brings permanent operating and maintenance costs the city has to consider, Rioux said.

Those maintenance costs are still being calculated.

In 2025, the city approved and adopted its two-year budget plan for fiscal years 2025 through 2027. 

And as that plan approaches its second year, Goleta will take part in a mid-cycle budget review. The city will tweak the budget if needed to be accurate to actual costs, city needs and city priorities.

City staff felt the budget adjustments could be more efficient if the planning process for an updated preliminary five-year forecast was done earlier, which is why it came before the council on Tuesday night. 

The forecast is not a budget, but rather a long-term planning tool that provides a multi-year perspective on the city’s financial health, Rioux said.

Some of the projects — like Project Connect, the San Jose Creek Multipurpose Path and Cathedral Oaks Crib Wall Repair — are attached to bond revenues that require completion no later than three years from now. 

Two projects still require funding: the Goleta Valley Library still needs $457,300 and the San Jose Creek Fish Passage Modification Project needs $5.7 million. 

The Goleta Valley Library is currently planning its capital campaign to raise funds for interior improvements, which is set to launch “in the coming weeks.”

The San Jose Creek Fish Passage Modification Project is waiting on a pending $3.75 million grant. 

City staff said if there is one-time money — money used for a specific purpose — left over after completing the priority projects, it could go towards the city’s concrete program or tree and pavement maintenance, which the city council seemed interested in. 

While not part of the six priority projects, there was substantial discussion among councilmembers about pavement maintenance. 

“Some of the points that have been made earlier and have been acknowledged to staff is road and infrastructure maintenance generally being a concern and a priority,” Councilman James Kyriaco said. 

Reyes-Martín urged council and city staff to “figure out an achievable target for pavement” to potentially have in the budget. 

In the last two years, Goleta has spent eight figures towards paving, Goleta City Manager Robert Nisbet confirmed. 

Kyriaco agreed and suggested the city council set up discussions so they could potentially put money towards pavement maintenance. 

Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte acknowledged that every councilmember has their own sets of priorities and wishlists they hope see come to fruition, but said she hopes they can have those tough conversations regarding what to make a priority through collaboration. 

While the city council holds the decision-making power, community members can share their own input at various workshops scheduled through June.

The first is scheduled for Feb. 17, where city staff will present work programs for city departments and the city’s goals and initiatives to influence future decisions. 

Goleta City Council meetings take place at 130 Cremona Drive at 5:30 p.m. City meeting dates are listed here. The dates are subject to change, city staff said.