Goleta residents will memorialize the present through a city time capsule during the Good Land’s 25th anniversary celebration early next year.
Goleta’s Public Engagement Commission members presented ideas to city staff on Wednesday for what should be included in the city’s “silver anniversary” community event on Feb. 2.
While Goleta’s anniversary actually falls on Feb. 1, the event will take place the day after, ahead of the Tuesday City Council meeting outside the Council Chambers at 130 Cremona Drive, Suite B.
Goleta was officially incorporated on Feb. 1, 2002, after Measure 2001 passed on the November 2001 ballot.
“It seems like a great opportunity to bring people to City Hall because we haven’t done that in a long time,” said city spokesperson Kelly Hoover.
The commissioners were excited about the milestone event and suggested interactive art, history exhibits about Goleta, music, an auction and city-branded merchandise.
Community members can contribute to the time capsule, which will be opened for the city’s 50th anniversary.
“Goleta has always been here in one shape or another, always been known for the butterflies, for the youth, for the lemons,” Commissioner Rey Ybarra said.
He suggested using the milestone anniversary to showcase Goleta’s history even before its journey to cityhood through photographs.
Commissioner Gareth Kelly also suggested the event relocate from City Hall to the Goleta Community Center.
Commissioner Peter Omoregie proposed involving local kids by sponsoring a Goleta poem competition.
Kelly said a time capsule would be a “great way to bring in the kids.”
He also suggested tapping large companies like Google, which has quantum computing facilities based in Goleta, to join in on the festivities.
City officials are also looking at developing an official city seal.
The current one is “a simple, basic seal,” Hoover said. The seal’s design would go to the City Council for feedback at a future meeting before being implemented.
“It would be a great birthday gift for us,” she said.
While no vote was taken Wednesday, Hoover said city staff will review the ideas ahead of the celebration.
What would you put in the Goleta time capsule? Let us know at news@noozhawk.com.
