Personnel Changes Ahead For City

People are on the move in Goleta.  Two key City of Goleta staff members are in the process of making career changes, one was named to fill a vacancy on the Goleta Union School Board of Trustees and a City Council member is moving out of the City.

Public Works Director, Steve Wagner, has moved over to the Goleta Sanitary District after 11 years of service at the City of Goleta. There he will serve as the Assistant District Manager/Assistant District Engineer.  Rosemarie Gaglione has been appointed Interim Public Works Director while the City looks to permanently fill the position.

The City’s Finance Director, Tina Rivera, has accepted the Chief Financial Officer position at the United Water Conservation District in Ventura County. She will be leaving the City in mid-April after 7½ years of City service.  She has helped guide the City through difficult financial times with a prudent budget. Rivera has been recognized every year for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association.

Management Analyst Luz Reyes-Martin has been appointed to fill a vacancy on the Goleta Union School District Board of Trustees.  She was selected by the Board on a unanimous vote from a pool of six candidates.  She will fill the position through the duration of the term which ends in November 2014.

Finally, the City Council expects to have a vacancy in the near future with Councilmember Ed Easton’s decision to purchase a home outside the City limits. Once the resignation is official, the Council will determine a replacement process – likely through appointment or a special election. More information will become available as the Councilmember’s escrow process moves forward.

While these changes are significant, the City is working to create a smooth transition plan that will continue to move us forward.

Arbor Week Contest Winners Featured

Congratulations to our First Annual Arbor Day Art Contest Winners for 2014! And thank you to all who participated in this year’s event! We had a phenomenal number of submissions, and it was wonderful to see the abundance of talented artists we have in our community.

People of all ages were invited to submit four drawings or photos of their favorite trees from anywhere in the world. We received many beautiful images. Some were images of trees that have stood for centuries, some were of young trees, while others were of trees that have fallen. All of the drawings and photos carried a history and personal story that was reflected very well in each artist’s work.

The City of Goleta maintains over 6,000 street trees in addition to the trees located in the over 500 acres of parks and open spaces. The City is proud to be named Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Association for the past six years.

The winners were selected by the City’s Public Tree Advisory Commission and were honored at the March 4th City Council Meeting. Their art will continue to be featured in an exhibit in City Council Chambers for public viewing throughout the spring. We look forward to continuing this new tradition and invite everyone to participate next year.