The City of Goleta now has a Strategic Plan for our historic Goleta Community Center (GCC). For many years, the beloved building, nearing 100 years old, has been an important gathering place for the community. The City of Goleta is in the process of restoring and preserving this important resource, and on April 18, 2023, adopted a strategic plan for the future of the GCC which includes input from community members and stakeholders on how to best utilize the facility and make it a more vibrant and inviting gathering place. Before adopting the plan, City staff led the Mayor and Council on a walking tour of the GCC during a site visit.
The plan establishes a vision for the GCC and its purpose and role in the community over the short- and long-term. The plan outlines specific steps that will be taken to reach identified goals to achieve that vision. It also sets the expectations for future management of the Community Center, defining operational strategies and tactics, aligned with established City policies and procedures.
In approving the GCC strategic plan, the City Council adopted a vision that “The Goleta Community Center is a welcoming, safe, inclusive, and accessible place where everyone can go to gather, learn and play,” and a mission that “The Goleta Community Center provides programs, services, activities, and a safe space for social, cultural, educational, and recreational offerings in an inclusive and welcoming way.”
Furthermore, the strategic plan identifies five overarching goals to achieve the vision and mission. The five goals have a total of 14 objectives, 25 strategies, and 98 tactics which guide specific actions that will be implemented over a three- to five-year period. Upon completion of all seismic and ADA construction and when the GCC is fully reopened, it is expected that the operator would then begin to carry out elements of the plan over the following three- to five-year period. To view the five goals and corresponding objectives, strategies and tactics, or to read the strategic plan in its entirety here.
Soon the City Council will discuss management options for the GCC and will provide direction on whether they would like to explore management of the GCC by a non-profit, or by City staff. In the meantime, the seismic retrofit construction activities are moving forward, and the main building at the GCC will soon be closed for several months. However, operations in the auxiliary buildings, including the CommUnify/Head Start programs, Rainbow School, Kevin Long Training and the Boys and Girls Club, will continue as usual.
Following the seismic retrofit, the building will undergo disability access improvements to sidewalks, paths of travel, the bathrooms and sewer lines in the main building required under the ADA. These projects are largely funded by federal grants from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and a federal Community Project Funding grant secured for the project through the efforts of Representative Salud Carbajal. The goal is to re-open the facility for community use by late 2023, at which time smaller construction projects will continue. Once all construction is complete, it is anticipated that the operator of the GCC will begin to implement elements of the strategic plan.
To stay up to date on happenings at the GCC, please visit the City’s website at www.CityofGoleta.org/GCC.
Pictured: Goleta City Council in front of the GCC (left-to-right): Councilmember Stuart Kasdin, District 1 Councilmember Luz Reyes-Martín, Mayor Paula Perotte, Mayor Pro Tempore Kyle Richards, and District 2 Councilmember James Kyriaco