How lucky is Goleta to have had Advance Planning Manager Anne Wells guiding and shaping our city almost since the beginning?!!! At the November 19 City Council meeting, Mayor Paula Perotte presented Anne with a Butterfly Plaque to thank her for 20 years of service to the City.

In his powerful remarks, Planning and Environmental Review Director Peter Imhof said, “What many people may not know is that Anne Wells more than any single person perhaps is responsible for what Goleta is today, at least in terms of its land use. She has authored more plans and programs than I could possibly mention in a few minutes, but just to name a few: she is the chief architect of the 2006 General Plan, she is also the architect of the Title 17 Zoning Ordinances and the Housing Element…. I’ve been fortunate to work with her directly now over the last seven years and she is unquestionably one of the most talented, capable, hard-working planners I know, a consummate planning professional. In a real sense, Goleta is Anne’s life work. Anne Wells is Goleta.”

Mayor Perotte also complimented Anne’s role in working with the State Lands Commission on the Decommissioning of the Piers and Platform Holly. Anne has also represented the City at the Emergency Operations Center during several major incidents including the Refugio Oil Spill, the Thomas Fire, and the 1/9 Debris Flow. Prior to coming to the City, Anne worked on the Ellwood Devereux Open Space Plan.

In her remarks, Anne called her service to the City a pleasure. She said “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to work for a new city. When we started, we didn’t have walls, we didn’t have rules, we didn’t have formative documents. Collectively, we wrote the General Plan, and it has guided us since. I don’t know what else to say about being able to participate in something like this. It’s been really amazing. We have great things ahead and I am looking forward to it.”

Anne joined the City of Goleta in 2004. She said, “I was working as a consultant on the General Plan and the purchase of Ellwood Mesa and Habitat Management Plan. The community’s passion for both made it easy for me to leave consulting to be part of something truly remarkable. And it was, and still is.”

She added, “The General Plan vision statement for the Good Land says it all and brings me back to work every day. The people, open spaces, beaches, history, and sense of community all make up our Good Land history!”

Anne is proud of the lasting impact she has made in Goleta and appreciates the hard work and dedication of the community and staff. “Goleta’s heart is huge and puts meaning into my work,” said Anne. “Your participation and input on all that we do at City Hall is so critical to me. I am proud to be part of this strong community.”

Thank you, Anne, for your 20 years of service, vision, and leadership.

Pictured left-to-right: Councilmember James Kyriaco (District 2), Councilmember Stuart Kasdin, Planning & Environmental Review Director Peter Imhof, Mayor Paula Perotte, Anne Wells, Mayor Pro Tempore Luz Reyes-Martín (District 1) and Councilmember Kyle Richards

Anne with her children