Did you know Goleta has a Council-Manager form of government? This means the Council is responsible for policy direction, and the City Manager is responsible for the implementation of this policy by guiding the operations of the City. The City Manager essentially acts as the Chief Executive Officer and provides leadership and direction to City departments in the administration of their operations. The Goleta City Council serves as a legislative body and consists of five council members, one of whom is chosen to serve as mayor for a one-year term.

Michelle Greene, Goleta’s Interim City Manager, was appointed by the City Council. She will serve in this role while the recruitment process is underway for a City Manager.

The City Council recently had the opportunity to fill a vacancy left by Councilmember Ed Easton when he moved out of the City. As the newly-appointed Councilmember, Tony Vallejo will complete the remaining 2½ years of Easton’s term and have the opportunity to appoint a Planning Commissioner. Applications for this position are now being accepted and are due Thursday, July 3rd by 5:00 p.m. The application can be found on the City’s website at www.cityofgoleta.org.

In addition, there will be a regular election in November for three Council seats. These positions serve four years and each Councilmember has the opportunity to also appoint a Planning Commissioner. The filing period for those interested in running for City Council is July 14th through August 8th. In the event that one of the incumbents has not filed by August 8th, the nomination period will be extended to August 13th.

For more information, please contact the City Clerk’s office at 805-961-7505 or dlopez@cityofgoleta.org.