The Goleta City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt a resolution to authorize “No Parking Zones” on Del Norte Drive at Mendocino Drive and on Cambridge Drive at Via Bolzano.
The resolution came following requests from local residents about the difficulty negotiating in the intersections. Goleta Public Works staff conducted a field visit at both intersections, which determined the line of sight for the intersections should be improved based on the city’s Engineering Standards, according to a staff report.
City officials determined visibility from a stopped position on Mendocino or Via Bolzano could be increased by providing a “No Parking zone.” The zones will provide a site distance of 150 feet for stopped vehicles on Mendocino Drive and approximately 250 feet for stopped vehicles on Via Bolzano.
The city’s fiscal year 2019-20 budget includes $55,000 for the maintenance and installation of signage and striping. The total estimated cost to install the zones at the intersection is approximately $1,000, therefore the expense would be covered within the existing budget amount.
In other business Tuesday, the council received a report on the city’s homelessness strategic plan, which outlined a three-tier system of goals and objectives that may be included in the city’s final plan.
Some of the potential options examined short-term goals (one to two years), mid-term goals (three to five years) and long-term goals (five to 10 years). A draft homelessness strategic plan is scheduled to go before council in the spring.
The short-term goals will seek to increase access to safe emergency shelter and critical services, including establishing a “Showers of Blessing” site in city limits and a job training program.
Mid-term goals include providing transitional housing and support services, as well as prevention services. This could include a new emergency shelter location, a storage unit for homeless residents or an emergency grant program to prevent homelessness.
The long-term goals would be developed to increase supply of permanent supportive housing, affordable housing and basic needs. Some initiatives could be passing a living wage ordinance for the city, developing public restrooms with showers open 24/7 and working with the county to establish a permanent Crisis-Intervention Team program, according to a staff report.
Once a draft plan has been completed, it will be released for a 30-day public review period. City staff hopes to present the final homelessness strategic plan by the end of June.
email: mwhite@newspress.com
