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Victor Maccharoli

Newly elected Goleta City Council members Margaret Connell and Ed Easton get sworn in Tuesday night by the City Clerk.

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New era for City of Goleta

By COLBY FRAZIER

The face of the Goleta City Council changed last night from one that has been criticized for its pro-development, pro-business tendencies to one that might swing decidedly in the other direction.

Newly elected Councilmember’s Margaret Connell and Ed Easton, who ideologically appear most similar new Goleta Mayor Roger Aceves, now constitute what may well play out to be a three-vote majority on many controversial issues.

After taking the oath of office, Connell assumed a seat behind the dais where former Councilmember Jean Blois once sat, and Easton took the seat of Jonny Wallis, who didn’t seek reelection.

In the midst of the shuffling chairs, Councilmember Michael Bennett passed his mayoral hat to Aceves, who vowed to work together with his colleagues.

“We have a council that will be working together,” he said. “It’s become very polarized. My job as mayor is to bring the council together to make the best decisions for our community.”

While the council has moved forward on a number of fronts over the past two years, much of the divisive tone and tenor that has defined the council was established early in 2007, when the city jumped head first into the lengthy process of carving out more than 70 general plan amendments.

In the dozens of marathon meetings that underscored these changes, the council majority of Blois, Bennett and now Mayor Pro Tempore Eric Onnen, routinely voted together, creating a common 3-2 split.

But with Connell taking the place of Blois, the balance of power on the council appears to have shifted.

However, even if that’s the case, Aceves said he hopes to see the “polarized” nature of the council, dissolve.

And the way to make this happen, he said, is to listen to what he called the “sixth councilmember” — the public.

“We must work together and listen to the voice of the sixth council person and that sixth person is our constituency,” he said. “That’s what we must do and I’ll leave it at that.”

Asked during a break to elaborate on when he felt the council failed to listen the public, Aceves cited the recent slew of general plan amendments, many of which were vehemently opposed by the public, but approved anyway.

“We weren’t listening to the public,” he said.

Aceves said he plans to waste little time bringing the general plan amendments that have not yet been completely approved back before the council for further review — an action he hopes will take place in January.

Some of the amendments Aceves said he disagrees with most include ones that have been attached to future development at the Bacara Resort and Spa. He said these amendments are moving through the pipeline despite a lack of an actual project from the hotel.

Because general plan amendments apply to the entire city, Aceves said he feels any general plan amendments dealing with development should be attached to specific projects.

Aceves said the biggest issue facing the city at the moment is the economy. He said the fiscal crisis at the state has already tapped into the Goleta’s redevelopment funds and there may be more to come.

But fiscal crisis or not, Aceves said he’s optimistic the city can move forward effectively.

 “We have a great future ahead of us,” he said.

Connell, who returned to the council after failing to win reelection in 2006, praised Blois and Wallis. The trio of women all served on the city’s inaugural council, voted into office in 2001 in step with the city’s incorporation.

“[Jonny] has been, I think, an anchor for the council,” she said, adding that her calm, well-read take on issues is “irreplaceable.”

Though Connell and Blois haven’t always agreed, she said she has much respect for the outgoing councilmember.

“We could call you Madame Goleta, I think, and not be wrong,” Connell said of Blois.

Easton, who was a City of Goleta planning commissioner, said he’s never known a public servant that he thought did a better job than Wallis.

He said Wallis’ reputation of knowing the issues “terrifyingly well,” leaves big shoes to fill.

“I’m not sure I want to fill her shoes,” he said. “I’d like to bring my own if I can.”

Blois said she’s worked “tirelessly” over the years to ensure the young city got on its feet, and the incorporation of Goleta itself sticks out as a high point.

“We have accomplished so much,” she said. “I’ve been so proud to be a part of it.”

She spoke of the city’s “Herculean” effort to raise $20 million to help purchase what is now the Sperling Preserve.

Blois wished the council luck during the challenging fiscal times, and thanked the community for letting her serve.

Wallis looked at the capacity crowd gathered in the council’s modest chambers and thanked them for allowing her to serve.

“It’s been a lot of work but the rewards have been indescribable,” she said.

To Blois, Bennett and Onnen, she acknowledged she has “disagreed seriously,” with them at times. However, through their differences, Wallis said she never doubted their “motivations for this city and I do not doubt your service.”

To the public, Wallis said: “You’ve put your councilmembers here, we belong to you.”

“There are no shoes to fill,” she said. “I feel like we’re in good hands with the council here.”

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