Daily Archives: July 5, 2016

Use the Sun to Your Advantage with Solarize Santa Barbara

The Community Environmental Council (CEC) is offering the Solarize Santa Barbara program to Southern Santa Barbara County residents though August 17, 2016. The program is designed to make going solar simpler and more affordable and to increase the amount of renewable energy within Southern Santa Barbara County.

CEC’s next free workshop covering solar technologies, energy efficiency, financing options and the Solarize program is July 12 from 6:00-7:30pm at the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara (1535 Santa Barbara St.).

In 2011, 2012, and 2014, Solarize Santa Barbara’s programs helped 120 Santa Barbara County homeowners go solar and begin saving on utility bills. To learn more or apply for Solarize Santa Barbara, homeowners can go to www.SolarizeSantaBarbara.org or call (805) 963-0583 x 101.

Go Green – Enroll in the 2016 Green Business Academy

The Green Business Program of Santa Barbara County is now recruiting businesses for its 2016 Green Business Academy. The Academy provides tools and training to help businesses go green by implementing sustainable strategies that can save money and are better for the environment. Businesses can achieve their green business certification by participating in a series of four workshops over four months. Participants form a cohort where networking and peer-learning are encouraged. Visit www.grenbizsbc.org for the complete schedule.

CMC Rescue, Inc., a local Goleta company and globally recognized leader in the design and manufacture of rescue and work-at-height equipment and services, participated in the inaugural launch of the Green Business Academy in 2015. The Academy provided CMC Rescue a launch pad to integrate sustainability into its daily operations. Learn more about the changes CMC Rescue, Inc. made to their company since becoming certified by attending the kick-off workshop on July 21 at their offices (6740 Cortona Drive, Goleta).

To participate in the Green Business Academy, please RSVP by calling (805) 729-3472. More information can be found at www.greenbizsbc.org.

Goleta Again Named a Top 50 Safest City in California

The City of Goleta continues to be recognized as one of the safest places to live in California, according to a study conducted by SafeWise, an online service aimed at providing consumers with an idea of what communities all over the United States are doing to stay safe and secure. Goleta placed in the top 50 safest cities in California, coming in at number 50. Goleta is the only city within Santa Barbara County to make the top 100. In order to compile the safest city list, SafeWise uses recent FBI crime data, reported crimes and the likelihood of these crimes occurring out of 1,000 people in each city.

This is just one of several times that the City of Goleta has been recognized as an exceptionally safe community:

CERT Graduates 20 More Community Volunteers!

Congratulations to the twenty Goleta residents that completed their Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training! The 2016 spring/summer class lasted for eight weeks, April 28 – June 16. These residents (from teenagers to those with disabilities to Spanish/English language speakers) came together to learn to be prepared and respond effectively during a disaster.

Participants learned different aspects of fire safety, medical operations, search and rescue, disaster psychology, terrorism and team organization. The final week was a full scale drill simulating a natural disaster, which happened to coincide with the Sherpa (aka Scherpa) Fire. This was a strong reminder that disasters do occur in our community and we need to be prepared. Emergency services will not be available to help everyone directly following a disaster, so it is important for civilians to be prepared and take action in order to help others in their community, including loved ones. If you are interested in learning more about the next CERT training, please contact Vyto Adomaitis at vadomaitis@cityofgoleta.org.

Are You Prepared for the Next Fire?

The recent Sherpa (aka Scherpa) Fire reminds us of the dangerous conditions we face this summer due to the hot, dry weather. The City of Goleta wants its residents to be wildfire ready year-round. Here are some resources on how you can prepare yourself, and your family, for the next wildfire.

  • Stay connected with the city by signing up for emergency alerts and notifications
  • Remember the six “P’s” in case immediate evacuation is required:
    • People and pets
    • Papers, phone numbers & important documents
    • Prescriptions, vitamins and eyeglasses
    • Pictures and irreplaceable memorabilia
    • Personal computer hard drive and disks
    • “Plastic” (credit cards, ATM cards) and cash
  • Prepare Your Home

Not only is it important to prepare yourself and your home in the event of a fire, but it is important to exercise caution at all times so as not to accidentally start a wildfire. Keep in mind that bonfires are illegal on all beaches and bluffs in Goleta, do not use weed whackers when it is hot and dry and be extra cautious when disposing of cigarettes. Thank you for doing your part to keep Goleta safe.

Emergency Notifications from the City — Timely Information When You Need It

Some of you may have seen the emergency operations trailer located at the Camino Real Marketplace during the Sherpa (aka Scherpa) Fire. The City of Goleta uses its emergency operations trailer to provide information quickly and efficiently to the public during a time of need. It is staged at one of three sites depending on the location of the incident: Goleta Valley Community Center, Camino Real Marketplace, or Fairview Shopping Center.

Stay informed with email and/or text emergency alerts from the City of Goleta by registering here and checking the box for emergency notifications, or texting Goleta Emergency to 468311. If you prefer to receive a phone call, please email PIO@cityofgoleta.org with your preferred phone number, address and language preference (English or Spanish). Also consider registering for emergency alerts with Santa Barbara County through Aware & Prepare.

Goleta Library

Use Your Skills To Benefit the Community

Applications are now being accepted for those interested in joining one of the City’s Boards or Committees. The Design Review Board and Santa Barbara County Library Advisory Committee both have vacancies and more information is listed below. The deadline to submit an application is 5:00 p.m. on July 26, 2016. Applications may be obtained from, and must be returned to, Deborah Lopez (dlopez@cityofgoleta.org), City Clerk, City of Goleta, 130 Cremona Drive, Suite B, Goleta, CA 93117. Applications are also available on the City website. Additional information can be provided by calling (805) 961-7505.

Design Review Board Vacancy

The Design Review Board (DRB) is a seven-member body with responsibility to encourage development that exemplifies the best professional design practices so as to enhance the visual quality of the environment and prevent poor quality of design. The DRB has one vacancy for a professionally licensed Landscape Architect or Landscape Contractor to fill the remainder of the unexpired term through January 2017. The DRB meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 3:00 p.m., and the position is compensated at $50.00 per meeting.

Santa Barbara County Library Advisory Committee Vacancy

The Library Advisory Committee has one vacancy for a one-year term July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017. This is an opportunity to make a valuable contribution to the Goleta community by participating in decision-making process on a wide variety of Library issues. Candidates must reside within the City of Goleta to be eligible.

November Election in Goleta: Running for City Council

In November’s election, City of Goleta residents will be voting for candidates to fill two City Council seats. To qualify as a candidate, one must be at least 18 years of age and a resident and registered voter of the City of Goleta. Nomination documents can be obtained and filed Monday, July 18, 2016, through Friday, August 12, 2016, at 12:00 p.m. For more information, please contact Deborah Lopez, City Clerk, at (805) 961-7505 or dlopez@cityofgoleta.org.