Daily Archives: July 28, 2016

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go…! The Goleta Education Foundation’s Lemon Run Is On

Kick off Lemon Week with the Goleta Education Foundation’s 2016 Lemon Run on Sunday, September 18. A great family day, there are competitive 10K and 5K races along with a FREE 1K Family Fun Run. The races take place on the Obern Trail bike path providing a flat and fast course for participants. The path begins and ends at Goleta Beach where there will be an art table, blender bike, drum circle and photo booth. You’ll be sure to work up an appetite, so once again Wahoo’s Fish Tacos will be serving food.

Proceeds from the Goleta Education Foundation Lemon Run will benefit the elementary students in the nine schools in the Goleta Valley. Register now and show your support for local elementary schools!

Summer of Capital Improvements

The City is hard at work on Capital Improvement Projects, with a number of projects slated for this summer. We are looking forward to having these new and/or updated amenities available to you. Thank you for your patience during construction.

Evergreen Tennis Courts
Tennis players can rejoice because construction on the Evergreen Park Tennis Courts will be completed at the beginning of this month. Crews have worked hard to repair and resurface the courts, and tennis players will be very pleased with the outcome. Please join us for the re-opening event on August 10th at 10 a.m. (7500 Evergreen Dr.).

Path Lighting at Boys & Girls Club and Goleta Valley Community Center Project
In order to improve pedestrian safety, a number of upgrades are being made to the pathway between the Goleta Valley Community Center and the Boys & Girls Club. Existing fencing along the front and back parking lots has been removed and path lighting will be installed from Hollister Avenue to the back of the property where the Boys & Girls Club facility is located. The contractor has replaced the front half of the sidewalk with a new concrete sidewalk and will be making additional minor repairs around the trees. In addition, a drainage swale (a vegetated ditch with native grasses to convey storm water runoff that allows some infiltration of that water into the ground) will be installed between the path and parking areas. The project began in mid-July and construction is expected to take about two months.

Maria Ygnacio Creek Bike Path Lighting
Cyclists can look forward to a brighter path. While the County of Santa Barbara has installed lighting along the portion of the Maria Ygnacio Bike Trail located within the County limits, the trail remains unlit along the segment passing through the City of Goleta. The project will install 12 independent solar powered LED lighting fixtures along this 1,750 foot unlit portion from Hollister Avenue to the trail bridge that crosses the Maria Ygnacio Creek. These improvements will dramatically enhance the safety of commuters using the bike path during dark hours. Work will begin in August and take approximately two months to complete.

Hollister Avenue High Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK)
Another safety improvement project the City is working on is the Hollister Avenue High Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) Project. A HAWK system (a pedestrian activated lighted crosswalk) will be installed in front of the Goleta Valley Community Center replacing the existing yellow flashing beacons. Additional enhancements to the crosswalk include replacing striping and signage, adding lighting and relocating the crosswalk approximately 100 feet to the east, to be located between the eastbound and westbound bus stops. This project is slated to begin in late August and conclude in October.

Hollister Avenue Crosswalk Enhancements at Orange Avenue
In an effort to provide an additional visual cue to alert motorists when a pedestrian is crossing the street, new pedestrian activated Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) will be installed over travel lanes on Hollister Avenue at Orange Avenue. The project also includes new striping and signage, as well as sidewalk improvements. Work is scheduled to begin in late August and conclude in October.

The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round with New Routes

Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTD) has made changes to better serve bus riders in the community. The MTD Board of Directors approved changes to bus routes and schedules for existing Lines 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 20, 23, & 25. In addition, UCSB has funded a new Line, 28, which will serve UCSB, Isla Vista, and the Camino Real Marketplace. Changes will take effect later this month on August 22nd.

Below is a summary of changes. Detailed information about these changes will be available on the MTD website and at the Transit Center by early August. MTD staff will also be at the Hollister/Storke bus stops during the initial days of the new service to answer questions.

  • Line 7 will be extended over the Fairview bridge and turn around in Goleta Old Town via Kinman, Armitos, & Kellogg.
  • Lines 8 & 9 will be eliminated.
  • Line 23 will become a one-way loop through the El Encanto Heights neighborhood and become Line 11 at Storke & Hollister.
  • Line 25 buses will cross the freeway on Cathedral Oaks and turn around via Winchester Canyon. Line 25 will become Line 6 at Hollister & Storke.
  • Routing on Lines 6 & 11 is not changing, but some buses will now continue as Line 25 or 23 (respectively).
  • UCSB is funding a new route, Line 28, that will connect the main campus with Isla Vista and the Camino Real Marketplace via El Colegio and Storke Roads.
  • Service between Santa Barbara & Carpinteria on Line 20 will increase in frequency from every 60 minutes to every 40 minutes on weekday afternoons.

Visit www.sbmtd.gov for more information.

The Goleta Guide to Park Reservations

The City of Goleta has only one park, Stow Grove, in which reservations can be made. Both Girsh Park and Goleta Beach Park offer reservations as well; Girsh Park is a private park and Goleta Beach Park is operated by Santa Barbara County. There are also a number of parks with picnic tables in Goleta that can be used on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you are interested in renting Stow Grove Park for a birthday party, family gathering or a casual Saturday with friends, the City does want to remind you of the following:

  • Your reservation cannot be confirmed without a completed form and payment
  • Make your reservation early as the park does fill up
  • Stow Grove Park opens at 8 a.m. and gates lock at sunset; items may not be placed on tables before 8 a.m.
  • Open flames are not allowed (No outside BBQ’s)
  • Amplified sound is not allowed
  • Vehicles allowed in parking lot only
  • Have fun!

To reserve space for your next event, click here.

School + Traffic = Safety Tips

Around town, children and parents will be getting ready for the start of the new school year later this month. Now is a good time for parents to educate their children about bus, pedestrian and bicycle safety, and prepare them for a safe school year.

It is up to everyone to create and maintain a safe environment. Drivers need to pay extra attention on the road due to an increase in traffic during this time of year and throughout the school year. When dropping children off at school, parents/caregivers are reminded to obey all traffic laws. Everyone needs to be vigilant and utilize patience when near a school.

Sergeant Henebry with the Goleta Police Department’s Traffic Unit provides these tips:

Pedestrian Safety Tips for Children

  • Walk to school with a group of kids and always have a responsible adult walk with you.
  • Always walk on the sidewalk if one is available. If no sidewalk is available, walk facing the traffic.
  • The safest place to cross is at a street corner or intersection.
  • If you are 10 years old or younger, you need to cross the street with an adult. You should not cross by yourself. Ask an adult to explain to you who can help you cross the street.
  • Before you step off the curb to cross the street, stop and look left, look right, and look left again to see if cars are coming.
  • When no cars are coming, it is safe for you and an adult to cross. But look left-right-left as you do it, and hold the adult’s hand.
  • Always walk when crossing the street. Never run across the street to catch a ball or chase a toy, a friend, or a pet.
  • Darting out in front of a parked car is dangerous. The driver of the car coming down the street can’t see you.
  • Cross at corners and use crosswalks whenever possible; always stay within the lines of the crosswalk.
  • Never go for a walk with a stranger. Only walk with someone who your parents say is okay.

Good Driver Tips for Parents

  • Allow Extra Time: Do not arrive late or at the last minute. Prepare the night before and leave your house early so you do not need to rush.
  • Reduce Speed: The maximum speed near a school is 25 miles per hour. However, slower speeds are recommended when children are present. Some school areas in Goleta have a maximum speed of 15 mph. Please obey all speed laws for speed as this is the number one cause of collisions around schools.
  • Obey Stop Signs: Make a complete stop. Be vigilant. Look for children stepping off the sidewalk.
  • No Double Parking: Double parking impedes traffic flow. Never let a child exit a double parked vehicle.
  • Avoid U-Turns: U-turns near the school cause congestion. Do so only at an intersection if permitted.
  • Do Not Park in a Red Zone: The curb is red due to safety reasons. Parking in the red often obstructs the view of other drivers which could result in a collision with a child or other vehicle.

Do You Know Your Emergency Terminology?

In many instances, people responding to an emergency situation use terms familiar to them which may not be widely known by the general public. Get up to speed with these common terms used during a fire:

Mandatory Evacuation Order = Leave immediately; there is an imminent or existing risk to life and property.

Evacuation Warning = A strong likelihood that there will be a risk to life and property, and residents in the warning area should take this time to prepare to leave quickly if given the mandatory evacuation order. Time should be taken to gather family members, pets, valuables, and important paperwork/documents. An individual or family should be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. However, if anyone feels threatened, do not wait for an evacuation order – leave immediately.

Red Flag Warning = Critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can create extreme fire behavior.

Fire Weather Watch = Typically issued generally 12 to 72 hours in advance of potential critical fire weather conditions.

Don’t Miss the Best Dam Dinner in Goleta

The 4th Annual Dam Dinner is almost here. Please join us on Saturday, August 20th from 5-7 p.m. at the Lake Los Carneros Dam. Gather with your friends, neighbors and community to share your love for Goleta. Great for all ages, there will be kids’ activities such as face painting and coloring, live music by the Salt Martians, and a photo station (new this year!). Show your spirit by purchasing a Dam Dinner t-shirt.

Attendees can bring dinner or purchase food from Georgia’s Smokehouse. If you feel inclined to do so, please bring a dessert to share.  Getting thirsty with all this food talk? Water, beer and wine will be available for purchase.

Please register in advance as it helps us plan for setting up enough tables and chairs.  We need a few volunteers to help put on tablecloths before and pick up the event after. Like us on Facebook to get the latest information. #OhDam

Goleta Library

Goleta Branch Library Operations Update

For several years, the City of Goleta has evaluated various options to address the significant imbalance between revenues and expenditures at the Goleta Library, which has been operating with a deficit for some time, as are many libraries throughout the County. Reserves are quickly depleting and are likely to be fully expended in the next two years without significant changes to the operation. Currently, the library is operated by the City of Santa Barbara under operating agreements with both the City of Goleta and the County of Santa Barbara.

On July 19th, the City Council received an update from staff regarding options to reduce deficit spending, from increasing the City’s contribution to reducing operating hours. The City Council opposed closing the library on Mondays, which the City of Santa Barbara indicated was necessary because of limited staffing levels. The Council also opposed closing one hour early on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays.

Instead the Council authorized an additional $42,000 contribution to help fund the vacant children’s librarian position and the continued use of reserves to cover the operating deficit.  Council further directed that City staff initiate negotiations with both the City and County of Santa Barbara to transfer the responsibility for library operations to the City of Goleta, maintaining service to the broader Goleta Valley as a County library branch.

Goleta staff will work closely with the City of Santa Barbara to stave off any reduction in operating hours while a transition to City control is pursued. For more information regarding the Goleta library, please contact Deputy City Manager Kathleen Trepa at ktrepa@cityofgoleta.org.

And the Next Mayor of Goleta Is…

This November residents can decide if they want to vote for the next Mayor of Goleta or continue letting the City Council decide. Currently, the five-member council annually selects among themselves who will be mayor. The ballot measure will ask residents if electors should choose the mayor or if it should remain status quo. Voters will also be asked to decide if the term of mayor should be two or four years. Should the ballot measure pass, it would take effect in the November 2018 election.

Please click here for more information on the ballot measure.