Daily Archives: March 6, 2020

Old Town Sidewalk Improvements Project Breaks Ground!

The long-awaited Old Town Sidewalk Improvements Project broke ground on Monday, March 2, 2020. The project is expected to take approximately nine months to complete. A Goleta Old Town Sidewalk Improvements Project Schedule can be found on the project page. The schedule is an estimate and will be updated on the website regularly as construction proceeds.

The color-coded map includes streets, phasing, and approximate schedule. There are three zones of work; areas with one block in each zone under construction at a time. The first three streets will be Orange, Magnolia, and Armitos Avenues.

The City knows long-term projects such as this one can be inconvenient for those that live or visit the area, and we appreciate your patience in advance. Parking in the public right-of-way is available on adjacent streets during construction.

The Old Town Sidewalk Improvements Project has been in the planning and design phase for the last three years and the City of Goleta is excited to finally bring it to construction. The project includes constructing sidewalk on at least one side of each street north of Hollister Avenue between South Fairview Avenue and Mallard Avenue as well as on Pine Avenue south of Hollister Avenue. The new sidewalks will connect to existing sidewalk providing a continuous path of travel. There will also be drainage improvements, tree replacements, repaving, and the construction of 39 back-in angled parking spots on Magnolia Avenue (for a net increase of approximately 17 new parking spots). Watch this video to learn more about the project.

When this project is done, the safety improvements, livability and ability to recreate in Old Town will change dramatically. We are pleased the community will be able to enjoy the improvements for years to come.

To learn more about this project, go to https:tinyurl.com/GoletaOTSW, email sidewalks@cityofgoleta.org, or call the Construction Manager at 805.450.7949.

Help Shape the Future of the Goleta Community Center

The Goleta Community Center (GCC) is an important gathering place for our community. That is why the City of Goleta is interested in hearing from community members and stakeholders on how to better utilize the facility and make it a more vibrant and inviting gathering place in the future.

As the owner of the GCC, the City of Goleta is gathering input from the community about what potential modifications to the facility, programming, and services they would like to see at the site. This information will also be used to identify the resources needed to make some of the suggested improvements.

The City has engaged a local consultant, to assist in coordinating this brief survey as part of this process. This survey is available online in both English and Spanish to the community until March 16th, 2020.

Your answers are anonymous and will be used to help us better understand and prioritize the community’s ideas. Please feel free to share the survey links with others.

Thank you for your willingness to complete this survey about the Community Center.

National Census Day is April 1

Participate in National Census Day on April 1 from 2:00 – 6:30 p.m. by coming to the Goleta Valley Library (500 N. Fairview Avenue) or Equalitech at the Goleta Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue, Room 13B) to complete your 2020 census! For the first time, the census will be available to take online. It can also be completed over the phone or using a paper copy. Households will receive an invitation in the mail in March with instructions on how to complete the census. Both the library and Equalitech will be offering free mini-bundt cakes to the first 100 people that come to take the census at each location. Learn more about the importance of the census and what it means for Goleta at www.CityofGoleta.org/Census2020.

POSTPONED: Come to our Make Goleta Count Day Celebration on March 14

After due consideration and comprehensive discussions, the City of Goleta has decided to postpone its Make Goleta Count Day/ Haz Que Cuente Goleta (Día de Promocíon) event scheduled for this Saturday, March 14, 2020 at Jonny D. Wallis Neighborhood Park. The decision was made in an abundance of precaution following California Governor Gavin Newsom’s order and Gathering Guidelines issued today from the California Department of Public Health.  We appreciate everyone who partnered with us and who was a part of spreading the word about the timely, informative and fun event we had planned.  Our hope is that we can re-schedule for a date in the future. We will be sure to keep you posted.

Households will receive an invitation in the mail from the U.S. Census Bureau in mid to late March. It will have instructions on how to complete the 2020 Census online, by phone, or using a paper copy. The following items are at stake for Goleta if there is an undercount in the 2020 census:

  • District election boundaries
  • Loss of revenue for TEN years
  • Federal funding for Community Development Block Grants
  • Library funding
  • Gas tax related revenue for road repairs
  • Special funding based on population

Watch our Make Goleta Count video, which debuted at the March 3, 2020, City Council meeting.

In addition to helping our community get its fair share of federal funds, the census creates jobs, helps plan for the future, and supports public safety and emergency preparedness. Learn more about the 2020 census here.

 

2nd LEAD Goleta Community Academy Graduates

The City of Goleta is proud to congratulate 25 exceptional community members for completing the six-week LEAD Goleta Community Academy.  LEAD stands for Learn, Empower, Advocate, and Discuss. On February 12, 2020, the group completed their final class and then received their well-deserved graduation certificates as well as a City of Goleta pin.  The celebratory event was attended by the Mayor, City Councilmembers, City Manager, City Staff and family and friends of the participants.

Watch a recap of our six week LEAD Goleta Community Academy here.

The diverse group of Academy participants came from all different backgrounds and walks of life.  The group included a high school student, college students, retirees, business professionals, community activists and more. For six weeks the participants learned everything from how the City of Goleta is run and how the City came to be, to all the facets that make up a City including presentations from Finance, Public Works, Planning, Neighborhood Services & Public Safety, the City Clerk’s Office, Goleta Valley Library, City Attorney’s Office, Community Outreach and more. 

Besides getting a behind the scenes look at each of these departments, the participants also got a tour of City Hall, experienced a Mock City Council meeting and watched video ride-alongs with our Public Works Director and our Parks and Recreation Manager.

Before receiving their certificates, the graduates went around the room and expressed what they enjoyed most about the Academy.  Here are just some of the comments:

Goleta resident and mother of five, Lina Plascencia said, “This class proved to be considerably momentous and informative; more than I could have anticipated! I would highly recommend this class to anyone interested in learning more about our amazing City of Goleta and the dedicated staff.”

Goleta resident Steve George said, “The LEAD class was a great introduction to the mechanics of our local government.  Few cities I have lived in have welcomed such close interaction with City Leaders as here in Goleta.  The transparency of processes and communication is commendable.  I highly recommend that everyone take the opportunity to participate in the LEAD program and to make a difference in our community.”

Life-long Goleta resident Cristi Smith said, “Every speaker was professional, well-organized, captivating and really drove home the fact that they truly care about our great community. I can rest easy knowing we have an educated and dedicated staff working for us round the clock to ensure the Goodland stays that way. I encourage everyone who has an interest in Goleta to sign up the next opportunity this course is offered.” 

Goleta resident Phil Tabyanan said, “I signed up for LEAD to learn more about Goleta leadership, the decision makers, policies, and the various departments that impact the city/community. I was moved at how accessible leadership is from the top down. I enjoyed learning about each individual department and the key players involved.  This class is an essential to understanding the who, what, when, where, why and how’s in the City of Goleta!”

Mayor Paula Perotte applauded the group for their participation and said, “I appreciate your taking time out of your busy lives to come learn about how a city is run. I hope you take this information and share it with your friends and family and that you will stay engaged.”

The City of Goleta is proud to offer this unique and enlightening experience and looks forward to our next class in the fall (Wednesdays September 9 – October 14). If you are interested in signing up, please email jshaw@cityofgoleta.org to be notified when applications are available.