Daily Archives: July 29, 2022

Join #TeamGoleta! Apply for a Job with the City

Have you ever thought of a career in local government? Are you looking for a rewarding job where you can give back to the community? If you answered yes to either of those questions, then check out the available jobs the City of Goleta is looking to fill at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/goletaca. We have close to 20 job openings throughout multiple departments including the newly posted Senior Manager Analyst – Purchasing & Procurement and the Senior Planner in our Advance Planning department. If you love Goleta as much as we do, we encourage you to apply!

Current job openings include (in alphabetical order):

  • Accounting Specialist & Accounting Supervisor
  • Administrative Assistant (multiple)
  • Engineering Positions (multiple)
  • Homelessness Services Coordinator
  • Library Positions (multiple)
  • Maintenance Worker (multiple)
  • Public Works Supervisor
  • Senior Management Analyst – Purchase & Procurement
  • Senior Planner

You can learn more about the open positions and apply at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/goletaca. Job availability subject to change. #TeamGoleta #GoodLandGreatJobs

Applicants Wanted for City Commission Openings Including Two Youth Positions

Deadline to Apply is August 31st

The City of Goleta has opportunities for community members to get involved, two of them specifically for teens. The Parks and Recreation Commission and Public Engagement Commission are both looking to fill a student / youth position. This is a great opportunity to learn more about how local government works, have your voice heard, and give back to your community. The City is also looking for applicants for an opening on the Santa Barbara County Library Advisory Committee. Interested community members can apply here by August 31.

Parks and Recreation Commission – one (1) vacancy for a Student Commissioner (age 15 years or older); This Commission advises the City Council on all issues related to parks and recreational opportunities in Goleta, including the acquisition, development, maintenance, and improvement of the City’s public parks, recreational services, and open spaces. Eligible applicants must live in the City of Goleta. Members are compensated at the rate of $50 per meeting; the student commissioner may choose to waive their compensation to receive community service credit.

Public Engagement Commission – one (1) vacancy for a Youth Commissioner (must be between the ages of 15 – 21); This Commission provides City residents a venue to address opportunities and ways to increase public engagement in City government and advises the City Council on related issues. Members are compensated at the rate of $50 per meeting.

Santa Barbara County Library Advisory Committee – one (1) vacancy for a Committee member; This Committee’s role is to advise the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. It reviews and maintains the master plan for each County library service zone, makes recommendations to ensure adequate library services to all, determines the per capita level of service, reviews budgets, considers site locations and building programs, and reviews the operation of the library. The member represents all of Zone 4, which includes Goleta, Buellton and Solvang. Eligible applicants must live in the City of Goleta.

Applications for all open vacancies may be submitted online at https://www.cityofgoleta.org/boardscommissions. Applications are due by August 31, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. For additional information, please email cityclerkgroup@cityofgoleta.org.

Introducing New Board and Commission Members

The City of Goleta is excited to introduce our newest Board & Commission members! Vacancies were recently filled with new members on three City of Goleta Boards and Commissions: Design Review Board, Library Advisory Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission. Thank you to everyone who applied and congratulations to those selected.

Our Board Members and Commissioners bring a diverse list of experience, interests, and talents to the position.

Design Review Board

Cecilia Brown was appointed to the Design Review Board (DRB) through February 1, 2025. She is a familiar face, having previously been on the DRB for 10 years. She is a UCSB graduate who served 24-years as an officer in the U.S. Navy before returning to beautiful Goleta. Shortly after arriving back in Goleta, the City incorporated and established the DRB. Cecilia said, “It was a very interesting time in the City’s history, for there was much development going on with many big projects which would ultimately transform the City’s streetscape. So, I am pleased to once again to have the opportunity to be a part of the DRB and participate in its efforts.”

As a Goleta resident, Cecilia has given back to the community through volunteer work with two dog rescue groups and having been past president of the Patterson Area Neighborhoods Association and past president of the Santa Barbara Cactus and Succulent Society. She is also currently a Director on the Board of the Historic Main Begg Farmhouse located in the Eastern Goleta Valley. She enjoys being in her garden of native California plants (including her collection of bromeliads) and with her three rescued All American Shelter dogs. One of her favorite things to do is take a walk, especially at Goleta Beach!

Library Advisory Commission

Stephanie Drake, PhD is the newest member of the Library Advisory Commission having been appointed to a three-year term ending June 30, 2025. Stephanie has called the Goodland home for 20 years. She holds a PhD and Master’s in Education from UCSB, and worked for 20 years in the education and nonprofit sector. Stephanie is currently the owner/operator of Goodland Doula which provides a wide range of education, support, and guidance to families beginning or expanding their family. In addition to providing support for families, she is the Education Program Manager at Then Comes Baby New Family Resource in Santa Barbara. Serving on the Library Advisory Commission brings together both her personal and professional passions with the aim of broadly supporting her community’s access and love of the Goleta Valley Library.

Parks and Recreation Commission

Stacie Furia was appointed to the Parks and Recreation Commission for a three-year term ending February 1, 2025. This is Stacie’s first appointment on a Goleta commission, though she previously served on the Commission on the Status of Women and Girls in San Mateo County. Stacie has served on the board of Postpartum Education for Parents (PEP) for the past 4 years and also volunteers with various community and school groups. Stacie is an avid parks user as a hiker, runner, cyclist, and mom. Currently she works as the Learning and Evaluation Manager at the Santa Barbara Foundation.

If you are interested in joining a City Board or Commission, visit our website at https://www.cityofgoleta.org/boardscommissions to check for vacancies.

Meet the City’s New Sustainability Manager

The City of Goleta is pleased to introduce Dana Murray as the City’s new Sustainability Manager. Ms. Murray began on July 18 and will oversee Goleta’s Sustainability Program and its vision for a cleaner and greener Goleta for all. She will manage projects that help Goleta address climate action, sustainability, community resilience, renewable energy and shared mobility.

Mayor Paula Perotte said, “This is an important role for the City and a great hire for Goleta. We are thrilled to have someone with this caliber of experience to help Goleta achieve its ambitious sustainability goals. We proudly welcome Ms. Murray to our team and wish her great success ahead and a rewarding time serving our City.”

Ms. Murray brings more than 20 years of professional experience in the conservation, sustainability, and environmental field and broad international experience including the Peace Corps. She comes to the City from Manhattan Beach, where she served as the Environmental Sustainability Manager over the past five years. Ms. Murray accomplished a great deal during her time there, including helping the City move to 100% renewable energy. Before diving into local government, Dana was the Senior Marine Scientist and Coastal Policy Manager at Heal the Bay, where she worked on science and policy issues related to coastal habitats and marine wildlife in California. Prior to that, she lived and worked in Goleta. Ms. Murray earned her master’s degree in Environmental Science and Management from UC Santa Barbara’s Bren School, specializing in Conservation Planning and Coastal Marine Resource Management, and her bachelor’s in Geography and Environmental Studies from UCLA.

Ms. Murray said, “I believe in furthering the City’s vision to support a “cleaner, greener” Goleta and have been inspired by how the City has taken great strides to achieve this vision. I believe meaningful public engagement is critical to furthering that success, especially as we move forward to create a sustainable, equitable, and climate-resilient city. As a former Goleta resident, I have ties to the community and great love for the Good Land and the people that live here. I am honored to lead Goleta’s future sustainability efforts.”

To learn more about the City’s Sustainability programs, projects, and initiatives, please visit: www.CityofGoleta.org/sustainability.

COVID-19 Status and Response in Santa Barbara County

In recent weeks the highly infectious Omicron BA.5 subtype has been circulating broadly. Throughout the pandemic, the COVID-19 virus has mutated frequently, creating new and even more transmissible strains. BA.5 is no exception. It is more transmissible compared to earlier Omicron variants but generally does not cause more severe illness. Over the past month, Santa Barbara County has seen higher infection rates as well as an uptick in hospitalizations. Local hospitals remain well positioned and with enough capacity to tend to all patients, especially more severely ill patients.

Higher infection rates are a result of the virus being more capable to bypass the immune defense of the body. The virus is also able to reinfect persons who have recovered from COVID-19 even relatively recently. The best protection still is getting fully vaccinated and boosted per CDC recommendations. Significantly less severe illness is currently being seen due to a less virulent version of the virus, potent medications that are widely available, as well as the partial immunity either through vaccination, recovery from infection, or both in Santa Barbara County’s population.

 “Treatment for those who contract COVID-19 is widely available and has proven to be a significant tool in the fight against severe cases of the illness,” shared Dr. Henning Ansorg, County Health Officer.

COVID-19 community levels have been in the high range since July 14, 2022 in Santa Barbara County according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This reflects an increase in new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population, new COVID-19 related hospital admissions per 100,000 population, and the percent of inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients. It is important to note that this increase is being seen across California and local hospital ICU numbers remain low.

Given that the local healthcare system is stable and well equipped to care for more severe COVID-19 cases, there is currently no need to implement a mask mandate in Santa Barbara County.

Prevention strategies continue to be key in reducing the spread of the virus. It is important to continue the following precautions:

  • Get yourself and your family fully vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible.
  • Wear a well-fitted mask in indoor public spaces and crowded outdoor spaces.
  • Seek testing if you have symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
  • Stay home if you are not feeling well and isolate if you test positive for COVID-19.

To find information about COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, and treatment visit https://publichealthsbc.org.