Public Works Appreciation

Thank you to everyone who showed their appreciation to our outstanding Public Works Team during National Public Works Week (May 21 – 27)! On Wednesday, May 24, we held a special Public Works Week celebration at the Camino Real Marketplace.  It was fun to see all the faces of people who came by to meet our Goleta Public Works team and partner agencies. It was especially wonderful to see local kids having fun learning about Public Works. They enjoyed fishing, painting fire hydrants, checking out construction equipment, and even got to ride the MarBorg truck.  

The Goleta Public Works Department has had many achievements over the past year, including:

  • Construction of Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon Crosswalk on Calle Real near Encina Lane.
  • Installation of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons at three school zone locations.
  • Vegetation removal at various locations.
  • Resurfaced or paved nearly four center lane miles of pavement.
  • New City-wide Edible Food Recovery program and new Commercial Food Scraps Recycling program as part of SB 1383.
  • Beautify Goleta community clean-up events.

Upcoming Public Works projects include:

  • Implementation of the Ellwood Monarch Butterfly Management Plan.
  • Hollister Avenue Interim Striping Project will improve pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle safety in the corridor, and increase parking.
  • Hollister Avenue Bridge Project will replace the existing bridge and complete the channel widening south of the bridge thereby allowing greater flood water conveyance capacity.
  • Hollister Class 1 Bike Path Lighting.
  • Ekwill and Fowler Road Extensions Project will construct major improvements which will greatly enhance circulation in Old Town for vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians.
  • Construction to begin on San Jose Creek Bike Path – Middle Extent.
  • Crosswalk construction at Calle Real/Fairview Center.

We are so grateful for the essential work this dedicated group of 28 staff members does year-round to keep our city running. Learn more about our Goleta Public Works Department here.

Pictured above: Goleta Public Works staff members; pictured below: photos from the May 24 event

 

Locals Learn How to Help Monarch Butterfly Population

Watch Informative Event Held at SB Museum of Natural History

A group of locals now know more about how to help the western monarch butterfly population after an informative, well-attended event at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Approximately 175 people packed the Fleischmann Auditorium on May 12, to learn more about a topic near and dear to our community. Attendees at the free event hosted by the City of Goleta and the Museum heard from the City’s monarch butterfly team and had the chance to review project plans, maps, educational materials, and other monarch related items. The Land Trust for Santa Barbara, Rincon Consultants, Inc., RRM Design Group, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council, and the Santa Barbara Zoo were also on hand to answer questions and provide resources for the community. If you missed it, you can watch a recording of the event here: https://youtu.be/1Iws9ubxiJg.

Mayor Paula Perotte opened the presentation by highlighting the City’s deep connection and commitment to the Monarch Butterfly Grove at Ellwood Mesa. Following, LynneDee Althouse honored her late husband, Dr. Dan Meade, who studied monarchs at Ellwood and elsewhere since the 1990s. Dr. Meade was the City’s lead monarch scientist from 2010 until his unexpected death in late 2022. LynneDee Althouse continues Dan’s work for the City with a team of scientists at Althouse & Meade, Inc. and Creekside Science.

Additional speakers included:

  • Ashley Fisher of the Xerces Society of Invertebrate Conservation gave an overview on monarch butterflies, their migration, and the significance of the overwintering habitat at Ellwood Mesa, which regularly ranks in the top 10 most important sites for monarchs along the California coast.
  • Charis van der Heide from Althouse & Meade showed us how bi-weekly counts of monarchs at Ellwood Mesa over the past decade inform us when and where the butterflies use specific areas of the Butterfly Grove throughout the winter and during storm events.
  • Stu Weiss from Creekside Science explained why monarchs come to Ellwood Mesa and how they seek a combination of wind protection and filtered sunlight to survive the winter.
  • Kyle Nessen described how Althouse & Meade uses a sophisticated technology called LiDAR imaging to map the living trees, standing dead trees, and fallen trees throughout Ellwood Mesa, and advanced computer wind modeling to determine the tree density and height that will re-create the conditions needed for overwintering monarchs.  This information informs the City’s plans to restore the eucalyptus grove to better support monarch butterflies and other wildlife.

The final speaker was George Thomson, Parks and Open Space Manager for the City of Goleta. He spoke about the history of Ellwood, and the need to improve the monarch habitat and address the extreme fire risk posed by the dead wood in the Ellwood Grove. He reiterated the careful study and planning that has informed the proposed project and showed some project designs of the proposed improvements. Initial work to reduce wildfire risk at Ellwood Mesa is anticipated to begin this summer, pending permits from the California Coastal Commission. Habitat enhancements to improve conditions for overwintering monarch butterflies is expected to begin summer 2024. He also directed the audience to find updates and frequently asked questions on the new Ellwood Mesa section of the City’s website: www.CityofGoleta.org/Ellwood.

Thanks to everyone who attended and for your on-going interest in the efforts underway to help the monarchs.

Funding for the implementation of the Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan is provided by the California State Coastal Conservancy. The Coastal Conservancy is a California state agency, established in 1976, to protect and improve natural lands and waterways, to help people get to and enjoy the outdoors, and to sustain local economies along California’s coast. It acts with others to protect and restore, and increase public access to, California’s coast, ocean, coastal watersheds, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Its vision is of a beautiful, restored, and accessible coast for current and future generations of Californians.

Funding for fire prevention activities in and near Ellwood Mesa (Ellwood Mesa Neighborhoods Hazard Fuel Reduction) is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing GHG emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment– particularly in disadvantaged communities. The Cap-and-Trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. California Climate Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling, and much more. At least 35 percent of these investments are located within and benefiting residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households across California. For more information, visit the California Climate Investments website at: www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov.


George Thomson, Goleta Parks and Open Space Manager, speaking with attendees at an information table


Mayor Paula Perotte speaking


George Thomson presenting

Goleta Annual Solid Waste Rate Increase

City Council to Consider at June 6 Council Meeting

Based on the City’s Franchised Solid Waste Hauling contract, the Goleta City Council will consider a resolution to increase solid waste maintenance rates at its June 6th meeting. The City of Goleta’s franchise waste hauler, MarBorg Industries, Inc. (MarBorg), has submitted a rate increase recommendation for this upcoming fiscal year’s trash rates. The proposed rate increase of 5.95% is pursuant to increases in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and the County of Santa Barbara’s tipping fees at the Tajiguas landfill and ReSource Center. Rate increases due to CPI and Santa Barbara County tipping fees are allowed as part of the City’s franchise agreement with MarBorg.

The proposed rate increase will allow MarBorg to continue providing efficient solid waste and recyclables collection services to the City of Goleta. In addition to solid waste collection, services include collection of green waste, recyclables, and commercial food waste, which are all recycled or reused. MarBorg services also include free residential household hazardous waste drop off, free bulky items pickups, textiles recycling, unlimited free electronics pickups and recycling, and many other programs. The revenue generated by the rate increase will help MarBorg to cover the increasing costs of collection, transport, processing, recycling, and disposal of materials.

The Goleta City Council will be hearing details regarding this increase recommendation on June 6th, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in City Council Chambers at 130 Cremona Drive. Members of the public are welcome to attend and provide comments in person or via Zoom. The Zoom link can be found in the agenda, which is posted on the City’s website (https://cityofgoleta.org/goletameetings) at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting.  

The proposed new rates are listed below. If approved, these increased rates will be effective on July 1, 2023.

 

Monthly Maximum Solid Waste
Collection Rates for
July 1, 2023-June 30th, 2024

Service Level

Current rates

Proposed Rate:  5.95% Increase

$ Change

35-gallon Single Family Residential Cart Service

$35.29

$37.39

$2.10

65-gallon Single Family Residential Cart Service

$39.53

$41.88

$2.35

95-gallon Single Family Residential Cart Service

$45.67

$48.39

$2.71

35-gallon Multi Family Residential Cart Service

$29.95

$31.73

$1.78

65-gallon Multi Family Residential Cart Service

$33.40

$35.38

$1.98

Meet Your Mayor and 3rd District Supervisor at June 11 Farmers Market

10am – 1pm in front of the Sheriff’s Substation at Camino Real Marketplace

Come meet and say, “Hello” to the City of Goleta’s Mayor, Paula Perotte and Santa Barbara County 3rd District Supervisor Joan Hartmann at the Goleta Farmers Market on Sunday, June 11 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The Farmers Market is hosted every Sunday at the Camino Real Marketplace (7004 Marketplace Drive). Look for Mayor Perotte and Supervisor Hartmann at a table in front of the Sheriff’s Substation next to the movie theater.

“I always look forward to tabling at the Goleta Farmers Market,” said Supervisor Hartmann. “So many residents and families are already there for Sunday errands. Goleta’s farmers market is one of the best attended on the Central Coast! I look forward to hearing from you!”

“This has become an annual tradition for Supervisor Hartmann and me,” said Mayor Perotte. “There’s no better way to spend a Sunday than connecting with our community at such an accessible and well-attended spot that values Goleta’s deep agricultural history.”

They are looking forward to meeting you, hearing your ideas, sharing about upcoming projects, and answering any questions or concerns you may have on local issues. Or you can also just stop by to say, “Hello!”

Hope to see you on June 11th at the Goleta Farmers Market.

Pictured: 3rd District Supervisor Hartmann and Mayor Perotte at the Farmers Market in May 2022

GCC Seismic Retrofit Project Underway

The Goleta Community Center’s Seismic Retrofit Project is off and running. The project kicked off on May 30, 2023. The construction work on the main building will improve the safety of the nearly 100-year-old building during an earthquake by strengthening the connections between the roof, walls, and floor. The project will also replace the roof which is past its useful life and provide a fresh coat of paint to the exterior. The work is funded by a Hazard Mitigation Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Administration supplemented by money from the City of Goleta’s General Fund.

The auditorium and dining room, the two largest rooms in the facility, have been closed to the public since February 2021 and will remain closed until seismic safety improvements are completed. The main building was closed in January 2023 to prepare the building for the retrofit project. Other uses on the campus, including Rainbow School, Head Start, the Senior Center, Resilience Personal Training, the Boys and Girls Club, pickleball courts and the athletic field, will remain open during construction. 

The self-service sandbag station at the Community Center will be closed during construction but community members can go to sandbag locations at Fire Station 11 (6901 Frey Way and Storke Road) or Fire Station 14 (320 Los Carneros Road).

Additional Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility improvements to the restrooms, parking lot, exterior railings, and paths of travel are planned next for the Goleta Community Center. This work will follow the seismic retrofit project. The timeline for this additional construction is not yet known. While the seismic project requires full closure, the building will remain open for much of the ADA project with intermittent closure for specific construction activities. Other activities on the campus will also remain open.

For information on available uses at the Goleta Community Center campus, please contact (805) 967-1237. Progress updates on the construction will be posted at www.CityofGoleta.org/GCC.

Oil Piers Removal Celebration June 5th and Platform Holly Town Hall June 7th

The California State Lands Commission invites the community to two special events that are being hosted in the City of Goleta in early June related to Platform Holly and the successful removal of the last two shorezone oil piers in California. Both events are in person.

The first event, this Monday June 5 at 9:00 a.m., is a celebration of the successful removal of the last two oil production shorezone piers in California. This landmark project removed two enormous rusted and derelict structures that blighted the coastline and represents a significant milestone in our transition away from fossil fuels and enhancing public access to and along our coast. Meet at 9:00 a.m. in the public parking lot, known as the Cliff Drysdale Tennis Club Parking Lot, which is next to the Ritz-Carlton Bacara Resort & Spa, and then walk to the beach.

  • WHO: California State Lands Commission and Tribal, State, and Local Partners
  • WHAT: Commemorate removal of the last two shorezone oil piers in California.
  • WHEN: Monday June 5, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.
  • WHERE: The Cliff Drysdale Tennis Club parking lot, which also serves as the public parking lot for visitors to Haskell’s Beach.

The second event, on Wednesday, June 7 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., is a Town Hall that the Commission, together with the City of Goleta, is hosting to update the community about the status and timeline to decommission Platform Holly. The Town Hall will take place at the City of Goleta Council Chambers, located at 130 Cremona Drive. **NOTE: This town hall will be in-person only. A live recording will be available via webcast afterward.

For more information, please contact Sheri Pemberton at sheri.pemberton@slc.ca.gov  or 916.574.1992.

 

Plastic Reduction Regulations Begin

The City of Goleta’s new Plastic Free Goleta comprehensive plastic pollution reduction regulations are now in effect. Are you in compliance? The ordinance was adopted by the City Council on September 6, 2022, but time was given to allow businesses, residents, and visitors to prepare for the new requirements. Based on coastal cleanup data and best practices, the policy is among the most comprehensive on the central coast, making Goleta a leader in plastic waste reduction. The ordinance includes regulations on the following:

  • Reusable foodware is required for all on-premises dining. Did you know that after only two washes stainless steel cutlery breaks even with disposable cutlery for environmental impacts? After that, every use increases the environmental benefits and reduces the costs of use for a business. Not only does switching to reusable foodware decrease waste, it’s also an investment for businesses that reduces pollution generated by the production of single-use foodware.

  • Single-use cutlery and straws distributed in the City cannot be plastic. While reusable foodware is the best choice, single-use cutlery and straws made from natural fibers like paper, bamboo, wood, and edibles like sugar cane and pasta, have a much smaller impact on their environment than plastic. Natural fibers can break down if they get into the environment as litter, unlike plastic.

  • Polystyrene foodware products are prohibited for sale and distribution. This includes both expanded and rigid polystyrene (also known as Styrofoam©) egg cartons, meat and produce trays, cups, plates, and other foodware. Polystyrene packing materials and coolers are also banned. Goleta now joins over 130 jurisdictions in California that have regulations on polystyrene products due to the health and environmental hazards they pose to the environment. This material cannot be recycled and is lightweight enough to blow away even when disposed of properly. There are many alternatives to this material, and many are already prevalent in our community.

  • Balloons are also regulated under the City’s policies. Mylar or foil balloons cannot be distributed or sold within the City, and no balloons can be intentionally released within City limits. Mylar and latex balloons are a prevalent source of marine litter, and are often mistaken for food by marine life, causing harm and even death. Mylar balloons cause over 1,000 power outages a year when they collide with power lines. With graduation season upon us, make sure you’re celebrating responsibly with alternatives like bubbles, pinwheels, and reusable balloons.

To help with the transition to the new regulations, the City’s Sustainability Program released a Plastic Free Goleta guide in April, which is available on the City website in English and Spanish here. Sustainability staff are also available to provide presentations to community groups and help walk businesses through ways to comply with the new local environmental law.

What is the purpose of the new Plastic Free Goleta regulations?

The City’s plastic reduction regulations are designed to reduce the prevalence of single-use plastics and polystyrene pollution in Goleta. After all, protecting the environment is one of Goleta’s core values. Walking along the beach, you’ve probably encountered bits of Styrofoam© in the sand, plastic balloon strings entangling kelp, and plastic straws littering our environment. Following community input and informed by coastal and neighborhood cleanup data, the Goleta City Council took policy action to reduce single-use plastics, polystyrene, and balloons from polluting our environment.

“Plastic Free Goleta” regulations are part of the City’s efforts to reduce waste by prohibiting the distribution and use of a variety of common single-use plastic items. It is estimated that there are over five trillion pieces of plastic in the ocean and that by 2050 plastic will outweigh fish in the ocean. Less single-use plastics being distributed and sold in our community will reduce plastic pollution litter in Goleta’s neighborhoods, waterways, and beaches.

We encourage the Goleta community to join us in going plastic free! To learn more about Goleta’s plastics initiatives, and to read the full ordinance, please visit www.cityofgoleta.org/PlasticFreeGoleta. To inquire about extension eligibility, please email sustainability@cityofgoleta.org using the subject line “Plastic Compliance.”