Daily Archives: January 29, 2024

Verify Your Voter Registration

Deadline to register to vote for Primary Election is February 20, 2024

California voters will vote in March, but now is the time to verify and update your voter registration.

In California, the deadline to register to vote for any election is 15 days before Election Day.

The upcoming Primary Presidential Election is on March 5, 2024, and the deadline to register to vote for this election is February 20, 2024.  

For information on how to register to vote go to https://www.countyofsb.org/1139/Register-to-Vote.

If you miss the 15-day deadline to register to vote, you can register conditionally and vote a ballot at any Polling Place or Elections Office in Santa Barbara County. Please check election specific information for locations and dates. A conditional voter fills out a provisional ballot that is counted once their eligibility is confirmed.

“Voting should not be complicated, and in most instances, is simple,” says Santa Barbara County Registrar of Voters Joe Holland, “The Santa Barbara County Registrar of Voters office is here to help.”

It is easy to register to vote and to verify that your voter registration is valid.  You can apply to register to vote right now by filling out an online application.  A voter must be a citizen of the United States and be at least 18 years of age on election day.  Applications can be found at most post offices and can be returned, postage-free, to the Santa Barbara County Elections Office.  In addition, voters can register online, verify their voter registration, and update their residential and mailing address by visiting www.sbcvote.com or www.registertovote.ca.gov. 

Additional questions can also be answered by calling the Elections office at 800-722-8683.

Poll Workers Needed for March 5 Primary

The County of Santa Barbara Elections Office is looking for civic-minded individuals interested in helping as polling place workers for the Presidential Primary Election on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Volunteers are paid for their service.

To serve as a poll worker, a person must be a registered voter or an eligible high school student. Registering to vote is easy and can be done by visiting SBCVote.com.

Poll workers attend training before Election Day and are prepared to set up and close the polling place, help voters through the voting process, and protect ballots and voting equipment. The election workday begins at approximately 6:00 a.m. and ends at approximately 9:00 p.m.

Being a poll worker is a great way to get involved, help the voting process, and contribute to the community while earning extra money.

Positions are available in Santa Maria, Orcutt, Lompoc, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria, and Montecito.

Put in your application now to be a Community Election Worker or, if you already work for the County, be part of the Santa Barbara County Employee Election Worker Program.

For more information go to SBCVote.com, contact Santa Barbara County Elections at (800) 722-8683 or email poll1@countyofsb.org

Black is Beautiful Gala and Fundraiser on February 23

Celebrate and support the beauty and strength of the Black community at Healing Justice Santa Barbara’s Black is Beautiful Gala and Fundraiser on Friday, February 23 from 6:00 – 11:00 p.m. at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort (633 East Cabrillo Blvd). It will be an unforgettable evening filled with music, art, awards, raffles, and dancing.

Indulge in delicious food and drinks while mingling with like-minded individuals who share a passion for promoting equity and inclusion. The gala aims to raise funds for important initiatives that uplift and empower the Black community.

The program will be hosted by local artist and performer, Vivian Storm, and will include musical performances by a special guest for VIP sponsors, a Gospel Choir, a HBCU Honor Marching Band, a special HBCU Majorette Tribute, a Divine 9 Stroll, the Black Legacy Awards, a raffle giveaway, and HJSB will have the Black/African American Historical Timeline exhibition onsite to view for VIP sponsors.

Since the 1940s the Black/African American community in Santa Barbara has been engaging in organizing and civic leadership. Santa Barbara’s Black community members had a longstanding history of organizing around advocacy, equal opportunity, and safety for the betterment of Black lives.

The key to success and sustainability of the community was their investment in institution building. Organizations like the George Washington Carver Club, which flourished in the 1940s, worked to address educational inequities and raise scholarship money to send African American youth to college. The club held balls and galas frequently to help raise awareness to causes and to gather in community.

The Black is Beautiful Gala and Fundraiser will help raise funds to support Black-led organizations and initiatives to help re-imagine our collective investment in community care. Fundraiser beneficiaries are: Saint Paul AME Church, an historic African American landmark in Santa Barbara, Juneteenth Santa Barbara, the Sojourner Kincaid Rolle Youth Artivism Scholarship in honor of the late and beloved author and scholar, Sojourner Kincaid Rolle, and the Black Community Emergency Needs Fund.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to make a difference and celebrate the beauty of Black culture. Mark your calendars and attend the Black is Beautiful Gala & Fundraiser. Tickets available at: https://bibgala.eventbrite.com.

February Observances

The City of Goleta is highlighting a few important observances happening this month and hope you will join us in recognizing them.

  • Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. The 2024 theme is “African Americans and the Arts” spanning the many impacts Black Americans have had on visual arts, music, cultural movements, and more. Locally in Santa Barbara County, the theme “Black History: More Than A Month” was chosen to celebrate and educate our region on the local and magnanimous achievements of Black/African Americans.  

    The City of Goleta will recognize February as Black History Month with a proclamation at the February 6 City Council Meeting. This is a time for us to honor the contributions and legacy of Black Americans across U.S. history — from activists and civil rights pioneers to leaders in industry, politics, science, and culture.

    To learn more about the rich history of social, political, and cultural contributions made, make sure you check out the Goleta Valley Library‘s in-person adult and children’s displays or online catalog throughout the month of February.

    Community organizations across Santa Barbara County will be offering events both in-person and virtually. For the full calendar of events, please visit: www.JuneteenthSB.org
  • Chinese New Year is the annual 15-day festival in China and Chinese communities around the world that begins with the new moon. 2024 is the Year of the Dragon and starts on February 10, 2024, lasting until January 28, 2025. In Chinese culture, the Dragon holds a significant place as an auspicious and extraordinary creature, unparalleled in talent and excellence.

  • Presidents’ Day falls on Monday, February 19, 2024. Although the holiday is most often called “Presidents’ Day,” the observed federal holiday is officially called “Washington’s Birthday.” Presidents Day is celebrated on the third Monday of February every year and is one of only eleven permanent federal holidays established by Congress.

Thank You, Kristy Schmidt

The City’s former Assistant City Manager is settling in as the new Human Resources Director for the County of Santa Barbara. The Council and staff wanted to make sure she felt appreciated before her last day on December 30 for the positive impact she left on the City. Kristine “Kristy” Schmidt was presented with a City Tile at the December 19, 2023, City Council meeting in appreciation of her dedication, professionalism, and commitment to the City of Goleta during her nearly five years of service.

The Council praised Ms. Schmidt for her “can-do” spirit, enthusiasm, cheerfulness and integrity. Mayor Paula Perotte said, “You always make yourself available and you are so kind and professional. We wish you well and will miss you.”

Upon receiving her City Tile Ms. Schmidt said, “It has been an enormous honor to serve as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Goleta. I have been so lucky to work for two incredible City Managers and with a management team and staff that is dedicated, energized and high performing throughout the organization.” She also addressed and thanked the City Council and said, “I am so impressed with how you bring your attention, intelligence and heart to everything that affects this City. I look forward to seeing what you do next and watching Goleta thrive.”

View the tile presentation on the City website at http://tinyurl.com/36cpx36u (item C.1).

While her list of accomplishments is lengthy, Kristy served the City during a pivotal time in its history. She helped guide City operations through the COVID-19 pandemic and helped replace and transition to a new City Manager, Robert Nisbet, when Michelle Greene retired.

City Manager Robert Nisbet said, “Kristy’s impact on Goleta will be felt for years to come. She chose public service as her life’s work because of the positive impact you can make. It has been refreshing and an honor to work alongside her.”

Prior to working for the City of Goleta, Ms. Schmidt spent 22 years at the City of Santa Barbara. She began as an Administrative Analyst, became Employee Relations Manager and then Director of Administrative Services. She also spent time in human resources and employee relations. Kristy has a Juris Doctorate from the Santa Barbara College of Law and an undergraduate degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Kristy, we are so grateful for all you have done for the City and know you will continue to have a positive impact in this next chapter of your career.

Pictured: Kristy Schmidt (right) receiving her City Tile from Mayor Paula Perotte (left) at the December 19, 2023, City Council meeting

Earthquake Brace & Bolt Grants Available to Homeowners

30 years after the devastating Northridge Earthquake, new retrofit opportunities are available. Thousands of California homeowners are now eligible to apply for Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) seismic retrofit grants as approximately 300 new ZIP Codes have been added to the program. Eligible homeowners in 815 ZIP Codes can apply by February 21, 2024, for $3,000 seismic retrofit grants to help strengthen their homes against earthquake damage. Watch this video to learn more: https://vimeo.com/903441363.

More than $20 million in grant funding will be available to help offset the cost of seismic retrofits that brace the crawl space walls of older homes, when present, and bolt houses to their foundations, making them less vulnerable to earthquake damage. In the ten years since it began, the EBB program has assisted more than 23,000 homeowners in strengthening their homes against earthquake damage. The EBB grant program is administered by the California Residential Mitigation Program (CRMP) a Joint Powers Authority between the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).

Income-eligible homeowners may also qualify for supplemental grants. Up to $7,000 in additional grant funds are available for households with an annual income at or below $87,360, which may be able to provide up to 100% of the funds needed to cover a seismic retrofit. Grants are contingent upon meeting eligibility requirements and available funds.

There are more than 1.2 million houses in California built before 1980 in high-hazard areas that are vulnerable to collapse or destruction by sliding off the foundation during a strong earthquake.

Eligible homeowners can apply for a retrofit grant through February 21, 2024, at EarthquakeBraceBolt.com, where they can also find detailed program information, select a trained, California- licensed general contractor and view the full list of eligible ZIP Codes and program areas. The EBB program added ZIP Codes in new areas including areas in and around Eureka, San Francisco/San Jose/Oakland, Monterey/Salinas, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Palm Springs and San Diego.

About Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB)
Established by the California Residential Mitigation Program, EBB offers up to $3,000 to help California homeowners retrofit their house to reduce potential damage from earthquakes. A residential seismic retrofit makes a house more resistant to earthquake activity, such as ground shaking and soil failure, by bolting the house to its foundation and adding bracing around the perimeter of the crawl space. For more information, including an online media kit, please visit http://www.EarthquakeBrace Bolt.com.

About the California Residential Mitigation Program (CRMP)
CRMP was established in 2011 to help Californians strengthen their homes against damage from earthquakes. CRMP is a joint powers authority created by the California Earthquake Authority and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. For more information, please visit https://www.CaliforniaResidentialMitigationProgram.com/About-CRMP.

#TeamGoleta is Hiring

The City of Goleta is looking to fill a few vacant positions. If you are looking for a rewarding job that gives back to the community, check out the openings below.

  • Community Center Event Monitor/Building Attendant
  • Principal Civil Engineer/Senior Engineer (Engineering)
  • Principal Civil Engineer/Senior Engineer (Traffic Engineering Operations & Maintenance)
  • Supervising Librarian – coming soon

For more information and to apply, go to www.CityofGoleta.org/Jobs. Check back regularly for new listings.

Public Engagement Commission Recruitment Open

Apply by February 22, 2024

Are you interested in helping the City of Goleta find ways to engage the community in local government? If so, we encourage you to apply for the City’s Public Engagement Commission (PEC). The City is looking to fill two vacancies. Apply by February 22 to be considered.

The PEC advises the City Council and staff on issues related to public engagement in City government and governance. The Commission has provided recommendations to the City Council on moving to evening-only meetings, directly electing the Mayor, and district elections.

The seven-member commission meets four times per year or as needed. Members are appointed to 4-year terms and compensated at the rate of $75 per meeting. Eligible applicants must live in the City of Goleta.

Don’t wait, apply today at www.CityofGoleta.org/BoardsCommissions. Applications must be received by Thursday, February 22, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. For additional information, please email cityclerkgroup@cityofgoleta.org.

Beautify Goleta All Month Long

Be a part of the City’s first ever Beautify Goleta Self-Guided Cleanup Month. For the entire month of February, you are encouraged to pick up litter during a time most convenient to you at a location of your choosing (except private property unless permitted by owner). Once you are done, you will report what you collected to the City using an online form. You will then be entered into a prize drawing based on the categories below: 

  1. Grand Prize Drawing with all participants (3 Winners) 
  2. Prize for picking up the most trash by weight (1 Winner) 
  3. Prize for the most number of cleanups throughout the month (1 Winner) 

All winners will be announced on Monday, March 4th by 5:00 p.m.

Before your cleanup, please review our Self-Guided Cleanup Cheat Sheet, our Cleanup Safety Guidance, and our list of Helpful Contacts. 

After your cleanup, the City encourages participants to report results using an online form, which can also be found at www.cityofgoleta.org/BeautifyGoleta.

Need Equipment? The City has trash grabbers, gloves, trash bags, and buckets that can be checked out for free. Email us at EnvironmentalServices@cityofgoleta.org to schedule a pickup time or if you have any questions/feedback.

Mark your calendar for the next Community-Wide Beautify Goleta Cleanup on Saturday, March 16, 2024, spotlighting Old Town Goleta. We are looking for Team Captains to lead cleanup locations for all events in 2024. For more information go to www.CityofGoleta.org/BeautifyGoleta or sign up here today!

Our Water Our World: Planting a Healthy Garden

Learn about planting a healthy garden while protecting the health of people, pets, and our environment with these tips from the City of Goleta Environmental Services Division. Planting a variety of flowering plants that bloom throughout the spring and summer gives you a beautiful garden and can also reduce the number of garden pests. Many commonly available plants— including drought-tolerant plants—attract beneficial insects that feed on pests you don’t want around!

Attract Beneficial Insects, and Keep Them Around

Beneficial insects are the ultimate non-toxic pest control. And they do all of the work for you! Soldier beetles, syrphid flies, and ladybugs and their larvae attack aphids. Lacewings will go after just about any insect pest.

Use pesticides only as a last resort. If you must use a pesticide, choose the least toxic product designed to kill the specific target pest. Bees and other beneficial insects are often more sensitive to pesticides than the pests you want to kill. What’s worse, after pesticide use has eliminated the beneficial insects, the pests are free to multiply… and you’ll need to spray again.

Choosing the Right Plant

Plant for success! Many of the plants that attract beneficial insects are California natives that should do well here. It’s important to learn about your garden—what type of soil you have and how much sunlight you get throughout the day and during different seasons—and choose plants that fit in.

  • Read the label! Most nurseries provide detailed information about plants’ blooming habits and water and sunlight requirements. For plants that are pest-prone, such as hollyhocks and fuchsias, look for varieties described as pest- and disease-resistant.
  • Before you buy a plant, check the roots. Gently pull or knock the plant out of its pot to make sure it’s not root-bound. Don’t buy a plant with roots that are kinked, growing out of the bottom of the container, or surrounding the root ball. Also, don’t buy a plant if its root crown (the area where the roots meet the stem or trunk) is soft or rotten.
  • Talk to your local garden club, and check out these resources to help you choose the right plants:

Caring for Your Plants

Knowing your plant’s needs for water, pruning, and fertilizer will help you keep your garden healthy. Even drought-tolerant plants need regular water to become established. During their first two growing seasons, water new plants deeply twice a week so that their roots will grow down into the soil. You may have to water young plants more often during hot weather.

  • Don’t pile soil around the plant any higher than the root crown. Don’t plant in a depression that will allow water to wash soil down around the stem or trunk and cover the root crown. A continually moist root crown can cause rot.
  • Cover bare soil with mulch. Mulch conserves soil moisture so plants don’t dry out as quickly. A four-inch layer of mulch will prevent most annual weeds from growing, and any weeds that do sprout can be pulled out more easily.
  • Use a mulch of leaves, bark, or composted manure and/or garden waste to provide organic matter to the soil and a slow, steady flow of nutrients to plants. Make sure not to cover the crown of the plant.
  • If you need to fertilize, use organic, slow-release fertilizers.
  • Learn how and when to prune your plants, and don’t prune more than recommended. Severe pruning can damage the plant and encourage pests and diseases.

Find more information on planting a healthy garden in our OWOW brochures in English and Spanish. 

The City of Goleta along with the Cities of Buellton, Carpinteria, Solvang, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and the County of Santa Barbara have partnered with the OWOW organization to promote the use of less-toxic products to reduce pesticide pollution in our communities. By reducing pesticide use and the use of less-toxic products around the home, you can help reduce pesticides and other pollutants such as herbicides and fertilizers from being picked up while watering or when it rains and transported to the nearest storm drain inlet and into our waterways. The OWOW website is a great resource for finding less-toxic products to use around your home or garden.