Daily Archives: July 2, 2024

Stay Safe and Cool this Fourth of July

Excessive Heat Warning and Fire Watch

Get ready! It is going to be a hot and dry Fourth of July. Here is some information to help make sure your holiday is a safe one.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued an Excessive Heat Warning that includes Goleta from July 4 at 11:00 a.m. to July 6 at 6:00 p.m. and a Fire Watch that will be in effect from July 4 at 6:00 p.m. to July 6 at 6:00 a.m. More info here.

Please note that conditions can easily change and impact areas differently. Detailed weather forecasts are available at https://www.weather.gov/lox/. Stay updated by signing up for alerts from Santa Barbara County at https://www.readysbc.org/.

Please take good care of yourself and your loved ones during this heat wave. Click here for some precautions and tips.

The Goleta Valley Library (500 N. Fairview Avenue) is a great place to stay cool. It is open Tuesday – Sunday and will be closed on July 4th.

Considering the hot and dry conditions, the City also wants to issue a strong reminder regarding the dangers of setting off illegal fireworks. Watch this safety message with Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte, Santa Barbara County Fire Chief Mark Hartwig and Goleta Chief of Police Services Lt. Rich Brittingham. The video is available in Spanish.

To report illegal fireworks, call the non-emergency dispatch line at 805-683-2724.

We wish you and your family a safe and happy Fourth of July. 

Pictured left-to-right: Goleta Chief of Police Services Lt. Rich Brittingham, City of Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte, and Santa Barbara County Fire Chief Mark Hartwig

Nomination Filing Period Opens for Mayor and Council Districts 3 and 4

July 15 – August 9, 2024

The General Municipal Election is just four months away on Tuesday, November 5, and the nomination filing period for Goleta City Council candidates in Districts 3 and 4 and the Mayor (at-large) begins on Monday, July 15, and closes Friday, August 9 at 5:00 p.m. To be eligible to run, candidates must be 18 years or older as well as reside and be a registered voter in the district in which he or she seeks election at the time nomination papers are issued. Those running for Mayor can live anywhere in the city as it is an at-large position.

This is the City’s second by-district election. The first was in November 2022 where District 1 and 2 residents voted for a Councilmember.

Residents interested in running for office must schedule an appointment with the City Clerk’s Office to receive and/or file nomination papers. To schedule an appointment, or for more information, contact Deborah Lopez, City Clerk at 805-961-7505 or cityclerkgroup@cityofgoleta.org.

To find out what district you are in, view the map below or use this interactive map. Simply type your address into the top left-hand search bar and click on the search icon. The results will show your address within the map.

For information on the 2024 General Municipal Election go to www.CityofGoleta.org/elections.

Goleta's District Elections Map
District elections map for the City of Goleta

Fiesta Ranchera Highlights

Viva La Goleta! Fiesta Ranchera kicked off Fiesta on June 20 at Rancho La Patera and Stow House. This is an annual collaboration between Old Spanish Days and the Goleta Valley Historical Society. It was a lively evening with performances by the 2024 Spirit of Fiesta Georgie Taupin and Junior Spirit Aleenah Soriano, musical entertainment including Area 51 and delicious food and beverages from local vendors. Our Goleta City Council was pleased to attend and welcome partygoers to the City of Goleta. The Spirits also performed in Council Chambers at the June 16 Council meeting where they received a proclamation. If you missed it, you can catch them dancing at the upcoming Meet Me in Old Town event on Thursday, July 18th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Magnolia Avenue in Old Town.

We are looking forward to a great Fiesta 2024 and appreciate the opportunity to get the party started in Goleta. For information on the upcoming Old Spanish Day festivities go to https://www.sbfiesta.org/.


Spirit of Fiesta Georgie Taupin giving a performance to Council at the June 16 meeting


Junior Spirit Aleenah Soriano dancing at the June 16 Goleta City Council meeting

 

 

Spanish Interpretation to Begin at Goleta City Council Meetings

Watch Promo Video to Learn More

Spread the word! Starting at the next Goleta City Council meeting on July 16, 2024, and for all City Council meetings moving forward, there will be in-person simultaneous Spanish interpretation and Spanish agendas. This historic move is a part of the City’s goal to increase engagement, inclusivity and civic participation among our Spanish-speaking community. Learn more by watching our short promo video in English (https://youtu.be/m4sziwd5rG4) or Spanish (https://youtu.be/nr7TtwSI__Q).

Mayor Paula Perotte said, “Achieving this long-time priority will enable our Spanish-speaking community to have better access and input to City Council meetings where important decisions are made. I applaud our City Clerk’s Office and Community Relations team for helping to make this happen.”

Councilmember James Kyriaco (District 2) said, “I’m proud to see our City Council Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Ad Hoc Committee recommendation to provide interpretation services for Goleta’s Spanish-speaking community being implemented. This is an important step towards better informing and empowering all Goleta residents.”

The move to providing Spanish interpretation at Council meetings was also recommended by the City’s Public Engagement Commission.

City Council meetings are typically held every first and third Tuesday of the month and start at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall located at 130 Cremona Drive. Spanish agendas will be located on our website prior to the meetings at www.cityofgoleta.org/meetings-agendas. Headsets will be available in Council Chambers for the live interpretation. There will be speaker cards in Spanish and interpreters will be available to assist those who want to speak in person during the public comment section or on a specific item on the agenda.

According to data from the 2020 Census, 33.8% of households in Goleta speak a language other than English at home. To ensure our Spanish-speaking community participation the past several years, the City has stepped up its efforts to provide Spanish interpretation at most of its events, workshops, and during the City’s bilingual LEAD (Learn, Empower, Advocate, Discuss) Goleta Community Academy. Prior to having Spanish interpretation available at all Council meetings, people were able to request interpretation at least 72 hours in advance.

We hope the addition of Spanish interpretation at Council meetings and Spanish agendas will be a valuable resource for the community for years to come.