Daily Archives: July 29, 2024

Sheriff’s Office Citizen’s Academy

Apply by August 30

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is accepting applications for its upcoming Citizen’s Academy. The Citizen’s Academy is an engaging and informational behind-the-scenes look at law enforcement in Santa Barbara, hosted by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. Participants will engage in various topics including the history of law enforcement, criminal law, patrol tactics, and de-escalation communication. They will also participate in hands-on learning such as firearms instruction and active shooter scenarios. This is a great opportunity for people who are interested in law enforcement to learn more about our agency and this rewarding career.

Participants must be 18 years of age or older. Applications must be received no later than Friday, August 30, 2024. You can scan and email your application to citizensacademy@sbsheriff.org.

The first class begins Thursday, September 12, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Sheriff’s Headquarters (4434 Calle Real, Santa Barbara 93110). There will be a session every Thursday at 6:00 p.m., except for October 31 (Halloween), with a final meeting on Saturday, November 16, 2024, which will include a graduation ceremony.  Sessions will be at various locations including Sheriff’s Headquarters, the North Branch Jail, and County Air Support at the Santa Ynez Airport.

You can read more about the Citizen’s Academy and find the application form on the Sheriff’s Office website, SBSheriff.org.

Learn about Goleta’s Code Compliance Division

Goleta residents and property owners are entitled to live in an orderly, safe, and beautiful community. The purpose of the Code Compliance function is to facilitate a safe and desirable environment by applying applicable zoning and building laws and regulations as suspected violations are reported.  These adopted regulations include, but are not limited to, the Goleta Municipal Code (GMC), the California Building Code, the International Property Maintenance Code, and other adopted codes. Code Compliance addresses a wide range of neighborhood issues from property maintenance issues to unpermitted construction activities.

There are three ways to report a code violation:

  1. City Assist – Submit a Request
  2. Public Portal for Permit Tracking
  3. Calling 805-961-7556 or emailing codecompliance@cityofgoleta.org

Reports are investigated by Code Compliance Officers who determine if a violation exists based on visual observation from the public right of way.  If a violation is identified, then the Property Owner and tenant (if applicable) are sent a written letter (Notice of Violation or NOV) outlining the violation(s) and given a deadline to comply.  Typically, multiple NOVs are sent before additional Code Compliance actions are undertaken including the issuance of administrative fines/citations.  

Recently, the City of Goleta has contracted with a third-party vendor (Citation Processing Center or CPC) to accept and process administrative fines/citations associated with Code Compliance cases. If a Property Owner/tenant receives an administrative citation, the payment methods available include online payments at www.CitationProcessingCenter.com or with mail in payments to: City of Goleta, c/o Citation Processing Center, PO Box 7275, Newport Beach, CA 92658 -7275. CPC has a bilingual Customer Service Department available Monday – Friday from 8am – 5pm (800-989-2058) to serve the residents/property owners who receive an administrative citation.

Please do your part to create and preserve an orderly, safe, and beautiful community by maintaining your property and/or by checking with the Current Planning Division (805-961-7543 or planningcounter@cityofgoleta.org) or the Building Division (805-961-7552 or buildinggroup@cityofgoleta.org) before undertaking construction.

Get Ready for Creek Week

SB Creek Week (September 21 – 28) is an annual celebration of our creeks, watersheds, and the ocean, with many organizations hosting events to help build awareness and stewardship of the natural treasures of Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Carpinteria. 

Creek Week begins with Coastal Cleanup Day on September 21, an international effort to clean up beaches on a global scale. There are multiple opportunities to get involved with Creek Week in Goleta, through participation in Coastal Cleanup Day, FREE Bulky Items Collections, Creek Week Art Contest with the Goleta Valley Library (September 6 – 26), a Goleta Creeks and Watersheds Lunch and Learn on September 27th, volunteer plantings at Ellwood bluffs on September 28th, a creek tour, and more! Additionally, many exciting events are happening County-wide. Stay tuned for county-wide details at SB Creek Week, and for Goleta-specific details on the City’s events calendar and social media (@cityofgoleta).

Combined Coffee & Community and Beautify Goleta Recap

The City’s first combined Coffee & Community and Beautify Goleta event drew approximately 100 community members to Berkeley Park located behind Kellogg School on Saturday, July 20, 2024. Thanks to everyone who took time out of their morning to come have coffee and conversation with us and those who stayed and helped clean up the area as Beautify Goleta volunteers. Want to see for yourself how memorable this event was? Check out our photo gallery here https://bit.ly/3LxKclp and go to our social media pages on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @cityofgoleta to watch a reel.

The morning started with a welcome from Mayor Pro-Tempore Luz Reyes-Martin (District 1) who said, “These coffee and community events which are held throughout the year throughout the city are a great opportunity for neighbors to get to know the Councilmember from their district, Mayor and staff at the City. Thank you so much for being here.” 

Mayor Paula Perotte introduced City staff from different departments who were in attendance and available for one-on-one time with attendees, some who came to the event with specific questions. She said, “It was a relaxed atmosphere where people felt comfortable asking questions. Whether they lived in the Berkeley Park neighborhood or were from other areas of Goleta, it was a wonderful opportunity to be together in a casual setting.”

A highlight of the event was when the Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tempore recognized the Kellogg Ocean Guardians who were the first school in the Goleta Union School District, and the one of first in the state, to replace single-use plastic utensils with reusable metal sporks for its students. The students present received Certificates of Recognition for their “commitment to the protection and conservation of local watersheds, the world’s ocean, and national marine sanctuaries.”

Twenty-two volunteers stayed afterwards for Beautify Goleta and collected over 50 pounds of trash. A Bulky Item Drop Off took place nearby at Good Shephard Lutheran Church and Preschool and saw 39 vehicle drop-offs, totaling over 6,600 pounds.

A special thanks to Valerie Voorhees and Karina Trejo from Mission Refill who, in the spirit of Plastic Free July and Plastic Free Goleta, filled empty glass containers with a total of almost three gallons of unscented hand soap. 

Thanks also to the Goleta Valley Library who brought sidewalk chalk for the kids, signed people up for free library cards and provided some great summertime reading books.

As always, thanks to our wonderful community for showing up and supporting our events. 

Pictured above: City staff at event


Mayor Pro-Tempore Luz Reyes-Martin and Mayor Paula Perotte at Berkeley Park


Kellogg Ocean Guardians Recognized


Mission Refill Free Hand soap Distribution


Father and son Beautify Goleta volunteers


Sidewalk Chalk Artist 

Ellwood Mesa Access Road Reopens

The Ellwood Mesa Emergency Access Road is back open. It had been closed since February 4, 2024, due to impacts from a severe winter storm which washed out the existing 72-inch diameter pipe culvert and severely damaged the emergency access road.

The Ellwood Mesa Emergency Access Road provides trail and beach access to City staff for maintenance, emergency vehicles and pedestrians at the end of Santa Barbara Shores Drive. The access road is an important part of the overall trail system for the Ellwood Mesa.

The repair work began on June 26, 2024. The City-hired contractors successfully installed a 72-inch diameter reinforced concrete culvert, bank erosion control, and a concrete roadway to reconnect the trail across Devereux Creek. The work was completed on July 15, 2024.

Other storm repairs throughout the City are ongoing or anticipated to begin in the next few weeks.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact the Project Manager Michael Winnewisser at (805) 690-5120 or mwinnewisser@cityofgoleta.org. 

Pictured above: Newly Opened Ellwood Mesa Emergency Access Road


Work being done on the Ellwood Mesa Emergency Access Road

Pavement Rehab Underway

New Online Interactive Pavement Map Now Available

The City of Goleta’s Pavement Rehabilitation Project is underway. Construction began on July 29 on Phelps Road. More work will take place on August 6th and 7th when Phelps Road will be closed from Mills Way to Storke Road.

The Project is part of the City’s ongoing effort to maintain and improve the City’s road network by restoring and resurfacing the existing pavement to prevent further damage and extend its lifespan. The work will also include installing new striping and markings to improve visibility for drivers and accessibility compliant curb ramp upgrades.

Phelps Road is one of eight roads that are part of the 2023 Pavement Rehabilitation Project. Below are the roads scheduled for construction, which are expected to be completed by November 2024.

  • Phelps Road (Pacific Oaks Road to Storke Road)
  • Hollister Avenue (Cathedral Oaks Road to City Right of Way)
  • Caroldale Place (Caroldale Lane to cul-de-sac)
  • Caroldale Lane (Camino Laguna Vista to La Patera Lane)
  • Storke Road (Hollister Avenue to US 101 On-Ramp)
  • North Fairview Avenue (US 101 On Ramp to Calle Real)
  • Colusa Drive (Del Norte Drive to Calle Real)
  • Cathedral Oaks Road (Winchester Canyon Road to Evergreen Drive)

Residents and motorists can expect minor disruptions during construction, including lane closures and detours. Please plan your routes accordingly and follow all traffic signage and instructions from construction crew workers.

An interactive map of pavement projects in Goleta is now available on the City’s website at www.CityofGoleta.org/Pavement, or to go directly to it, click here. This interactive feature highlights roads that have been previously paved along with the treatments applied, as well as future roads that are proposed for repair.

The City constructs an Annual Pavement Rehabilitation Project as part of its Pavement Management Program (PMP). The PMP uses a critical point management approach to select and prioritize which streets will be considered for treatment. The critical point approach incorporates pavements from all parts of the deterioration curve, not just the best or worst. This approach optimizes every budget dollar by seeking to apply the right treatment to the right pavement at the right time. Pavement treatments range from pothole repair and crack sealing to slurry seals, overlays, and reconstructions.  

If you have any questions on the Pavement Rehabilitation Projects, please contact us at pavement@CityofGoleta.org or 805-562-5504, or visit www.CityofGoleta.org/Pavement.

Spanish Interpretation at City Council

We are off and running with live in-person simultaneous interpretation at our City Council meetings. The July 16, 2024, Council meeting included an historic moment when the Mayor opened up the Council meeting to announce this important resource will now be a part of all of our Council meetings moving forward.

The Mayor introduced our interpreters for this first meeting, Hugo Santos-Gomez and Regina Santos, who explained how the simultaneous interpretation process works with the use of headsets. Two of our Bilingual LEAD Goleta Academy Graduates, Mary Viurquez and Leonardo Dominguez, were there to express their gratitude.

“I want to thank you for giving all Spanish speakers the opportunity to participate in our City Council meetings.” said Mary Viurquez “This resource, like the Bilingual LEAD Academy, it shows us that the City is a place where Spanish speakers also have a right to let their voice be heard”.

“Thank you to the Mayor, Council, and City for taking note of us,” said Leonardo Dominguez. “It’s important for Spanish speakers to be aware of what happens in our City.”

Agendas are available in Spanish. You can find them here in advance of meetings: https://www.cityofgoleta.org/meetings-agendas.

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. Please help us spread the word that this resource is available to our community.


Mary Viurquez providing public comment (pictured with interpreter Regina Santos)


Leonardo Dominguez providing public comment (pictured with interpreter Regina Santos)

Hollister Ave Old Town Interim Striping Update

Watch Back-In Angled Parking Video

The Hollister Avenue Old Town Interim Striping Project is nearing completion and is expected to wrap up this month. Remaining tasks include the installation of 90-minute parking signs, back-in only signs, and a lane separation system. We appreciate your patience during traffic delays during construction. Information about anticipated traffic impacts can be found on the project webpage: www.CityofGoleta/ProjectConnect.

As part of the project, a total of 53 back-in parking spots were installed on the north side of Hollister Avenue. This created 15 more parking spots in Old Town on this side of the street. We know back-in angled parking is new to Goleta. Watch this short tutorial for some helpful tips.

The Hollister Avenue Old Town Interim Striping Project is part of Project Connect, a multi-year project that includes the installation of two roundabouts on Hollister Avenue at the State Route 217 ramp intersections, which are scheduled to be completed in late 2026. An additional roundabout will be constructed at the Ekwill Street at Pine Avenue intersection, which is anticipated to be completed in 2025.

The Hollister Avenue construction site is a focal point for much of the Project Connect work, as it is the only road that crosses San Jose Creek south of the freeway and serves as the main crossing point for most utilities.

The Ekwill Street Extension, which will run from Kellogg Avenue to Fairview Avenue across Old Town Goleta, will relieve regional congestion, enhance bicycle and pedestrian circulation, and improve access to the airport. The extension is anticipated to be constructed in 2025. For information on the project, click here.


Watch tutorial in English here.


Watch tutorial in Spanish here.

Goleta’s Best Dam Dinner is Coming Up August 17

Join Us from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Lake Los Carneros Dam

Goleta’s Dam Dinner is almost here! We hope you will join us on August 17 for this free community event that brings together friends and neighbors in a beautiful setting. The Dam Dinner takes place the last Saturday in summer before school starts at the Lake Los Carneros Dam from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Watch our video invite in English (https://youtu.be/gFsIXymsZ3A) or Spanish (https://youtu.be/S4_eNCj8dmA).

Here’s what to expect:

  • Everyone sits together at tables and chairs set up by the dam with beautiful views of Lake Los Carneros and the mountains.
  • Listen to live music from local bluegrass group the Salt Martians.
  • Bring your own picnic dinner or purchase food from Mylestone BBQ.
  • Kona Ice will be providing free shaved ice.
  • Kids will enjoy face-painting and cornhole.
  • The popular Dam Dinner t-shirts will be available for purchase.

As a reminder, the City has a plastic reduction ordinance in place, and we ask you to please not bring single-use plastics. As a free gift to you, attendees will receive a reusable travel utensil set to use and keep courtesy of the City of Goleta. These were a huge hit last year – feel free to bring your set back with you! Learn more about Plastic Free Goleta here: www.cityofgoleta.org/plasticfreegoleta. #GoGreenGoleta

To get to the event, enter off N. La Patera Lane or Stow House at 304 N. Los Carneros Road. Wear walking shoes and bring a jacket in case it gets windy. Please do not bring pets, service animals are allowed.

Goleta’s Dam Dinner is organized by the City of Goleta and Goleta Valley Historical Society with special thanks to Big Hammer Lures, Creekside Restaurant & Bar, Devereux, Fuel Depot, MarBorg, the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce and the Water Store.

See you August 17 at the #BestDamDinner!


2023 Dam Dinner Group Photo


The Salt Martians performing at the 2023 Dam Dinner