Author Archives: Valerie Kushnerov

Community Views Hollister Class 1 Bikeway Proposals

Over 50 people attended the Hollister Class 1 Bikeway Open House last month to review two proposals for a bike way on the south side of Hollister Avenue. It was great to see the interest from cyclists, parents, teachers and community members as they viewed the plans.

Here’s a summary of the proposals:

  • Alternative 1 proposes a Class I bike path which is separated from the sidewalk.  In this case the five foot sidewalk would remain and a separate Class I bike path – eight feet wide, would be added between the sidewalk and the existing Class II bike lane.  A five foot curbed on each side landscape buffer area would be located between the Class II bike lane and the Class I bike path.  The Class I bike path would be asphalt surface at the same level as the street.  It would not be striped.  Two-way bike travel will be allowed in the Class I bike path.
  • Alternative 2 proposes a Class I, multi-use path, which would be twelve feet wide and will be shared by pedestrians and bicycles alike.  Two-way bike travel will be accommodated in the path.  The path will be a concrete surface and separated from the traveled way and Class II bike lane with a five foot landscaped area.  The twelve foot wide Class I-multi-use path can be striped to indicate a pedestrian path and bike path (during busy travel times such as commute to and from school).  This exceeds the ten foot standard set by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials(AASHTO) by two feet.

Hollister Class 1 Bikeway Handouts_Page_2

The City was successful in obtaining Active Transportation Program funding for the project and was recently awarded a $1.65 million grant from the California Transportation Commission (see article here.)

Prior to finalizing the preferred design alternative there will be several additional steps. The City will continue to work with design consultants to develop the alternatives and will look carefully at each side street crossing, while incorporating or researching answers to comments and questions gathered at the public meeting.  The City Council will then be asked to weigh in with their opinions and comments.

Construction is anticipated to begin summer of 2015.  For more information on the Hollister Class 1 Bikeway, please visit http://cityofgoleta.org/projects-programs/bicycle-projects/hollister-class-1-bikeway.

We Want to Hear From You About Recreation Needs in Goleta

One of the things that makes Goleta a wonderful place to live and play is the diversity of natural open space.  From the sprawling Ellwood Mesa, to the beach, to the mountains, there is access to many recreation activities.

In late 2012, the City established the Parks & Recreation Commission as an advisory body to the City Council on matters related to parks and recreation within the City. In its first year, the Commission was brought up to speed on our parks and recreation offerings.

The Commission is currently engaged in a milestone project for Goleta–a Recreation Needs Assessment. This project is envisioned to be a comprehensive analysis of current and future needs in Goleta. The process will involve robust community outreach and will provide invaluable information to the City on what is currently valued and what gaps may exist in recreation offerings for residents. This project will kickoff in this fall and we look forward to your input!

How to Prevent an Auto Burglary

Auto burglary is the stealing of property from within a locked vehicle. It is a very common form of theft, but it is one that is easily prevented. Auto burglars, like home burglars, look for easy targets, such as unlocked doors, open windows, and property left in plain sight. Auto burglars do not want to be seen, heard, or take an excessive amount of time to commit their crime.

By meeting the following prevention checklist, you will deter criminals from burglarizing your vehicle:

– Lock your vehicle.

– Close your windows.

– Always take your keys with you after you park your vehicle.

– Remove or hide your garage remote when you leave your vehicle unattended.

– Set your car alarm every time you park your vehicle.

– Do not use spare keys hidden on or in your vehicle. Consider a spare key in your wallet instead.

– Park and lock your vehicle in your garage whenever possible.

– Remove personal information such as driver license, registration, etc., from unattended vehicles.

– Do not leave purses, wallets, cash, laptops, expensive sun glasses, cell phones, and other easy-to-carry valuables in your vehicle cabin.

– Never leave valuables in plain sight! Lock all valuables in the trunk or take them with you.

– Remove detachable stereos and faceplates from your vehicle when you park it unattended.

– When equipment or tools must be kept in a vehicle, use a strong-walled and/or tamper-proof box that can be bolted down and secured with heavy duty locks. Do not assume a box is secure merely because it is heavy.

– When possible, do not park your vehicle in isolated or dark areas.

For more information or to speak with Goleta’s Community Resource Deputy David Valadez please feel free to contact him at the office at 805-968-3878. Deputy Valadez is available to answer any questions or concerns you may have about auto burglary and other neighborhood issues.

From Diapers to Diplomas to Dentures – the Goleta Library Offers Something for Everyone

You’ve probably heard of the summer reading program at the Goleta Library which serves a number of local school children.  But did you know the Goleta Library also offers programs for all age groups?

Young children and students can be learn from comedy jugglers, balloon shows, puppet shows, mad science shows, music, and magicians. All of the creativity in the shows is intended to inspire kids to keep up with the reading skills they have established in their past school year.  The Library’s Paws to Read program enables young children to read to an uncritical dog, also boosting the child’s confidence and reading skills.

There are a number of monthly programs geared toward “tweens” and teens, adults and seniors.  The library has recently started offering one-on-one computer tutoring by appointment.  Visit the Goleta Library’s calendar of events to find out how you can participate: http://www.sbplibrary.org/hourslocations/goleta.html

If you love to listen to music or watch movies, you’ll want to check out the library’s offerings.   Save your money by visiting the library – either online or in person – for hard-copy books, e-books, audio books, DVDs, MP3s, movies and more.  The library also provides a music service called Freegal for library card holders, where three free songs can be downloaded per week. The songs are yours to keep forever! You can also stream up to three hours of free music per day.

Locals are definitely enjoying these new services with an estimated annual circulation of over 600,000 items.  Over 30,000 people have used the library computers in the first half of the year.  If you haven’t been in the multipurpose room lately, you’ll appreciate the resurfaced walls which are brighter and allow the art exhibits to really shine.  Don’t miss out on the great things our local library can offer you.

Student Representative Needed for Recreation Commission

The City of Goleta is seeking one student member of the community to serve on the City’s Parks and Recreation Commission. The purpose of the commission is to provide citizens a platform to discuss the needs, opportunities and current offerings of parks and recreation activities in the City.  The Commission also advises the City Council all issues related to parks and recreational opportunities in Goleta.

The Parks and Recreation Commission is a seven-member body with one student member (15 years or older). Members of the commission must reside in Goleta and not be employed by the City.  The student commissioner is appointed for a one-year term.

Meeting Schedule: The Parks and Recreation Commission meets bi-monthly, or as needed starting at 6:00 p.m. at the Goleta City Council Chambers.

Compensation: Members receive $50 per meeting.  However the student commissioner may choose to waive their compensation to receive community service credit.

Applications/Deadline: Applications may be obtained from and must be returned to the City Clerk, City of Goleta, 130 Cremona Drive, Suite B, Goleta, CA  93117.  An application form is also available at the City’s website.

Additional information can be provided by calling Deborah Lopez, City Clerk, at (805) 961-7505.  Applications must be received no later than Monday, September 8, 2014 by 5:00 p.m.

 

Community Asked to Help Protect Goleta Citrus From Serious Threat

A dangerous pest was recently found in the City of Goleta. It’s called the Asian citrus psyllid, and it can be a carrier of Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease. To date, HLB has not been detected in Santa Barbara County, but if it takes hold, it will be deadly for citrus trees in the region.

Once trees are infected with HLB, they will eventually die, threatening not only the ability of homeowners to grow citrus in their backyards, but the Santa Barbara citrus economy. One of the best ways to prevent HLB from taking hold in Santa Barbara County is to stop the Asian citrus psyllid, which can transmit the disease from tree to tree as it feeds.

Everyone in the city is being asked to do their part. The Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program and the Santa Barbara Agricultural Commissioner offer the following tips:

•Cooperate — Cooperate with agriculture officials on detection and suppression efforts of the Asian citrus psyllid and HLB.

•Don’t move citrus — Do not bring any citrus plant material into the city from other states or countries, or from Southern California or the Central Valley. Also, if you live in the areas surrounding recent detections, do not move  citrus off your property, as you may be violating restricted areas set up by agriculture authorities.

•Inspect your trees — Look for signs of the pest and disease each month or whenever watering, spraying, pruning or tending trees.

•Learn what to look for — Visit CaliforniaCitrusThreat.org or using the Save Our Citrus app, which can be downloaded from the website.

•Plant responsibly — Only buy citrus trees from reputable, licensed California nurseries.

•Graft with care — Use only registered budwood with source documentation.

•Be mindful of clippings — Dry or double bag plant clippings prior to disposal to avoid moving psyllids and HLB-infected plant materials.

If you think you’ve found the psyllid or the disease, contact the local agricultural commissioner or call the California Department of Food and Agriculture hotline at 800-491-1899.

ACP adults 005 Rogers

 

Bike, Walk, Carpool — How We Get to Work

City of Goleta employees are doing their part to reduce traffic and the environmental impacts caused by single rider vehicle trips.  Since the City began its Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program in late 2011, a significant number of the City’s workforce has used alternative modes of transportation to get to work.

Though a partnership with Traffic Solutions, the City created a program which allows for flexible work schedules, some telecommuting, using public transportation, biking to work and carpooling.  The City provides bicycles and pool vehicles for employees who don’t drive their cars to work to use during breaks.  Ridesharing through Traffic Solutions’ new app (Carma) and trip reduction incentives are also available.  City employees also receive  bicycle safety training through the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition.  The City also hosted several events during Traffic Solutions’ CycleMAYnia.

The program results to date are impressive.  Over 2,884 single-passenger vehicle trips were reduced as a result of the City’s TDM program.  161,605 travel miles were saved.  7,696 gallons of fuel were saved and total emissions were reduced by 149,473 lbs.  Twenty eight of the City’s 50 employees participated in the program by either carpooling, taking the bus, telecommuting, bike riding or walking.  Employees used one of these alternative means an average of 7 days per month with a core group of 15 employees using an alternative method an average of 12 days per month.

Have you explored a different way of getting to work?  Does your employer promote a program like this?  Learn more at www.TrafficSolutions.info.

Get Rid of Your Clutter & Junk with Free Pick Up!

As a Goleta resident you are entitled to free annual bulky trash pick-ups. All residential customers are eligible for two free clean ups every calendar year provided by Marborg. You may call in when it is convenient for you to have your items removed. Marborg will pick up all bulky waste on WEDNESDAYS and all electronic waste on THURSDAYS.

Annual Clean-up Program Guidelines:

  • All items must be brought to the curbside by 6 a.m.
  • All items must be generated from the address from which it is being collected.
  • Loose items must be bagged, boxed or bundled.
  • Green waste needs to be bundled. No waste from professional tree trimming.
  • Notify Marborg of any items that exceed 5 feet in length or are over 60 pounds so they can send the correct vehicle. (There is no size or weight limits on items.)
  • Construction and remodel material is generally not acceptable. (They will pick up doors, windows, lumber and toilets.)
  • No hazardous waste (Tires are acceptable.)
  • Appliances and electronics are free.
  • Bulky clean up is available for apartments and condos but must be scheduled through the apartment manager or account holder.

For more information on Marborg Services please visit their website. http://www.marborg.com.  If you see items that have been dumped in the public right of way, please report them through City Assist.

 

Community Gets Involved in Civic Center Design

A new civic center design is in the works in the heart of Goleta. A two-day event was held at the Goleta Valley Community Center (GVCC) in Old Town to gather input from the community. Attendees viewed the various exhibits prepared by the architects; they particularly enjoyed a model of the site that allowed them to move around mock buildings, including a future City Hall and other ancillary structures. The public engaged in discussions with staff and the architects about various layouts, programming and uses and the general shape and size of the buildings. Model arrangements that were created during the event were shared at a wrap up presentation with an explanation of the possible pros and cons of each layout.

People around models

The ultimate product of this current phase will be a Civic Center Feasibility Study that includes:
– A review of existing facilities
– Sizing of a suitable City Hall building on the GVCC site
– An analysis of reuse opportunities
– Identification of site constraints
– Cost estimates for building construction and public improvements
– A conceptual design for a future City Hall or Civic Center

The study will also include the potential acquisition of the adjoining 2.8 acre site owned by the Goleta Union School District and how that property might be incorporated into development of a Civic Center.

The event was a success and attendees said that the process was very informative and provided an interesting, interactive forum for public participation. As a result of the two-day design event and other public input, another special meeting may be conducted with the City Council in early September to discuss the process to date, as well as the concept plans that are being developed.

Words on Water from Goleta Water District

With the importance of education about the local water shortage, the City asked the Goleta Water District to provide an article for our newsletter.  We trust you’ll find the information helpful.

On March 11, 2014, the Goleta Water District (District) declared a Stage 1 Water Shortage and called for a voluntary 20% water use reduction.  Since that time, customers have reduced their water use by 8%.  Due to persistent drought conditions, a Stage 2 Water Shortage Declaration is scheduled for consideration by the District Board of Directors on September 9, and will call for more stringent, mandatory water reductions to protect the District’s water supply reliability.  These restrictions will reflect the State of California’s new emergency outdoor watering restrictions which take effect on August 1.  The District is also expanding its conservation incentive and rebate program to offer money-saving ways for customers to further reduce water use.  In July, the District adopted its Drought Preparedness and Water Shortage Contingency Plan which outlines the steps the District and customers will need to take if drought conditions persist.  The plan is available at www.goletawater.com

What can customers do to conserve even more?  Reducing outdoor water use is the easiest way to save the most significant amount of water.  Simple actions customers can take to save water outdoors include planting California-friendly trees and plants, reducing lawn size, adjusting sprinklers so they do not water driveways and sidewalks, setting irrigation systems to water at night or in the early morning hours, always using a shut-off nozzle with garden hoses, and using a broom to clean driveways and sidewalks.  Of course, the simplest way to save water is to water less often.

Indoor water saving actions include installing water wise fixtures and appliances, fixing leaky faucets and toilets, running the dishwasher and washing machine only when full, taking shorter showers and turning off the shower while lathering, and turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth.  Customers can learn more at www.goletawater.com or contact the District with questions and concerns, to report a leak or water waste, or to schedule a complimentary home or business water survey.  For additional information on water conservation, please visit our state and regional partners at www.SaveOurH2o.org and www.WaterWiseSB.org.

Together we can all do our part to conserve and extend the community’s valuable water supplies during this drought.