Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

City Manager Transitions to Retirement

Michelle Greene, who has served as City Manager of Goleta since 2014, has announced she will begin a transition to retirement effective June 30, 2022. Ms. Greene has worked for the City of Goleta for almost 18 years and is credited with bringing a new level of professionalism and sophistication to the organization during her tenure as Goleta’s first female City Manager.

Family responsibilities require Ms. Greene to work remotely as she finishes out her tenure as City Manager. She will then transition to serving as a Special Advisor to support the City while a nationwide recruitment for a new City Manager is underway. The transition period will also allow Ms. Greene to continue to work on various ongoing projects that are still in progress.

“It has been an incredible honor and privilege to serve the Goleta community for the last 18 years, particularly during the last 8 years in the role of City Manager. It is with great sadness that I must now look to ending the successful partnership with the City Council, as a need to support elderly family in Vermont requires that I relocate for an indefinite period of time. But my heart will always be in Goleta. It is an incredibly special place, with an amazing City staff that it has be an honor to work alongside, so I know that I will leave the City in very good hands when the time comes. I wish the Goleta community all the best as the City enters the next phase of its evolution,” said Ms. Greene.

Significant milestones achieved by the City during Ms. Greene’s tenure as City Manager include:

  • Building an effective and innovative organization, including creating new departments, hiring stellar staff and cultivating a positive organizational culture that reflects the values of the Goleta community;
  • Completing the new Zoning Ordinance process and adoption of Title 17 of the City’s Municipal Code;
  • Creating a municipal library and taking on direct management of the Goleta, Solvang and Buellton Libraries;
  • Effecting the purchase of the City Hall facility at 130 Cremona Drive;
  • Acquiring the parcel for a community park in Old Town Goleta and constructing Jonny D. Wallis Neighborhood Park;
  • Obtaining $3.9 million in state funding for restoration of the monarch butterfly habitat on Ellwood Mesa;
  • Acquiring the former Direct Relief parcel on S. La Patera Lane and obtaining $13 million in TIRCIP Grant funding for the Goleta Train Depot project;
  • Creating a Public Engagement Commission to advise the City Council on issues related to transparent public participation and governance of the City;
  • Establishing the LEAD Academy to help community members learn about City operations, and how they can effectively participate in local governance;
  • Achieving a new level of professionalism and regional recognition with the City’s public engagement and communications efforts, including keeping the community highly informed during numerous emergency events, such as wildfires, closure of the 101 Highway due to an unprecedented debris flow event, heavy rains and flooding, and an oil spill that impacted the Goleta shoreline;
  • Creating, adopting and implementing the City’s first Homelessness Strategic Plan;
  • Constructing capacity and fish passage improvements in San Jose Creek and adopting a Creeks and Watershed Management Plan;
  • Establishing a robust Sustainability Program that reaches across several City departments and addresses climate change, recycling and reuse, efficient, clean and renewable energy in City facilities, streetlights, vehicles and in the community;
  • Approval of critical fiscal improvements, such as the City’s Investment Policy, a Section 115 Trust for pension obligations, the City’s first long-range financial forecast, and helping grow the General Fund’s unassigned fund balance to ensure increased budget stability;
  • The City’s response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, including maintaining critical services at all times, successfully addressing unprecedented fiscal ramifications, and assisting the local economy with the creation of an Economic Recovery Plan.

“The City Council feels so fortunate to have Michelle at the helm of this organization, and we are sorry to see her go, both professionally and personally. We are pleased, however, that she is willing to work with the City to transition to new management in a way that works best for the Council, the organization, and the community,” said Mayor Paula Perotte.

Ms. Greene began her career in Goleta as a Management Analyst, before being appointed to the position of Administrative Services Director and later Deputy City Manager. Prior to coming to Goleta, Ms. Greene served as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Escalon, and the City Clerk for Grover Beach.

Help Shape Goleta’s Next 20 Years

Take our Survey

The City of Goleta recently celebrated its 20th birthday on February 1, 2022. As we reflect on our first 20 years of cityhood and look to the next 20, we have much to celebrate. Our beautiful city is home to 32,000 residents and a vibrant business community. Goleta is an award-winning safe, and active community with a high quality of life. Excellent schools, beautiful parks, bountiful open spaces, and distinct neighborhoods help define the character of Goleta, the Good Land.

Looking to the next twenty years and beyond, we see opportunities as well as challenges. As our City strives to continue supporting the quality of life our community expects, we are also evaluating the current and future resources needed to protect public safety, maintain and repair streets, improve traffic safety, prepare for emergencies, support our entrepreneurs and business environment, preserve open space, and keep our neighborhoods and parks clean and safe. With our unwavering commitment to fiscal responsibility and the possibility for revenue-enhancing opportunities, we are confident we can meet future challenges. 

Join the Conversation
We welcome your feedback and questions as the City sets its future priorities. You should have already received a mailer with a survey you can fill out and return. The survey is also available to take online in English or in Spanish. For more information, please visit www.CityofGoleta.org/GoletaNext20 or www.cityofgoleta.org/Siguientes20Goleta for information in Spanish.

Happy 20th, Goleta!

Pavement Work Underway

As part of the City’s annual Pavement Rehabilitation Plan, work begins this week. The City uses a Pavement Management Program (PMP) to track the condition of our pavement and develop maintenance activities and projects based on what is found in the PMP. Pavement maintenance ranges from pothole repair and crack sealing to slurry seals, overlays, and reconstructions.

Pavement improvements are taking place in the following locations:

  • Hollister Avenue between Kinman Avenue and Kellogg Avenue
  • Kellogg Avenue from Ekwill Street to Hollister Avenue
  • Glenn Annie Road from Cathedral Oaks Road to Calle Real
  • Cathedral Oaks Road from Alameda Avenue to the San Pedro Creek Bridge
  • Cathedral Oaks Road from Calle Real to Winchester Canyon Road
  • Various road sections on Coloma Drive, Evergreen Drive, Hillview Drive, Forest Drive and Spruce Drive

Lane closures and some traffic delays are expected during this operation. 

Already completed work for the Pavement Rehabilitation Plan includes reconstruction of curb ramps for ADA compliance (pictured above), a new bus pad on Hollister Avenue in Old Town (pictured below) spandrels, cross gutters, and miscellaneous concrete repairs. 

If you have roads you see need repair, please report them using our City Assist program.

Additional City of Goleta Grant Funds Available for Non-Profits

Applications accepted beginning tomorrow, February 8 thru February 22

Are you a part of a local non-profit serving Goleta residents or know someone who is? If so, the City of Goleta has added $150,000 in additional funding to its Goleta City Grant program for Fiscal Year 2022-2023. Starting on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, through Tuesday, February 22, 2022, new online applications will be accepted for Goleta City Grants, and previously submitted applications can be updated or revised.  

The City Council had originally set aside approximately $100,000 in General Fund monies for the Goleta City Grant program. At the Special City Council meeting on January 5, 2022, the City Council set aside an additional $150,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the Goleta City Grant Program. The Grant Funding Review Standing Committee set funding parameters at its meeting on February 3, 2022. Grants of up to $10,000 for ARPA-funded recipients and up to $5,000 for Goleta City Grant recipients will be awarded for programs that benefit Goleta residents and the general community. Organizations involved in educational and cultural activities, such as music, art, dance, and recreation, as well as Goleta-oriented special events and regional projects that enhance and support the quality of life in Goleta are encouraged to apply.

Grant applications for will be accepted online via the ZoomGrants program. Any applicants who are not selected for ARPA funding consideration will automatically be considered under the Goleta City Grant funding. Once all applications are received, the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tempore, and two Goleta residents appointed by the Mayor make up the committee that evaluates the applications and makes funding recommendations to the City Council. The Council then awards the grants at a meeting in the spring, likely in May of 2022.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to help your non-profit or community group. Visit https://tinyurl.com/goletagrant for additional information on both grant programs or contact Shanna Dawson in the City of Goleta Neighborhood Services Department, at 805-690-5126 or sdawson@cityofgoleta.org.

City of Goleta Distributes 10,000 Test Kits to Community

The City of Goleta is pleased to report that 10,000+ free at-home COVID-19 tests were distributed to community members on Saturday, February 5th at the West Wind Drive-In Theatre (907 S Kellogg Ave). The Point of Distribution site was scheduled to open at 10:00 a.m. but due to the eager line of cars lined up early and ready to go, volunteers began passing out test kits at 9:15 a.m. They continued to distribute the test kits to the steady stream of cars for about 3 1/2 hours until all supplies ran out at approximately 12:45 p.m.

City of Goleta Emergency Services Coordinator Michael Baris said, “Thanks to everyone who came out today. It made all of us here at the City of Goleta happy to be a part of this project. Thanks to the volunteers who spent their Saturday with us.”

Watch a video from today’s test kit distribution here: https://youtu.be/4FCM_xvtqG8.

Volunteers included Mayor Paula Perotte, Councilmember Kyle Richards, Councilmember James Kyriaco, Goleta City Staff and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members.

The City received the COVID-19 test kits from the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department.

Goleta thanks the West Wind Drive-In for providing the space, and also the Food Bank of Santa Barbara County for assisting with logistics.

Free at-home test kits can also be ordered online at https://covidtests.gov/.  

For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, visit the Santa Barbara County Public Health Portal (https://publichealthsbc.org/).  

Cars lined up for test kits at the West Wind Drive-In Theatre

Volunteers passing out test kits

City staff and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers

Mayor Paula Perotte volunteering at the event

 

Take a Tour of North Campus Open Space

Are you interested in learning more about UCSB’s North Campus Open Space (NCOS)? Then take one of the free tours offered each month. NCOS, formerly Ocean Meadows Golf Course, features over two miles of trails through the restored wetland habitat and is managed by UCSB’s Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration. Local volunteer naturalists have become certified NCOS Nature Guides and are hosting free tours every month. The public is invited to come learn about the natural history of the Devereux Slough and wetland restoration efforts here in Goleta. Tours are offered every 3rd Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and meet at the Carlton-Duncan Visitor Plaza. Free parking is available for the events at 6969 Whittier Dr.

North Campus Open Space is also hosting “Second Saturdays” each month. Participants meet at 6969 Whittier Dr. at 9:00 a.m. and are invited to help contribute to the planting of native plants and habitat restoration efforts. Please remember to bring water, sunscreen and a hat, and be prepared to get a little dirty.

Both monthly events are family-friendly and all ages are welcome. Participants can RSVP at ncos@ccber.ucsb.edu.

Visit the website at https://www.ccber.ucsb.edu/ to learn more and subscribe to the monthly newsletter.

Pictured: A burrowing owl, one of many wild life seen at NCOS

Playground Renovation Update

The playground renovations at four different park locations in Goleta are moving along. At Berkeley Park, those playgrounds have been installed and children are enjoying the equipment. Winchester 2 Park is nearly completed though currently awaiting materials to replace the fence along Calle Real. Winchester 1 Park is awaiting a missing part for the completion of the installation of the fitness equipment. Once received, these parts and the top coat of the surfacing will be installed and the fitness equipment will be open for use. At Andamar Park, work has been progressing, but is on hold awaiting materials. Once the playground is installed, an ADA walkway and new maintenance access drive will be constructed. As this work is completed, the park will be open for use. The City is working to plan official ribbon cuttings at these location as soon as it is safe for people to gather. For questions about these projects, please contact Parks and Recreation Manager JoAnne Plummer at jplummer@cityofgoleta.org.

Pictured: Winchester 2 Park

Fifth and Likely Last Public Hearing on February 24

Mark your calendar for the fifth and likely last public hearing before the City of Goleta’s first district elections map is selected. 

At the fourth public hearing about district elections on February 3, the Goleta City Council discussed the various maps under consideration. The City Council asked staff to revise Plan 701, only changing the numbering of the districts so that Districts 1 and 2 are in the east and Districts 3 and 4 are in the west. This is similar to the way County Board of Supervisors districts are numbered in the South Coast area.

Plan 701 was drafted by National Demographics Corporation (NDC), but derived from two plans submitted by members of the public: 210B and 403. This plan was also one of four that were recommended by the City’s Public Engagement Commission following a comprehensive #DrawGoleta outreach campaign. The public can view the renumbered Plan 701 through the following link: https://drawgoleta.org/plan-701-renumbered/.

The renumbered Plan 701 is available for Council consideration, along with other maps previously submitted, at a fifth public hearing to be held at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 24, 2022. The proposed sequencing of elections under the new map will start with the two eastern districts (1 and 2) up for election in November 2022, and then the two western districts (3 and 4) in November 2024.

Beginning this November, the City will be divided into four districts, and voters in each district will elect a City Councilmember who lives in their own district. The Mayor will continue to be elected by voters across Goleta. Districting is important because it will determine how our neighborhoods will be represented on the City Council.

Should the Council select a map and election sequencing at the February 24th public hearing, it will consider a District Elections Ordinance at its March 1, 2022, City Council meeting. The Ordinance will establish the district elections boundaries and will adopt the sequencing of the elections.

For more information on the City’s district elections process, including the timeline, links to the meetings, and all of the submitted maps, go to drawgoleta.org. 

Public participation has been a critical part of this historic process for our city. Thank you to everyone for helping us #DrawGoleta.

Pictured: Map #701 renumbered

Meet New Face on Public Engagement Commission

The City’s Public Engagement Commission (PEC) has a new face, but a familiar one to Santa Barbara County. Former Santa Barbara County Public Health Deputy Director Susan Klein-Rothschild was appointed to the Public Engagement Commission in December 2021.

Susan was born and raised in Southern California. After earning a bachelor and master’s degrees in social work, Susan moved to Colorado with her husband, Dan, where they raised two children. Susan has worked in government agencies, non-profit organizations, and the private industry. Her professional focus has been on making meaningful changes in the lives of vulnerable people. For more than twenty years, this was in the fields of child abuse, foster care, and adoption. 

In 2007, Susan and her husband moved to Goleta to begin her work with the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department. Susan served as Deputy Director at the Public Health Department through 2018. She then worked as Manager for Executive Education at Stanford University. After years as a full-time leader in health and human services, Susan is now consulting part-time and happily contributing to enrich the local community.

Susan said, “Goleta is a gem. A place where people are not pretentious and generally treat each other with kindness. Most of us choose to live in Goleta based on the environment and the people. I’ve also attributed some of the positive vibes to the size of the community. In Goleta, we know we will likely see each other again and we want to foster friendship.”

We also want to take this opportunity to thank outgoing commissioner Sherri Bliss for her more than four years of service to the Public Engagement Commission. 

Beautify Goleta Team Prepares to Launch this Spring

The City of Goleta is preparing to launch its newly enhanced Beautify Goleta program on March 26! We held our first Neighborhood Captains meeting virtually on January 26th and are pleased with the participation we had – over 30 people attended! But we still need more help to make this volunteer community clean-up program a success! You can volunteer to participate or be a Neighborhood Captain. Captains will take the lead on cleanup events around town by helping to coordinate, organize and run their local cleanups, and can be individuals, organizations or community groups.

If you are interested in being a part of the first ever Beautify Goleta Team, please sign up here. The City will hold another Captains meeting in mid-March. Watch our video in English or Spanish to hear directly from the City’s Environmental Services Division on this exciting, year-long community cleanup program.

Beautify Goleta originally started in 2016 as a way to help residents clean their homes and yards with free bulky items collections. From fall 2016 to fall 2019, the City held 16 events, collecting more than 60 tons (120,000 pounds) of material, of which 75% was diverted from the landfill and recycled or reused. Starting this spring, Beautify Goleta is expanding to a community cleanup program that will also host Saturday morning cleanup events every other month in neighborhoods throughout the City. The cleanup events can be tailored for each neighborhood to fit what that area needs.

Thank you to everyone who attended our first meeting, which included: our new neighborhood captains; Council member Roger Aceves, the Beautify Goleta founder; Goleta City staff; and organizations who have been organizing their own cleanups or participated in existing cleanups for years, who have been guiding and working closely with the City as part of the wider local network. These organizations include Explore Ecology, Santa Barbara ChannelKeepers, UCSB, Community West Bank, Rotary Club of Goleta, Urban Creeks Council, and the Environmental Defense Center, among others.

Visit www.CityofGoleta.org/BeautifyGoleta for more information.

Pictured: City of Goleta Environmental Services Division, from left-to-right: Mary Graham, Melissa Nelson, and Dan Rowell