Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

Thank You for Helping to Choose New LED Streetlights

Thank you to everyone who took time out to check out and choose from four different LED streetlights in western Goleta and take a survey. As part of a pilot study, the City of Goleta installed new Light-Emitting Diode (LED) streetlights in a small section of western Goleta to test different types of LED streetlights. The goal of the program is to evaluate and select one LED streetlight to be used for the City’s LED Street Lighting Project that will replace more than 1,300 High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) streetlight fixtures throughout Goleta with new energy efficient LED streetlights. The new lights will save the City money, require less maintenance, provide clearer lighting and are better for the environment.      

During the month of January, the public was invited to check out the fixtures on display in the Cannon Green Drive neighborhood along Davenport Road, Freeman Place, and Elmhurst Place and submit feedback via a survey

City staff is reviewing the survey comments and feedback, and will share them on our website here.

For questions or more information, contact City Project Manager Michael Winnewisser at mwinnewisser@cityofgoleta.org or (805) 690-5120.

Pictured: Photo of one of the  LED Streetlights installed for the pilot study.

Stow Grove Park Tree Maintenance Update & Video

Tree maintenance work at Stow Grove Park is scheduled to begin this month and will take approximately two weeks. Work was delayed from the end of January due to the recent heavy rains. As part of the City’s maintenance efforts, numerous dead trees in the redwood grove will be removed and reused for park amenities such as picnic tables and benches. City of Goleta Parks and Open Space Manager George Thomson takes you on a tour of the grove in this video https://youtu.be/WW0eO5POzCM.

“The Stow Grove Park redwoods are a unique and important part of Goleta’s urban forest and the upcoming maintenance work will ensure the grove will be enjoyed by future generations of park users,” said George Thomson.

To improve public safety and allow for new tree plantings, forty dead redwoods, one dead coral tree, and numerous dead pittosporum trees will be removed. Additional maintenance in the redwood grove will include updating the irrigation system and spreading mulch to improve water availability for the hundreds of mature redwoods originally planted in the 1930s. 

As part of the long-term maintenance plan for the grove, the City will also be planting approximately 75 young coastal redwoods and 25 incense cedars. In addition to the work planned for the redwood grove, approximately 40 trees along the eastern and southern perimeter of Stow Grove Park will be trimmed to remove dead branches and ivy. A consulting biologist will be performing wildlife surveys to ensure no impacts to wildlife occur during the work. 

The City’s Public Tree Advisory Commission reviewed the proposed work at their November 30, 2020, meeting. More details about the project are available in the staff report at https://tinyurl.com/y6v6p965.

Please contact George Thomson, Parks and Open Space Manager, at 805-961-7578 or gthomson@cityofgoleta.org with questions or concerns.

Pictured: Stow Grove Park

Watch Old Town Sidewalks Celebration Video

The City of Goleta encourages you to take time out to watch our Old Town Sidewalks Celebration Video. The $3.2 million project was recently completed on time and under budget. Typically we would have done a ribbon-cutting celebration to mark the project being finished, but due to the pandemic and restrictions on gatherings we have put together this video instead.  We hope you enjoy seeing the difference the new sidewalks and other improvements are making in Old Town Goleta.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/gjQNVeQ3RgM. It is also available in Spanish here: https://youtu.be/g-sGpPKs6Hg.

Pictured: (left to right) Project Manager James Winslow, Mayor Paula Perotte, and Public Works Director Charlie Ebeling celebrating the completion of the Old Town Sidewalks Improvement Project

Thank You Vyto Adomaitis for Almost Two Decades of Service

The City of Goleta is losing a veteran and valued staff member who has been with the City almost since it started. Vyto Adomaitis, the City’s Director of Neighborhood Services and Public Safety (NSPS), has accepted a position as the new Community Development Director for the City of Oxnard.  His last official day with the City is February 19, 2021 after almost 19 years of service.  He will begin his new role with the City of Oxnard on February 22, 2021.

Vyto started with the City of Goleta shortly after its incorporation in 2002. During his time, he has led an award-winning department known for its leadership and collaborative approach to addressing community needs in Goleta and the Santa Barbara County region. In 2014, Vyto’s department was the recipient of the prestigious Helen Putnam Award for Excellence in Public Service from the League of California Cities, on behalf of the City of Goleta.

Vyto Adomaitis said, “I am forever grateful to the City of Goleta for giving me the opportunity to serve this community for the last almost 19 years.  It has been an absolutely wonderful experience to work with the highly dedicated and talented staff here. I am also extremely proud of the strong partnerships we have built with the Sheriff’s Office, Fire Department and District Attorney’s Office in helping to keep Goleta a safe community. Thank you to the City Council, City Manager and staff for allowing me to be a part of all of this and for your support of me and my excellent staff in the Neighborhood Services and Public Safety Department.”

City of Goleta’s City Manager Michelle Greene said, “Vyto helped shape our young organization as we developed over the years. His dedication, high standards for excellence, can-do attitude and unique problem-solving skills have been an asset to the City team and will take him far in his new venture. It has been a pleasure to work alongside him. He will be deeply missed.”

Mayor Paula Perotte said, “Vyto has been here from the beginning and I think that everyone would agree that Vyto and our city grew together. I know although we grew together, we will not grow apart. We look forward to hearing about all his successes in his new position and hope that every now and then we can tap his memory and institutional knowledge of Goleta and our formative years. We send him off with our best wishes on his new adventure.”

Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said, “Vyto Adomaitis has done an outstanding job representing the City of Goleta’s interest in obtaining professional, robust, effective and accountable contract law enforcement services from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. During frequent interactions with our agency he epitomized good will, cooperation and credibility. As a result of his efforts, the support of the City Council, and our agency’s strong partnership with the community, Goleta has consistently received outstanding police services that have helped make it one of the safest 100 cities in America. We will miss Vyto, but we wish him well and know he will do an equally superb job for the City of Oxnard.

Joyce E. Dudley, Santa Barbara County’s District Attorney said “It has been my absolute honor and pleasure to work with Vyto. He is smart, compassionate, energetic and supportive. I will miss Vyto’s wisdom and his warmth.”

Santa Barbara County Fire Chief Mark Hartwig said, “Vyto has been an advocate for the people of Goleta through a strong partnership with County Fire and tireless work on the future Station 10 in western Goleta.”

Vyto’s nearly 34 years of government and private-sector experience includes Community Development, Redevelopment, Planning, Downtown Revitalization, Economic Development, Community Development Block Grants, Housing, Capital Projects, Building & Safety, Code Compliance, Public Safety Administration, Emergency Operations, grants writing, homelessness issues, process improvements, customer service and conducting significant community outreach efforts.

Vyto’s professional highlights include serving as the current Chairman of the Executive Board for the Goleta Entrepreneurial Magnet, a partnership between the City of Goleta and the University of California Santa Barbara that seeks to promote economic development activities in the Goleta area. He also led the project team for Goleta’s Fire Station 10 Project, a City Council priority, obtaining unanimous California Coastal Commission approval last September, which will facilitate the future development of this long-awaited public safety facility for the City’s residents. Lastly, he led the project team on the very successful and popular Jonny D. Wallis Neighborhood Park project.

The City will be presenting Vyto with a City Tile at our upcoming City Council meeting tonight, Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at 5:30 p.m.  If you would like to thank Vyto and wish him well, you are invited to participate in the public comment period of his send off.  To participate, click here to join the City Council meeting electronically at and use the webinar ID 966-926-155.  You can also submit your comment in advance by sending to cityclerkgroup@cityofgoleta.org. 

To us, Vyto will always be #GoodLandGoodPeople.

Vyto Adomaitis and City Manager Michelle Greene

Vyto at the Jonny D. Wallis Neighborhood Park Grand Opening in March 2019 (pictured left to right: JoAnne Plummer, Parks and Recreation Manager, Jaime Valdez, Senior Project Manager, Mayor Paula Perotte, Vyto Adomaitis, Neighborhood Services and Public Safety Director, and Claudia Dato, Senior Project Manager)

Vyto Adomaitis and Mayor Paula Perotte at Goleta Chamber of Commerce event

Vyto at the 2019 State of the City with Sheriff’s Commander Kevin Huddle, Undersheriff Sol Linver, City of Goleta Neighborhood Services and Public Safety Director Vyto Adomaitis, Sheriff Bill Brown, Lt. Brian Thielst and Sgt. John Maxwell.

 

 

Let’s See Your #GoodLandGoodPeople Photos

We have been at this pandemic life for almost a year and we know it has taken its toll on so many mentally, physically and financially. We need positive images to keep us going and we need your help. 

Soon after the COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Orders began, the City launched our #GoodLandGoodPeople campaign to provide a bright spot during a very difficult time. Nine months since the launch, we have seen our community truly embody the #GoodLandGoodPeople mindset. With the pandemic still going, we want to keep the spirit of this campaign alive and encourage you to share your #GoodLandGoodPeople moments with us. Examples of photos to send include:

  • Creative ways you and your family are working / schooling / playing / staying busy.
  • Pay tribute to those helping others during this time. This includes medical professionals, grocery store workers, first responders, and more.
  • Uplifting images from our community that will make us smile.

One recent example we received that put a smile on our faces was a photo of the Stylers celebrating their 71st anniversary safely together at Mariposa At Ellwood Shores. The Culinary Director, Michael Despres prepared a homemade cake for them to enjoy. Congratulations to the Stylers! Thank you to Mariposa At Ellwood Shores for all you are doing to keep your residents safe and happy during this challenging time.

We would love to hear from you. To participate, email your photo and a brief description/caption to PIO@CityofGoleta.org. Follow us on Facebook (@CityofGoleta) and Instagram (@CityofGoleta) to see the great photos we have already shared and to see what’s next. Please also share on your social media accounts as well and use the hashtag #GoodLandGoodPeople.

Thanks for helping to keep us all uplifted.

Pictured: The Stylers celebrating their 71st wedding anniversary at Mariposa At Ellwood Shores

Keep Up the #GoodLandGoodShopping and #GoletaToGo!

We want to encourage the community to help support our Goleta businesses, many of which have been deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, by shopping dining, and purchasing services locally. The City’s #GoodLandGoodShopping and #GoletaToGo campaigns are reminders for everyone to think local first. Every purchase makes a difference, big or small.

Many of our Goleta businesses offer online shopping, shipping, home delivery, curbside pickup and gift cards. These options are safe, easy, and fast. Buying a gift card from a Goleta business is one of the easiest and best ways you can support our businesses.

Share your #GoodLandGoodShopping and #GoletaToGo experiences with us for social media! Email PIO@cityofgoleta.org with a photo of your recommended purchase or favorite menu item and a short caption, and you could appear on our Facebook (@CityofGoleta) and Instagram (@cityofgoleta) accounts.  Also, when doing your own social media posts be sure to use these hashtags.

#GoodLandGoodShopping window posters and social media graphics are available to download on our website at www.CityofGoleta.org/GoodLandGoodShopping. They can also be picked up at the Goleta Valley Library (500 N. Fairview Avenue) during Sidewalk Service on Wednesdays through Saturdays 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

#GoletaToGo helps rally support for our local restaurants during this COVID-19 crisis by encouraging locals who would prefer not to dine out during this pandemic to order takeout or delivery from Goleta restaurants. View a list of more than 70 local restaurants (including coffee shops, breweries, and wineries) here: www.CityofGoleta.org/GoletaToGo. The link also has a social media graphic and window poster available for download.

For more information about the City’s #GoodLandGoodShopping or #GoletaToGo campaigns, or for assistance in helping to promote these efforts, please email PIO@cityofgoleta.org.

Thank you in advance for your support. Remember when you choose Goleta, you choose community!

Round Two of State GO-Biz Grants Open Till February 8

Funding will support small businesses that have struggled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

California’s Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), part of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), has opened Round 2 for the Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program today, February 2, and it will run through 6:00 p.m. on February 8, 2021. Applicants who submitted all necessary documents in the first round and met eligibility requirements, but did not receive a grant, do not need to reapply; their applications will be rolled over for consideration in the second round. 

“There is no question that small business are hurting, and the reality of this pandemic demands urgent relief now to help those who need it most,” said Dee Dee Myers, GO-Biz Director. “Before COVID-19, the 4.1 million small businesses that call this state home created two-thirds of California’s net new jobs and employed nearly half of all private-sector employees. It is crucial that we do everything we can to put more money into the hands of impacted small business owners.”

On January 5, Governor Newsom previewed his Equitable Recovery for California’s Businesses and Jobs plan – part of his proposed 2021-22 state budget – which called for immediate legislative action on $575 million in additional grants for the California Relief Grant Program. This investment will add to the initial $500 million allocation announced November 30, bringing the total amount for the Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program to $1.075 billion.

The Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program offers grants up to $25,000 to micro and small businesses and nonprofits that have been impacted by the pandemic. It is not a first-come, first-served program, nor a rolling approval process. Grants will be distributed across the state, with priority given to regions and industries impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, disadvantaged communities and underserved small business groups. All applications will be considered and prioritized based on impact.

Due to the overwhelming demand, the Round 1 application deadline was extended from January 8 to January 13 to ensure interested small businesses and nonprofits had the opportunity to apply.

Mission-based lenders and small business advisory and technical assistance providers will continue to help small businesses with the application process in multiple languages and formats in the second round. Many of the State-supported small business centers, which prioritize the expansion of technical assistance to underserved business groups, will also be also available to help. For more information on grant requirements and eligibility, please visit CAReliefGrant.com.

About GO-Biz
The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) serves as the State of California’s leader for job growth and economic development efforts. GO-Biz offers a range of services to business owners including: attraction, retention and expansion services, site selection, permit streamlining, clearing of regulatory hurdles, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government, and much more. For more information visit, www.business.ca.gov.   

About CalOSBA
The Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) helps support economic growth and innovation by working to ensure that California’s small businesses and entrepreneurs have the information, tools and resources they need to plan, launch, manage and grow their businesses successfully and be resilient. The CalOSBA serves to elevate their voices in state government and to advocate on their behalf to help ensure all aspiring and current small business owners and entrepreneurs are provided with the opportunity to access capital, access markets, and connect to the networks and resources they need to succeed. For more information visit the website.

COVID-19 Financial Assistance Grants Available for Goleta Residents

Apply for Grants of up to $1,000 per Person or $2,000 per Household

In an effort to help Goleta residents who are struggling due to COVID-19 impacts, United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) has partnered with the City to award grants to Goleta residents of up to $1,000 for individuals and up to $2,000 for families. The grants are for those who are experiencing hardship related to the COVID-19 crisis. The Goleta City Council approved financing this program using the Federal Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus funds and the City of Goleta General Fund.

City of Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte said, “We know this is an extremely difficult time for our community, and we hope that this grant program offers some help to individuals and families in need.”

“With the devastating economic impacts of the pandemic, many Goleta residents are unable to meet some of their basic needs,” said Steve Ortiz, President and CEO of United Way of Santa Barbara County. “It is a sad reality that families are having to make hard choices about buying groceries, making rent, paying for medicine. We want to do all we can to ease that financial burden.”

To be eligible for this funding:

  1. You must reside within the incorporated city limits of Goleta (excludes unincorporated areas).
  2. You must be experiencing hardship securing or maintaining your or your family’s basic needs due to COVID-19 (i.e. food insecurity, need for medical care/equipment, medications, access to mental health services). For example:
  • You have lost wages or employment due to COVID-19.
  • You have unexpected childcare/education needs and expenses due to COVID-19.

The application for the Individual/Family Assistance Grant is available at https://www.unitedwaysb.org/covid19-financial-assistance. You can also click here for the direct application link. The application is also available in Spanish here.

If you need assistance filling out your application or have questions, please call United Way of Santa Barbara County at (805) 965-8591 during office hours (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between 9:00am and 2:00pm), or email info@unitedwaysb.org. UWSBC staff is working virtually and will return all calls and emails within 72 hours (Monday – Friday).

Applications are received on a rolling basis and processed in a timely manner. The application process will remain open while funds last. 

Local Non-Profit Grant Applications Accepted through February 4

Approximately $133,000 Available for Local Non-Profit Organizations Applying for the Goleta City Grant and Community Development Block Grant Programs

Are you a part of a local non-profit serving Goleta residents or know someone who is? If so, the City of Goleta has approximately $133,000 in grant funds for which you can apply. Applications are due for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and Goleta City Grants through Thursday, February 4, 2021, at end of business day.

Recipients of the Goleta City Grant Program may receive up to $5,000 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.

Each year, the City of Goleta sets aside a portion of its Community Development Block Grant funding to support non-profits serving low-income residents, seniors, and those experiencing homelessness. CDBG funds are dispersed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which strictly regulates the use of funds. The City of Goleta reserves these funds for agencies who qualify for CDBG funding, serve the goals of the City’s 5-Year Consolidated Plan, and apply for a minimum of $10,000.

Grant applications for both programs are accepted online via the ZoomGrants program. 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 2021.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to help your non-profit or community group. Click here for additional information on both grant programs or contact Claudia Dato in the City of Goleta Neighborhood Services and Public Safety Department at cdato@cityofgoleta.org.

Mobile COVID-19 Testing Unit in Santa Barbara County

There is now a mobile COVID-19 testing unit available to support the expansion of testing throughout the county. The mobile testing unit began at CenCal Health in Santa Barbara (4050 Calle Real) before moving to Ryon Park in Lompoc (800 W Ocean Ave) on February 1, 2021. This test site will be available from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Monday – Friday for a minimum of two (2) weeks and available to all community members. The mobile testing unit will then move to a new location which will be announced. To request an appointment, please go online to https://lhi.care/covidtesting. If you need assistance registering, call 2-1-1.

In addition to the new mobile testing site, expanded COVID-19 testing is also available in the Santa Maria and Isla Vista communities.

Isla Vista Theater  
960 Embarcadero del Norte, Isla Vista
Fridays and Saturdays, 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. 
Walk-In only (no appointments).

Santa Maria Health Care Center
2115 Centerpointe Pkwy, Santa Maria
Tuesday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Online appointment registration opens the day before each testing date and closes at 5:00 p.m. or when all slots are full, whichever comes first.  Appointment registration link will be found here. Walk-Ins are not allowed.

For updates about testing opportunities, please visit www.publichealth.org/testing or call 2-1-1 for information and testing appointment registration assistance.

Pictured: Mobile testing unit at CenCal