Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

California Coastal Commission Approves Fire Station 10 Project

The City of Goleta is pleased to report that the California Coastal Commission (CCC) approved the long-awaited Western Goleta Fire Station 10 (FS10) project at its virtual video and teleconference meeting on September 10, 2020, in a unanimous decision. CCC staff recommended that the CCC approve the City’s Coastal Development Permit (CDP) application with special conditions. 

Goleta’s Neighborhood Services & Public Safety Director Vyto Adomaitis was the lead presenter at the CCC meeting said the approval is wonderful news for Goleta. He said, “FS10 is a long awaited critical public safety facility that will enhance the levels of fire protection for our community. This is truly an incredible and historic day for our City, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department and the residents of Goleta whom we worked very collaboratively with to achieve the very successful outcome we had today. We also want to thank the excellent staff at the Ventura Office of the CCC for their collaboration and support. The approval of FS10 today, a project which has been talked about since 1967, 53 years, has been a breathtaking experience that none of us will ever forget. I am extremely proud of our project team and strong partnership with the Fire Department.”

Upon learning the good news, City of Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte said, “The approval by the California Coastal Commission is another big milestone in the development of Fire Station 10. This new station will help our fire department to provide significantly better response times for fire suppression and emergency medical assistance to our residents.  It truly represents a wonderful and historic day for Goleta and reinforces the City’s strong commitment to public safety.”

View the application and summary of the staff recommendation in the agenda, found here: https://www.coastal.ca.gov/meetings/agenda/#/2020/9

The next step is for construction documents for Fire Station 10 to be finalized for City Council authorization to go out to bid.

The Fire Station 10 project consists of the design and construction of a new three-bay, single-story fire station, approximately 11,600 square feet in size, with associated landscaping and appurtenant facilities on a City-owned parcel located at 7952 Hollister Avenue, across from the Sandpiper Golf Course.  The Goleta City Council approved the project in December 2018. However, because the subject site is in the Coastal Zone, a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) issued by the California Coastal Commission is required. The City submitted a CDP application in January 2019, and after completing additional studies requested by CCC staff, the City learned in February 2020 that the CDP application had been deemed complete.

Learn more about the Fire Station 10 Project here (rendering below).

Pictured: City of Goleta’s Neighborhood Services & Public Safety Director Vyto Adomaitis presenting Fire Station 10 item at the September 10, 2020 California Coastal Commission virtual video and teleconference meeting.

Ellwood Mesa Monarch Butterfly Grove Grant Funding Extended

The City of Goleta thankfully has more time to complete improvements to the Ellwood Mesa Monarch Butterfly Grove. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 115 on September 9, 2020, extending the use of a $3.9 million grant from the California State Coastal Conservancy until June 30, 2023.

The Coastal Conservancy grant was awarded to the City in 2019 for design and implementation of the Monarch Butterfly Management Plan at the Ellwood Mesa/Sperling Preserve Open Space, a 137-acre open space area owned by the City of Goleta on the eastern edge of the Gaviota Coast.

California Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson and California Assemblymember Monique Limón were both instrumental in getting the funds included in the State’s budget bill and extended to June 30, 2023. 

City of Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte expressed her appreciation for their support.  She said, “On behalf of Goleta, I want to express our deepest thanks to Senator Jackson and Assemblymember Limón for their stellar efforts to secure nearly $4 million to fund and implement our Habitat Management Plan. Thanks to them, generations of Goletans will enjoy safe and easy access to Ellwood Mesa, the butterfly preserve, and our beaches and ocean.”

Ellwood Mesa is one of the most important sites for overwintering monarch butterflies in California; in fact, a portion of the site is designated by The Xerces Society as “the premier Monarch site in southern California.” The butterflies arrive at Ellwood Mesa in mid-September and, as winter approaches, cluster into aggregation roosts, often called overwintering or wintering colonies. The project is needed because the monarch population is experiencing a sudden and significant decline in western North America. Monarch overwintering populations throughout California have been in steep decline for the past several years. Locally at Ellwood Mesa, monitoring indicated only 271 butterflies were present at the height of the migration this past winter, down drastically from a recent high of 47,500 butterflies in the grove during 2011-2012.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently evaluating whether the species warrants listing under the Endangered Species Act.

The grant funding specifically supports enhancement of a 75-acre portion of the Ellwood Mesa Open Space used by monarch butterflies. The project consists of implementing the Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan, which identifies how the City will preserve, restore, and enhance monarch butterfly overwintering habitat. The project also includes enhancement of other wildlife habitat, education and outreach, trail improvements, signage, monitoring, research, and implementation of the Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

City of Goleta Announces Ballot Drop Box Locations for November 3 General Election

The upcoming election is taking place on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. There will be over 30 secure Ballot Drop Boxes located throughout the County to safely return your ballot directly to the Registrar of Voters. Drop boxes will be available 24 hours a day from October 5 through 8:00 pm on Election Day, November 3. there are three locations in Goleta:

    • Goleta City Hall (130 Cremona Drive)
    • Goleta Valley Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue)
    • Southcoast Church (5814 Cathedral Oaks Road)

Deborah Lopez, City Clerk for the City of Goleta said, “We are encouraging all voters to vote by mail to avoid any lines and ensure that voters can exercise their right to vote in a safe, secure and accessible manner.”

Locally, City of Goleta residents will be voting for a Mayor, two City Council seats, and Measure O2020 asking “Shall the term of office of the mayor be changed from two years to four years?” Information on candidates, the measure, and general election information is available at www.cityofgoleta.org/elections.

Make sure you are registered to vote! You can check the status of your voter registration here. If you are not already registered, October 19, 2020, is the last day to register to vote and you can register online at registertovote.ca.gov. Paper applications may be available at most U.S. Post Offices, Santa Barbara County Registrar of Voters Offices or the Department of Motor Vehicles.  To verify voter registration status or update registration information, such as an address or party affiliation, go to www.sbcvote.com.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, every registered voter in California will receive a ballot in the mail for the upcoming election. If you are not already registered to vote by mail you DO NOT need to complete an application to receive your ballot by mail, it will automatically be sent. Ballots were mailed out to registered voters last week. If you do not receive your ballot by October 12, contact the Santa Barbara County Registrar of Voters office at (805) 568-2200.

Voters may mail their ballot with no postage required, postmarked by Election Day, November 3. The Postal Service advises voters to mail their ballots no later than October 27 to reach the elections office in time to be counted.

In-person voting will still be available, but on a limited basis. Santa Barbara County Elections is staffing approximately 35 in-person voting sites over four days for those who would like additional services including language assistance or a replacement ballot. These sites will be open October 31 through Election Day, Tuesday, November 3. Facial coverings will be required and voters should expect a socially distanced waiting line. Voters have been assigned to polling place locations that will be listed on the back cover of the voter’s County Voter Information Guide. Beginning October 5, voters can also use the Sample Ballot and Polling Place Look-Up tool at SBCVote.com.

For information about becoming a poll worker at one of these sites, please call
(805) 568-2200 or click here. Take advantage of early in-person voting:

  • At the Registrar’s office (4440-A Calle Real, Santa Barbara, CA 93110) beginning October 5, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 31 to Sunday, November 1 from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • At your assigned polling place Saturday, October 31 through Sunday, November 1, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and Monday, November 2, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  • All will again be open on Election Day, November 3, when the voting hours change to 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

More information is available on the Santa Barbara County Elections Division webpage. You can also learn more about voting on the Santa Barbara County Registrar of Voters Vote Safely, Santa Barbara County webpage.

Due to COVID-19, we are encouraging all voters to vote by mail avoiding lines and to ensure that voters can exercise their right to vote in a safe, secure and accessible manner.

The Santa Barbara County Registrar of Voters Office wants to help make the voting process as easy as possible. For questions or assistance, please call (805) 568-2200.

Public Health Officials Urge Residents to Get a Flu Shot

Free drive-up flu shots available October 8 & 9 at San Marcos High School

The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department reminds residents that it is time to get a flu shot.  Significant flu activity can begin as early as October, last as late as May, and typically peaks in February.  Although getting a flu shot every year is recommended, this season, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, getting a flu vaccine is especially important to protect yourself, your family, and community from flu.  Equally important is that flu vaccination helps save limited medical resources necessary for the care of COVID-19 patients. Just like wearing a mask, getting a flu shot is an easy and safe action we can take to stay healthy during this pandemic.

To highlight the importance of influenza vaccination for all community members, the Santa Barbara County Public Health Director, Van Do-Reynoso, and Santa Barbara County Supervisor, Greg Hart, recently joined together to get their flu shots.

Yearly flu vaccination should begin as soon as vaccine is available, and should continue throughout the flu season.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it can take about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies that protect against flu to develop in the body, so make plans to get vaccinated early. Health experts across the country recommend that everyone 6 months and older, including pregnant women, get a flu vaccine. Medical providers are taking every precaution to keep you safe, wherever you plan to get vaccinated.

Getting a flu vaccine is more convenient than ever before and is the single best way to prevent the flu. Vaccines are available from your regular health care provider as well as retail pharmacies. Many employers, schools, colleges, and universities also offer them.

Free drive-up flu shots are available October 8 and 9 from 2:00-6:00 p.m. at San Marcos High School (4750 Hollister Avenue, Santa Barbara). There are also locations in Lompoc and Santa Maria. No appointment is needed. Please wear a face covering or mask, remain in your car, complete a short form and get your vaccination. Available for anyone ages 2 and up. No insurance or identification needed. For more information visit https://countyofsb.org/phd/.

Find other locations offering the vaccine by visiting www.VaccineFinder.org.

Flu shots are covered by Medi-Cal, Medicare and by most insurance plans. Find more information about the flu and flu vaccine at www.cdc.gov/flu.

Pictured: County Supervisor, Gregg Hart, Chair of the Board and Director, Van Do-Reynoso get vaccinated against seasonal influenza (flu).

State Testing Availability Opens to Entire Community

The State-run COVID-19 testing site at the Goleta Valley Community Center continues to be a convenient location for Goleta community members. It is open Thursday – Monday 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. by appointment only.

Over the past four months, the state-run COVID-19 testing sites’ utilization has fluctuated based on the need of the community. These testing sites have seen lower utilization rates over the past few weeks which has left sites with open availability for testing. While we continue to emphasize the importance of those in higher risk environments receiving testing, the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department (PHD) is now encouraging all community members to be tested.

The importance of getting tested for COVID-19 has never been greater. The positivity rate and case rate, two of the most vital measures in determining our County’s allowance to move to the red tier, are dependent on having robust testing. When a county does not meet the State’s standard for testing, it can be penalized with increased positivity rate and case rate. In an effort to achieve widespread testing, community members can in turn help Santa Barbara County protect the health and safety of our neighbors while fulfilling requirements to progress in reopening.

“We are again opening up the state-run testing sites for all community members. Testing turnaround times have greatly improved thanks to state and local efforts and we are now seeing an average turnaround time for results of under 72 hours” shared Van Do-Reynoso, Public Health Director. “Detecting COVID-19 remains crucial to stopping the spread of this virus and one of the best tools we have to do just that is testing.”

State-run testing sites are located in Santa Maria, Buellton, and Goleta. Appointments can be made by visiting https://lhi.care/covidtesting or by calling 888-634-1123 for those with no internet access. Testing is by appointment only. 

Pictured: Goleta testing site – Goleta Valley Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue)

Santa Barbara County Moves to the Red Tier

The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department has issued Health Officer Order No. 2020-12.9 allowing more businesses to reopen indoors with modifications and capacity limits, in accordance with the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. As of September 29, 2020, Santa Barbara County has met the State’s red tier case rate and positivity rate criteria for two consecutive weeks. As a result, the risk of COVID-19 spread in Santa Barbara County has been downgraded, effective immediately, from widespread to substantial, allowing movement from the purple tier to the red tier.

“Our movement forward, and ability to further reopen our community, is the result of the vigilance of our overall community in following the safety guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19” states Dr. Henning Ansorg, Public Health Officer for the County of Santa Barbara. “As we move into the red tier, we must be even more diligent in wearing our face coverings, maintaining social distancing, and avoiding gatherings with those outside our household. The red tier is not the end goal, but rather a step forward.”

The State’s Blueprint allows counties in the red tier to reopen indoor operations for some additional business sectors and allows for certain activities to resume. All businesses in Santa Barbara County, which are open or will be reopening, must follow all State guidance for their industry and self-certify that they are ready to reopen through completing the online self-attestation.

Some additional businesses, which may reopen indoors in the red tier with modifications include personal care services, indoor dining in restaurants, gyms and fitness centers, movie theatres, museums, zoos, aquariums, places of worship, and cultural ceremonies. Schools may also reopen for in-person learning beginning October 13, 2020 without a school waiver, if they choose to do so.

For more information about changes in the red tier, visit www.publichealthsbc.org. 

Follow us on our New Twitter Account @CityofGoleta

In an effort to better streamline our social media presence, the City of Goleta is moving our Twitter account handle to @CityofGoleta (formerly @GoletaPIO). We don’t want to lose any of our followers so please make sure to come with us to our new Twitter spot. If you don’t already follow us, NOW is the time. It’s a great platform to stay updated on news and information. You can also follow us on Facebook (@CityofGoleta), Instagram (@cityofgoleta), and Nextdoor. To have information sent directly to you via email and/or text, sign up for topics that interest you at tinyurl.com/GoletaSubscriptions. Information is also available on our website at www.CityofGoleta.org.

September Proclaimed Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

The Goleta City Council has proclaimed September 2020 as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, joining communities across the nation to increase awareness about the importance for men to make an informed decision with their health care provider about early detection and testing for prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 191,930 new cases in the US in 2020, resulting in an estimated 33,330 deaths. It is estimated 20,160 men in California will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year and it is estimated 3,890 California men will die from this disease. 264 new cases of prostate cancer and 48 related deaths were reported in Santa Barbara County in 2010.

Early prostate cancer usually has no symptoms and studies suggest strong familial predisposition may be responsible for 5% to 10% of the disease cases. Late stage prostate cancer commonly spreads to the bones, which can cause pain in the hips, spine, ribs, or other areas in the body.

The 5-year survival rate approaches 100% when prostate cancer is diagnosed and treated early, but drops to 31% when it spreads to the other parts of the body. The rapid reduction in prostate cancer mortality is attributed to early detection through PSA testing and advancement in treatment. The American Cancer Society recommends that men should have an opportunity to make an informed decision about whether to be tested for prostate cancer based on their personal values and preferences. Learn more about prostate cancer here: www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer. 

Flex Alert Issued for Holiday Weekend – Calling for Energy Conservation

Power grid operator predicts high heat, energy demand this holiday weekend

The California Independent System Operator (ISO) has issued a statewide Flex Alert, a call for voluntary electricity conservation, beginning Saturday, September 5 and extending through Monday, September 7 from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Labor Day weekend temperatures are forecast 10-20 degrees above normal for California, and the power grid operator is predicting an increase in electricity demand, primarily from air conditioning use. Overnight temperatures statewide are projected to be at least 10 degrees higher than normal, which doesn’t allow infrastructure to cool down.

High heat is also predicted throughout the West for the weekend, which can limit the ISO’s ability to import energy to serve demand.

Consumers can actively help by shifting energy use to morning and nighttime hours. Conservation can lower demand and avoid further actions, including outages, and lessen the duration of possible power interruptions. For example, consumer conservation efforts during a heat wave on Aug. 17 and 18 were key to preventing expected power outages.

Consumers are urged to conserve electricity when the grid is most stressed in the afternoons and evenings, when temperatures remain high and solar production is falling due to the sun setting.

The ISO recognizes that reducing energy use during the hot time of the day is a hardship, especially for those working from home or for families with children schooling at home. However, if a large enough number of consumers conserve even in small ways, they can help grid operators avoid more serious system emergencies. Between 3:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., the ISO is urging consumers to:

  • Set air conditioning thermostats to 78 degrees, if health permits.
  • Defer use of major appliances.
  • Turn off unnecessary lights.
  • Unplug unused electrical devices.
  • Close blinds and drapes.
  • Use fans when possible.
  • Limit time the refrigerator door is open.

Consumers can also take steps to prepare for the Flex Alert by doing the following before 3:00 p.m.:

  • “Pre-cool” their homes, or lower air conditioning thermostats.
  • Charge electric vehicles.
  • Charge mobile devices and laptops.
  • Run dishwashers, washing machines and other major appliances.
  • Set pool pumps to run in the early morning or late at night.

For information on Flex Alerts, to get more electricity conservation tips, and to sign up for conservation alerts, visit the ISO’s Flex Alert website. Visit the ISO’s News page for more information on the heat wave’s impacts on grid operations, and to learn more about alerts, warnings and emergency notices.

For updates on grid operations, follow us on Twitter at @California_ISO or @FlexAlert, or monitor system conditions in real time at ISO’s Today’s Outlook.