Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

Noxious Odors Meeting Tonight!

The City’s community meeting on noxious odors in Western Goleta is tonight, March 7, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. It will take place in Goleta City Hall Council Chambers (130 Cremona Drive, Suite B). The meeting has been organized by the City to educate our residents about the steps that should be taken if someone smells a noxious odor. It is also an opportunity to have your questions answered. Attendees will hear from various local agencies about each of their roles and responsibilities. Click here to learn about the regulatory roles before the meeting.

Can’t make the meeting? Watch it live or at a later time on our website (www.cityofgoleta.org/i-want-to/news-and-updates/government-meeting-agendas-and-videos) or Cox channel 19.

Old Town Parking Restrictions Community Meeting

The City is looking at changing the timed parking in Old Town along Hollister Avenue and adjacent streets in order to accommodate easier access for patrons of local businesses and the desire of the Old Town community. We want input on this topic from residents, businesses and visitors to the area. Join us for a Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Standing Committee meeting on March 12 at 6:00 p.m. at the Goleta Valley Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue) which will include maps with the proposed restriction overlays.

 

Complete Streets Community Meeting

Join us for a Complete Streets Community Workshop

The Hollister Avenue Complete Streets Corridor Plan is moving forward and we need your input! We will be having a meeting open to the community on March 13 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Goleta Valley Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue) and a meeting for Old Town business owners and employees on March 14 from 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. also at the Goleta Valley Community Center.

Attendees at both meetings will see three alternatives for what Hollister Avenue could look like. Should it be reduced from two lanes to one in each direction? What should the bike lanes look like? Do you prefer parallel or diagonal parking on Hollister Avenue? We will be gathering feedback from attendees on the different options to see which one people like best. Hollister Avenue is a main corridor in Old Town Goleta providing access to businesses and residential homes. The Complete Streets project will enhance safety, access and mobility for all users (pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders) on Hollister Avenue between Fairview Avenue and State Route 217. For those who are unable to attend, an online survey will be available shortly to allow for ranking of the three options and comments. For more information on the project please visit www.goletacompletestreets.com. 

Boards & Commissions New Page

New Look for City’s Service Opportunities

There’s a new look to the Boards, Commissions and Committee page on the City’s website! This revisions will make it easier for the public to find out if there is a vacancy that matches an individual’s skills and interests.  Please go to: www.cityofgoleta.org/city-hall/city-clerk/boards-commissions. You will also find general information on Goleta’s Boards and Commissions as well as a current member roster.

Service on City Boards, Commissions and Committees is one of the principal means by which citizens can participate in local government. Through Goleta’s Boards and Commissions, many citizens have given, or currently give, their time to assist and advise the City Council on issues facing the legislative body. Those who serve play a vital role in bringing transparency, change, and growth to the City of Goleta.

Pickleball Player

Permanent Pickleball Courts Installed at Evergreen Park

Enthusiasm for Goleta’s pickleball pilot program last spring was so overwhelming that the City of Goleta’s Parks and Recreation Commission voted to end the pilot program early and install two permanent pickleball courts at Evergreen Park. This was possible through support of the City of Goleta and a donation of two portable pickleball nets from pickleball enthusiast, Patricia Richardson. 

Today, the courts at Evergreen Park are designed for both tennis and pickleball players.  The west court is designated as priority for tennis players, and the east court (with added yellow lines) serves as priority for pickleball players.  To keep the pickleball court nets in good condition, they are secured in a locked box at the courts. Pickleball players desiring access to the portable nets will need to participate in a training and complete a volunteer application before receiving the lock combination.  Interested parties can contact JoAnne Plummer, Parks & Recreation Manager, at (805) 562-5505 or jplummer@cityofgoleta.org.

Final Hurdle for Old Town Park Complete!

In January, the City received final confirmation from the State of California to proceed with the purchase of Old Town Park (aka Hollister/Kellogg Park) which means the City can move forward with its development!  The City Council unanimously approved the final park design in September. Read the full article here.  The construction documents preparations are underway and work is anticipated to begin in late spring 2018, with the park anticipated to be open to the public in early 2019.  Due to the anticipated construction timeline, the splash pad proposed for this park will be installed in phase two of construction.  Stay tuned for details on this park project as they will unfold quickly in the coming year. For more information, and to keep up to date on this project, please visit www.cityofgoleta.org/projects-programs/parks-open-space/old-town-park.

Hollister Class I Bike Path – Winner of the Santa Barbara County Project of the Year!

The Hollister Class I Bike Path has been named Santa Barbara County Project of the Year by the Santa Barbara-Ventura Branch of ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers)! Construction was completed on Goleta’s newest multi-use path in early January. The 14-foot wide concrete path along Hollister Avenue from Pacific Oaks Road to Ellwood Elementary School makes travel to and from the school more accessible for students living in the area, and also serves UCSB students, recreational riders and commuters. The path promotes active and sustainable transportation for all.

In order to construct the multi-use path, Hollister Avenue was re-striped and the existing median islands were reconstructed. The path is open to pedestrians, bicyclists, skateboarders and scooter riders. A community meeting was held at the end of January and attendees were educated on how to safely use the new bike path, reviewed what the markings and signage mean, and learned how bicyclists and pedestrians can better share the space. In addition, through a partnership with COAST (Coalition for Sustainable Transportation), every classroom at Ellwood School took a walk along the path with a COAST representative to learn first-hand how to safely use the new path.

Helpful information to know about the path includes:

  • The class two bike lane remains along the roadway on Hollister Avenue for experienced cyclists who choose not to use the new path.
  • The new path contains separate lanes for riders and pedestrians. Riders must stay in the designated lanes (marked with a bicycle) while pedestrians can walk anywhere on the path. There is also a designated lane for pedestrians that riders cannot enter. Please use good judgement when using the path as all this is a new type of path for many and people are still learning.
  • Riders and walkers are expected to stop at the stop signs placed at intersections along the path.
  • The crosswalk is an extension of the multi-use path and the same rules must be followed. Areas of the crosswalk are designated for walkers (white and red striped lines) and riders (green circles), please use the correct one.
  • Make yourself visible and take safety precautions.

Hollister Class I Multi-Use Path Instructions

H2S Detector

New Date Set for Noxious Odors Community Meeting

The City’s community meeting on noxious odors in Western Goleta has been rescheduled for March 7, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. at Goleta City Hall Council Chambers (130 Cremona Drive, Suite B). Given the recent impacts of the fire and mudslides on our community, we had postponed this meeting to ensure all relevant agencies would be available to participate. With the new date, representatives from the various local agencies will be on hand to provide information about their roles and responsibilities and answer questions. The City of Goleta has organized this community meeting to educate our residents about the steps that should be taken if someone smells a noxious odor and to allow individual questions to be answered.

Get up to date before the meeting, click here to learn about the regulatory roles of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District and Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and Environmental Health Services.

Can’t make the meeting? Watch it live or at a later time on our website (www.cityofgoleta.org/i-want-to/news-and-updates/government-meeting-agendas-and-videos) or Cox channel 19. If you have a question you want answered and can’t make the meeting, email it to jshaw@cityofgoleta.org by 6:00 p.m. on March 6 and it will be asked on your behalf at the meeting.

Your Input is Requested

Staff is working on a number of public input opportunities for the spring on topics such as Historic Preservation, the Butterfly Habitat Management Plan, Old Town Sidewalks, Complete Streets and more. This is in addition to workshops for the Council to wrestle with their priorities for projects in Planning and Public Works. Be sure you’re signed up for all topics that interest you in order to be notified of these important meetings. Click here to sign up today.