Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

Santa Barbara County is Ready. Are you?

We’ve been reiterating the importance of being prepared for an emergency. Here is information from Santa Barbara County that we wanted to share with you as well.  

Listed here are important preparedness tips BEORE an emergency or disaster occurs:

  • Register for Santa Barbara County alerts at www.AwareandPrepare.org. 
  • Potential Threats – Learn what disasters are likely to occur or have occurred in your area.
  • Locate Community Resources – Identify how authorities will notify you during a disaster, such as Aware and Prepare alerts, reverse 9-11, media reports and County resources listed below. In the middle of the night it might be door-to-door, or PA System announcements and sirens from Sheriff and Fire. 
  • Plan Escape Routes – Identify two ways to escape from every room and PRACTICE. Map and plan evacuation routes and a family meeting point.
  • Establish a Communication Plan – Plan how you will contact family members, especially children, seniors and those with accessibility needs; think about different ways to communicate and PRACTICE.
  • Make an Emergency Kit – Check with your local Office of Emergency Services or go to www.Ready.gov.
  • Maintain your Disaster Supply Kit.
  • Make Emergency Contact Cards – Keep the cards handy in a wallet, purse, backpack, etc., and include a list of medications and immunizations.
  • Make Copies of Important Papers – Keep important papers in a safety deposit box or with someone you trust.
  • Plan for Your Pet – Keep a phone list of pet-friendly hotels/motels, veterinarians and animal shelters.

DURING a wildfire, flood, earthquake, oil spill, tsunami or any other disaster, get information and updates at www.CountyofSB.org, CSB TV Channel 20, @CountyofSB on Twitter and FaceBook, or call 2-1-1 in the 805 area code or toll free (800) 400-1572.

City Proclamations for October

October was Domestic Violence Awareness month. In an effort to raise awareness about the issue, educate the public, and inspire action, the City issued a Proclamation officially designating the month of October 2017 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month at the October 17, 2017, City Council meeting. There are a number of resources in Santa Barbara County to help victims and survivors of intimate partner violence; one is Domestic Violence Solutions (DVS). In 2015/16, DVS:

  • Answered more than 6,250 calls.
  • Responded in over 468 law enforcement and emergency room situations.
  • Assisted 949 victims in acquiring legal assistance.
  • Provided 12,212 safe nights to victims of domestic violence.
  • Provided over 1,200 youth and adults with knowledge necessary to get help or assist a friend in an abusive relationship seek help.
  • Sheltered a wider range of clients, 62% of which were children.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has produced a video on sexual assault in Isla Vista, prevention and available resources. It can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBlvzB0Gmkw&t=10s.

Join a City Board or Commission!

Do you love where you live? Do you have skills that can help the community? Get involved by joining one of the City’s Boards or Commissions. There are currently vacancies for the Design Review Board and Public Tree Advisory Commission. The positions are open until filled. Click here to fill out an online application. For questions contact Deborah Lopez, City Clerk, at (805) 961-7505 or dlopez@cityofgoleta.org.

Design Review Board Vacancies
The Design Review Board (DRB) is a seven-member body whose responsibility is to encourage development exemplifying the best professional design practices in order to enhance the visual quality of the environment and prevent poor quality of design. The DRB has two vacancies for a professionally licensed architect and one vacancy for an alternate position. To be eligible to apply, candidates must be a qualified elector.  Members of the DRB are appointed to a three-year term. The DRB meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 3:00 p.m., and the position is compensated $50 per meeting.

Public Tree Advisory Commission Vacancies
The Public Tree Advisory Commission provides advice to staff and the City Council in developing plans and goals for the Goleta Urban Forest, represents the interests of the community and informs the community of the Urban Forestry program as directed by the City Council. Two appointments will be made to the Public Tree Advisory Commission. To be eligible to apply, candidates must reside within Goleta City limits and should have an interest in and/or experience in urban forestry or landscaping. Commissioners are appointed by the City Council and serve four year terms which expire at the first regular meeting of the first February following the expiration of the current term of office of the City Councilmember who appointed the Commission member. The Commission holds meetings on an as-needed basis and members are compensated at the rate of $50 per meeting.

Goleta Considers Cannabis Use Within City Limits

Beginning in 2018, commercial recreational cannabis businesses will be allowed in the State of California. The State has outlined a regulatory system for various commercial activities associated with the legalization of cannabis and local jurisdictions may prohibit or allow various cannabis uses, including cultivation, manufacture, distribution, testing, and retail. As a result, Goleta, like other cities, is facing some important questions. What uses should be allowed and where? How will the City process applications? What will the enforcement process look like? 

On September 7, 2017, the City Council instructed staff to develop a cannabis ordinance that allows and regulates recreational adult-use cannabis uses. On October 23 and 30, the City’s Planning Commission held public workshops to discuss cannabis uses within the City. The purpose of the workshops was to provide the Planning Commission and the public with information on the range of cannabis uses that the City may allow and to seek feedback from the Planning Commission and the public on the potential land use regulation of these cannabis uses. The discussions focused broadly on what cannabis uses the City should allow, where the City should allow those uses, and how the City should process applications for those uses.

At the October 30 meeting, the Planning Commission also voted to recommend Council approve a ban on all commercial marijuana activity in the city while an ordinance creating rules for growing and cultivating is developed.  The Planning Commission recommended that the ban include a sunset provision for some specific date in the future and also that it exempt the two existing, grandfathered medical marijuana businesses in the City and allow them to sell recreational cannabis in addition to medical marijuana. The draft ban will be heard by the City Council at the November 7 meeting. (The agenda for that meeting will be posted here by Thursday, November 2.) 

City staff will continue drafting cannabis land use regulations based on the feedback received to date. Additional opportunities for public input will be available in the future. For further information on the City’s development of cannabis regulations and to sign up for email notifications, please visit the project website: http://cityofgoleta.org/projects-programs/studies-and-other-projects/cannabis-regulations.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Mark your calendars for Goleta Old Town Association’s 2nd Annual Old Town Christmas Parade on December 9, 2017, with Grand Marshall Jean Blois! Jean is a former Mayor and City Council Member, as well as Goleta School Board and Goleta Water District Board Member. The Parade begins at 6:00 p.m. and will run on Hollister Avenue between Orange Avenue and the Goleta Valley Community Center (GVCC). Attendees will love seeing Old Town transformed into a holiday wonderland. At the end of the Parade, there will be a Christmas Tree Lighting in front of the GVCC, followed by an opportunity to meet and take pictures with Santa Claus.

The Parade is looking for helpful volunteers to assist in many aspects of the parade. Be a part of your community and have some fun while doing it! For more information and to obtain application packets, go to http://goletachristmas.com or contact the Old Town Community Association at 805.694.8275 or paradegoleta@gmail.com.

Goleta Library

More Good News for the Goleta Library

In the October issue of the Monarch Press, we shared with you exciting news about the Goleta Library. New hours began on October 1, and following City Council’s decision for the City of Goleta to take over direct management of the library, the library was accepted into the Black Gold Cooperative Library System (Black Gold) as a new member, effective July 1, 2018. This is an important milestone as it allows the Goleta Library to continue benefiting from Black Gold’s collection materials (books and electronic materials) that are distributed and shared among the member libraries in the region. During the next few months, the City will work closely with Black Gold to coordinate various efforts critical to a smooth transition to a Goleta Municipal Library.

To receive formal affiliation with Black Gold, the City was also required to obtain approval from the California Library Services Board (California State Library). The Board approved Goleta’s request on October 17, 2017, which completes the regulatory process required for formation of the Goleta Municipal Library. In addition, the City is in the process of recruiting for and hiring a Library Director to oversee aspects of the library’s transition and provide ongoing management of the library. The City anticipates hiring this position by January 2018.

Sign up here to get the latest library news delivered to your inbox and visit www.cityofgoleta.org/projects-programs/studies-and-other-projects/goleta-library for more information on the Goleta Library including Council’s August 15, 2017, decision to take over management by July 1, 2018.

Short-Term Vacation Rental Clarification

There has been a lot of discussion about short-term vacation rentals in our region and many questions are popping up because of the differences between the cities and County. 

Goleta’s Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) Ordinance requires that all non-owner occupied properties be subject to the STVR Ordinance if rented 30 days or less.  Non-owner occupied means owner lives at a different address OR a separate dwelling unit on the property (i.e., guesthouse, granny flat, mother-in-law-unit).

SHORT-TERM VACATION RENTAL OVERVIEW:


(Rent 30 days or less)		   Owner Occupied
(Rent 30 days or less)
  • STVR Ordinance Applies
  • General Business License
  • TOT Certificate (collect and remit TOT & TBID taxes)
  
  • General Business License
  • TOT Certificate (collect and remit TOT & TBID taxes)

Provided below is a detailed explanation of each type of rental activity:

NON-OWNER OCCUPIED SHORT-TERM VACATION RENTALS (RENT 30 DAYS OR LESS):

Non-owner occupied properties are subject to the STVR Ordinance.  This means you are required to apply for a STVR Permit, provide a nuisance response plan, public notice form, and surety bond. You are also required to have a general business license and collect and remit TOT and Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) taxes.

OWNER OCCUPIED SHORT-TERM VACATION RENTALS (RENT 30 DAYS OR LESS):

Owner occupied properties are not subject to the STVR Ordinance.  You are required to have a general business license and collect and remit TOT and TBID taxes. 

NON-OWNER AND OWNER OCCUPIED RENTALS (RENT MORE THAN 30 DAYS):

If you rent for more than 30 days at a time, you are exempt from STVR Ordinance and not required to collect and remit TOT and TBID. Exemption forms for TOT and TBID are required if you have been issued a TOT Certificate. All rental activity is required to have a general business license.

If you participate in all three different types of rental activities described above at various times of the year that includes renting 30 days or less you are subject to TOT collection and may be subject to the STVR ordinance.

To learn more and to obtain the forms needed to register your rental, please visit our website at http://cityofgoleta.org/city-hall/finance/short-term-vacation-rentals or contact Brenda Robinson at brobinson@cityofgoleta.org or 961-7529.

Prepare Now for Winter Storms

The weather outside is not yet frightful, but in anticipation of storms this winter, the City wants to help you be prepared. Get more information on winter storm preparedness and resources here: www.cityofgoleta.org/projects-programs/emergency-preparedness/winter-storm-preparedness.

It is important to stay informed. Follow these steps to sign up for emergency alerts regarding winter storm impacts including street closures and important detours:

  • For email and/or text alerts in English go to http://tinyurl.com/goletaemergency or text Goleta Emergency to 468311. 
  • To register for alerts via landline or cell phone call 805-961-7508 or email pio@cityofgoleta.org letting us know if you would like to receive a phone call, text or both, and your preferred language (English or Spanish).
  • To sign up for email and or text alerts in Spanish, go to http://tinyurl.com/goletaenespanol or text Goleta Spanish to 468311.
  • To sign up for alerts from the County of Santa Barbara, visit AwareandPrepare.org.

*Photo by Giana Magnioli, Noozhawk.

Share Your Thoughts with MTD

In an effort to better understand how people get around the South Coast, Santa Barbara MTD has launched a Community Survey seeking input from local residents, whether or not they currently ride the bus. The brief survey is available in English and Spanish, and can be taken online or on a paper form. Paper forms will be available at the Transit Center and MTD Headquarters, and can be mailed upon request.

In addition to seeking input through the Community Survey, the MTD Board of Directors is holding three Community Listening Sessions throughout the south coast during the month of October, one of which is in Goleta City Hall Council Chambers (130 Cremona Drive, Suite B) on Tuesday, October 24 at 6:00 p.m. MTD encourages the public to attend and share input on what they like, what they’d like to see change, and to give general feedback on MTD’s services. Simultaneous English/Spanish interpretation will be available. Refreshments will be provided.

A complete list of the Community Listening Sessions is available here. For additional information, contact Hillary with Santa Barbara MTD at (805) 963-3364 x218 or info@sbmtd.gov.

$2.5 Million South Coast Workforce Homebuyer Program Available

We all know there are many benefits to living close to work, but the price of housing on the South Coast makes it near impossible for many who work here to own a home. Benefits of living near work include stronger community involvement since people feel more connected to their community and have more time, as well as environmental benefits of reducing air pollution and traffic congestion. In order to keep the local workforce talent, and businesses, from moving elsewhere, the Housing Trust Fund (HTF) of Santa Barbara County is offering a South Coast Workforce Homebuyers Program to help first-time homebuyers with the 20% down payment required when purchasing a home. This program was featured at our State of the City in May of this year. Using $2.5 million in investment capital, HTF will provide qualified first-time homebuyers with a low-cost down payment loan up to 16.5% of the home purchase price (maximum $100,000). The homebuyer must contribute 3.5% of the home purchase price for a combined 20% down payment. Get more details on this program and learn how to apply at www.sbhousingtrust.org or contact Yvette Lounsbury, Homebuyer Loan Administrator, at YLounsbury@sbhousingtrust.org or (805) 845-3585.