Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

September is National Preparedness Month!

September is a reminder to take action and prepare now for whatever emergency may come our way. Building on the success of last year, the National Preparedness Month theme is once again “Don’t Wait, Communicate: Make Your Emergency Plan Today.” Each week throughout the month will have a different focus such as Preparing Family & Friends or Preparing through Service. Check out our Facebook page for weekly tips based on the themes:

  • September 4-10: Preparing Family and Friends
  • September 11-17: Preparing Through Service
  • September 18-24: Individual Preparedness
  • September 25-30: Lead up to National PrepareAthon! Day

Emergency Preparedness is for everybody. Please stop by the City’s Prepare Now table at the Goleta Lemon Festival September 24 – 25 to learn more about the Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) program.

For more information please visit: https://www.ready.gov/september.

Who Should Decide the Next Mayor of Goleta?

The City of Goleta’s current City Council is composed of five elected members who annually select among themselves who will be mayor. With measure C2016 on this November’s ballot, residents will vote on whether they want to select the next Mayor of Goleta or continue having the council designate one of its members. Voters will also be asked to decide whether the directly elected mayor’s term shall be two or four years.

There are slight differences between a designated mayor and an elected mayor:

  • A designated mayor receives the same compensation as the other councilmembers; An elected mayor may receive additional compensation (if approved by City Council or the voters)
  • A designated mayor shares the responsibility of selecting members of City boards and commissions with the rest of the council; An elected mayor (with City Council approval) makes all appointments to boards, commissions and committees

The mayor, whether designated or elected, is responsible for administrative duties and ceremonial functions.

Should the ballot measure pass, it would take effect in the November 2018 election.

More information on the ballot measure can be found here, general election information can be found here. If you would like a copy of the measure, please call the Goleta City Clerk’s Office at (805) 961-7501 and a copy will be mailed to you at no cost.

Hollister Bike Path Receives Construction Extension

The Hollister Class 1 Bike Path will create a way for the many school children living south of Hollister Avenue to safely bike to Ellwood School. The project has received an extension from the California Transportation Commission so the most disruptive work can occur during the summer when school is not in session.

As part of Safe Routes to School, a Class I Bike Path will be built from Pacific Oaks Drive west to Ellwood School. Existing sidewalks will be replaced and new street trees will be planted. Hollister Avenue will still have four lanes of travel with a center left turn lane.

Work is set to begin in late spring 2017, and in an effort to not disrupt students, construction impacting the sidewalk along the south side of Hollister Ave. will begin in summer when school is out. Please click here for more information.

CERT Training for Teens Graduates 20 New Volunteers

Twenty graduates were recognized in August for completing the joint City of Goleta/UCSB Teen Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. This is the sixth annual Teen CERT Class offered for the Isla Vista/Goleta community, and is one of the few offered nationally. This summer’s class was held at the St. George Family Youth Center in Isla Vista which serves youth from both Goleta and Isla Vista. Many of the youth participating were also bilingual.

CERT training prepares community members to become educated in the area of emergency preparedness. CERT participants are trained to serve as part of neighborhood or workplace response teams in the event of a major disaster, when emergency services may not be available and when residents may have to rely on each other for life-saving and life-sustaining needs. The Teen CERT Class includes all of the same training as the Adult CERT Class, with an emphasis on how teens can help during an emergency at home or in their schools.

Stay tuned for our next CERT Training. For more information contact Anthony Rodriguez, CERT Coordinator, at (805) 961-7571 or trodriguez@cityofgoleta.org.

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go…! The Goleta Education Foundation’s Lemon Run Is On

Kick off Lemon Week with the Goleta Education Foundation’s 2016 Lemon Run on Sunday, September 18. A great family day, there are competitive 10K and 5K races along with a FREE 1K Family Fun Run. The races take place on the Obern Trail bike path providing a flat and fast course for participants. The path begins and ends at Goleta Beach where there will be an art table, blender bike, drum circle and photo booth. You’ll be sure to work up an appetite, so once again Wahoo’s Fish Tacos will be serving food.

Proceeds from the Goleta Education Foundation Lemon Run will benefit the elementary students in the nine schools in the Goleta Valley. Register now and show your support for local elementary schools!

Summer of Capital Improvements

The City is hard at work on Capital Improvement Projects, with a number of projects slated for this summer. We are looking forward to having these new and/or updated amenities available to you. Thank you for your patience during construction.

Evergreen Tennis Courts
Tennis players can rejoice because construction on the Evergreen Park Tennis Courts will be completed at the beginning of this month. Crews have worked hard to repair and resurface the courts, and tennis players will be very pleased with the outcome. Please join us for the re-opening event on August 10th at 10 a.m. (7500 Evergreen Dr.).

Path Lighting at Boys & Girls Club and Goleta Valley Community Center Project
In order to improve pedestrian safety, a number of upgrades are being made to the pathway between the Goleta Valley Community Center and the Boys & Girls Club. Existing fencing along the front and back parking lots has been removed and path lighting will be installed from Hollister Avenue to the back of the property where the Boys & Girls Club facility is located. The contractor has replaced the front half of the sidewalk with a new concrete sidewalk and will be making additional minor repairs around the trees. In addition, a drainage swale (a vegetated ditch with native grasses to convey storm water runoff that allows some infiltration of that water into the ground) will be installed between the path and parking areas. The project began in mid-July and construction is expected to take about two months.

Maria Ygnacio Creek Bike Path Lighting
Cyclists can look forward to a brighter path. While the County of Santa Barbara has installed lighting along the portion of the Maria Ygnacio Bike Trail located within the County limits, the trail remains unlit along the segment passing through the City of Goleta. The project will install 12 independent solar powered LED lighting fixtures along this 1,750 foot unlit portion from Hollister Avenue to the trail bridge that crosses the Maria Ygnacio Creek. These improvements will dramatically enhance the safety of commuters using the bike path during dark hours. Work will begin in August and take approximately two months to complete.

Hollister Avenue High Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK)
Another safety improvement project the City is working on is the Hollister Avenue High Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) Project. A HAWK system (a pedestrian activated lighted crosswalk) will be installed in front of the Goleta Valley Community Center replacing the existing yellow flashing beacons. Additional enhancements to the crosswalk include replacing striping and signage, adding lighting and relocating the crosswalk approximately 100 feet to the east, to be located between the eastbound and westbound bus stops. This project is slated to begin in late August and conclude in October.

Hollister Avenue Crosswalk Enhancements at Orange Avenue
In an effort to provide an additional visual cue to alert motorists when a pedestrian is crossing the street, new pedestrian activated Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) will be installed over travel lanes on Hollister Avenue at Orange Avenue. The project also includes new striping and signage, as well as sidewalk improvements. Work is scheduled to begin in late August and conclude in October.

The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round with New Routes

Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTD) has made changes to better serve bus riders in the community. The MTD Board of Directors approved changes to bus routes and schedules for existing Lines 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 20, 23, & 25. In addition, UCSB has funded a new Line, 28, which will serve UCSB, Isla Vista, and the Camino Real Marketplace. Changes will take effect later this month on August 22nd.

Below is a summary of changes. Detailed information about these changes will be available on the MTD website and at the Transit Center by early August. MTD staff will also be at the Hollister/Storke bus stops during the initial days of the new service to answer questions.

  • Line 7 will be extended over the Fairview bridge and turn around in Goleta Old Town via Kinman, Armitos, & Kellogg.
  • Lines 8 & 9 will be eliminated.
  • Line 23 will become a one-way loop through the El Encanto Heights neighborhood and become Line 11 at Storke & Hollister.
  • Line 25 buses will cross the freeway on Cathedral Oaks and turn around via Winchester Canyon. Line 25 will become Line 6 at Hollister & Storke.
  • Routing on Lines 6 & 11 is not changing, but some buses will now continue as Line 25 or 23 (respectively).
  • UCSB is funding a new route, Line 28, that will connect the main campus with Isla Vista and the Camino Real Marketplace via El Colegio and Storke Roads.
  • Service between Santa Barbara & Carpinteria on Line 20 will increase in frequency from every 60 minutes to every 40 minutes on weekday afternoons.

Visit www.sbmtd.gov for more information.

The Goleta Guide to Park Reservations

The City of Goleta has only one park, Stow Grove, in which reservations can be made. Both Girsh Park and Goleta Beach Park offer reservations as well; Girsh Park is a private park and Goleta Beach Park is operated by Santa Barbara County. There are also a number of parks with picnic tables in Goleta that can be used on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you are interested in renting Stow Grove Park for a birthday party, family gathering or a casual Saturday with friends, the City does want to remind you of the following:

  • Your reservation cannot be confirmed without a completed form and payment
  • Make your reservation early as the park does fill up
  • Stow Grove Park opens at 8 a.m. and gates lock at sunset; items may not be placed on tables before 8 a.m.
  • Open flames are not allowed (No outside BBQ’s)
  • Amplified sound is not allowed
  • Vehicles allowed in parking lot only
  • Have fun!

To reserve space for your next event, click here.

School + Traffic = Safety Tips

Around town, children and parents will be getting ready for the start of the new school year later this month. Now is a good time for parents to educate their children about bus, pedestrian and bicycle safety, and prepare them for a safe school year.

It is up to everyone to create and maintain a safe environment. Drivers need to pay extra attention on the road due to an increase in traffic during this time of year and throughout the school year. When dropping children off at school, parents/caregivers are reminded to obey all traffic laws. Everyone needs to be vigilant and utilize patience when near a school.

Sergeant Henebry with the Goleta Police Department’s Traffic Unit provides these tips:

Pedestrian Safety Tips for Children

  • Walk to school with a group of kids and always have a responsible adult walk with you.
  • Always walk on the sidewalk if one is available. If no sidewalk is available, walk facing the traffic.
  • The safest place to cross is at a street corner or intersection.
  • If you are 10 years old or younger, you need to cross the street with an adult. You should not cross by yourself. Ask an adult to explain to you who can help you cross the street.
  • Before you step off the curb to cross the street, stop and look left, look right, and look left again to see if cars are coming.
  • When no cars are coming, it is safe for you and an adult to cross. But look left-right-left as you do it, and hold the adult’s hand.
  • Always walk when crossing the street. Never run across the street to catch a ball or chase a toy, a friend, or a pet.
  • Darting out in front of a parked car is dangerous. The driver of the car coming down the street can’t see you.
  • Cross at corners and use crosswalks whenever possible; always stay within the lines of the crosswalk.
  • Never go for a walk with a stranger. Only walk with someone who your parents say is okay.

Good Driver Tips for Parents

  • Allow Extra Time: Do not arrive late or at the last minute. Prepare the night before and leave your house early so you do not need to rush.
  • Reduce Speed: The maximum speed near a school is 25 miles per hour. However, slower speeds are recommended when children are present. Some school areas in Goleta have a maximum speed of 15 mph. Please obey all speed laws for speed as this is the number one cause of collisions around schools.
  • Obey Stop Signs: Make a complete stop. Be vigilant. Look for children stepping off the sidewalk.
  • No Double Parking: Double parking impedes traffic flow. Never let a child exit a double parked vehicle.
  • Avoid U-Turns: U-turns near the school cause congestion. Do so only at an intersection if permitted.
  • Do Not Park in a Red Zone: The curb is red due to safety reasons. Parking in the red often obstructs the view of other drivers which could result in a collision with a child or other vehicle.