Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

Thank You Goleta City Clerks Team

Brighten Their Day with an Email or Facebook Comment

The City Clerks Division is considered by many to be the glue that holds a City together, it’s unlike any other job in the United States, which is why we hope you will join us in celebrating our amazing City Clerks team during Professional Municipal Clerks Week which runs from May 5 to 11. This is the perfect opportunity to learn about and show your appreciation for the important work this group does day in and day out to keep our City running smoothly. The Goleta City Council will recognize Municipal City Clerks Week with a proclamation at its May 7th Council meeting at 5:30 p.m. Join us to show/express your appreciation or you can send an email of gratitude to cityclerksgroup@cityofgoleta.org or comment on our Facebook page at facebook.com/cityofgoleta.

Mayor Paula Perotte said, “Goleta’s City Clerks team wears many hats and is essential to ensuring that our City operations run smoothly. I am continually amazed at the professionalism, dedication and flexibility demonstrated by our talented City Clerks team each day.”

Goleta’s City Clerk division is comprised of 21-year veteran Deborah Lopez, Deputy City Clerks Liana Campos and David Cutaia, and Public Records Specialist Blake Markum.

Mrs. Lopez said, “I am blessed to have such a dedicated team of professionals working with me to carry out the duties of our office. To top that off, it’s in a place as wonderful as Goleta! 

Here are just some of the City Clerks Division responsibilities:

  • The group serves as a liaison to the general public and within the municipal government.
  • The Division is also the Historian of the Records, taking care of the recorded history of the City. This includes maintaining a complete and accurate record of City Council proceedings and official City files as well as overseeing all ordinances, resolutions, proclamations, written contracts, official bonds and public records requests.
  • The Division is responsible for overseeing the City’s seven Council-appointed Boards and Commissions, and recently created a new handbook to streamline the process. The Division also oversees 11 Committees.
  • The Division serves as the election official for the City of Goleta and oversaw the process for the City’s historic move to District Elections in 2022. The Division will be responsible for the upcoming November election where for the first time, Councilmembers for District 3 and 4 will be elected.

Learn more about the City Clerk Division and all they do at www.cityofgoleta.org/your-city/city-clerk.

Thank you, Goleta City Clerks Team for all you do!

Pictured: Goleta City Clerks Team (left-to-right: Blake Markum, Deborah Lopez, Liana Campos and David Cutaia)

Apply for Historic Preservation and Library Advisory Commissions

Applications due by May 23 at 5:00 p.m.

Here is your chance to give back to Goleta. Apply to serve on the City’s Historic Preservation or Library Advisory Commission. Serving on a Commission is a great way to use your talent and time to make a difference and help shape the future of Goleta. Here is what the positions entail:

The Historic Preservation Commission is a seven-member body that acts as an advisory body to the staff, the Design Review Board, and City Council on all matters pertaining to historic preservation, which entails preserving and protecting resources that, once lost, cannot be replaced or replicated. The Commission meets six times per year or as needed. Meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of every other month at 5:30 p.m. There are three (3) vacancies, of which a minimum of two selected members must be residents of the City. Members are appointed to a 4-year term and compensated $75.00 per meeting.

The Library Advisory Commission is a five-member body that advises staff and the City Council on matters affecting the Goleta Valley Library and represents the interests of the library’s patrons by recommending programming and services for the library. The Commission advises the Library Board of Trustees (Board) and aims to increase community participation in library issues by analyzing the library’s needs, considering goals, anticipating future needs and problems, acting as a liaison, and helping to develop consensus for advisement to the Board. There are (3) vacancies:

  • 1 Commissioner – Goleta Incorporated Area
  • 1 Commissioner – Unincorporated Library Area
  • 1 Commissioner – Isla Vista Community Services District

Members are appointed for a three-year term. The Library Advisory Commission meets six times per year or as needed. Meetings are held the first Monday of every other month at 6:00 p.m. and members are compensated $75.00 per meeting.

Applications for all open Board and Commission vacancies may be submitted online at www.CityofGoleta.org/BoardsCommissions.

For additional information, please email cityclerkgroup@cityofgoleta.org. Applications are due by May 23, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.

Thank you for considering this important role in your community.

Striping Improvements in Old Town Starting Soon

In late May, the long-anticipated striping work to improve Hollister Avenue between Fairview Avenue and Kinman Avenue will be underway. Construction is anticipated to be complete by late Summer 2024.

During construction, expect traffic delays, reduced lanes, and limited street parking. Please follow posted signs and plan for additional travel time. Pedestrians and vehicles will be sharing the road, drive with caution.

Old Town Open for Business!
Shop locally to help Old Town thrive during and after construction.

Once complete, Hollister Avenue will feature:

  • One vehicle lane in each direction
  • Painted median
  • Dedicated bike lanes in each direction
  • Back-in, angled 90-minute parking along the north side of Hollister Ave.
  • Improved pavement
  • New traffic signals

The Striping Improvements are part of the multi-year Project Connect, the largest capital improvement project in the City’s history, which kicked off construction in March. Since then, work has been done to remove trees and clear vegetation, relocate utilities, and install temporary traffic signals. 

Once completed, Project Connect will enhance pedestrian access and safety, improve road conditions, and build critical linkage throughout Goleta while increasing stormwater flow capacity in San Jose Creek under Hollister Bridge.

The City understands that long-term projects such as this one can be inconvenient for those who live in, visit, or have businesses in the area. We appreciate your patience in advance and look forward to the positive impact that will be felt for years to come as a result of this project.

Questions? Looking for more details?
www.CityofGoleta.org/ProjectConnect
805-690-5116
Connect@CityofGoleta.org

New Online Facility Reservation System

Book Picnic Spot, Multi-Purpose Field and Goleta Community Center

 The City of Goleta is pleased to announce the launch of a new Online Recreation Booking platform that will make enjoying our beautiful community spaces easier than ever before. Now to book your picnic spot, multi-purpose field or check availability at the Goleta Community Center, all you need to do is go to the Group Picnic Area Reservations webpage on the City’s website.

Parks and Recreation Manager JoAnne Plummer said, “Whether it’s a family reunion, birthday bash, or community gathering, booking your City of Goleta facility is now just a few clicks away.”

Here are some features of this new platform:

  • Online Picnic Site Booking: Easily secure your preferred picnic site, date, and time.
  • Goleta Community Center Availability: Instantly check real-time availability and schedule your activities accordingly.
  • Multi-Purpose Field Booking: Making plans for camps, classes or practices has never been easier. Available fields include: Stow Grove Park, Evergreen Park, and Jonny D. Wallis Neighborhood Park this summer.
  • Effortless Management: Seamlessly handle your bookings, modifications, and cancellations from anywhere.
  • User-Friendly Design: Designed with simplicity in mind, ensures a smooth booking experience for all Goleta residents. Available areas are show in blue with the word “reserve.”

Please note: Currently, only picnic sites at Stow Grove Park are available to rent, while Jonny D. Wallis Neighborhood Park and Armitos Park are closed for construction.

We hope this online platform will transform your engagement with our city’s recreational facilities.

To get started, visit www.CityofGoleta.org/GroupPicnic to create your account today!

For all Community Center questions, reach out to Kelsey Hamilton at khamilton@cityofgoleta.org or 805-961-1237.

For all Picnic Site questions please contact Leonel Mendoza-Diaz at lmendoza-diaz@cityofgoleta.org or 805-961-7558.

Stay tuned this summer as we introduce even more convenience using this platform.

Thank you for being a valued member of our Goleta community. We can’t wait to see you experience the ease and efficiency this system brings to your facility booking.

Girsh Park Celebrates 25 Years of Community Excellence

Girsh Park, a thriving hub of activity in Goleta, is celebrating its Silver Anniversary this month on May 23rd! We hope you will join us for the May 7th Council Meeting at 5:30 p.m. when the City will issue a proclamation recognizing the Foundation for Girsh Park for 25 years of community excellence.

This well-loved park, which welcomes an upwards of 500,000 visitors per year, has been a staple of community engagement for Goleta. It has provided a safe, fun, and affordable space for families, athletes, and nature lovers of all ages.

The park, located at 7050 Phelps Road, first opened in 1999 as a requirement included with the construction of the Camino Real Marketplace. Originally 12 acres, Girsh Park now spans an impressive 25 acres. The expansion allowed the park to add multiple baseball fields, basketball courts, become a permanent home for over 700 Dos Pueblos Little League kids, 1,500 AYSO kids, and hosts the community-favorite annual Lemon Festival.  

“As we reflect on the remarkable journey of Girsh Park over the past quarter-century, we are filled with gratitude for the unwavering support of the Girsh/Hochman Families, the City of Goleta, and the community,” said Ryan Harrington, Executive Director of The Foundation for Girsh Park. “This milestone not only celebrates our achievements but also symbolizes the boundless potential for growth and innovation in the years to come. Girsh Park belongs to the community, and together we will continue to create lasting memories and build a brighter future for generations to come.”

Congratulations to Girsh Park on 25 years of success, and here’s to many more!

Girsh Park is a cooperative community effort that is owned and operated by The Foundation for Girsh Park nonprofit organization. They develop, maintain and enhance the property to provide the community with affordable, high-quality park and recreational facilities available to rent. If you’d like to make a donation or find out other ways to support the park, please visit: https://girshpark.org/donate


The Girsh-Hochman Family pictured left to right: Daniel Hochman, Ruelene Girsh-Hochman and Mandy Hochman celebrate at Girsh Park in 2013.


Thousands of AYSO children play at Girsh Park each year.

Enhanced Municipal Code and New Public Document Portal

Full Archive of City’s Rules, Regulations, Resolutions and Ordinances Available

Every city has its own specific set of rules, regulations, resolutions and ordinances. Now accessing those laws and documents for the City of Goleta is easier than ever before. The City is pleased to announce that it has updated its Goleta Municipal Code (a living document that outlines the City’s local laws and regulations), and as an added benefit to the public has created a new user-friendly public document portal which contains a full archive of the City’s past legislative actions. Both the Goleta Municipal Code and the Public Document Portal are fully searchable and can be downloaded or printed for offline access. To access the updated Municipal Code and Public Documents Portal go to www.CityofGoleta.org/MuniCode.    

Goleta’s City Clerk Deborah Lopez said, “We are proud to offer this easy online access to our Municipal Code, Ordinances and Resolutions. This is part of the City’s overall efforts to improve services to our community and further promote government transparency.”

Here are some of the great features of this enhanced Municipal Code webpage and platform:

  • Provides user-friendly features such as an easy-to-use search function.
  • Results will include code material, new laws, and public documents.
  • The site will also allow visitors to subscribe to receive automatic email code alerts when specific code sections are updated, download formatted sections of the Municipal Code, and find legislation that is not yet codified under the “New Laws” section of the code site.
  • You can also download the free Search Application (eCode Search) on your mobile device to easily search the Municipal Code on the go.

We hope you find this new resource helpful. If you have any questions or need assistance, contact the City Clerk’s Group at cityclerkgroup@cityofgoleta.org.

Photo: Deputy City Clerk Liana Campos visits updated Municipal Code webpage with new Public Document Portal

Sheriff’s Office Investigates Stolen CERT Trailer Equipment

The Sheriff’s Office is investigating a crime that occurred in the Goleta Community Center back parking lot on April 11 and is requesting public assistance. The CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) trailer was broken into and vandalized. More than four thousand dollars’ worth of equipment used for emergency response training classes was stolen. Anyone with information on this crime is encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office by calling the anonymous tip-line at (805) 681-4171 or click here.

Thanks to the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County for leading the charge on getting donations to replace the stolen equipment. We are happy to report that through many generous donations, enough funding was secured to replace the stolen items. #GoodLandGoodPeople

Santa Barbara Fish Market and Restaurant Expands to Goleta

Exciting news for seafood lovers in Goleta! The Santa Barbara Fish Market and Restaurant celebrated its official grand opening in Goleta on April 17 at the University Plaza Shopping Center (7127 Hollister Avenue, Suite #118).

The Santa Barbara Fish Market and Restaurant first opened at the Santa Barbara Harbor 25 years ago. Founding partners and Goleta natives Brian Colgate and Paul Osborne were eager to bring this fresh seafood dining experience to their hometown.

Mayor Pro-Tempore Luz Reyes-Martín had the honor of cutting the ribbon to mark the special occasion. Thanks to the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce for organizing the event.

Best of luck to Santa Barbara Fish Market and Restaurant at its new Goleta location!

May Observances

There are several holidays and observances this month that we want to highlight.

Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month: May is Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time to celebrate and recognize the contributions and achievements of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. The origins of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month date back to 1978, and in 1990, the observance was expanded to a month-long celebration.

Jewish American Heritage Month: The month is a time to celebrate the contributions and achievements of Jewish Americans to the United States. This celebration was first established in 2006 by President George W. Bush as a way to recognize the rich history, culture, and traditions of Jewish Americans.

Mental Health Awareness Month: First began in 1949 as Mental Health Week. In 1955, it was expanded to a month-long observance by the National Association of Mental Health (now known as Mental Health America). The month is dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of mental health issues. It is an opportunity to educate ourselves and others about the importance of mental health and to encourage individuals to seek help when needed.

Older Americans Month: This is annual celebration highlights the contributions and achievements of older adults in the country. The tradition first started in 1963 when President John F. Kennedy declared May as Senior Citizens Month and was later renamed to Older Americans Month by President Jimmy Carter in 1980. It is a time to celebrate their achievements, recognize their contributions, and come together as a community to support them.

Cinco de Mayo: Spanish for May 5th, this day commemorates the Mexican Army’s victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Cinco de Mayo has become a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, and is widely celebrated in many parts of the United States. It’s a time to enjoy delicious Mexican food, music, and dance, and to honor the resilience and strength of the Mexican people.

International Day Against Homophobia: This day is observed annually on May 17th and was created to raise awareness of the discrimination and violence faced by LGBTQ+ individuals around the world. It encourages individuals, regardless of gender or orientation, to reflect on the progress that has been made towards equality, and to remind them of the work that must continue in the fight for equality and acceptance.

Memorial Day: Observed annually on the last Monday in May, this holiday honors and remembers the men and women who have lost their lives while serving in the United States military. Memorial Day has been observed since the end of the Civil War and serves as a time to reflect on those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country.

The City of Goleta encourages all community members to celebrate the holidays and practices they observe and to also learn more about the ones they may not be familiar with.

Shop Local for Mother’s Day

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, it’s never too early to start planning for that special mother figure(s) in your life. Why not help support our local businesses by buying your Mother’s Day gifts from a local business. Go to GoodLandGoodShopping.com, the City of Goleta’s online business directory to see more than 850 businesses that call Goleta home. The businesses range from boutiques to restaurants and everything in between.

GoodLandGoodShopping.com is an online, interactive business directory designed to encourage residents and visitors to shop, dine, and spend locally. The free resource includes businesses located within the city, a map view to see where the business is located, a search feature and filter options to easily find what you are looking for.

If you are a business located in the City of Goleta with a business license, you are automatically included on the website. You can customize your free listing by going to www.GoodLandGoodShopping.com and adding details such as: logo, social media links, promotions, photo galleries, and more. City staff will review and approve the listing before it is published.

Thank you in advance for shopping Goleta and supporting our local economy. Visit www.GoodLandGoodShopping.com today!