Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

Ellwood Mesa Reopens

Major Winter Storms Caused Severe Damage to Eucalyptus Forest and Infrastructure

The City of Goleta is happy to announce the reopening of Ellwood Mesa to the public, effective March 1, 2024. The Ellwood Mesa was temporarily closed following severe winter storms that caused several landslides, downed dozens of large trees, and damaged a critical authorized vehicle access road. The City completed major tree work to reduce risks to trail users and protect monarch butterfly habitat. Additional work is planned in the coming month to restore the authorized vehicle access road.

Public safety and the protection of sensitive wildlife habitat remains the City’s top priorities at Ellwood Mesa. Please take note of the following important points:

  1. Potential Tree Hazards: Trees and large branches within the grove may pose a risk of falling. Visitors are urged to exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings. Enter at your own risk.
  2. Eroded Bluffs and Trails: The natural beauty of Ellwood Mesa includes its rugged bluffs and scenic trails. However, erosion has affected some areas. Trail users are advised to stay on trails and avoid the bluff edge.
  3. Stay Off Closed Trails and Out of Work Zones: For your safety and the safety of our maintenance crews and first responders, please avoid using any closed trails. Closed trails are clearly marked with onsite signage. Closure locations may change depending on site conditions and work crew schedules. The decision to temporarily close specific trails is based on careful consideration of public safety. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in respecting these temporary closures. Beach access remains open, but some trails down to the beach may have detour signage or exclusion fencing to avoid eroded areas.

The parking lot is now reopened to the public at Ellwood Mesa Open Space & Sperling Preserve parking area, located at 7729 Hollister Avenue (across from Ellwood Elementary School).

For additional information or inquiries, please contact George Thomson, Parks and Open Space Manager, at 805-961-7578 or gthomson@cityofgoleta.org.

Apply for the City’s Design Review Board

Applications due by March 15

Those with an eye for design are encouraged to apply for the City of Goleta’s Design Review Board (DRB). The City is looking to fill two vacancies:

  • 1 Licensed Architect
  • 1 At-Large Member (must be a City Resident)

This seven-member body encourages development that uses the best professional design practices to enhance the visual aesthetics of the community and prevent poor quality of design. The DRB advises the City Council, Planning Commission, and staff. Members are appointed to a three-year term.

The Design Review Board meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 3:00 p.m. Members are compensated $75 per meeting.

Put your skills to good use and apply for the Design Review Board. Applications are available at www.CityofGoleta.org/BoardsCommissions and must be submitted by Friday, March 15 at 5:00 p.m.

For additional information, please email cityclerkgroup@cityofgoleta.org.

New #TeamGoleta Job Opportunities

Have you considered a career in local government? The City of Goleta is always looking for passionate people to join our team and we have some exciting new positions coming soon!

Current job openings include:

  • Goleta Community Center Event Monitor / Building Attendant
  • Coming soon! Management Analyst (Public Works)
  • Coming soon! Management Analyst (General Services)
  • Coming soon! Public Works Supervisor

For more information on City jobs, please visit www.CityofGoleta.org/Jobs.

Electric Vehicle Reach Code Lunch & Learn

Watch the Lunch & Learn Webinar Recording Now

Lunch is a great time to squeeze in some learning. That’s why the City of Goleta’s Sustainability Team used the time to host a Lunch and Learn on February 28th. Participants learned about the Electric Vehicle (EV) reach codes and provided feedback on EV charging regulations for the City.

The Lunch and Learn presentation updated participants in the transition to electric vehicles and provided them with an opportunity to provide direct feedback on how they could support the transition and also improve charging access in new construction.

The presentation wrapped up with an engaging Q&A discussion where attendees got to bring up additional concerns, comments, and suggestions.

If you missed the Lunch and Learn but are interested in learning more about EV reach codes and infrastructure development, you can watch a recording of the zoom program on the City’s YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/MjHM9_qnEzs.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the EV reach code project, please email sustainability@cityofgoleta.org.

Goleta Beach Sewage Spill Update

The Goleta Beach closure for water activities that began on February 22, 2024, remains in place due to a massive sewage spill. The spill was determined to be approximately one million gallons. Santa Barbara County Public Health officials advised the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors at its February 27, 2024, meeting that the beach will remain closed until water testing confirms it is safe for the public. The meeting can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=595zkTFISvg.

Goleta Beach from 1 mile to the east and ½ mile to the west of the Goleta Slough outfall is part of this closure. Avoid recreational water use at Goleta Beach. Contact with sewage-contaminated water increases the risk of illness.

For questions related to the sewage spill please contact Goleta West Sanitary District at bmccarthy@goletawest.org or 805-968-2617.

For questions related to the beach closure and water testing, please contact Santa Barbara County Environmental Health Services at phdehsweb@sbcphd.org or 805-681-4900.

If you were in the water prior to the public being made aware of the sewage spill, and have any symptoms, contact your healthcare provider.


The source of the spill at Goleta West Sanitary District (courtesy Laura Capps)

 

Cox Charities to Award $10,000 in Grants to Santa Barbara Nonprofits 

Local nonprofit organizations with programs focused on Youth and Education (K-12 STEAM focus), conservation and sustainability, digital equity, or affordable housing and food insecurity, are encouraged to apply for a Cox Charities Community Grant now through March 15. A total of $10,000 will be awarded to nonprofits in Santa Barbara. 

The grants, which are funded and awarded by Cox employees, are part of Cox Charities’ statewide Community Grants program, which awards grants to nonprofits in Cox Communications’ California markets (San Diego, Orange County, Palos Verdes, Santa Barbara).   

To apply for a Cox Charities Community Grant, organizations must meet the following criteria: 

  • Be a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization;
  • Be located in or provide services in a Cox Communications service area in California;
  • Align with one or more of Cox Charities’ focus areas.

To apply, visit www.coxcharitiesca.org/communitygrants. Recipients will be announced in May.  

Last year’s Santa Barbara grant recipients were: Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Los Padres Forest Association, and Goleta Education Foundation.  

A charitable foundation funded by employee donations, Cox Charities enables employees to support their community by awarding grants to local nonprofits. A diverse volunteer advisory board of Cox employees oversees Cox Charities and its giving programs. 

Dos Pueblos Little League Celebrates 50 Years

For half a century, the Dos Pueblos Little League (DPLL) has been an integral part of the community and is where thousands of children have learned the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty, courage and respect for authority through the fabulous game of baseball. On February 20th, the Goleta City Council issued a proclamation recognizing and congratulating the all-volunteer run non-profit organization for its 50 years of service to the community.

To celebrate this special milestone, a 50th Alumni Anniversary and Fundraiser was held March 2 at UC Santa Barbara’s Corwin Pavillion. The event included a patio reception, music, food and drink, a DPLL Alumni Wall of Fame Gallery, highlight reels and guest speakers. All proceeds went to the league to aid in scholarships, updating equipment and field improvements.

DPLL provides youth athletes ages 4 – 14 with fun and engaging recreational baseball opportunities that foster personal, mental, and physical growth. DPLL proudly supports an inclusive little league experience for everyone, and their Challenger Division provides the same sports opportunities for participants with mental and physical disabilities.

Thank you DPLL for all the great experiences and memories you have created on the ball fields. Cheers to the next 50!

Pictured: Evi Limon-Ngai, Dos Pueblos Little League Board Member, holding the proclamation with City Council and DPLL players

Our Water Our World: Controlling Slugs and Snails Around Your Home 

Learn how to control slugs and snails with these tips from the City of Goleta Environmental Services Division. Slugs and snails are small, slimy insects that are usually found outdoors in your garden. These insects have soft, oblong bodies and produce slime to help them move around. One of the main differences between slugs and snails is that snails have shells. 

Did You Know? 

  • Snails were originally imported from France for culinary purposes.
  • Slugs and snails are most active at night and on dark, cloudy days. 
  • Up to 100 small pearl-like eggs can be laid at a time.

What Can You Do?  

Different methods can be used to remove slugs and snails such as hand-picking, creating barriers or traps, applying eco-friendly pesticides, and using insect predators. To prevent slugs and snails, purchase native plants with dry, hard leaves, avoid over-watering by using water-efficient devices, and try to water at the most efficient time to not only allow areas to dry out before nighttime, but to avoid evapotranspiration.  

  • Find and remove slug and snail eggs. Slug and snail eggs are usually found in the soil about an inch down, but can also be found under rocks, boards, or plant debris. Make sure to crush the eggs or scoop them into a plastic bag, seal it, and throw it away. 
  • Make sure to thoroughly remove full grown slugs and snails. Crushing slugs and snails or drowning them in soapy water will reduce the chances of them surviving. 
  • Bury crushed slugs and snails for soil nutrients. Burying crushed slugs and snails 3 to 4 inches underground can add nutrients to the soil and avoid flies. 
  • Time your hand-picking. Hand-pick eggs or full-grown slugs and snails with a flashlight and pair of gloves before dawn or after 10 pm. This is when slugs and snails come out to eat. 
  • Use a combination of methods and be persistent. Use two or more methods and make sure to regularly perform them to effectively reduce the number of slugs and snails. 
  • Use copper and coconut oil soap as a repellent. Slugs and snails are repelled by copper or coconut oil soap. Wrap the copper around an object, such as a flowerpot, or apply the soap around plants. 
  • Cover seedlings and vegetables. Rows of vegetable or seedlings can be covered such as with horticultural fabric or small cages. 
  • Use homemade or commercial traps. In addition to hand-picking, trap slugs and snails with a container or purchase commercial traps that use yeast mixtures to attract slugs and snails. 
  • Encourage natural predators. Let nature help you out. Some ground beetles that look like black, tank-like insects will eat slugs and snails. 
  • Use an iron phosphate bait. Be careful when using this method, some baits contain methiocarb which can kill beneficial insects, such as earthworms. Try to find baits with iron phosphate instead.   

Find more information on controlling slugs and snails with eco-friendly products in our OWOW brochures in English and Spanish.  

The City of Goleta along with the Cities of Buellton, Carpinteria, Solvang, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria and the County of Santa Barbara have partnered with the OWOW organization to promote the use of less-toxic products in an effort to reduce pesticide pollution in our communities. By reducing pesticide use and the use of less-toxic products around the home, you can help reduce pesticides and other pollutants such as herbicides and fertilizers from being picked up while watering or when it rains and transported to the nearest storm drain inlet and into our waterways. The OWOW website is a great resource for finding less-toxic products to use around your home or garden. 

Birding in Goleta

Spend Friday mornings bird watching in Goleta with the Santa Barbara Audubon Society. All bird walks begin at 8:30am and last about 2 hours. The walks are open to all. For directions and parking click here. Upcoming walks include:

  • Friday, March 29, 2024 – Friday Bird Walk: UCSB Campus Lagoon. The UCSB Lagoon area covers many habitats. Views of Goleta Bay, and ocean south of Campus Point provide many chances for observing shorebirds and seabirds. The fresh water lagoon provides habitat for additional water birds and the surrounding terrestrial areas have potential for many other species.
  • Friday, April 26, 2024 – Friday Bird Walk: Goleta Beach/Atascadero Creek. The Goleta Beach / Goleta Slough / Atascadero Creek area is one of the go to hot spots in Goleta for birding. The eBird hotspot for the area boasts 232 species. Water fowl, shorebirds, waders, raptors, gulls and other species are not uncommon in their season. Goleta Slough is the main drainage for many of the Goleta valley / western Santa Barbara area creeks, providing waterways for birds to up to and down from the Santa Barbara mountains.
  • Friday, May 10, 2024 – Friday Bird Walk – Farren Road. Farren Road is at the very western edge of Goleta. It is a road that provides access along a ridge that is between Tecolote Canyon and Eagle Canyon. The habitat is varied and thus provides a varied list of avian species from sparrows to raptors. The views of the mountains, ocean and Channel Islands is quite special as well.
  • Friday, May 24, 2024 – Friday Bird Walk: Lake Los Carneros. Lake Los Carneros (LLC) is one of Goleta’s premier birding hot spots. Its 25 acre lake and varied wooded and grass land habitats make LLC a wonderful place to visit in the middle of Goleta. Once a part of Rancho La Patera it is now a Mecca for anyone wanting to get in touch with nature.

The Santa Barbara Audubon Society held its 10th Annual Winter Bird Count for Kids this past January. Thanks to all 39 volunteers, including the 15 group leaders, for their dedication and smiles on a rainy day. Kids and high school helpers from 16 schools (eight of them located in Goleta) attended. We are very grateful to the City of Goleta, the Goleta Valley Historical Society/Stow House, Christ Lutheran Church, and the South Coast Railroad Museum for their support, with a special shout out to Lisa, the property caretaker, and the crew at SB County Fire Station 14.

Learn more about the Santa Barbara Audubon Society and activities here: https://santabarbaraaudubon.org/.

Photo from the 10th Annual Winter Bird Count for Kids, photo courtesy Colette Becker

Project Connect Groundbreaking

Monday, March 18 at 11:00 a.m. in Old Town

You’re invited to be a part of Goleta history. On March 18, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., the City will break ground on the largest capital improvement project in the City’s 22-year existence. Join us at 5551 Hollister Avenue (at the parking lot located before SB Hwy 217 on-ramp) in Old Town Goleta to kick off construction for Project Connect. The multi-year project 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.

Councilmember James Kyriaco (District 2) said, “The start of construction is an important milestone for the City of Goleta and one that we look forward to celebrating. Comprehensive projects, like Project Connect, bring impactful improvements, and align regional goals.” 

This milestone event will bring together local officials, community leaders, project stakeholders and residents to celebrate this transformative project. Attendees can expect to hear from the Mayor and representatives from collaborative agencies who have played and will continue to play key roles in shaping this project and seeing it to completion. The comments will be followed by a ceremonial groundbreaking photo/video opportunity. Spanish interpretation will be available. On-site parking is limited, and carpooling is encouraged. Additional parking is available at Jonny D. Wallis Neighborhood Park or on S. Kellogg Ave. 

There are many aspects to this comprehensive project which include:

  • Hollister Avenue Bridge & Roundabout Project – Construction of two roundabouts at the Hollister Ave./State Route 217 ramp intersection to improve traffic flow. Additionally, a new bridge will be built over San Jose Creek to achieve 100-year storm flow capacity.
  • Ekwill Street & Fowler Road Extension Projects – Improve east-west circulation north and south of Hollister Avenue, providing direct connections to portions of Old Town Goleta and the Santa Barbara Airport.

During construction, lane closures and detours will be in place. All businesses along the project alignment will remain open. Please show your support for our Old Town businesses during construction.

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.

To stay updated on project milestones, traffic impacts, and other important Project Connect information go to the City’s website: www.CityofGoleta.org/ProjectConnect.

For additional information or questions, please contact: Connect@CityofGoleta.org or 805-690-5116.

We hope to see you at the Project Connect Groundbreaking on March 18th!