Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

February Observances

The City of Goleta is highlighting a few important observances happening this month and hope you will join us in recognizing them.

  • Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. The 2024 theme is “African Americans and the Arts” spanning the many impacts Black Americans have had on visual arts, music, cultural movements, and more. Locally in Santa Barbara County, the theme “Black History: More Than A Month” was chosen to celebrate and educate our region on the local and magnanimous achievements of Black/African Americans.  

    The City of Goleta will recognize February as Black History Month with a proclamation at the February 6 City Council Meeting. This is a time for us to honor the contributions and legacy of Black Americans across U.S. history — from activists and civil rights pioneers to leaders in industry, politics, science, and culture.

    To learn more about the rich history of social, political, and cultural contributions made, make sure you check out the Goleta Valley Library‘s in-person adult and children’s displays or online catalog throughout the month of February.

    Community organizations across Santa Barbara County will be offering events both in-person and virtually. For the full calendar of events, please visit: www.JuneteenthSB.org
  • Chinese New Year is the annual 15-day festival in China and Chinese communities around the world that begins with the new moon. 2024 is the Year of the Dragon and starts on February 10, 2024, lasting until January 28, 2025. In Chinese culture, the Dragon holds a significant place as an auspicious and extraordinary creature, unparalleled in talent and excellence.

  • Presidents’ Day falls on Monday, February 19, 2024. Although the holiday is most often called “Presidents’ Day,” the observed federal holiday is officially called “Washington’s Birthday.” Presidents Day is celebrated on the third Monday of February every year and is one of only eleven permanent federal holidays established by Congress.

Thank You, Kristy Schmidt

The City’s former Assistant City Manager is settling in as the new Human Resources Director for the County of Santa Barbara. The Council and staff wanted to make sure she felt appreciated before her last day on December 30 for the positive impact she left on the City. Kristine “Kristy” Schmidt was presented with a City Tile at the December 19, 2023, City Council meeting in appreciation of her dedication, professionalism, and commitment to the City of Goleta during her nearly five years of service.

The Council praised Ms. Schmidt for her “can-do” spirit, enthusiasm, cheerfulness and integrity. Mayor Paula Perotte said, “You always make yourself available and you are so kind and professional. We wish you well and will miss you.”

Upon receiving her City Tile Ms. Schmidt said, “It has been an enormous honor to serve as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Goleta. I have been so lucky to work for two incredible City Managers and with a management team and staff that is dedicated, energized and high performing throughout the organization.” She also addressed and thanked the City Council and said, “I am so impressed with how you bring your attention, intelligence and heart to everything that affects this City. I look forward to seeing what you do next and watching Goleta thrive.”

View the tile presentation on the City website at http://tinyurl.com/36cpx36u (item C.1).

While her list of accomplishments is lengthy, Kristy served the City during a pivotal time in its history. She helped guide City operations through the COVID-19 pandemic and helped replace and transition to a new City Manager, Robert Nisbet, when Michelle Greene retired.

City Manager Robert Nisbet said, “Kristy’s impact on Goleta will be felt for years to come. She chose public service as her life’s work because of the positive impact you can make. It has been refreshing and an honor to work alongside her.”

Prior to working for the City of Goleta, Ms. Schmidt spent 22 years at the City of Santa Barbara. She began as an Administrative Analyst, became Employee Relations Manager and then Director of Administrative Services. She also spent time in human resources and employee relations. Kristy has a Juris Doctorate from the Santa Barbara College of Law and an undergraduate degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Kristy, we are so grateful for all you have done for the City and know you will continue to have a positive impact in this next chapter of your career.

Pictured: Kristy Schmidt (right) receiving her City Tile from Mayor Paula Perotte (left) at the December 19, 2023, City Council meeting

Earthquake Brace & Bolt Grants Available to Homeowners

30 years after the devastating Northridge Earthquake, new retrofit opportunities are available. Thousands of California homeowners are now eligible to apply for Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) seismic retrofit grants as approximately 300 new ZIP Codes have been added to the program. Eligible homeowners in 815 ZIP Codes can apply by February 21, 2024, for $3,000 seismic retrofit grants to help strengthen their homes against earthquake damage. Watch this video to learn more: https://vimeo.com/903441363.

More than $20 million in grant funding will be available to help offset the cost of seismic retrofits that brace the crawl space walls of older homes, when present, and bolt houses to their foundations, making them less vulnerable to earthquake damage. In the ten years since it began, the EBB program has assisted more than 23,000 homeowners in strengthening their homes against earthquake damage. The EBB grant program is administered by the California Residential Mitigation Program (CRMP) a Joint Powers Authority between the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).

Income-eligible homeowners may also qualify for supplemental grants. Up to $7,000 in additional grant funds are available for households with an annual income at or below $87,360, which may be able to provide up to 100% of the funds needed to cover a seismic retrofit. Grants are contingent upon meeting eligibility requirements and available funds.

There are more than 1.2 million houses in California built before 1980 in high-hazard areas that are vulnerable to collapse or destruction by sliding off the foundation during a strong earthquake.

Eligible homeowners can apply for a retrofit grant through February 21, 2024, at EarthquakeBraceBolt.com, where they can also find detailed program information, select a trained, California- licensed general contractor and view the full list of eligible ZIP Codes and program areas. The EBB program added ZIP Codes in new areas including areas in and around Eureka, San Francisco/San Jose/Oakland, Monterey/Salinas, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Palm Springs and San Diego.

About Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB)
Established by the California Residential Mitigation Program, EBB offers up to $3,000 to help California homeowners retrofit their house to reduce potential damage from earthquakes. A residential seismic retrofit makes a house more resistant to earthquake activity, such as ground shaking and soil failure, by bolting the house to its foundation and adding bracing around the perimeter of the crawl space. For more information, including an online media kit, please visit http://www.EarthquakeBrace Bolt.com.

About the California Residential Mitigation Program (CRMP)
CRMP was established in 2011 to help Californians strengthen their homes against damage from earthquakes. CRMP is a joint powers authority created by the California Earthquake Authority and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. For more information, please visit https://www.CaliforniaResidentialMitigationProgram.com/About-CRMP.

#TeamGoleta is Hiring

The City of Goleta is looking to fill a few vacant positions. If you are looking for a rewarding job that gives back to the community, check out the openings below.

  • Community Center Event Monitor/Building Attendant
  • Principal Civil Engineer/Senior Engineer (Engineering)
  • Principal Civil Engineer/Senior Engineer (Traffic Engineering Operations & Maintenance)
  • Supervising Librarian – coming soon

For more information and to apply, go to www.CityofGoleta.org/Jobs. Check back regularly for new listings.

Public Engagement Commission Recruitment Open

Apply by February 22, 2024

Are you interested in helping the City of Goleta find ways to engage the community in local government? If so, we encourage you to apply for the City’s Public Engagement Commission (PEC). The City is looking to fill two vacancies. Apply by February 22 to be considered.

The PEC advises the City Council and staff on issues related to public engagement in City government and governance. The Commission has provided recommendations to the City Council on moving to evening-only meetings, directly electing the Mayor, and district elections.

The seven-member commission meets four times per year or as needed. Members are appointed to 4-year terms and compensated at the rate of $75 per meeting. Eligible applicants must live in the City of Goleta.

Don’t wait, apply today at www.CityofGoleta.org/BoardsCommissions. Applications must be received by Thursday, February 22, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. For additional information, please email cityclerkgroup@cityofgoleta.org.

Beautify Goleta All Month Long

Be a part of the City’s first ever Beautify Goleta Self-Guided Cleanup Month. For the entire month of February, you are encouraged to pick up litter during a time most convenient to you at a location of your choosing (except private property unless permitted by owner). Once you are done, you will report what you collected to the City using an online form. You will then be entered into a prize drawing based on the categories below: 

  1. Grand Prize Drawing with all participants (3 Winners) 
  2. Prize for picking up the most trash by weight (1 Winner) 
  3. Prize for the most number of cleanups throughout the month (1 Winner) 

All winners will be announced on Monday, March 4th by 5:00 p.m.

Before your cleanup, please review our Self-Guided Cleanup Cheat Sheet, our Cleanup Safety Guidance, and our list of Helpful Contacts. 

After your cleanup, the City encourages participants to report results using an online form, which can also be found at www.cityofgoleta.org/BeautifyGoleta.

Need Equipment? The City has trash grabbers, gloves, trash bags, and buckets that can be checked out for free. Email us at EnvironmentalServices@cityofgoleta.org to schedule a pickup time or if you have any questions/feedback.

Mark your calendar for the next Community-Wide Beautify Goleta Cleanup on Saturday, March 16, 2024, spotlighting Old Town Goleta. We are looking for Team Captains to lead cleanup locations for all events in 2024. For more information go to www.CityofGoleta.org/BeautifyGoleta or sign up here today!

Our Water Our World: Planting a Healthy Garden

Learn about planting a healthy garden while protecting the health of people, pets, and our environment with these tips from the City of Goleta Environmental Services Division. Planting a variety of flowering plants that bloom throughout the spring and summer gives you a beautiful garden and can also reduce the number of garden pests. Many commonly available plants— including drought-tolerant plants—attract beneficial insects that feed on pests you don’t want around!

Attract Beneficial Insects, and Keep Them Around

Beneficial insects are the ultimate non-toxic pest control. And they do all of the work for you! Soldier beetles, syrphid flies, and ladybugs and their larvae attack aphids. Lacewings will go after just about any insect pest.

Use pesticides only as a last resort. If you must use a pesticide, choose the least toxic product designed to kill the specific target pest. Bees and other beneficial insects are often more sensitive to pesticides than the pests you want to kill. What’s worse, after pesticide use has eliminated the beneficial insects, the pests are free to multiply… and you’ll need to spray again.

Choosing the Right Plant

Plant for success! Many of the plants that attract beneficial insects are California natives that should do well here. It’s important to learn about your garden—what type of soil you have and how much sunlight you get throughout the day and during different seasons—and choose plants that fit in.

  • Read the label! Most nurseries provide detailed information about plants’ blooming habits and water and sunlight requirements. For plants that are pest-prone, such as hollyhocks and fuchsias, look for varieties described as pest- and disease-resistant.
  • Before you buy a plant, check the roots. Gently pull or knock the plant out of its pot to make sure it’s not root-bound. Don’t buy a plant with roots that are kinked, growing out of the bottom of the container, or surrounding the root ball. Also, don’t buy a plant if its root crown (the area where the roots meet the stem or trunk) is soft or rotten.
  • Talk to your local garden club, and check out these resources to help you choose the right plants:

Caring for Your Plants

Knowing your plant’s needs for water, pruning, and fertilizer will help you keep your garden healthy. Even drought-tolerant plants need regular water to become established. During their first two growing seasons, water new plants deeply twice a week so that their roots will grow down into the soil. You may have to water young plants more often during hot weather.

  • Don’t pile soil around the plant any higher than the root crown. Don’t plant in a depression that will allow water to wash soil down around the stem or trunk and cover the root crown. A continually moist root crown can cause rot.
  • Cover bare soil with mulch. Mulch conserves soil moisture so plants don’t dry out as quickly. A four-inch layer of mulch will prevent most annual weeds from growing, and any weeds that do sprout can be pulled out more easily.
  • Use a mulch of leaves, bark, or composted manure and/or garden waste to provide organic matter to the soil and a slow, steady flow of nutrients to plants. Make sure not to cover the crown of the plant.
  • If you need to fertilize, use organic, slow-release fertilizers.
  • Learn how and when to prune your plants, and don’t prune more than recommended. Severe pruning can damage the plant and encourage pests and diseases.

Find more information on planting a healthy garden 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 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.

Save-the-Date: Community State of the City

April 10 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Returning to the Goleta Community Center 

We are thrilled to announce that the City’s 7th Annual Goleta Community State of the City will be returning to its original home at the Goleta Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue). Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, April 10, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. (arrive at 4:00 p.m. for a musical guest in the gazebo). We hope you will join us for this must-attend free community event. Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be available and light refreshments are provided. This is your chance to hear about the City’s accomplishments over the past year and to find out what the future holds.

Mayor Paula Perotte said, “We are so excited to be returning to the Goleta Community Center (GCC) for our upcoming Community State of the City. This will be a great night for us all to get together to share what we have achieved this past year and what lies ahead. We thank the Elks Lodge for hosting this event the past two years while the GCC was undergoing seismic updates.”

We have a full evening planned:

  • 4:00 p.m. – New! Dos Pueblos High School Jazz Band performs in the gazebo outside of the Goleta Community Center.
  • 5:00 p.m. – Doors open for attendees to mingle with the City Council, City staff, stakeholders and fellow Goletans. You can also check out our City information tables, take photos and enjoy light refreshments.
  • 6:00 p.m. – The main program begins and includes the Mayor’s State of the City Address, a Financial Update from the City Manager, and the popular Q&A session with City Directors.

Please tell your family and friends and join us for this important City event.

Butterflies, BioBlitz and Behind the Scenes at Ellwood Mesa

Butterflies

Have you been to the Goleta Butterfly Grove at Ellwood Mesa to see the monarch butterflies this season? We know many of you have because we’ve seen you on the trails and we’ve enjoyed your photos on social media. We’ve seen more butterflies and visitors at Ellwood this season than we have in many years.

Monarchs arrive at the California coast around mid-October, searching for overwintering habitat. In November, they start to settle into groves of trees for wind protection and other conditions they need to make it through the winter. By mid-December, they move out of areas with less than adequate habitat and gather into large clusters in the best groves. The population at Ellwood Main Butterfly Grove generally peaks around mid-December before the first significant winter storms hit the region. After New Year’s Day the population fluctuates but generally starts to decline due to mortality and dispersal. By mid-March the monarchs will have departed for their spring migration to breeding habitats across the western United States.


Learn more at our Monarch Butterfly Grove Visitor Information.

BioBlitz – Saturday, March 9, 9:30-11:30 am – New Date!

The City of Goleta Parks and Open Space Division and UC Santa Barbara’s Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration invite you to participate in a one-day inventory of biodiversity at the Butterfly Grove. The goal of this fun, hands-on experience is to identify and record as many plants, animals, fungi, and other species as possible in a single day. Citizen scientists contribute valuable data to ongoing biodiversity research and play a role in the conservation of important habitat for plants and wildlife. This BioBlitz will be used as an informal baseline survey of biodiversity at the Goleta Butterfly Grove before the City enters the next phase of enhancement and restoration. 

This event highlights the City’s commitment to encourage nature appreciation, community pride, and participation in the City’s parks and open spaces. For more information and to sign up, go to Butterfly Grove BioBlitz details and signup.

Behind the Scenes at Ellwood Mesa

The Goleta Butterfly Grove at Ellwood Mesa is one of the premier habitats for the monarch butterfly and the City is positioned to be a leader in western monarch butterfly conservation. The long-awaited implementation of the Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan –– including addressing urgent concerns of fire risk, replanting thousands of trees and native plants, and providing safe access for visitors – is just around the corner. The City has been working hard on several fronts so they will be ready to start as soon as the necessary permits are issued. Several key milestones were achieved this year and on-the-ground work is expected to begin this spring (fire risk vegetation management) and summer (habitat enhancement and access improvements).

In the meantime, the City continues to work behind the scenes on the following:

  • Planning, Documentation, and Design – City staff and consultants continue to respond to Coastal Commission requests for detailed maps, planting plans, engineering specifications, species protection plans, and more.
  • Growing Plants for Restoration – The City has entered agreements with UC Santa Barbara’s Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration (CCBER) to begin native seed collection and propagation and CalPoly San Luis Obispo’s Plant Conservatory to grow the eucalyptus trees that will be planted to restore the microclimate that monarch butterflies need.
  • Community Engagement – The City strives to increase the public’s knowledge and interest in what is happening at Ellwood. 2023 events included a monarch butterfly forum at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, a Firewise USA meeting for Ellwood residents, presentations to organizations with shared interests, site visits with City staff and monarch specialists, and onsite signage. The City has reactivated the Butterfly Grove docent program and provides regular project updates and information at CityofGoleta.org/Ellwood.
  • Ellwood Friends – with the support of the City and LegacyWorks Group, a group of Ellwood neighbors are forming a community organization to support the stewardship, conservation and celebration of Ellwood Mesa. They will work alongside City and non-profit partners to care for Ellwood Mesa. See EllwoodFriends.org.

Do you have questions about what is happening at Ellwood? We’d like to hear from you. Please contact the Parks and Open Space Division at ellwoodmesa@cityofgoleta.org.

Funding for the implementation of the Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan is provided by the California State Coastal Conservancy. The Coastal Conservancy is a California state agency, established in 1976, to protect and improve natural lands and waterways, to help people get to and enjoy the outdoors, and to sustain local economies along California’s coast. It acts with others to protect and restore, and increase public access to, California’s coast, ocean, coastal watersheds, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Its vision is of a beautiful, restored, and accessible coast for current and future generations of Californians.

Funding for fire prevention activities in and near Ellwood Mesa (Ellwood Mesa Neighborhoods Hazard Fuel Reduction) is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing GHG emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment– particularly in disadvantaged communities. The Cap-and-Trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. California Climate Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling, and much more. At least 35 percent of these investments are located within and benefiting residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households across California. For more information, visit the California Climate Investments website at: www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov.

Coffee, Community & Birthday Cake THIS Saturday

February 3rd from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. at Brandon School

It’s not often that you feel good about eating cake for breakfast, but we have the perfect excuse. We are celebrating the City’s 22nd birthday at our upcoming Coffee and Community (Café y Comunidad) event on Saturday, February 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Brandon School (195 Brandon Drive).  We will be serving up birthday cake from Anna’s Bakery and kids who attend can make birthday cards for the City to be displayed at the Goleta Valley Library. This bilingual event will have live Spanish interpretation. 

Mayor Paula Perotte, City Councilmember Kyle Richards, and City staff from various departments look forward to meeting you, your family, and friends.

Mayor Paula Perotte said, “Bring your friends and neighbors and any questions, concerns, or ideas you have. This is the perfect opportunity to get caught up, get to know each better, hear important updates, and get your questions answered.”

Councilmember Kyle Richards said, “I’m eager to connect with the residents of District 3 to hear their concerns and discuss what the City has been working on in this area. We are always looking for ways to better address the needs of our community, and this is a great way to meet and hear from our constituents directly.”

The event will be held in the school’s Multi-Purpose Room (MPR). The playground will be open as well but unsupervised.

There will be plenty of time for mingling and a chance to talk one on one with the Mayor, Councilmember Richards and the staff who are attending to address topics of importance to the neighborhood.

This will be the fourth Coffee & Community / Café y Comunidad event held by the City across the four Goleta districts.

We will have free Live • Work • Play giveaways as well. Join us for all or part of the morning, we are hoping for a great turnout!

See you Saturday!