Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

New Bike Lanes and Parking on Cathedral Oaks in Western Goleta

Changes Include Bike Lanes, Protected Parallel and Back-In Angled Parking

If you haven’t noticed yet, there are changes to the section of Cathedral Oaks Road from Northgate Drive to Paseo Del Pinion in western Goleta aimed at improving the safety and accessibility for all road users. The newly repaved section now features protected Class 4 bike lanes. This innovative design includes parallel and back-in angled parking to create a safer, more inclusive experience for cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists alike. It is also in line with the City’s ongoing commitment to Vision Zero, a long-term commitment to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries.

Public Works Director Nina Buelna said, “We invite all community members to enjoy and explore Cathedral Oaks Road’s enhanced features, setting a new standard for safety and accessibility.”

The new striping for the class 4 bike lanes and parking configuration is a strategic move toward safer, more sustainable travel by reducing potential conflicts among road users and encouraging active transportation options. In all, there are now 89 total parking spaces: 31 new back-in angled parking spaces and 58 parallel parking spaces.

We know bike protected parallel and back-in angled parking is new for Cathedral Oaks Road and may take some getting used to. Here are three steps to help:

  1. Signal as you approach the spot.
  2. Stop ahead of the space and then reverse into it.
  3. Once parked, you’ll have a clear view when exiting.

The City is pleased that there was an opportunity to improve this section of Cathedral Oaks Road when it was recently paved as part of the City’s Pavement Maintenance Project. Staff presented the Goleta City Council with three alternatives for a bike lane and parking, and at the July 16th Council meeting this option was selected and staff moved forward with the work.

The new layout is below:


Example of back-in, angled parking and bike lanes that are on the north side of Cathedral Oaks Road near Northgate Drive. Parallel parking on the south side of Cathedral Oaks Road from Brandon Drive to Northgate Drive.

Vision Zero is a system-wide approach to traffic safety, gaining momentum in American cities, that focuses on reducing the number of traffic related fatalities and severe injuries to zero. Since adopting a resolution in support of Vision Zero strategies in Goleta earlier this year, the Council has also approved an ordinance that will lower speed limits on roadways in Goleta based on new State law.

Learn more about this project and the City’s Pavement Management Program on our website at www.CityofGoleta.org/Pavement.

Photos of the new striping on Cathedral Oaks Road


Project Connect: November Update

Project Connect construction continues, and great progress is being made. Currently, work is focused on the replacement of the north side of the Hollister Avenue Bridge over San Jose Creek. Crews are forming the bridge deck and will continue that work through the end of the year. The current traffic shift is scheduled to be in place until early 2025 when crews will shift traffic to the north side of the bridge to allow for the demolition and reconstruction of the south side. The contractor is also working to clear the Ekwill Street extension area in preparation for work in that location.

Construction began on the City’s largest Capital Improvement Project in March 2024. Project Connect will take several years to complete with a targeted completion of spring 2027. 

If you haven’t already seen it, we encourage you to watch our recent video on the project providing a six month update from our Public Works staff. Check it out in English here and Spanish here to see what’s been accomplished so far, what’s happening right now, and what’s coming next!

We appreciate your patience during the construction of this important project. Please follow the posted traffic signs, travel with care, and stay clear of construction zones.

For additional information or questions, please email Connect@CityofGoleta.org, call 805-690-5116 or visit www.CityofGoleta.org/ProjectConnect.

Pictured above: Crews excavating for the soil nail wall


Crews constructing a bridge abutment


Crews constructing the north side of the Hollister Avenue Bridge over San Jose Creek

 

 

Tis the Season for GoodLandGoodShopping.com

City to Feature Businesses on Social Media

The holiday season is coming up and the City of Goleta wants to remind our community about our GoodLandGoodShopping.com online business directory. GoodLandGoodShopping.com serves as a hub for discovering and supporting local businesses. With over 900 businesses listed, there is something for everyone, from boutique stores and family-owned restaurants to professional services and apparel. Whether you’re in need of a specific service or simply looking to explore what Goleta has to offer, GoodLandGoodShopping.com is the perfect place to start your search.

The online business directory is a free resource that includes a map view to see where each business is located, a search feature, and filter options to easily find what you are looking for. Watch our video promo to find out more, available in English and Spanish.

For businesses located within the City of Goleta with a business license, you are automatically included. However, we encourage you to take a moment and customize your free listing to gain more exposure. You can add your logo, social media links, promotions, photo galleries, and more. City staff will review and approve the listing before it is published. View a short tutorial on how to edit your business or add your business.

In addition to promoting our business directory, the City is also launching a #GoodLandGoodShopping social media campaign starting on November 15, 2024, through the New Year. Look each weekday on our Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) pages to see what Goleta business is featured. If you want to see your favorite Goleta business featured, send an email to PIO@CityofGoleta.org.

Thank you for shopping local and supporting our local economy! 

Vote in the November Election!

Make your voice heard in the November General Municipal Election! If you haven’t already, be sure to vote – this is your chance to have a say on a local and national level.

What’s On the Goleta Ballot

This is another historic election for the City of Goleta – do you know what district you live in? The City is divided into four districts and registered voters in Districts 3 and 4 will be voting for a Councilmember in their District for the first time. Voters in Districts 1 and 2 elected a Councilmember from their Districts in 2022. No matter which of the four districts you live in, ALL Goleta residents will vote on the Mayor’s seat (elected at-large) and on a City sponsored ballot measure (G2024).

If you don’t already know, find out what district you live in by putting your address in the interactive map at https://tinyurl.com/GoletaInteractiveMap.

Take a moment to learn more about the upcoming General Municipal Election in Goleta by watching this short video from veteran City Clerk Deborah Lopez. The video is also available in Spanish featuring the City’s Spanish Engagement Specialist.

For Goleta-related election information, please visit our website at www.cityofgoleta.org/elections. 

Ballot Return Options

Once the ballot is voted and the envelope is signed, the voter has several options for returning the ballot so that it can be counted.

  • Voters may choose to return their voted ballot by utilizing the United States Postal Service, no postage necessary. Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, November 5.
  • The Elections Office provides several drop boxes located throughout Santa Barbara County that are available 24 hours a day until 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 5. To avoid concerns about postal delivery delays, voters are encouraged to utilize a drop box to return their ballot. There are two ballot drop box locations in the City of Goleta. A list of all drop box locations can be found here.
    • Goleta City Hall (130 Cremona Drive)
    • Goleta Community Center (5679 Hollister Ave)
  • Each of the three Elections Offices in Santa Barbara County also accepts voted ballots and can help with a full range of voter services including the option to vote in person, if a voter chooses.
  • Voters may also choose to return a voted ballot to a polling location on Election Day, November 5.

The Santa Barbara County Elections Office can be reached at www.sbcvote.com or by calling 800-722-8683.

You can track your ballot through the State of California’s “Where’s My Ballot” program.

Results

Election results are available after the polls close at 8:00 p.m. on election night, November 5. On election night and during the canvas period, follow Santa Barbara County’s semi-official results at https://www.countyofsb.org/3294/Election-Results. Statewide results can be found on the California Secretary of State’s website https://electionresults.sos.ca.gov/. Vote by mail and provisional ballots will continue to be processed through the canvas period, or the 30 days following the election, and the County and State will continue to post updated results during that timeframe. Results for the City of Goleta are expected to be certified at the December 17, 2024, City Council Meeting.

Goleta's District Elections Map
Goleta’s District Map


City Clerk Deborah Lopez at a ballot box in front of Goleta City Hall

Meetings at a Glance – November 2024

Keep updated with what is happening at the City of Goleta by attending or watching our Council, Board, Commission and/or Standing Committee meetings. Meetings are held at Goleta City Hall (130 Cremona Drive) and many can also be participated in via Zoom. Most meetings are also available to watch on Goleta TV Channel 19 and the City’s website.

View the calendar on our website. Please note, meetings can be added and cancelled. For the most up-to-date information, check the website.

Here’s what is coming up:

Positions Open with #TeamGoleta

Are you looking for a fulfilling career giving back to your community? Then check out the below job opportunities with the City of Goleta:

  • Emergency Services Coordinator
  • Planning Commission Clerk
  • Project Manager (General Services)
  • Supervising Library Technician (Solvang)

Learn more about each position and how to apply here. Check back regularly for new opportunities.

Help Restore Ellwood Mesa’s Monarch Butterfly Habitat

The City of Goleta and our restoration partners are calling for volunteers to help us restore critical habitat at Ellwood Mesa. The monarch butterfly grove at Ellwood Mesa is one of the most significant winter sites for migrating monarchs in the Western United States, but the grove has suffered damage over many years of drought and severe winter storms. Together we will plant thousands of trees and native plants to provide vital shelter and food for these iconic butterflies.

Upcoming Events

Tree Planting and Restoration with Your Children’s Trees
Saturdays in November: 2nd, 9th, 16th & 23rd, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Join us as we prepare, plant, and care for 1200 new eucalyptus, 800 native trees, and several thousand flowering shrubs and wetland plants. Sign up for details.

Field Training for the Western Monarch Count
Sunday, November 17, 8:30 am – 10:30 am
Western Monarch Count regional coordinators Charis van der Heide and Kim Zembik are hosting a monarch counting field training on November 17th at 8:30-10:30 am. Meet at the Coronado Butterfly Preserve, Coronado Dr, Goleta, CA 93117 (view map) and walk to the Goleta Monarch Butterfly Grove. Please RSVP to kzsembik@gmail.com. Learn more about Xerces Society Western Monarch Count.

Tree Planting and Restoration with the Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade
Saturday, December 7, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Join us as we transform a damaged ecosystem into a beautiful habitat restoration area for the butterflies and the whole community to enjoy together. Volunteers will meet at the Ellwood Mesa Beach Parking Lot (view map) and then walk to the volunteer staging area. We will have introductions, coffee and doughnuts and then we will head out into the butterfly preserve to plant trees! Sign up at Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade.

More Info

Learn more about the restoration project at CityofGoleta.org/ellwood and follow active projects and volunteer activities at CityofGoleta.org/ellwood-now.


Volunteers at Ellwood (photo credit: Melissa Fontaine)

City Accepting Applications for Preapproved ADU Plans

Submission Deadline November 18th and Design Review Board Hearing December 10th

The City of Goleta is accepting submissions from design professionals for Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) plans to be considered for preapproval. This is in accordance with Assembly Bill No. 1332 which requires each local agency to develop a program for the preapproval of ADU plans by January 1, 2025.

An ADU is an attached or a detached residential dwelling unit that provides complete, independent living facilities for one or more persons and is located on a lot with a proposed or existing primary residence. ADUs include permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation on the same parcel as a single-unit or multi-family dwelling.

At this time, the City is accepting plans for detached ADUs that meet size and height restrictions per Goleta Municipal Code (GMC) §17.41.030(D)(1)(b) to be preapproved. The detached plans will need to be between 250 and 800 square feet in floor area and the height can be no greater than 16’ or up to 18’ or 20’, if located within one half-mile walking distance of a major transit stop or a high-quality transit corridor.

Design professionals interested in submitting detached ADU plans for consideration should submit one PDF with floor plans, elevations, and square footage meeting the City’s “Floor Area” definition per GMC §17.03.070, and indicating the maximum building height to scale on the plans. Plans will be accepted via email. Please send plans to: PreapprovedADU@cityofgoleta.org.

Submissions will be accepted until November 18th at noon. There are two fees for design professionals seeking preapproval. The first is for Design Review, which is $1,734. The second fee will be for Building Plan review, which is based on valuation of the project including the market rate for labor and materials.

City of Goleta’s Design Review Board (DRB) will hold a hearing on December 10, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. to review submissions of ADU plans for inclusion in the City’s Preapproved ADU Program. The meeting will be held in person at Goleta City Hall Council Chambers (130 Cremona Drive) and via the Zoom platform. A link can be found in the agenda, posted at least 72 hours in advance at http://cityofgoleta.org/goletameetings. The public may also view the meeting on the City’s website or Goleta TV Channel 19.

For community members interested in using one of the preapproved ADU plans, once available, this program allows proposed ADUs to move through the review process quickly and efficiently. The preapproved plans will be made available to view on the Planning and Environmental Review webpage, once approved. Site-specific information will be required for each location and homeowners will have to contact the design professional for costs associated with the use of the preapproved plans and the preparation of the required site plan and other documents (e.g., soils reports, etc.) and building permitting.

Following the Design Review Board hearing on December 10, 2024, the approved ADU plans will then move on to Building Permit plan review to ensure the plans meet the current triennial Building Standard Code rulemaking cycle. The preapproved ADU plans will be available on the Planning and Environmental Review page on the City’s website (www.CityofGoleta.org). 

Please direct any questions and/or comments to Kathy Allen, Supervising Senior Planner, at kallen@cityofgoleta.org or Christina McGuire, Associate Planner, at cmcguire@cityofgoleta.org.

Apply Now for Award-Winning LEAD Goleta Bilingual Community Academy

Six-Week Course Begins January 16, 2025

The City of Goleta’s award-winning LEAD Goleta Bilingual Community Academy is now taking applications for its January/February 2025 class. LEAD stands for Learn, Empower, Advocate and Discuss. LEAD Goleta recently received the prestigious Cal Cities 2024 Helen Putnam Award for Excellence in the category of Enhancing Public Trust, Ethics, and Community Involvement. Learn more here. Space is limited so don’t wait to apply for this six-week bilingual class which provides a unique up-close look at how local government works. Priority is given to Goleta residents, but the program is open to any resident of Santa Barbara County. We strongly encourage high school and college students to apply.

Take advantage of this great opportunity to learn how the City is run, in a small, intimate setting of 30 participants. You will walk away from the experience more connected to the City with a deeper understanding of how to get involved in shaping the future of Goleta – whether it’s staying informed, volunteering, applying for a Board or Commission, or even running for City Council.

Watch our short video promo to see why you should apply. The promo is also available in Spanish.

You can also watch this video recap of the January/February 2024 LEAD Goleta Bilingual Academy and learn first-hand why this program is so special.

The LEAD Goleta Academy begins on January 16, 2025, and takes place Thursday evenings from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. for six consecutive weeks. You must be able to attend all six classes to participate. The course ends on February 20, 2025, with a celebratory graduation ceremony. Most classes will be held in City Hall Council Chambers located at 130 Cremona Drive with the exception of two classes that will be at the Goleta Valley Library and Goleta Community Center.

This will be the third time that LEAD Goleta will be offered in Spanish, and the fifth overall Community Academy.

We can’t wait to meet the next LEAD Goleta Bilingual Community Academy class in January. For more information and to apply, go to www.CityofGoleta.org/LEADGoleta.


LEAD Goleta January/February 2024 Graduating Class

November Observances

As we step into November, the City of Goleta wants to highlight some of the cultural observances that this month brings. It’s a time to not only enjoy the changing seasons but also to celebrate the diverse traditions that make our community unique.

Native American Heritage Month: This month is dedicated to recognizing the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Native Americans and Alaska Natives, and honoring their traditions, languages, and stories. Native American Heritage Month officially began in November 1990 when President George H.W. Bush signed a joint congressional resolution designating the month as “National American Indian Heritage Month.”

Diwali (Friday, November 1): Diwali is also known as the Festival of Lights. It is a five-day festival that symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. It’s a major religious holiday for Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs, and is celebrated by more than a billion people across faiths. 

Veterans Day: Celebrated annually on November 11, Veteran’s Day serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by those who have served in the armed forces. The day originated in 1954, when Congress passed a bill that President Eisenhower signed proclaiming November 11 as Veterans Day.

Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 28): Celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday of the month, families and friends gather around the dinner table in a moment to reflect on gratitude and appreciation. On October 3, 1863, during the Civil War, Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday, November 26. President Roosevelt signed a resolution on December 26, 1941, establishing the fourth Thursday in November as the Federal Thanksgiving Day holiday.

Whether through shared meals, community events, or acts of service, let’s embrace the spirit of November and foster a welcoming atmosphere for all in Goleta.