Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

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 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.

Bicycle Bob’s Recognized

Life is better on two wheels – and after 39 years of Bicycle Bob’s operating in Old Town Goleta, owners Bob and Julia Zaratzian are retiring. We couldn’t let them go without a proper Goleta send off. At the February 21 City Council meeting, Bicycle Bob’s was honored for its outstanding service to the Goleta community all of these years.

The Zaratzians opened Bicycle Bob’s in downtown Santa Barbara in March of 1983. Quickly outgrowing the space, they expanded their business with the opening of the Goleta store in 1988. 

Bicycle Bob’s raised the bar for what a bike should be by focusing on being an inclusive store for all members of the Bicycle Community. Juveniles, commuters, recreation riders, and bicycle enthusiasts of all ages were made to feel more like friends than customers. Throughout their nearly four decades in business, they supported local schools, non-profits, and law enforcement through their donations of bicycles, helmets, and gift certificates.  

“This is a really wonderful way to wrap up our almost 40 years of business.” said Julia Zaratzian, “We raised our family here and we love this community”.  

For Bicycle Bob’s, cycling was more than a hobby, it is a way of life. “I came 45 years ago to Goleta.” said Bob Zaratzian, “We couldn’t have asked for a better community to run a business and to raise a family”. 

While Bicycle Bob’s has now changed to Trek Bicycle Santa Barbara, they will still be operating out of the same location on 320 S. Kellogg Ave. Please make sure to welcome Trek Bicycle to Goleta and join us in thanking Bob and Julia for providing generations of Goleta families the opportunity to discover their passion for biking! 

Pictured top-right: Bob and Julia Zaratzian with Mayor Pro Tempore Kyle Richards


Bob and Julia outside of their store


Bob and Julia with some of their employees


Bob and Julia with their family after receiving a proclamation from the City

 

Report Problems and Concerns through City Assist

Do you know about Goleta’s City Assist online tool? It’s a fast and easy way for you to let us know of any problems or concerns you encounter in our community. Examples include: abandoned vehicles, broken or fallen tree limbs, elevated sidewalks, construction work without permit, and many more. By using City Assist, the City is able to track the most common problems and concerns and make sure everyone receives a response.

The City’s Neighborhood Services Department oversees City Assist and that your submission is handled appropriately. Staff review requests as they come in, ensure that they are routed to the correct department and staff person, and monitor the length of time it takes to close a case. City Assist is checked by staff Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and is constantly evolving to meet the City’s needs.

For more in-depth information on specific problems/concerns, such as homelessness, Santa Barbara Airport Aircraft Noise Complaints and others, please click here. If you have a problem or concern to report, please use City Assist at www.CityofGoleta.org/CityAssist.

Habitat for Humanity Home Repair Program

Goleta Residents – Find Out if You Qualify!

The City of Goleta is proud to be a member of the Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) Consortium and support Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County’s (Habitat Santa Barbara) home repair programs for qualifying Goleta residents. These include the Critical Home Repairs program and A Brush with Kindness program.

The Home Repair program provides critical repairs, modifications, and maintenance specific to each homeowner’s lifestyle to preserve their home. Habitat Santa Barbara provides low-income homeowners with free interior and exterior home repairs. Repairs under this program address health, safety, and security issues including accessibility improvements and repairs that support aging in place.

A Brush With Kindness (ABWK) is an exterior home preservation service offered to low-income homeowners struggling to maintain their home. ABWK supports a homeowner’s evolving needs due to age, disability, or family circumstances; the program helps low-income homeowners reclaim pride and peace of mind. Volunteer teams assist with painting, landscaping, and minor exterior repairs, at no cost to the homeowner.

How to Qualify:

  • Own and occupy a home in Southern Santa Barbara County that is in need of home repairs
  • Meet the income guidelines
  • Possess, or be willing to acquire, Homeowners Insurance
  • Be willing to partner with Habitat Santa Barbara

Learn more and apply at sbhabitat.org.

Apply for the Public Engagement Commission

Deadline to Apply is March 17

Are you interested in helping the City of Goleta find ways to engage the community to participate in local government? If so, you should consider applying to be on the City’s Public Engagement Commission (PEC). The City is currently looking to fill one vacancy on the PEC.

The PEC advises the City Council on ways to improve public outreach and increase public engagement. It 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 every other month. Members are compensated at the rate of $50 per meeting. To be eligible to apply, candidates must reside within Goleta City limits. There is one vacancy, which would fill an unexpired portion of a term ending November 2023.

For more information and to apply, please visit https://www.cityofgoleta.org/BoardsCommissions. Additional information can be provided by emailing cityclerkgroup@cityofgoleta.org. Applications must be submitted by Friday, March 17 at 5:00 p.m.

Goleta Launches Refreshed City and Library Websites

The City of Goleta is pleased to announce the launch of its refreshed City website (www.CityofGoleta.org) and Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries website (www.GoletaValleyLibrary.org) which are now mobile-friendly and more accessible. While enhancements will continue to be added over time, we hope you will find the websites easier to navigate to find what you need. City and Library Staff worked closely with Granicus, our long-time website vendor, to update the sites with the ultimate goal of providing website visitors with a better experience, whether you access the site on your computer, cell phone or tablet.

Some features to look for with the new City site include:

  • Fresh modernized look with an organized and streamlined layout
  • Service Finder and Popular Search features
  • Main Navigation categories to coordinate with the City’s “Live, Work, Play” philosophy
  • Enhanced language translation feature present on every page
  • Accessibility feature present on every page
  • Call to Action buttons prominently displayed on the homepage for cell phone viewing
  • Month At-A-Glance calendar on the homepage
  • Video section on the homepage
  • Spotlight section on the homepage highlighting upcoming City events, projects and general information
  • And more…

You will also notice the new look, feel and features on the new Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries website, which is now its own site as opposed to a subsite of the main City site. The website URLs remain the same as before for both (www.CityofGoleta.org and www.GoletaValleyLibrary.org). Website visitors can still access the Library website from the City website.

It’s important to note that pages on the sites will be in new locations. If you have bookmarked or favorited any webpages, you will need to do so again since URLs will have changed.

Typically, municipal websites need updating every five years due to changing technology and for “spring-cleaning”. The last time the City’s website was updated was seven years ago in May of 2015. The City took advantage of a website refresh credit from Granicus to help pay for the current upgrade, and took the opportunity to upgrade the library site, which was also due for a refresh.

For a show-and-tell of the upgraded City website, join us for the next Public Engagement Commission meeting on Wednesday, February 15th at 6:00 p.m. Staff will walk through the features of the site and answer any questions from Commissioners and community members. Join us in-person at City Council Chambers (130 Cremona Drive) or via Zoom. The meeting can also be watched at https://www.cityofgoleta.org/meetings-agendas or on Goleta TV Channel 19. The Zoom link will be available in the agenda, posted at least 72 hours in advance here.

We hope you enjoy the refreshed websites. If you have questions or comments, please contact Community Relations Manager Kelly Hoover at pio@cityofgoleta.org. We welcome your feedback and suggestions.

Pictured above: City of Goleta staff member viewing the City website on on her cell phone

Pictured below: City of Goleta staff member viewing the City and Library websites on dual monitors



Winter Storms

The storms last month reminded us how important it is to be prepared in advance for winter storms. This is a good reminder to sign up for information from both Santa Barbara County and the City of Goleta.  Register for County emergency alerts at ReadySBC.org. This is how you will be notified during an emergency.  If the emergency impacts Goleta, the City of Goleta will send emergency notifications through its email/text message notification system – sign up to receive our City emergency alerts here. 

We were fortunate that Goleta faired pretty well during the storms, but we did see some damage: flooding on streets, a small mudslide on Cathedral Oaks Road, downed trees, and a few small sinkholes that appeared.

“A huge thank you to our Goleta Public Works Team for its storm preparation, 24-hour service and quick work removing downed trees and clearing debris. I also want to thank the community for following safety orders and staying home and off the roads when asked”, said Mayor Perotte. 

We are so appreciative of the Goleta Public Works Team, Caltrans and our first responders for their hard work to keep our community safe before, during and after the storm.

Learn more about winter storm preparedness, including sandbag locations in Goleta, knowing your flood risk, and more, on the City website here.

Pictured: San Pedro Creek at Calle Real

E-Bike Safety Awareness

You see them everywhere, E-Bikes!

The Goleta City Council officially proclaimed January 19th as the first ever Electric Assisted Bike Safety Awareness Day at its January 17 meeting. View the proclamation here. Kent Epperson, Director of Traffic Solutions from the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), was on hand to accept the Proclamation from the City Council.

As in many California communities, Santa Barbara County has seen a noticeable increase in e-bike use by people of all ages over the last couple years. While there are many benefits to e-bikes, studies show that a rapid increase in less experienced, higher speed bicyclists can result in more collisions with pedestrians and other road users, leading to injury and sometimes even death.

To improve public safety, the State of California has passed e-bike safety laws that regulate who and where each of the three types of e-bikes can lawfully be ridden and that riders 17 years of age and under must always wear a helmet.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is developing statewide safety standards and training programs based on evidence-based practices for e-bike users which are scheduled to be launched next summer.

E-bikes can bring joy and a sense of freedom, but that no matter what type of bike you ride, some collisions can be avoided by practicing common sense safety including:

  1. Checking your battery, brakes, chain, and tire pressure before you ride;
  2. Wearing a helmet and visible clothing whether you are a rider or passenger;
  3. Watching your speed by riding slowly and respectfully on multi-use paths or where pedestrians are present;
  4. Riding predictably, using hand signals and keeping eye contact to communicate your movements with other vehicles;
  5. Avoiding texting, talking on the phone, or listening to loud music while riding; and
  6. Obeying traffic signs, signals, and roadway laws just as cars are required.

Information regarding E-Bike Awareness Day, the Safety Pledge and other e-bike safety information can be found on the Traffic Solutions website.   

Pictured: Kent Epperson receiving the proclamation from Mayor Paula Perotte

Passing of Long-Time City Consultant Linda Gregory

The City of Goleta is saddened by the loss of one of our long-time City consultants. Linda Gregory passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at the end of 2022. Linda worked as a consultant for the City of Goleta for 19 years, beginning in 2003.

During her time at the City, she served as the Recording Clerk for the Planning Commission and the Design Review Board. Her services included clerking at the public hearings of the Goleta Planning Commission and the Design Review Board. She recorded the proceedings, as well as the production of the minutes. She later provided additional services associated with the Planning Department’s Document Imaging Program.

Planning and Environmental Review Director Peter Imhof said, “We will all miss Linda’s calm, quiet presence, her kindness, her dedication and her careful work in support of the City of Goleta.”

Read her full obituary in The Independent here.

Celebrate 50 Years at the Goleta Valley Library

This March we are celebrating a special milestone for the Goleta Valley Library, the 50th Anniversary of the building at 500 N. Fairview Avenue. Join us on Saturday, March 11 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. for an afternoon of sharing memories with library staff and community members. In preparation for this event, we are gathering photos of the library throughout the years. Please bring your photos of the library to the Goleta Valley Library from now through February 28th so that we may add copies of them to our archives and share them as part of this memorable occasion. All photos will be returned to their owners. Thank you for joining in this celebration with us!

This milestone would not have been possible without the support of you, our wonderful patrons, and our dedicated team of library staff.