Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

Green Room: Creek and Watershed Program Updates

Learn how we are protecting our local waterways with these updates from Goleta’s Environmental Services Division. The City of Goleta Creek and Watershed Management Plan (CWMP) was adopted on November 17, 2020, and was identified in the General Plan/Coastal Land Use Plan as an important step towards the City’s conservation efforts. Development of the CWMP was prompted by a desire to protect our natural resources in Goleta.

What is the CWMP?

The CWMP describes the existing conditions of all 12 creeks that run through the City and identifies impairments to creeks and risks to water quality. The plan outlines tasks, projects, and programs to improve water quality, habitat, and all beneficial uses.

Recent Accomplishments

Goleta has made considerable progress towards implementing some of the priorities outlined in the CWMP. Some of these accomplishments are outlined below.

Hiring additional resources. Given that the majority of the CWMP is unfunded and the Public Works department was understaffed, priority was placed on securing additional resources. As a result, Goleta welcomed new Environmental Specialist staff members and a Civic Spark Fellow! Several new contractors to assist with implementation were also brought on board. 

Obtaining grant funding. Collectively, over $5.6 million in funding was acquired through several grants including: the Cal Recycle Beverage Grant and the Caltrans Bulky Items Collection Grant to assist with cleanup efforts; CalFire funding to reduce the risk of wildfire at Ellwood Mesa; and the California Coastal Conservancy Grant for funding towards the Ellwood Mesa Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan.

Tools, technology, and data. Technology and new tools were developed to assist with cleanup and beautification efforts as a part of the CWMP goals. The City created a custom field collection App for geolocating MuttMitt pet waste locations throughout the City. An App for City-wide trash assessments, site inspections, storm drain infrastructure, and more was also developed. Finally, the Beautify Goleta dashboard was created using GIS technology. The City is also in the process of developing the upcoming Creek and Watershed walking tour App.  

Education and outreach. The City conducted outreach, education, and community involvement to engage and educate the public and stakeholders regarding CWMP efforts and initiatives. Workshops and stakeholder meetings were held concerning improved public access for Devereux Creek as well as enhanced trails and expanded public access. Articles such as this Monarch Press Green Room and Our Water Our World are also posted monthly to educate the public about how best to protect our local waterways and provide updates and tips from the City of Goleta Environmental Services Division. Finally, the City continues to educate the public and conduct outreach through tailored social media posts and community events such as Lemon Festival, Coastal Cleanup Day, Earth Day, and Creek Week, which are fun ways to engage the public and promote conservation.

What’s Next?

New and upcoming projects occurring in 2022 through 2024 include key creek stewardship projects that restore habitat and beneficial uses; as well as water resiliency projects that promote water quality, water recharge and supply. Stay tuned for updates in future Green Room articles!

 

Cybersecurity Preparedness

Emergency Services Coordinator for the City of Goleta, Michael Baris, provides tips to help you stay safe from cyber criminals.

We all admit, “cybersecurity” is a daunting and complex subject. The most important thing to know is that it’s about you, your family, and the information available on the internet. You should be the only person to see your emails, online bank information, and pictures. Here are some tips to make sure you and everyone you care about is safe while using a phone, computer, or tablet.

  1. Update Your Phone: It may be tempting to keep using your phone and ignoring the software update prompts, but this will leave your phone vulnerable to outside intruders.  These software updates improve your devices’ security and keeps it up-to-date to the latest tricks an online criminal may use.
  2. Use Strong Passwords: Having ‘1234’ as your password may be easy for you to remember, but it’s also easy for someone else to take advantage of and abuse. Create a strong password that you can remember that uses a combination of letters and numbers.
  3. Think before You Click: Did you receive an email from a friend, but the email address looks strange? Or did an email ask for your information so they can send you a prize? That may not be your friend on the other side, and that prize may be too good to be true. Be skeptical online and think before you click on something you are unsure of.

To learn more about cyber security go to https://staysafeonline.org/resources.

Be Aware of Porch Pirates This Holiday Season

Porch Pirates are active during the holiday season with a mission to steal unattended packages. Here are some prevention tips from Goleta Police:

  • Set up alternative delivery/pickup options through your local delivery services. Whether the majority of your packages are delivered by the U.S. Postal Service, UPS, or FedEx, each offers alternative delivery and pickup options. For example, UPS has an expanding Access Point network that provides for delivery and pickup of packages at local grocery or convenience stores in various neighborhoods. Let the delivery company know when you will be home.

  • Discourage thieves from targeting your residence with a few strategic home security devices. Home surveillance cameras can be effective crime deterrents. Your home security cameras should be prominently displayed where potential criminals can see them, yet high enough to prevent them from being tampered with. Outdoor security lighting and a home alarm system can also be effective crime deterrents.

  • Keep an eye out for suspicious vehicles and people in your neighborhood. Putting a stop to package theft and residential burglaries is a team effort. Talk to your neighbors and encourage everyone to keep an eye out for suspicious activity (an individual or vehicle following a delivery truck, a stranger removing a package from outside a residence, etc). Please report suspicious activity to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office by calling 911. If you need to report a theft which occurred earlier, you may go to http://www.sbsheriff.org to file an online report or call the front desk at (805) 681-4100.

Winter Driving Tips

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has provided some important driving tips for the rainy season:

  1. Slow down. Even if you’re following the speed limit on a highway, you should take weather conditions into consideration. If it’s pouring rain, with puddles along the highway, drive at the speed that is safe for roadway conditions to prevent hydroplaning.
  2. Give yourself a space cushion. Avoid driving in packs; give yourself time to react in case of a sudden stop to prevent hydroplaning and/or a collision. 
  3. Check tire tread prior to driving. It’s important to check your tire tread prior driving at any point, but especially when it’s raining. Front tires should be more than an 8th of an inch in depth, with the rear more than a 16th of an inch in depth. A good way to see if your tires are in good shape is by holding a penny upside down into the tread. If the top of Abraham Lincoln’s head is visible, your tread is too shallow. 
  4. Check your windshield wipers. During the summer, people’s wipers can get brittle, making it difficult for them to work properly when it’s pouring. Since these are essential to drive safely in the rain, check their condition and replace them if needed.
  5. Turn on your headlights. Visibility is compromised when it’s raining – headlights can improve this. 
  6. Turn on your defroster. Since rain brings an increase in humidity, your windshield can fog up and make it difficult to see. Your defroster can help combat this. 
  7. Consider postponing your drive. If your outing is nonessential, it might be safer to wait the rain out, or at least until it lets up a bit. 

Read the full article in The Independent here.

Preparing for Winter Storms and Floods

City of Goleta Emergency Services Coordinator Michael Baris reminds you to prepare ahead of time in the event of flooding.

Winter is here, and that can mean more rainstorms are on the way. It’s impossible to stop a flood, but you can prepare for what to do in case of flooding.

The first thing to do is know if you live in an area that is likely to flood, click here to see FEMA’s flood maps of Goleta. The maps are very detailed so zoom in and out to find a good view of your home (look for the blue and orange to see your flood risk). Also be sure to look at the driving route you use to get to your neighborhood; driving through flood waters is never a good idea.

Flooding can cause power outages, so it is a good idea prepare your home in case you lose power. Have backup batteries charged and ready to go and be careful of food spoilage if your fridge is no longer keeping things cold.

Regular homeowner’s insurance does not cover flooding. Learn if it make sense for you to have coverage on FEMA’s website at https://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance.

The City provides sand and burlap bags for our residents to protect their homes from storm damage. It is recommended to prepare your property for future storms by filling your sandbags a few days prior to a heavy rain. Three self-service sandbag stations are located at:

  • Fire Station 11 (6901 Frey Way and Storke Road just south of Santa Felicia, across from the main post office)
  • Fire Station 14 (320 Los Carneros Road next to the Stow House Museum lot)
  • Goleta Valley Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue)

The City’s sandbag stations are stocked and ready for residents. Here are some things you should know about sandbag pick up:

  • Sand and bags are available on a first come, first served basis.
  • Pick up is open during daylight hours, seven days/week.
  • 20 bag limit (additional bags can be purchased at home improvement stores).
  • Bags are for residents.
  • Bring your shovel to fill the bags.
  • It is easiest to fill the bags with two people — one to hold the bag and the other to shovel the sand.

For disposal of old Polypropylene sandbags:

  • Residents may displace old sand in planters or on lawns and dispose of bags in their trash containers.
  • Residents may also bring their old, filled bags to Public Works Corporate Yard located at 6735 Hollister Avenue (behind the Deckers building) for disposal.

Stay informed, register for emergency alerts from Santa Barbara County at readysbc.org, and sign up for emergency information from the City at https://tinyurl.com/GoletaEmergency. Get more tips on winter storm preparedness here.

Pictured: Sand bag station at Fire Station 11

Attention Non-Profits: Apply for City of Goleta Grant Funds

Application Period Opens Friday, December 16

Are you a part of a local non-profit serving Goleta residents or know someone who is? If so, the City of Goleta has more than $250,000 in grant funds for which you can apply. From December 16, 2022, until January 27, 2023, online applications will be accepted for both Goleta City Grant and Community Development Block Grant programs.

The City Council has set aside approximately $100,000 in General Fund money and $150,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money for the Goleta City Grant Program. Recipients of this grant may receive up to $5,000 for programs that benefit Goleta residents and the general community. Organizations involved in educational and cultural activities, such as music, art, dance, and recreation, as well as Goleta-oriented special events and regional projects that enhance and support the quality of life in Goleta are encouraged to apply.

Each year, the City of Goleta sets aside a portion of its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to support non-profits serving low-income residents, seniors, and those experiencing homelessness. CDBG funds are dispersed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which strictly regulates the use of funds. The City of Goleta reserves these funds for agencies who qualify for CDBG funding, serve the goals of the City’s 5-Year Consolidated Plan, and apply for a minimum of $10,000. For the 2022-2023 Fiscal Year, the City distributed more than $33,000 to public services from its CDBG allocation.

Grant applications for both programs will be accepted online beginning December 16 via the ZoomGrants program. Once all applications are received, the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tempore, and two Goleta residents appointed by the Mayor make up the committee that evaluates the applications and makes funding recommendations to the City Council. The Council then awards the grants at a meeting in the spring, likely in May of 2023.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to help your non-profit or community group. Visit https://www.cityofgoleta.org/your-city/neighborhood-services/grants for additional information on both grant programs or contact Shanna Dawson in the City of Goleta Neighborhood Services Department at 805-690-5126 or sdawson@cityofgoleta.org.

Ellwood Beach Public Access and Habitat Enhancement Project Funding

The Ellwood Beach Public Access and Habitat Enhancement Project has more funding thanks to a $208,500 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Grant. The Project will complete the final design for two beach access points on City-owned property; one being a stairway and the other a sloped trail down to the beach. A total of five acres of habitat restoration surrounding the two beach access ways will benefit native grassland, bluff scrub, coastal sage scrub, and dune ecosystems, as well as improve the aesthetics and user-experience. All activities funded under this grant must be completed by February 29, 2024.

The grant money came from the 2015 Refugio Oil Spill settlement in which Plains All American Pipeline was ordered to pay more than $60 million for natural resource damages, penalties, and to reimburse the governmental entities for costs incurred as a result of the oil spill. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), together with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Department of Parks and Recreation, California State Lands Commission, and Regents of the University of California (collectively the “State Trustees”) established a grant program under the consent decree settling the civil action.

The goal of the grant program is to allocate available funds to a variety of recreationally based projects down the coast from El Capitan State Beach to Long Beach. Other grant programs were also established to restore habitat and wildlife impacts from the oil spill.

Council adopted a resolution for the grant at the November 15, 2022, meeting. Read the staff report here.

Passing of Iconic Butterfly Expert Dan Meade

The world lost a legendary monarch butterfly expert and long-time city consultant. Dan Meade unexpectedly passed away at home on November 26th. Dan was a scientist, advocate for the environment, and advisor on all things monarch butterfly. For Dan, the Ellwood Mesa Butterfly Grove was his passion project.  He began his life’s work on monarch butterflies here as a UCSB graduate student in the 1980s. Dan’s contributions to our Ellwood Butterfly Grove Habitat Management Plan cannot be understated. For the City, one of his most important roles was as an advisor trusted by the wider community, including the Friends of the Ellwood Monarch group and Santa Barbara Shores neighbors. Our Ellwood project team is so fortunate to benefit from Dan’s insights, recommendations, and leadership. 

Dan is irreplaceable. However, the City is working with Dan’s family and business partners to continue Dan’s important work with the future of the grove. We will also continue to draw on the expertise of Dr. Stu Weiss, another respected monarch butterfly expert, to inform our habitat enhancement plans for the grove. Our Ellwood monarch butterfly team continues to finalize the draft habitat enhancement plans that will be presented to City Council in a development plan in early-2023. The meetings without Dan have been somber as we deal with his absence, but as a group we’ve reaffirmed our commitment to ensuring the project gets to the finish line as quickly as possible while maintaining the high standards and rigorous scientific basis that Dan strived for.

A celebration of Dan’s life is being held in Paso Robles on December 17. 

Thank you, Dan, for all you have done for Goleta. Your work will be carried on forever at the Grove.

Calling All Volunteers: Homelessness Point in Time Count on January 25

The City of Goleta is pleased that City Hall (130 Cremona Drive, Suite B) will be a meeting spot for volunteers to meet to participate in the Point-in-Time (PIT Count) on Wednesday, January 25th between 5:30am and 8:30am. The purpose of the PIT Count is to obtain a snapshot census of people experiencing homelessness in Santa Barbara County on a single night. The 2023 Unsheltered Count includes people who, on the night of the count, are:

  • Sheltered (living in emergency shelters or transitional housing) or
  • Unsheltered (staying outdoors or places not designed for habitation including vehicles, streets, parks and abandoned buildings)

The PIT Count is an essential element in our effort to end homelessness, as the data gathered from this census shows us so much more than how many people are homeless in Santa Barbara County – we also learn more about who is homeless and why. The PIT Count presents a great opportunity to raise awareness of the challenges our homeless citizens face, hear personal stories from those experiencing homelessness, and demonstrate the compassion and generosity of our community!

What to expect:

We count rain or shine!

Volunteers will conduct surveys of people experiencing homelessness. Prior to the count, volunteers will select a preferred region and sign up as a group or individual participant. If you are signing up as part of a group, please have no more than 5 members per group. Each group member must select the same region and enter the SAME group name to ensure accurate placement.

Completion of an online PIT training is required for volunteers. The one-hour training includes information on how to engage vulnerable populations, basic information about the PIT Count and Homelessness in Santa Barbara County, and how to complete surveys via a mobile app. A link to this training will be made available in the new year. Online trainings are at varied days and times between January 16 – 20.

Much more information, FAQs, training resources, etc., will be provided at the training sessions. Thank you for your help in ensuring that every individual experiencing homelessness counts!

Register online at https://countyofsb.pointintime.info/.

City of Goleta Hires First Homelessness Services Coordinator

Chuck Flacks is a Familiar Face and Expert on Homelessness Related Issues

The City of Goleta is pleased to have its first Homelessness Services Coordinator. Chuck Flacks is a familiar face to the community and brings a wide range of professional experience in addressing issues related to homelessness and prevention of homelessness. Mr. Flacks spent most of his childhood in Santa Barbara and has been a proud resident of the City of Goleta. He has spent his professional career of over 20 years building affordable housing, helping low-wage workers improve their skills, and directly helping homeless people find a home.

City of Goleta’s Neighborhood Services Director Jaime Valdez said, “We are excited to have someone with Chuck’s credentials and experience join our team to help with the City’s response to assisting people experiencing homelessness and implementing the City’s Homelessness Strategic Plan. Chuck has an extensive background in social issues, particularly with regard to homelessness, which he has gained through his work in various settings locally and throughout the state. We look forward to seeing the positive impact he is going to make in Goleta.”

Mr. Flacks said, “My interest in Goleta is simple: I live here! My hope is that because a relatively small number of Goleta residents are homeless, that we can get our arms around this problem quickly and make homelessness a rare and brief experience for anyone who happens to find themselves in that situation. Goleta is a uniquely compassionate and engaged community. I have been very impressed with the city, businesses, and its residents sharing resources to help people in need. My hope is to make the most of those resources.”

His background includes serving as a consultant for the City through Flacks Seed Consulting, former Director of Programs for PATH (People Assisting the Homeless), Executive Director for Central Coast Collaborative on Homelessness, and serving in several other capacities in the healthcare and workforce sectors throughout California. Mr. Flacks earned a master’s degree from San Diego State University in Family and Child Counseling, a master’s degree from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government in Public Policy and holds a bachelor’s degree from University of California Santa Cruz in Sociology/Politics.

Mr. Flacks’ first day at the City was December 5th. You can connect with him via email at cflacks@cityofgoleta.org.