Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

SB Creek Week and Coastal Cleanup Day

SB Creek Week is an annual celebration of our creeks, watersheds, and the ocean, with many organizations hosting events to help build awareness and stewardship of the natural treasures of Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Carpinteria. Creek Week is September 17 – 24 and begins with Coastal Cleanup Day, an international effort to clean up beaches on a global scale.

There are multiple opportunities to get involved with Creek Week in Goleta, through participation in Coastal Cleanup Day, Goleta’s Bulky Item Collection Event, Creek Week Art Contest, and a new app for Self-Guided Audio Walking Tours.

Coastal Cleanup Day

Become part of the solution to ocean pollution. Join us for Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, September 17th! The largest volunteer effort in California, Coastal Cleanup Day is our day to give back to the ocean, beaches, and creeks that make Santa Barbara County such a wonderful place to live. Get outside, enjoy nature, and remove marine debris from our beaches and waterways.

There are many beaches throughout the County you can join. Goleta locations for Coastal Cleanup Day 2022 include:

  • Haskell’s Beach (9AM – 12PM), led by site captain Meghan Leon, with Ritz Carlton Bacara.
  • Ellwood Bluffs and Beach (9AM – 12PM), led by resident Al Souma.
  • San Jose Creek (10AM – 12PM), led by Brian Trautwein with the Environmental Defense Center.

Meetup details and the registration link can be found on Explore Ecology’s website.

Bulky Item Collection Event

The Beautify Goleta program is hosting the 4th and last Bulky Item Collection Event of 2022!

Get rid of bulky household items like old furniture. Electronics, medicine, and hazardous waste will not be accepted. Drop off your bulky items on Saturday, September 17th from 9AM – 1PM at the intersection of Cannon Green Drive and Phelps Road.

The bulky item drop-off is in partnership with Caltrans and the Clean CA program. These statewide Dump Day events are made possible through Governor Gavin Newsom’s Clean California initiative, a sweeping $1.1 billion, multiyear clean-up effort led by Caltrans to keep roads and waterways free of litter, create thousands of jobs and transform state and local public spaces through beautification efforts. For more information on the Clean CA program, please visit Clean CA program online.

Creek Week Art Contest

The Goleta Valley Library is hosting a Creek Week Art Contest that asks community members to submit original artwork inspiring by our creeks, watersheds, and ocean!

Artwork may be submitted at the Goleta Valley Library anytime between 10AM – 5PM Tuesday through Friday, until the deadline of Wednesday, September 14th at 5PM. Artwork will remain on display for the community to enjoy Saturday, September 17th through Friday, September 30th.

Submission Details:

  • Age categories include Adults (18+), Teens (7th-12th grade), and Children (6th grade and below).
  • All artwork that represents the theme will be accepted.
  • Participants many only submit one piece of art.
  • Art must be original, completed solely by the participant.
  • All mediums allowed (photography, painting, drawing, collage, etc.).
  • Art must be no larger than 11” x 14” (including a frame if framed).
  • Artwork is not required to be framed but must be ready to hang on the wall.
  • Artwork must have participant’s name and age category on the back.

Artwork must be picked up at the Goleta Valley Library October 4th through 8th, 10AM – 5PM. For any questions please contact Sharon at SNigh@CityOfGoleta.org

Self-Guided Audio Walking Tours

The City of Goleta in partnership with the Cheadle Center at University of  California Santa Barbara (UCSB), the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, and Tima Link and the many Chumash Communities has published a FREE application called “Goleta Tours” that helps residents enjoy self-guided audio walking tours highlighting natural resources, wildlife, plants, and cultural history.

This Goleta Tours app is available via the web at https://cityofgoleta.stqry.app/. Stay tuned for future announcements about downloading the app directly to your mobile device via Apple and Google app stores.

Goleta Tours app includes tour stops located from Haskell’s Beach and the Chumash Nature Trail at He’lapunitse (Ritz Carlton Bacara) to the Ellwood Bluffs and UCSB North Campus Open space. A special thank you to the content provided by the Cheadle Center at UC Santa Barbara, the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Tima Link and the many Chumash Communities including Coastal Band of the Chumash, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, and Wishtoyo Chumash Foundation.

Please enjoy these tours, and if you know of or are a part of an organization interested in adding content to our tour app, please email EnvironmentalServices@CityOfGoleta.org.

 

 

 

 

Meet the City of Goleta’s New Assistant Public Works Director

Luz “Nina” Buelna Brings Extensive Engineering Experience

The City of Goleta is pleased to introduce Luz “Nina” Buelna as the City’s new Assistant Public Works Director. Nina brings more than 17 years of public service and infrastructure experience, performing design, construction, project management and maintenance of multiple Public Works and Department of Utilities facilities. She most recently worked for the City of Sacramento in its Department of Utilities. 

Goleta Public Works Director Charlie Ebeling said, “We are thrilled to have someone with Nina’s caliber of experience join our team during this pivotal time in the City’s 20 year history. Nina has an extensive background in engineering which she has gained through her work in several municipalities. We look forward to seeing the positive impact she is going to make.”

Ms. Buelna said, “I have always wanted to live in the Goleta area, I grew up coming to this area because my dad was a civil engineer, he was the Chief Operating engineer at Lake Cachuma for 20 years. When this position became available, I knew this was a great city with incredible projects and programs, I wanted to be a part of. I am so excited to help the City of Goleta’s Public Works Department achieve all of its goals and objectives.”

During her time in Sacramento, Ms. Buelna oversaw the City’s Combined Sewer System and Separated Sewer utilities planning and CIP projects as a supervising engineer and was the construction manager for the Department of Utilities as senior engineer. Ms. Buelna also spent more than 13 years as a City of Roseville Department of Public Works civil engineer. She has worked on a number of notable projects, including the Eureka Road and Interstate 80 Improvement, McKinley Water Vault, and Third Street Relief Sewer project. Nina has a degree in Civil Engineering from California State University Sacramento and is a first-generation American.

Ms. Buelna’s first day at the City was on Monday, August 1st. You can connect with her via email at nbuelna@cityofgoleta.org.

To learn more about the City’s Public Works Department and Capital Improvement Program that creates needed infrastructure within our community, please visit: https://www.cityofgoleta.org/your-city/public-works. 

If you are interested in a rewarding career with the City of Goleta, we are always looking for great candidates to #JoinTeamGoleta. Go to https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/goletaca for a list of job openings.

Provide Input on Economic Development in Goleta – Take our Survey

The City of Goleta needs your help! Time is running out to take our survey providing input on a new Five-Year Economic Development Strategic Plan. The City is seeking feedback from everyone in the community – businesses, non-profits, organizations, residents, visitors and anyone who has a stake in the economic future of Goleta.

Please take 10-15 minutes to complete our confidential survey to help guide this important project. The perspectives and ideas of the community and stakeholders are essential for the creation of the plan and will help inform and guide the development of not only the City’s long-term economic vision, but actionable strategies and initiatives.

The survey is available in both English and Spanish. Please complete the survey by September 9, 2022.

If you have any questions or concerns about the planning process or survey, please reach out to Ryan Kitz, Assistant to the City Manager at rkintz@cityofgoleta.org.

Thank you in advance for your participation.

Rep. Carbajal Tours Goleta Community Center and Delivers Federal Funding

Representative Salud Carbajal toured the Goleta Community Center (GCC) August 22, 2022, to see first-hand plans to utilize $3 million dollars in federal Community Project Funding he delivered to improve and help reopen the antiquated facility. Goleta’s General Services Director Matt Fore led the tour which included participants Mayor Paula Perotte, Councilmember James Kyriaco and staff from the City and Goleta Valley Community Center. The city-owned building located at 5679 Hollister Avenue has been partially closed since January 2021 due the need for seismic improvements. Watch a video clip of the tour here: https://youtu.be/rb8Ym3SuLZw.

The funding delivered by Rep. Carbajal will be used for ADA[1] and other building improvements that, together with the seismic upgrades, will allow the building to safely reopen. Rep. Carbajal said, “The Goleta Valley Community Center plays a pivotal role in the community, serving all facets and age groups. I am proud to have secured $3 million for renovations through Community Project funding, helping to ensure that the Center remains a resource for many years to come.”

Mayor Paula Perotte said, “It is imperative that we get this important community resource fully operational and available to the large and diverse populations that gather here.” She continued, “We are beyond grateful for Rep. Carbajal’s successful and ongoing efforts to secure the funding necessary for us to make ADA improvements to this important city-owned building following the seismic upgrade project.” 

Typically, 100,000 visitors use the GCC each year, including an average of 250 seniors daily. More than 90 non-profit organizations use the facility monthly. The GCC serves as a venue for classes and activities including childcare, senior services, and a host of other programs supporting arts, literacy, and recreation. The Community Center also serves as a Red Cross shelter during natural disasters and as a community hub for the distribution of critical resources and services such as COVID tests and food distribution.

In order to make seismic upgrades, the City is required to make ADA improvements. The first phase of ADA improvements will include adding access aisles to ADA parking spaces, improvements to the path of travel from the bus stop on Hollister Avenue to the front door, new handrails on the front entrance access ramp and addition of accessible toilet stalls to the inside restrooms.

Future phases could include additional improvements to ADA access throughout the Community Center and parking lot and/or improvements to the buildings infrastructure. These additional phases are under development.

Seismic improvements will be funded by a $5 million dollar Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant which includes $1.3 million dollars in matching funding from the City of Goleta. The funding will provide for the installation of additional anchorage systems throughout the building to secure connections at the wall and ceiling and protect the building during an earthquake.

Once the seismic upgrades are complete, the auditorium and dining room will be safe to reopen. Seismic upgrades are expected to begin in Winter 2022. The first phase of ADA improvements will follow shortly thereafter. 

On January 1, 2023, the City is taking over management of the Goleta Community Center, which is currently being operated by the non-profit Goleta Valley Community Center (GVCC) organization. The City acquired the GCC from the Goleta Union School District back in 2013.

In all, Rep. Carbajal secured over $17 million for local projects, including $9,512,340 for community projects in Santa Barbara County.

ADA[1] = Americans with Disabilities Act

Salud Carbajal gets tour of Goleta Community Center from Goleta General Services Director Matt Fore 

City of Goleta General Services Director Matt Fore gives Rep. Salud Carbajal tour of the Goleta Community Center; Mayor Paula Perotte and City Councilmember James Kyriaco attended

Public Input Requested on City’s CDBG Year-End Report

Public Review Period Opens Monday, September 5

Every year the City of Goleta looks forward to helping those in our community via our Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. This past year, more than 2,000 people were assisted with CDBG funding. The City is required to submit a year-end report on its accomplishments called the Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER). The CAPER provides an assessment of the City’s performance in meeting housing and community development goals in the adopted 2021-2022 CDBG Action Plan. The draft CAPER can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/yc82d828, for more information on the City’s grant programs go to: https://www.cityofgoleta.org/your-city/neighborhood-services/grants. 

Comments on the draft CAPER are being accepted during a 15-day public review period beginning September 5, 2022, and ending September 19, 2022, at 12:00 pm. Comments should be submitted to: City of Goleta, Neighborhood Services Department, Attn: Shanna Dawson, 130 Cremona Drive, Goleta, CA 93117 or emailed to sdawson@cityofgoleta.org.

The City Council will hold a public hearing on these matters on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, at its regular Council meeting which begins at 5:30 p.m. An agenda will be available ahead of time at www.CityofGoleta.org/GoletaMeetings.

About the Community Development Block Grant

On an annual basis the City receives funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the CDBG program which is intended to be used to assist low-income citizens, people experiencing homelessness, youth and seniors with essential services such as medical and dental care, food security, counseling, homelessness prevention, case management and other needs.

The City also uses the majority of its CDBG allocation on capital projects that will benefit low- to moderate-income people and the disabled. Projects have included renovating City facilities and parks to meet Americans with Disability Act (ADA) access standards, installing sidewalks in areas where they are lacking, and adding crosswalks.

Project to Remove Final Two Oil Piers at Haskell’s Beach Underway

Decommissioning Began on Monday, August 29

The end of an era began August 29 at Haskell’s Beach, as the State Lands Commission in collaboration with the City of Goleta started work to remove the pier and caisson structures known as PRC 421-1 and 421-2. It’s a process that will take up to six months, during which time sections of the beach may close temporarily to keep the public safe during the operations. The beach will remain open otherwise.

This landmark decommissioning project marks the end of the Ellwood Oil Field that began production in the late 1920s and continued into the 1990s. At one time, the area off Haskell’s Beach hosted 13 large piers and significant oil storage and processing facilities immediately onshore, a latticework of oil and gas development.

“These two derelict structures represent the last vestiges of pier-based oil and gas production in California and their removal is a major milestone for the region and the state,” said State Controller and State Lands Commission chair Betty T. Yee. “Removal of these piers is one of several decommissioning projects the Commission is spearheading as part of California’s transition to a fossil fuel-free future.”

“This is a truly momentous occasion,” said Mayor Paula Perotte. “This project, the culmination of a multi-year partnership between Goleta and the state, will remove two blighted and derelict structures marring our beautiful coastline. Their removal is a major step in ending a legacy of fossil fuel development in Santa Barbara County.”

Crews will work Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Due to the surf zone location of the facilities, some work must be scheduled around low-tide cycles, which may be outside of these hours. The project requires the use of heavy equipment at the worksite and the transport of approximately 500 truckloads of material to an approved recycling and disposal facility. Crews will access the worksite via the existing gravel access road adjacent to the Ellwood Onshore Facility and along a 12’-wide easement across the Sandpiper golf course and along the cliff to the piers. Removal of the piers and caissons will require equipment access along the beach during low tides.

The Commission prepared an Environmental Impact Report and secured permits for this project in collaboration with federal, state, and local agencies. More information can be found at: www.slc.ca.gov/ceqa/prc-421-decommissioning-project.

Pictured: Aerial photo of PRC 421-1 and 421-2, courtesy of the California State Lands Commission

 

Ellwood Mesa Monarch Butterfly Workshop Sep. 12

Community members are invited to City of Goleta’s Ellwood Mesa Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan (MBHMP) Workshop on Monday, September 12 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Ellwood Elementary School Auditorium (7686 Hollister Ave). The workshop will cover implementation projects for the MBHMP and will feature the project team, detailed project plans, and breakout group activities to encourage more community feedback on the proposed activities at Ellwood Mesa. We hope you will join us for this important discussion.

The City held community outreach events on this topic earlier this summer on July 7 and 9 on location at the Ellwood Mesa Monarch Butterfly Grove to engage with neighbors and the wider community on the City’s proposed MBHMP implementation projects. Approximately 50 people attended each event to learn about upcoming:

  • Vegetation management to reduce fire risk;
  • Infrastructure improvements, including upgrades to the pedestrian and authorized vehicle access entryways at the end of Santa Barbara Shores Drive;
  • Dead tree removals;
  • New eucalyptus, native tree, and native shrub plantings to benefit monarch butterflies and other wildlife;
  • New signage and trail improvements; and
  • Creek restoration and pedestrian footbridges to access the monarch butterfly viewing areas. 

This project is funded by a $3.9 million grant from the California 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.

Questions or comments about the project can be sent to the City of Goleta’s Parks and Open Space Manager George Thomson at gthomson@cityofgoleta.org or 805-961-7578. 

We hope to see you there!

George Thomson, Parks and Open Space Manager, presenting to the attendees of the July 7 outreach event

Lemon Festival is Back on September 24 and 25

The Goleta Lemon Festival, put on by the South Coast Chamber of Commerce, is back and will be here before you know it! Come on down to Girsh Park Saturday, September 24 and Sunday, September 25 for some good old fashioned Goleta fun. The jam-packed family-friendly weekend includes, live music, a variety of entertainment, the Goleta Fall Classic Car and Street Rod Show, “Safety Street,” arts and crafts vendors, and the “zest” food and drink in town. Those ready to “squeeze” the day will want to make sure to participate in the ever-popular pie-eating contest.

In between the fresh lemonade and delicious lemon desserts, make sure you stop by the City booth area and say “hello”!  Both the Community Relations team and Goleta Valley Library staff will be at the festival to provide you with the latest information and hand out free prizes.

If you are looking to show off your Goleta spirit at the event, you can purchase a commemorative City of Goleta 20-Year Birthday shirt ahead of time at the Goleta Valley Historical Society Museum Store while supplies last. The Museum Store is located at 304 N. Los Carneros Road. Store hours are Saturday and Sunday 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. and by appointment. T-Shirts are $25 and mugs are $10. This specialty merchandise is a great gift for anyone who loves the Good Land. Once the merchandise is sold, there are no plans to purchase more, so we encourage you to get your gear before its gone. 

Having fun will be “easy peasy lemon squeezy” for families at one of the Goodland’s greatest family festivals!

For more information, please visit https://lemonfestival.com/.

Pictured: City of Goleta Community Relations Manager Kelly Hoover at a previous Lemon Festival

 

Goleta’s Dam Dinner Doesn’t Disappoint

More than 500 People Attended Scenic Event at Lake Los Carneros Dam

The return of Goleta’s Dam Dinner after a three-year hiatus brought a record turnout on Saturday, August 20, 2022, to the Lake Los Carneros dam. More than 500 people, many carrying picnic dinners and baked goods to share, flocked to the scenic spot for the #BestDamDinner they have ever had. While many who attended have been coming to the Dam Dinner since it started, we were pleased there were many first-timers as well. Whatever the case, it was the usual, simple, low-key, casual event that keeps people coming back year after year. 

Mayor Paula Perotte said, “I am so glad to see people come back to this special event. I love that there is no agenda, and it is just people breaking bread with neighbors, family, and friends.”

Check out a video recap of the event here: https://youtu.be/DUKmLMHJJvE.

You can also see photos from the event here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/zYjv19BoS9rkifCn7.

Thanks to the Goleta Valley Historical Society for partnering with the City of Goleta again to put on this community favorite. A special thanks to Pete Wolf with Big Hammer Lures for helping to plan, set up the event, and for creating the yearly Dam Dinner t-shirts once again.

We also want to thank Santa Cruz Markets for donating 50 welcoming succulent arrangements and to Devereux volunteers for creating and delivering the arrangements to the event for all to enjoy and for some to take home as well.

A big shout out to Kona Ice for serving up more than 200 snow cones and Elubia’s Kitchen for selling its Dam Pupusas, Dam Tamales and Dam Tacos which were a big hit.

Successful events don’t happen without the collaboration of many partners. We also want to thank the Salt Martians for playing, MarBorg for providing the bathrooms, trash and recycling bins, Santa Barbara Face Painting, and the South Coast Chamber for sharing its tablecloths with us for the event.

We hope you had a dam good time and we look forward to seeing you next year! 

 

It’s Going to be Historic…Apply for Goleta’s Inaugural Historic Preservation Commission

Five Spots Open; Deadline September 9

The City of Goleta is excited to announce that it is seeking applicants for the City’s brand-new Historic Preservation Commission. This is an important next step in the implementation of the Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources Ordinance enacted by the City Council in April 2022.

The goal of the Historic Preservation Ordinance is to preserve and protect resources that, once lost, cannot be replaced or replicated. Responsibilities of the Commission include but are not limited to:

  • Making recommendations to the City Council regarding the designation of eligible properties as Historic Landmarks, Historic Districts, and Points of Historical Interest within the City and Mills Act requests.
  • Making recommendations to the City Council regarding the rescission of or amendment to a historic designation.
  • Reviewing and making recommendations to the Design Review Board on projects involving alterations to historic resources.
  • Reviewing historic resources surveys and making recommendations to the City Council on periodic updates to the City’s Historic Resources Inventory.
  • Making recommendations on any proposed design guidelines that may be developed by the City for project review or review of appropriate alterations or new construction within Historic Districts.
  • Acting as an advisory board to the City Council, Planning Commission, Design Review Board, City Manager, and all City departments on all matters related to historic preservation.

The Commission will be comprised of five members appointed by the Mayor. The members of the first appointed Historic Preservation Commission will term out in varying years (June 2024, 2025, and 2026). After that, terms will be for four years, with no limit on the number of terms to which members may be appointed. A majority of the members must be residents of the City. Meetings are tentatively scheduled for the 3rd Monday of every other month, subject to the agenda calendar.

The City is looking for both professional and lay members with demonstrated interest, competence, or knowledge in historic preservation. Commission members may be appointed from among the following disciplines: architecture, history, architectural history, planning, archaeology, or other related disciplines, such as American studies, landscape architecture, cultural geography, or cultural anthropology, to the extent that such professionals are available in the community. Commission members may also include lay members who have demonstrated special interest/expertise, competence, experience, or knowledge of Goleta history and historic preservation, and/or are members of local Chumash tribal group(s).

Don’t miss this historic opportunity! Apply for the City’s first Historic Preservation Commission at www.CityofGoleta.org/BoardsCommissions. Applications due by September 9, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. For questions contact cityclerkgroup@cityofgoleta.org.