Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

Be Part of the Stow Grove Park Master Planning Process

The City of Goleta is currently in the process of developing a Stow Grove Park Master Plan Design and community input is a key component. We are excited to bring the community together to talk about one of our most treasured outdoor spaces. The City will be holding an in-person public meeting in April (date coming soon) to allow the community the opportunity to express their desires, passion and concerns to the team. Sign up to receive emails about the project at https://tinyurl.com/326jfe7b and be notified about the meeting. 

This process will allow the City to gain an understanding of what the community desires in this park. We are working with a consultant who will utilize the information gathered at public meetings, as well as past and future surveys, and will develop a conceptual plan for consideration. Once the plan has been chosen, the City will have the opportunity to construct the entire renovation project at once, or break the park project into phases and construct each phase as funding allows.  

Background

In 2020, the City of Goleta reached out to residents to hear their thoughts on Stow Grove Park and what types of improvements they would like to see. As the results unfolded, it was determined that the best approach for improvements would be to develop a Master Plan Design.

In December of 2021, the City Council awarded a professional services contract to KTUA design firm to develop the conceptual design for the Master Plan and facilitate the public outreach process.  Efforts are currently underway as the consultant team is gathering survey and inventory data on the park facility. The team is utilizing the information from the previous survey and is developing a new survey that will build upon the data already collected.

Any questions about the project can be directed to the Parks and Recreation Manager, JoAnne Plummer at jplummer@cityofgoleta.org. 

Meet Our New Design Review Board Member

The City is pleased to welcome James (Jim) King as our newest member of the Design Review Board. Jim is a native of Boston and lived for a number of years in Manhattan where he worked for The New York Times as an advertising sales representative. He is a graduate of Tufts University (BS in psychology) and Harvard School of Public Health’s Management Development Program in Health. He held numerous positions on the east coast before moving to Stockton, CA, where he worked for Health Plan of San Joaquin and the San Joaquin Business Journal.

As a Goleta community member, Jim is looking forward to his new role. He said, “I have tried to give back, in some way, to every city I have ever lived in, either by participating in the political community, serving on the board of a non-profit or actually being employed by a charitable organization. I feel that serving on the Design Review Board will provide me with that type of opportunity, and that both I and the City of Goleta could benefit from my participation. I really appreciate everything this city has to offer and I look forward to serving Goleta in this capacity.”

The Design Review Board is a seven-member body that encourages development using the best professional design practices to enhance the visual aesthetics of the community and prevent poor quality of design.

Join us in welcoming Jim to the Design Review Board. Learn more about the City’s Boards and Commissions here.

Put Down the Phone and Just Drive: April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and the Goleta Police Department will be actively looking for drivers throughout the month who are in violation of the state’s hands-free cell phone law.

“Holding your phone and using it while driving is not only dangerous, but also illegal,” Sergeant Noel Rivas said. “For the safety of your family and others on the road, put the phone away and focus on driving.”

According to the 2021 California Statewide Public Opinion Survey, nearly three out of every four drivers surveyed said that distracted driving because of texting was their biggest safety concern. In 2019, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) issued nearly 20,000 citations during the month of April to drivers for hands-free cell phone law violations.

Under current law, drivers are not allowed to hold a phone or electronic communications device while operating a vehicle. This includes talking, texting, using an app, or while stopped at a red light. Using a handheld cell phone while driving is punishable by a fine. Violating the hands-free law for a second time within 36 months of a prior conviction for the same offense will result in a point being added to a driver’s record.

If you have an important phone call, text, email, or need to program directions, pull over to a safe parking spot. Before starting the car, either silence your phone or put it somewhere you can’t reach.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The City of Goleta contracts with the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement services.

Public Input Requested on City’s CDBG Annual Action Plan

Public Review Period Open Now through May 2nd

Every year the City of Goleta looks forward to helping those in our community in need using funds from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The Draft Action Plan outlines the City’s strategy for pursuing the overall goals of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide decent housing; to establish and maintain a suitable living environment; and to expand economic revitalization opportunities. The Action Plan also contains identifiable benchmarks for measuring progress through goals, objectives and community development strategies to meet the City’s housing needs and to provide services to the low-income, homeless and special needs populations within the City. The Draft 2022-2023 Action Plan also sets forth funding allocations for the 2022-2023 planning period.

Comments on the Draft Action Plan are being accepted during a 30-day public review period beginning on April 1, 2022, and ending May 2, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. The review period provides an opportunity for the public to offer their views and recommendations to the City on the subject of CDBG funded housing and community development related activities. The Draft Action Plan can be viewed here.

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.

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 assistance and 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.

City of Goleta Meetings Move to an In-Person/Virtual Hybrid Model

Begins April 5 with the Goleta City Council Meeting

The City of Goleta is pleased to announce that it will be offering in-person/virtual hybrid meetings starting with the April 5, 2022, City Council meeting. Over the course of the pandemic the City’s City Council, Board, and Commission meetings transitioned to a fully virtual platform. Since March of 2020 we have held more than 160 virtual City meetings! With COVID-19 restrictions loosening, the City is eager to welcome the public back to in-person meetings but understands that some people may still prefer the option and convenience of participating virtually.

Following Public Health guidelines masks are not currently required but are recommended. Masking requirements are subject to change in response to changing public health guidance.

Mayor Paula Perotte said, “I am looking forward to holding our meetings in-person again. It has been two long years and I am eager to get back to welcoming the community to City Council Chambers and having more in-person interaction with the public.”

City Council meetings are held the first and third Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. There are multiple ways to participate:

  • Attend in person beginning April 5. City Council meetings take place in Council Chambers at Goleta City Hall located at 130 Cremona Drive.
  • Participate virtually via Zoom. A link can be found in each meeting’s agenda.
  • Watch live or recorded meetings on the City of Goleta website at www.CityofGoleta.org/GoletaMeetings and on Goleta TV Channel 19.
  • Submit comments ahead of time by emailing cityclerkgroup@cityofgoleta.org.

The City also has numerous Board and Commission meetings which will be moving to the hybrid model. To see upcoming City meetings, please go to www.CityofGoleta.org/GoletaMeetings. 

The City recently replaced the audio-visual equipment in Council Chambers. Community members who attend in-person will have the added benefit of watching presentations on a newly installed large 98” display screen. Those participating virtually via the Internet will have a high-definition experience when watching meetings on the City’s website. There will be limited improvement to the television broadcast quality on the Cox Communications Goleta TV Channel 19 because it is not a designated HD Channel.

Pictured: Goleta City Council, standing left to right: Mayor Pro Tempore Stuart Kasdin, Councilmember James Kyriaco and Councilmember Kyle Richards; seated left to right: Councilmember Roger Aceves and Mayor Paula Perotte

Goleta Police Department Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Operation

The Goleta Police Department Traffic Unit issued 22 traffic citations for a variety of violations made by drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians during a safety operation on March 29, 2022. In addition, four subjects were issued warnings and one vehicle was towed.

The citations were for various vehicle code violations where bicyclists or pedestrians made unsafe choices and the drivers were issued citations for infractions that were unsafe to bicycles or pedestrians.

“Safety is a shared responsibility, with drivers holding the greatest responsibility to keep other road users safe,” Sergeant Noel Rivas of the Goleta Police Department said. “We hope this operation serves as a reminder to everyone to practice due care and to look out for one another.”

The Goleta Police Department offer steps drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists can take to greatly reduce the risk of getting injured or in a crash.

Pedestrians:

  • Be predictable. Use crosswalks, when available.
  • Take notice of approaching vehicles and practice due care.
  • Do not walk or run into the path of a vehicle. At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop.
  • Be visible. Make it easy for drivers to see you – wear light colors, reflective material and carry a flashlight, particularly at dawn, dusk or at night.
  • Be extra careful crossing streets or entering crosswalks at night when it is harder to see, or when crossing busier streets with more lanes and higher speed limits.

Drivers:

  • Follow the speed limit and slow down at intersections. Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks.
  • Avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right-hand turn.
  • Never drive impaired.

Bicyclists:

  • Obey traffic laws, use hand signals, use lights at night (front white light and rear red reflector), and wear a helmet.
  • Bicyclists must travel in the same direction of traffic and have the same requirements as any slow-moving vehicle.
  • Avoid the door zone: do not ride too closely to parked cars.
  • If there’s a bike lane, use it, unless making a left turn, passing, or approaching a place where a right turn is allowed.
  • Yield to pedestrians. Bicyclists must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within marked crosswalks or within unmarked crosswalks at intersections. 

The Goleta Police Department will be holding another bicycle and pedestrian safety operation on a later date to be determined.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The City of Goleta contracts with the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement services.

Organics Recycling in Santa Barbara County

What’s the story with our yard waste and food scraps?

By now you must have heard the good news that Santa Barbara County businesses and residents are recycling green waste and food waste! Fortunately, the County’s long-standing organics recycling programs and new ReSource Center will ensure that our community achieves and exceeds compliance with new statewide requirements.

Commercial and residential waste that is thrown into a trash cart or bin in Buellton, Goleta, Santa Barbara, Solvang, and the unincorporated areas of the Cuyama Valley, Santa Ynez Valley, and South Coast is processed at the County Public Works Department’s newly opened ReSource Center. Recyclable materials are recovered and sold, and organics (including food waste) are separated from trash and transformed into compost and energy – enough energy to power up to 3,000 homes per year. With this new facility, approximately 60% of additional waste from our trash cans is diverted from the landfill, bringing our region’s diversion rate to above 85% while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This means that residents who live or work in these areas do not need to change how they manage waste to meet the new requirements.

In addition to the ReSource Center, the County offers other ways for the community to recover and recycle organics:

  • Yard waste collection: Continue putting your grass clippings, leaves, and yard trimmings in your green bin. Please do not mix food scraps with your yard waste, as it interferes with the production of mulch. Visit LessIsMore.org/mulch to learn more about the County’s Mulch Program.
  • Backyard composting: The County’s Backyard Composting Program makes it easy to compost where you live. Visit LessIsMore.org/compost to access a free “Composting ABC’s” booklet and learn about the discounted composting bin program. Within months, you can create your own on-site compost for your garden.
  • Commercial food scraps collection and processing: The County’s Commercial Food Scraps Collection Program is available to large food scraps generators, such as schools, restaurants, and grocery stores. The collected food scraps are processed at the ReSource Center, increasing the overall quality of the finished compost.

As a reminder, for those living in the ReSource Center “wasteshed,” there’s no change in how you need to manage your waste. Residents should continue using their green waste, recycling, and trash containers in the same way they always have. Please contact the County Public Works Department with any questions at (805) 882-3600 or recycling@countyofsb.org.

Photo: Organic material is laid out in rows to dry at the ReSource Center’s Compost Management Unit at the Tajiguas Landfill. (credit: Lael Wageneck – Santa Barbara County Public Works)

Goleta’s First Historic Preservation Ordinance Returns to Council on April 5

The City’s first ever Historic Preservation Ordinance and Historic Resources Inventory and Landmark Designation Resolution will take center stage at the April 5, 2022, Goleta City Council meeting.

The issue was discussed at the December 7, 2021, Public Hearing, but before acting on the Historic Preservation Ordinance, City Council directed staff to provide additional information which will be discussed at the upcoming April 5 meeting.

The goal of the Historic Preservation Ordinance is to preserve and protect resources that, once lost, cannot be replaced or replicated. Late last year (November 8, 2021), the Planning Commission reviewed the Historic Preservation Ordinance and recommended adoption.

The proposed Historic Preservation Ordinance includes regulations that may affect some property owners, especially property owners of designated Historic Resources. The regulations regarding Archaeological and/or Tribal Cultural Resources could potentially affect any property owners who are contemplating work involving earth-disturbing activities (i.e., trenching for utilities, digging for new foundations, etc.). The goal of the proposed regulations is to foster preservation while allowing development to occur.

In recommending adoption of the Historic Preservation Ordinance, the Planning Commission sought to balance the need to protect sensitive, buried archaeological and cultural resources with the burden on property owners. It considered this issue carefully with input from a range of stakeholders, including Goleta residents, archaeologists and historians, and Chumash Tribal representatives. 

For more information click here and to learn more about the project go to www.HistoricGoleta.org.

Pictured: Historic photo of the Stow House

Goleta Residents Share Priorities for City Services

More than 500 residents have completed the Goleta’s Next 20 survey, sharing their priorities as the City is working to address current needs and plan for the future. Essential city services, community programs and infrastructure needs are among those items listed in the survey. Residents who have not participated to date are encouraged to do so online at www.surveymonkey.com/r/GoletaNext20. The survey is also available in Spanish at www.surveymonkey.com/r/Siguientes20Goleta. Survey results will be shared next month.

Goleta Community Center Welcomes Back Returning and New Users  

The Goleta Valley Community Center (GVCC) is happy to announce the reopening of the Goleta Community Center for the return of former and new users! While we still do not have use of the Auditorium and Dining Hall, the classrooms have all been upgraded with new paint, window blinds and are ready for reservations. The classrooms can accommodate smaller groups of up to 25 people. Several groups have already returned and are settling in quite nicely. The bus pass machine is again available Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.

“It’s been two long lonely difficult years for our seniors,” said Charlie Johnson, Acting General Manager for the Goleta Valley Community Center, “They’ve been kept away from the Center due to the pandemic, however, spring is here and with that change it’s time to be optimistic and get back to a normal way of life.” 

The Senior Center and Lounge had a soft reopening on February 22, and in the past month things have begun to return to a more normal operation. The Tai Chi classes and Line Dance have both returned to the Center and our Swing a Long Band has been performing regularly on Tuesday and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

“It’s so good to have our seniors back here reconnecting with one another and now to see our former nonprofits return, it a good sign that we’ve turned the corner and are optimistic about a vibrant future,” said Charlie. 

The main GVCC office is staffed daily Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The GVCC hours of operation will change as room reservation begin to increase. Reservations can be made by calling the main business number 805-967-1237. Questions about our Senior Program activities can be directed to Claudia Ricardo our Senior Program Coordinator and Reservation Specialist.

We offer a discount to other charitable nonprofits that bring their programing to the Community Center. The GVCC is the heart and cultural center of Old Town Goleta. We also encourage pickleball players to come play here. We are centrally located with good parking and easy access to Old Town eateries. We are also in the process of upgrading our courts with a new playing surface, new nets, windscreens and lots of open play time. Come join in the fun, all are welcome.

For more information on the Goleta Valley Community Center please visit https://www.thegvcc.org/.

We look forward to seeing you at the Center!

Pictured: Saint Patrick’s Day Celebration at the GVCC Senior Program 2022