Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

Goleta’s November Election

Know Your District!

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 have the opportunity to elect City Councilmembers from the District in which they live in this election. Voters in Districts 1 and 2 elected a Councilmember from their Districts in 2022. The Mayor’s seat continues to be elected at-large and is also on the November 2024 ballot.

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.

No matter which of the four districts you live in, ALL Goleta residents will vote on the Mayor’s seat and on a City sponsored ballot measure (G2024).

Measure G2012 Agricultural Land Initiative Extension Measure.
Shall the measure be adopted extending the term of Measure “G2012” (“Heritage Farmlands Initiative”), requiring a majority vote of the people to redesignate or change the intensity of use for agricultural parcels within the City of Goleta of ten or more acres, by twenty additional years upon the expiration of the term of Measure “G2012” and to take effect on December 31, 2032?

Make sure you are registered to vote! Check your registration or register now at https://registertovote.ca.gov/.

There are two ballot drop box locations in Goleta, for all locations in the County, click here.

  • Goleta City Hall (130 Cremona Drive)
  • Goleta Community Center (5679 Hollister Ave)

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


Watch video on the upcoming election with Goleta City Clerk Deborah Lopez

Goleta's District Elections Map
Find out which district you live in with our interactive map 

Ballots for Upcoming Election Delivered in October

All registered voters in California will receive a Vote-by-Mail ballot in the mail by early October

The Santa Barbara County Elections Office announced today that official Vote-by-Mail ballots and voting materials will be delivered to the United States Post Office by October 7th.  Registered voters are asked to check their mailboxes for their ballot and related voter information guides which should reach them within the next 5-10 days.

The vote-by-mail packet will contain several items:

  • The voter’s official ballot
  • Instructions for voting and returning the ballot
  • A ballot return envelope with a unique barcode that allows the Elections Office to verify the signature of the voter on the envelope with the voter’s registration record.  This may be the signature on the voter registration card submitted by the voter or the signature on the voter’s driver’s license if they registered to vote at the DMV.  It is important that the voter verifies that their name is printed on the envelope (the ballot doesn’t belong to another person living at the same address), signs the envelope, and encloses the ballot in the return envelope.

If a voter receives a ballot for a person who is no longer living at the address, please:

  • Mark the box on the bottom left corner of the outgoing envelope and return the packet to a mail carrier

OR

  • Write “No longer at this address” on the outside envelope and return it to a mail carrier 

Ballots may be returned by mail (postmarked by Election Day, November 5), returned in person to one of three election offices (locations listed below), to any polling place on Election Day, or an official ballot drop boxes located throughout the County.

A list of polling places and official drop box locations can be found at www.sbcvote.com.

Voters can sign up to track their ballot at WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov.

Voters can check their registration status, look up their polling place, and find their ballot’s status by using the look-up tool at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov or calling the Elections Office at 800-722-8683.

Register online at registertovote.ca.gov/ or request a registration form by calling 800-722-8683.  Voter registration forms are available at local DMV offices, post offices and public libraries.

Santa Barbara County Elections Offices are located at:

  • Santa Barbara Elections Main Office (4440-A Calle Real) Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday, November 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Santa Maria Elections Branch Office (511 Lakeside Parkway, Ste. 134) Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to Noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. beginning October 5 and on Saturday, November 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Lompoc Elections Branch Office (401 E. Cypress, Suite 102) – 8 a.m. to Noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. beginning October 29 on Saturday, November 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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

Red Flag Warning (until 9/07) & Heat Advisory (until 9/09)

The National Weather Service has expanded the Heat Advisory for the coastal areas of Santa Barbara County, including Goleta, and the Excessive Heat Warning for inland areas, through Monday, September 9. The National Weather Service has also issued a Red Flag Warning for southern Santa Barbara County due to strong sundowner winds, low humidity, and high temperatures. This Warning is in effect now through Saturday, September 7. Detailed weather forecasts are available at https://www.weather.gov/lox/.

Sundowner winds are expected tonight and Friday night. Hot and windy conditions greatly increase the risk for dangerous wildfires. Avoid hazardous activities that may cause sparks or start a wildfire.

Community members are urged to take the following precautions:

  • Familiarize yourself with the Ready, Set, Go program for wildfire preparedness at https://sbcfire.com/ready-set-go.
  • Report any signs of smoke or fire immediately by calling 911. If using a cell phone, be sure to know and report your exact location.
  • Avoid operating spark-producing equipment such as lawnmowers, chainsaws, and vehicles in dry grass or brush areas.
  • Report any suspicious individuals or vehicles to local authorities.

Take care of yourself during this heat. The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department issued a health alert with precautions – view them here.

Community Cooling Relief

Stay cool at the Goleta Valley and Solvang Libraries. Other community-based cooling options include: malls, movie theaters, parks, and beaches. For countywide cooling locations click here.

Goleta Valley Library
500 N. Fairview Avenue
805-964-7878
Hours of Operation:

  • Tuesday-Thursday 10am-7pm
  • Friday & Saturday 10am-5:30pm
  • Sunday 1pm-5pm

Solvang Library
1745 Mission Drive
805-688-4214
Hours of Operation:

  • Tuesday & Friday 10am-5pm
  • Wednesday & Thursday 10am-7pm
  • Saturday 10am-4pm

For the latest information, go to readysbc.org.   

New Ordinance to Lower Speed Limits

Goleta is advancing its Vision Zero goals. The Council approved an ordinance that will lower speed limits on roadways in Goleta based on new State law. Assembly Bill (AB) 43 – Traffic Safety. AB 43, passed by the legislature in 2021 and effective as of June 30, 2024, gives local governments new authority to reduce speed limits on “safety corridors”, (streets with the highest number of serious injury and fatal collisions) and streets where conditions support high concentrations of bikes and pedestrians.

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. Earlier this year, City Council adopted a resolution in support of Vision Zero strategies in Goleta.

The new lower speed limits ordinance, which is scheduled for adoption at the next City Council meeting on September 3rd, 2024, will:

  • lower enforceable speed limits on nearly all major roadways by five (5) to 10 miles per hour.
  • reduce the risk of traffic-related injuries and deaths.
  • improve comfort and safety for bikes and pedestrians, particularly children, seniors and the disabled.

Enforcement of these new speed limits will not begin until appropriate signs have been installed, likely toward the end of this year.

Read the staff report here: https://tinyurl.com/mr9wzwyw.

Goodbye Platform Holly

It is the end of an oil and gas era off the Goleta coastline. In late August, the State Lands Commission (SLC), in partnership with ExxonMobil, completed the permanent plugging and abandonment of Platform Holly’s 30 oil and gas wells, located about two miles offshore of the City of Goleta. This represents a milestone in California’s legacy of oil and gas development because these were the last remaining offshore production wells associated with a platform in state waters of the Santa Barbara Channel, the birthplace of offshore oil production. 

The SLC staff hosted the monthly South Ellwood Project interagency group meeting on September 3 to discuss Platform Holly decommissioning and remediation. All the South Ellwood Field wells are now plugged and remediated, the conductors are cut and were removed on September 4, and final plugging and abandonment is imminent. Platform hardening is also underway and includes equipment and hydrocarbon removal, installation of navigation safety devices, and disincentivizing trespassing with security gates and cameras. In all, the hydrogen sulfide risk at Platform Holly is remediated and the ability to extract oil and gas from the platform is eliminated.

There is more to come as the SLC works on an environmental document addressing the final disposition of the platform. For the latest information, go to https://www.slc.ca.gov/oil-and-gas/southellwood/.

Photo: Platform Holly courtesy of the State Lands Commission

Diaper Need Awareness Week

September 23 – 29

As the cost of living continues to rise, an increasing number of families are facing an unexpected challenge: the inability to afford enough diapers for their babies. This basic necessity, often taken for granted, has become a source of stress and hardship for many parents. According to the National Diaper Bank Network’s 2023 Diaper Check survey, 1 in 2 families in the U.S. struggle to afford enough diapers to keep their babies clean and healthy.

Fortunately, LEAP: Learn. Engage. Advocate. Partner., a prominent child care agency that has been supporting Goleta families for over 50 years, is helping to meet diaper need in our community. 

“Since launching our Diaper Bank in 2021, we’ve provided nearly 200,000 diapers to babies in need,” said Lori Goodman, LEAP Executive Director. “This wouldn’t be possible without our incredible partners, like the City of Goleta, who help us continue this vital work.”

Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte said, “LEAP’s Diaper Bank is a great asset for our community. I am proud to support a service that strives to make things easier for families, especially as costs for basic items continues to rise.”

Diapers are one of the most requested services at LEAP, and they continue to run the only registered Diaper Bank in Santa Barbara County.

You can keep babies healthy and dry by making a gift to LEAP’s Diaper Bank! For only $25 dollars you can cover the cost of one week of diapers and wipes for a local child! All gifts, regardless of size will make a huge difference.

Or donate unopened diapers and wipes! This year LEAD has several partners collecting diapers for the community!

  • Old Town Coffee, Goleta September 23-29
  • Beit HaYeladim Preschool at Congregation B’nai B’rith September 1-30
  • Trinity Church of the Nazarene in Lompoc September 23-29

You can also sign up to be monthly diaper bank donors here: https://leapcentralcoast.org/diaper-bank/.

LEAP’s Diaper Bank remains a crucial resource for the community, supported by generous donors and partners. With your help, we can continue to provide relief to families in need and ensure every baby in our community is cared for.

City Launches Business Recognition Program

Nominate a Local Business Today!

The City of Goleta is pleased to announce the launch of its new Business Recognition Program. The Program is designed to highlight exceptional Goleta businesses throughout the year for special achievements or other unique contributions to the City such as economic development, prosperity, sustainability or resilience, or other activities fostering continuous community enrichment.

Mayor Paula Perotte said, “This is a great program to be able to recognize and support the businesses that are doing fantastic work and to honor their successes in the community.”

Nominations are open to the community and self-nominations are accepted. To nominate a local business, complete the online form. Nominations are accepted on a rolling basis and awards will be given out on a quarterly basis. Awardees will be selected by City of Goleta staff in consultation with the Greater Santa Barbara Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce.

To be nominated, business must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  1. Located in Goleta city limits.
  2. Hold a valid City Business License (if applicable). Don’t have one? Apply here!
  3. In good standing with the City (i.e. no outstanding taxes or fees).

Businesses can only receive the award once.

A nominee must demonstrate accomplishments relating to one or more of the following areas:

  • Longevity in the City
  • Business Growth
  • Environmental Sustainability Leadership
  • Community Enrichment/Supporter
  • Industry Innovator
  • Minority-or Women-Owned

Selected businesses will be recognized at a future City Council meeting, included in the City’s monthly e-newsletter The Monarch Press, and featured on the City’s social media channels (@cityofgoleta).

Businesses that are within City limits and have a Goleta business license are also eligible to be listed in the City’s online business directory, GoodLandGoodShopping.com. View a short tutorial on how to edit your business or add your business. For questions or assistance please email PIO@cityofgoleta.org.

To learn more about the City’s Business Recognition Program, and to nominate a local business, click here.

Spotlight on Old Town Open for Business

The City of Goleta’s Old Town Open for Business (OTOB) campaign continues to shine a spotlight on the great businesses in Old Town that are at the heart of our community. The OTOB campaign has featured over 25 businesses in Old Town Goleta so far. Project Connect construction continues, and so does the need to show our businesses support.

By continuing to shop local, community members make a significant impact on our local economy and support the businesses that make Goleta one of a kind. The OTOB campaign has highlighted the unique charm and character of the many diverse Old Town businesses and merchants. From cozy cafes to family-owned boutiques, authentic cuisine, and specialty services, there’s something for everyone in Old Town!

The best part? Our OTOB campaign is ongoing on all our social media platforms (@CityofGoleta)! Are you a business owner in Old Town? Have a go-to spot for delicious pastries or fantastic handmade goods? The City of Goleta wants to know! Send us an email with the name of the business to PIO@CityofGoleta.org.

Let’s keep shopping local Goleta! And make sure you follow us on all of our social media channels (Facebook, X/Twitter and Instagram) as we continue to feature more great local Goleta businesses and merchants.

 

Project Connect Update

The City’s largest Capital Improvement Project, Project Connect, is well underway. A traffic pattern change occurred at the end of August on Hollister Avenue. Traffic lanes between the southbound Highway 217 offramp and Kellogg Avenue have been adjusted to accommodate a safe working space for construction of the new Hollister Avenue Bridge over San Jose Creek. 

Traffic has been shifted to the south side of Hollister Avenue and reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction. Construction crews will be working in the northside Hollister Avenue lanes. This work and the associated traffic shift are scheduled for approximately six months.

We urge everyone to exercise extra caution when near the construction site. Please adhere to all traffic control measures and posted detour signs. Utilize the designated temporary pedestrian walkway to ensure your safety and that of others. Your cooperation helps us complete this essential project efficiently and safely. We appreciate your understanding and patience during this time.

If you haven’t already, learn more about the project and what to expect by watching our video in English or Spanish. The video is narrated by Interim Goleta Public Works Director Nina Buelna in English and the Project Connect Manager Melissa Angeles in Spanish. Both hope you will take time to watch and understand the purpose of this multi-year project and how it will mean a better future for Goleta.

About Project Connect:

Project Connect is a multi-year project that will enhance pedestrian access and safety, improve road conditions, and build critical linkage throughout Goleta while increasing stormwater flow capacity in San Jose Creek under Hollister Bridge.

The large-scale construction project includes the Ekwill Street & Fowler Road Extensions, Hollister Avenue Bridge Replacement Project, two new roundabouts on Hollister Avenue at the Highway 217 interchange, the Hollister Avenue Interim Striping Project, and San Jose Creek flood control capacity improvements. Project completion is anticipated in 2026 when drivers and pedestrians will have increased east-west access across Old Town Goleta.

The City understands that projects such as this can be inconvenient, and we appreciate your patience.

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

Give Input on City’s CDBG Year-End Report

Public Review Period is Open Now through September 23

Every year, the City of Goleta looks forward to supporting those in need within our community through funds from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. This past year, over 10,000 people were assisted with CDBG funding. The City is required to submit a year-end report on its accomplishments called the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). The CAPER provides an assessment of the City’s performance in meeting housing and community development goals in the adopted 2023-2024 CDBG Action Plan. The draft CAPER can be viewed at www.cityofgoleta.org/grants.

Comments on the draft CAPER are being accepted during a 15-day public review period beginning September 5, 2024, and ending September 23, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. Comments should be submitted to: City of Goleta, Neighborhood Services Department, Attn: Cassidy Le Air, 130 Cremona Drive, Goleta, CA 93117 or emailed to cleair@cityofgoleta.org.

The City Council will hold a public hearing on these matters on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at its regular Council meeting, which begins at 5:30 p.m. An agenda will be available ahead of time at www.cityofgoleta.org/meetings-agendas.

About the Community Development Block Grant

The City receives funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on an annual basis for the CDBG Program, which is intended 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.