Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

Platform Holly Virtual Town Hall

The State Lands Commission and the City of Goleta held a virtual community Town Hall on December 8 to discuss the well plug and abandonment work at Platform Holly. Platform Holly, an offshore oil platform in Santa Barbara County, is one of four remaining offshore oil platforms in state waters. Well plug and abandonment on Platform Holly resumed in October of this year — 528 days after the pandemic shut down this work. This Town Hall was an opportunity for the public to engage with Commission staff and the City of Goleta about the well plug and abandonment work and eventual decommissioning of Platform Holly.

Thank you to everyone that attended. For those that were unable to watch the virtual Town Hall, it is rebroadcast on Goleta TV Channel 19 on Thursdays and Fridays at 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and can also be viewed at any time on the City’s website (www.CityofGoleta.org/GoletaMeetings).

For more information, visit the State Lands Commission website at www.slc.ca.gov.

Pictured: Platform Holly

The Future of Pickleball in Goleta

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America and has become increasingly popular in Goleta. Due to the increased interest in the sport and demand for more courts, the City is considering a proposal to renovate existing tennis courts located behind the Goleta Community Center (GCC) into permanent pickleball courts. The Parks and Recreation Commission discussed the Goleta Valley Community Center’s proposal at a special meeting on November 18, and supported the proposal. The proposal includes the resurfacing and renovation of the existing tennis courts into four permanent pickleball courts and a fifth court that will be re-striped to continue to accommodate both basketball and temporary pickleball, serving two recreational uses. 

Goleta Valley Community Center (GVCC) temporarily converted one of the courts at the GCC to a temporary pickleball court in the fall of 2019. In late Spring of 2020, the popularity increased and the one court in high demand, was expanded to four additional temporary courts in the existing tennis courts. This has been extremely popular, and the temporary pickleball courts are in near constant use.

A recording of the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting is available here, and the staff report can be read here. City Council will receive a presentation on this proposal in the new year. Information on the City Council meeting will be available ahead of time at www.CityofGoleta.org/GoletaMeetings.

Pictured: Pickleball players Mark Sabens, Jared Ingram, Vince Kosek, and Brandon Gregorio at the Goleta Community Center courts

Work Continues on Playground Renovations

The City continues making progress on the renovation of four parks with new play or outdoor fitness equipment. As reported last month, work to replace and install playground equipment at Berkeley Park is complete! Installation of fitness equipment continues at Winchester I Park and installation of the playground is nearing completion at Winchester II Park with a new walkway from the new playground to the sidewalk at Calle Real. The playground renovation and expansion at Andamar Park began on December 1st and includes a replacement of the access road to accommodate accessibility needs.

During construction, portions of the park(s), or in some cases the entire park(s), will remain closed to public access. Please keep in my mind this schedule is tentative and could be modified based on field and/or weather conditions.

Thank you for your patience as we work to bring new playground equipment to Goleta! Stay tuned for upcoming ribbon cuttings for these park locations. For more information, visit the project page on our website here.

Pictured: Winchester II Park in progress

Census 2020 Results Are In!

The results from the 2020 Census have been released.

The data represents where people were living as of April 1, 2020. Below are a few key highlights for the City of Goleta:

  • 32,690 Total Population
  • $98,005 Median Household Income
  • 12,643 Total Housing Units
  • 66% Employment Rate
  • 11,552 Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

A more detailed breakdown for the City can be found here.

Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) released the following summary data from the 2020 Census.

Every 10 years the U.S. Census Bureau conducts a once-per-decade count of the nation’s population. The Census is a U.S. Constitutional requirement of the federal government used to allot the number of congressional representatives for each state, to redraw the boundaries of legislative districts within a state, and to determine federal funding to support community services. A look into the 2020 Census count results released to the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) Board of Directors shows that the region is growing slower than the statewide average, housing production continues to not keep up with existing population and growth, an increase in the countywide proportion of the Hispanic/Latino population, and North County continues to gain in its share of the region’s population, 54 percent in 2020 compared to 52 percent in 2010. The Summary Report contains a variety of interesting and useful data points relevant to the Santa Barbara County region which is available for the public to download and read at sbcag.org/news.

The 2020 Census Summary Report is prepared by SBCAG as the State Census Data Affiliate Center in Santa Barbara County. “Information from the 2020 Census helps decision makers better understand the region’s population, how to plan for housing, jobs, schools, and to know how much state and federal funding the region will receive for essential community services,” said Marjie Kirn, executive director of SBCAG.

The 2020 Census report is based on information contained in the release of the Census Redistricting File – an early product from the U.S. Census Bureau of results from the 2020 Census count. The data is limited and specific to population for cities and unincorporate areas, housing units and Race and Hispanic Origin. In September, the U.S. Census Bureau released the Redistricting File in an easier-to-use format for the public, now available on data.census.gov.

Important highlights from the latest summary report include:

  • The 2020 Census population of Santa Barbara County is 448,229 persons, increasing by 5.7 percent or 24,334 persons since 2010.
  • The proportion of Santa Barbara County’s population relative to the state population has declined since 1970. For essential programs and services that rely on population to distribute funds, a lower percentage represents a smaller proportion of Statewide population and potential funding.
  • The City of Santa Maria showed the largest population growth in the County over the ten-year period increasing by 10,154 persons. The City of Goleta experienced the largest population growth in the South Coast with a 2,802 person increase.
  • The cities of Solvang and Guadalupe experienced the largest percentage population increase between 2010 and 2020 with an increase of 16.8 percent and 13.8 percent, respectively. The City of Santa Barbara experienced the smallest percent increase of 0.3 percent.
  • The unincorporated county has the largest share of countywide population with 31 percent. The City of Santa Maria follows with 25 percent and has the largest share relative to other incorporated jurisdictions.
  • The North County share of countywide population is 54 percent, or 239,868 persons increasing from 52 percent in 2010.
  • Unincorporated areas such as the Eastern Goleta Valley is a newly designated place resulting in the first official Census population estimate unique to that community of 28,656 persons. The communities of Isla Vista and University of California Santa Barbara have also been redefined for the 2020 Census resulting in estimates of 28,656 and 9,710 persons, respectively.
  • The communities of Summerland and Montecito experienced population declines between 2010 and 2020.
  • The largest numerical increase in housing units from 2010 to 2020 occurred in the City of Santa Maria with 1,666 new units followed by the City of Goleta with 1,170 new units.
  • The City of Guadalupe has the highest average number of persons per household at 3.91 persons in the region and the City of Solvang is the lowest at 2.34 persons.
  • Since 2010, for every 4.5 new resident in the region, one new housing unit was added.
  • The countywide proportion of the Hispanic/Latino population in 2020 is 47 percent, an increase of 4.1 percent from 2010.

SBCAG’s summary report of the redistricting file is a portion of the 2020 census data expected to be released over the next few years by the U.S. Census Bureau. The Demographic and Housing Characteristics file is expected to be released in 2022. Additionally, a detailed American Community Survey is expected in December 2021 by the U.S. Census Bureau that includes data on age, gender, income, and household relationship. Urban area delineations and population counts will be released in 2023. SBCAG will continue to present information as it becomes available.

Additional information:

  1. 2020 Census Summary: Initial Analysis of the Census 2020 Redistrict File for the Santa Barbara County Region
  2. 2020 Census PowerPoint Presentation

Last Chance to Help #DrawGoleta: Maps Due on January 6th!

Get Involved in this Historic Process!

We are nearing the finish line for Goleta’s historic district mapping process! Public participation is the most important part of this process. You have until January 6th to draw and submit a map showing what you think the City’s first-ever district boundaries should be.

Beginning in November 2022, the City will be divided into four districts, and voters in each district will elect a City Councilmember who lives in their own district. The Mayor will continue to be elected by voters across Goleta.

If you need help drawing your map, watch our “How to Draw a Map” video tutorial. If you prefer to submit your ideas using a paper map, you can pick one up from Goleta City Hall or the Goleta Valley Library during hours of operation.

Please note, if you submitted a map before the mapping tools were updated with the official Census 2020 population data on October 19, 2021, your map needs to be resubmitted. Click here for tips on how to re-draw your map. The tips are also useful for anyone creating a map online.

The Public Engagement Commission (PEC) will review the submitted maps at its January 26, 2022, meeting and make recommendations to the City Council. Hear directly from the PEC on the significance of district elections by watching this video.

For more information go to www.DrawGoleta.org. For additional questions or assistance, please contact cityclerkgroup@cityofgoleta.org or call 805-961-7505. Thank you for your interest and participation in shaping the future of Goleta.

Shop Local at GoodLandGoodShopping.com Website

New Digital Gift Card Marketplace Now Features 30 Businesses

The City of Goleta’s new website, GoodLandGoodShopping.com, is the perfect place to do your holiday shopping. The digital gift card marketplace created by our partner, Giftbar, now has at least 30 Goleta businesses listed and is a one-stop shop for your local shopping needs. Anyone who goes to the site can purchase gift cards from listed Goleta businesses. As a bonus, you can then send an email or text with personalized message and/or video to your friend or family member, creating a memorable virtual gift or care package. Watch our new promotional video in English and Spanish to learn more.

GoodLandGoodShopping.com is designed to be a long-term gift to our Goleta merchants to boost local spending and help our businesses recover from the impacts of the pandemic. If you are a Goleta business, we encourage you to take advantage of your FREE listing. Just go to the website and follow the simple steps to sign up.

You can help make #GoodLandGoodShopping a success by doing the following:

  • Go to GoodLandGoodShopping.com and buy a gift card.
  • Spread the news and promote on social media with #GoodLandGoodShopping.
  • Encourage Goleta businesses you frequent to sign up by going to the website.

For questions about GoodLandGoodShopping.com and how to participate, email websupport@giftbar.com or call 866-989-5580. If you have questions for the City, email Kelly Hoover at PIO@cityofgoleta.org.

We are so excited to see www.GoodLandGoodShopping.com grow and benefit our awesome local businesses for years to come!

Historic Preservation Ordinance Coming to Goleta

After years of preparation, the Goleta City Council will consider a Historic Preservation Ordinance on December 7, 2021. The goal is to preserve and protect resources that, once lost, cannot be replaced or replicated. On November 8, the Planning Commission reviewed the ordinance and recommended adoption.

Generally, the proposed ordinance would:

  • Create a Historic Preservation Commission.
  • Create historic designation categories and establish a process to designate properties as a historic resource based on eligibility criteria.
  • Establish regulations and processes regarding alterations to designated properties, recission of designations, demolition, maintenance requirements, and Mills Act incentives to maintain designated historic resources.
  • Designate seven (7) structures as Goleta Landmarks and place a total of 29 structures (including the 7 proposed to be Goleta Landmarks) on the inaugural Historic Resources Inventory (HRI). It is expected that the HRI will be expanded over time.
  • Establish processes and criteria when any earth disturbing activities in native soils (i.e., previous not graded or disturbed soils) are proposed. The purpose is to check for subsurface archaeological or tribal cultural resources in order to preserve and protect these resources. A list of project types and circumstances that would exempt from the requirements s included.
  • Establish development standards that would be imposed on any earth-disturbing activities in case subsurface archaeological or tribal cultural resources are found in the course of construction.
  • Add thirty-four definitions related to Historic Preservation and Archaeological and Tribal Cultural Resources to the Goleta Municipal Code.
  • Make other changes to various portions of the Goleta Municipal Code to reflect the requirements of Chapters 17.33 and 17.43 to facilitate consistency in City regulations.

A Historic Preservation Ordinance, if approved, includes regulations that may affect property owners to some degree, especially property owners of designated Historic Resources. The regulations could potentially affect any property owners that are contemplating making changes that involves earth-disturbing activities (i.e., placement of fence posts, trenching for utilities, digging for new foundations, etc.). The goal of the proposed regulations is to foster preservation while allowing development to occur.

Learn more about the project at www.HistoricGoleta.org. The Planning Commission agenda and recording of the meeting is available at https://cityofgoleta.org/goletameetings. For more information regarding the project, please contact Current Planning Manager Lisa Prasse, at lprasse@cityofgoleta.org.

Pictured: Hollister Arch

 

Calle Real Crosswalk Installation at Encina

The Crosswalk on Calle Real Near Encina Lane Project began in early October. The project consists of construction of a new Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB) signal-controlled crosswalk, ADA accessible ramps, new crosswalk striping, pavement markings and applicable PHB warning and control signage. A Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon is a traffic control device designed to assist pedestrians in safely cross busy roadways, using two red lenses above a single yellow lens that remains dark until a call button is pushed to activate the flashing beacon.

Over 500 residential units are located on the north side of Calle Real (Encina Royal and Encina Meadows Apartments). These housing units generate a considerable amount of pedestrian traffic that access the Calle Real Center. Protected pedestrian crossings exist on Calle Real in the form of a traffic signal at Encina Lane, a rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB) at Kingston Avenue, and a mid-block traffic signal approximately 635-feet west of Kingston Avenue. However, for over 1,000 feet east of Encina Lane, there has been no controlled pedestrian crossing of Calle Real. This has forced pedestrians to either walk a significant distance to a controlled crossing or cross midblock. The Calle Real Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon near Encina Lane Project is being constructed at the ideal location for a controlled pedestrian crossing on Calle Real, midway between Encina Lane and the existing midblock signalized pedestrian crossing just to the east of the Albertsons/Chase Bank driveway providing a controlled crossing approximately every 600 feet between Encina Lane and Kingston Avenue.

The project is expected to be complete by the end of December. We appreciate your patience as improvements are constructed on Calle Real.

Participate in the Foodbank Turkey Drive

The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County Turkey Drive is happening now through November 24. Turkeys can be dropped off at the Foodbank Warehouse at 4554 Hollister Avenue, Santa Barbara. Additional locations are listed below. Donations will continue to be accepted after November 24 and distributed in December.

This season, so many families and individuals in our community are struggling to make ends meet. With the need for food so high, we want to provide as many as we can with a turkey dinner to celebrate the holidays. Our goal is to collect 3,000 birds or more to provide to those facing hunger this season. 

If you’d rather buy a turkey dinner without having to drop off a turkey, you can donate to our Virtual Food Drive here.

Playground Installations Underway

The City is currently working on renovating four parks with new play or outdoor fitness equipment. We are excited to announce that work to replace and install playground equipment at Berkeley Park is complete! Installation of fitness equipment has begun at Winchester 1 Park and work has begun on Winchester 2 Park to replace and expand the playground and add a walkway from the new playground to the sidewalk at Calle Real. The playground renovation and expansion at Andamar Park will begin later this month and includes a replacement of the access road to accommodate accessibility needs.

During construction, portions of the park(s), or in some cases the entire park(s), will be closed to public access. Please keep in my mind this schedule is tentative and could be modified based on field and/or weather conditions.

Thank you for your patience as we work to bring new playground equipment to Goleta! For more information, visit the project page on our website here.

Pictured: New playground equipment at Berkeley Park