Daily Archives: April 1, 2019

Fire is Everyone’s Fight: Fire Safety for Older Adults

The U.S. Fire Administration recently focused on older adult fire safety. This is important for all ages, because whether or not you are over 65, you probably know someone who is. People over age 65 are twice as likely to die in a home fire, and the risk of injury in a fire also increases with age. Watch this video and see below for fire safety tips for both older adults and their caregivers:

  • Know two ways out of each room. Keep these exits clear.
  • Make sure everyone is able to get outside if the smoke alarm sounds.
  • If you use a walker or wheelchair, check all exits to be sure that you can go through the doorways.
  • If you can’t hear your smoke alarm, consider getting one that has a different sound or one that comes with a bed shaker or strobe light.
  • Discuss your fire escape plan with family and neighbors. Contact your building manager or fire department to discuss your plan if you need extra help escaping.
  • Keep wheelchairs, eyeglasses hearing aids and a telephone next to your bed.
  • Caregivers should check the smoke alarms of those who are unable to do it themselves.
  • Never smoke around medical oxygen.
  • Use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.

Visit www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention for more information on fire prevention.

Hop on the Goleta Bunny Express!

Hop aboard the South Coast Railroad Museum’s Goleta Bunny Express! The event is Saturday, April 20, from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at 300 N. Los Carneros Road. This family-friendly event includes a photo booth, craft station, Thomas the Tank Engine bounce house, real life fuzzy bunnies from Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter (BUNS), guided tours of the Historic Goleta Depot, rides on miniature locomotives (for all ages) and more fun surprises! The Museum is also excited to announce that thanks to the community’s fundraising efforts, they have purchased a new Titan Train Engine which will debut at the event with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Tickets are $5 and include one ride on the miniature locomotive. For more updates, view the South Coast Railroad Museum’s Event Page on Facebook. 

The City of Goleta Needs You!

Looking for a new way to get involved? Join the City of Goleta’s Design Review Board or Public Tree Advisory Commission!

The Design Review Board (DRB) is looking for a Licensed Landscape Professional (Landscape Architect or Landscape Contractor). The DRB is a seven-member body whose responsibility is to encourage development exemplifying the best professional design practices in order to enhance the visual quality of the environment and prevent poor quality of design. Meetings are held the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 3:00 p.m., compensation is $50 per meeting.

The Public Tree Advisory Commission (PTAC) is geared towards those with an interest or experience in urban forestry and landscaping. PTAC provides advice to staff and the City Council in developing plans and goals for the Goleta Urban Forest, represents the interests of the community and informs the community of the Urban Forestry program as directed by the City Council. Applicants must live within City limits. Meetings are held as-needed and compensation is $50 per meeting.

If you are interested in one of these great opportunities, apply here by Thursday, April 11 at 5:00 p.m. For additional information, contact Deborah Lopez, City Clerk, at cityclerkgroup@cityofgoleta.org or (805) 961-7505.

Spring Library News

Have you seen the refreshed Library website? It’s the same great content but with a new look. Check it out at www.GoletaValleyLibrary.org. You can get the latest Library news by visiting the website or following the Library on Facebook (@GoletaValleyLibrary). You can also subscribe here for the Library’s e-newsletter, the Reading Corner.

The Library’s Book to Action program is happening now and centers on the book “Ocean Country” by Liz Cunningham. The author was an avid surfer who was temporarily paralyzed in a surfing accident, leading to constant illness and depression. In order to cope, Ms. Cunningham decided to travel the world, finding out what different communities were doing to combat ocean pollution. The Library is giving away free copies of the book and hosting numerous activities from now until mid-June. Get the complete activity list here.

Last year around this time, the Library began re-barcoding its collection of 78,000 items to be ready for the City of Goleta to take over management on July 1, 2018. We need your help again! On July 1, 2019, the City of Goleta and Goleta Valley Library will be taking over management of the Buellton and Solvang Libraries and their (much smaller) collections need to be re-barcoded as well. If you are interested in helping, please contact Library Director Allison Gray at 805-562-5502 or agray@cityofgoleta.org. 

Are You In the Zone?

We have been taught in this area to prepare for fires and earthquakes, now we want to talk about tsunami safety. Any coast is vulnerable and Tsunami Preparedness Week which just occurred (March 25 – 29) wants to make sure you know how to protect yourself should a tsunami occur:

  • Protect yourself during local earthquakes by doing Drop, Cover and Hold On
  • Go to high ground or inland
  • Stay there!

The Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management has put together a tsunami map so you can find out if you are in the zone. Even if you do not live or work in the zone, it’s important for everyone to be prepared, as parts of Santa Barbara County are in the tsunami zone.

A tsunami is one of the most powerful and destructive natural forces. It is a series of extremely long waves (multiple waves tens-to-hundreds of miles between crests) caused by a large and sudden displacement of the ocean. Tsunamis radiate outward in all directions from the point of origin and can move across entire ocean basins. When they reach the coast, they can cause dangerous coastal flooding and powerful currents that can last for several hours or days (source: NOAA / National Weather Service). Check out this short video from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on tsunami’s and how to prepare and stay safe while one is occurring.

More information is available at The Tsunami Zone and the NOAA / National Weather Service U.S. Tsunami Warning System FAQs.

Deltopia Parking Restrictions Reminder

Deltopia, Isla Vista’s unsanctioned street party, is expected to take place this Saturday, April 6. The City’s temporary parking permit program for residents will be in affect over the weekend in the following area to minimize the impacts of the event: Hollister Avenue to the southern City limit (Whittier Drive), from Cannon Green Drive (including the cul-de-sac streets on the west side of Cannon Green Drive) to Storke Road.

Those in the neighborhoods most affected were sent two parking permits in the mail. If you live in that area and have not received your permits yet, please come to City Hall at 130 Cremona Drive, Suite B, BEFORE noon on Friday, April 5, with proof of address. Vehicles parked on the street without permits will be cited and towed at the owner’s expense. Residents are also encouraged to park in their garages or driveways, where no permit is needed. Residents with valid permits will be able to park on the streets in this area from 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 5th to 7:00 a.m. Saturday, April 6th and 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 6th to 7:00 a.m. Sunday, April 7th. (Should Deltopia move to the following weekend, the restrictions will be in place from 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 12th to 7:00 a.m. Saturday, April 13th and 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 13th to 7:00 a.m. Sunday, April 14th.)

View a map and frequently asked questions at: https://tinyurl.com/goletatempparking.

Award Winning Capital Improvement Projects

The City of Goleta is excited to share that two of our Capital Improvement projects have won Project of the Year Awards from the American Public Works Association (APWA) Central Coast Chapter! The Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan won the 2018-19 Project of the Year in the Special Studies <$2 million category, and the Hollister Avenue Class I Bike Path / Multi-Purpose Safe Route to School project was Project of the Year runner-up in the Transportation $2-5 million category (its third award).

The Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan is the future of biking and walking in Goleta. It aims to expand and improve the pedestrian and bicycle network in the City of Goleta making it easier to walk and bike around town. The BPMP also promotes public health by encouraging people to walk and bike, reduces automobile usage and fuel consumption, and promotes transportation equity. Learn more at https://tinyurl.com/GoletaBPMP.

The Hollister Avenue Class I Bike Path/Multi-Purpose Path is a 14-foot wide concrete path along Hollister Avenue from Pacific Oaks Road to Ellwood Elementary School. It makes travel to and from the school more accessible for students living in the area, and also serves UCSB students, recreational riders and commuters. The path promotes active and sustainable transportation for all. More information is available at https://tinyurl.com/HollisterClassI.

 

We Want to Hear from You on the New Zoning Ordinance

There is still time for you to provide input on the City’s draft of its New Zoning Ordinance (NZO). In January, the City released a draft of the NZO that revises citywide zoning regulations to implement the General Plan, updates development and design standards and permitting procedures, and helps realize the community’s vision for the future – a safe, beautiful, vibrant and livable community with a robust local economy and a sustainable relationship with the environment. Zoning helps define how properties are used, what new buildings look like, and how much development can occur in a community. It protects recreational areas and allows for open spaces in neighborhoods. We have held open houses and workshops to gather feedback from residents. Below is the schedule for our remaining workshops. We hope you will attend. All workshops are at Goleta City Hall Council Chambers (130 Cremona Drive, Suite B).

Remaining Workshops:

  • Monday, April 8, 2019, 6:00 pm
    • Topic: RV Parking, Parking Reductions, Signs, and Lighting
  • Thursday, April 11, 2019, 6:00 pm
    • Topic: Housing, Community Assembly, Mobile Vendors, Accessory Uses, and Energy
  • Thursday, April 18, 2019, 6:00 pm
    • Topic: Remaining Issues and General Feedback
  • Joint City Council / Planning Commission Workshop: Tuesday, May 7, 2019, 6:00 pm
    • Topic: NZO Finalization and Adoption Process

For the latest updates on the New Zoning Ordinance, sign up here or go to www.GoletaZoning.com.

Upcoming Strategic Energy Plan Workshops

Want to learn more about local, resilient renewable energy development potential? The City of Goleta is hosting several opportunities in the month of April for the community to participate in the strategic energy planning process.

The energy planning process and local workshops will help Goleta to develop more renewable energy, reduce its carbon emissions, and explore the best ways to provide clean, reliable, and resilient energy to the community. We need your valuable input to help identify the best strategies to ensure equitable community access to clean energy and its benefits. You can learn more about the city’s strategic energy plan progress on the website here.

Upcoming Meeting:

  • Goleta Energy/Green Issues Standing Committee
    Thursday, April 25, 2019 | 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. (new date!)
    Goleta City Hall (130 Cremona Drive, Suite B), Conference Room 1
    Please join us in reviewing Goleta’s draft Strategic Energy Plan! During this committee meeting we will provide an overview of the contents of the plan and discuss the strategies identified to help Goleta reach its 100% renewable energy goal.

Upcoming Workshops with the County of Santa Barbara and the City of Carpinteria:

  • Agricultural Stakeholders of Santa Barbara County Clean Energy Workshop
    Thursday, April 4, 2019 | 4:30 – 6:30 p.m., following the Ag Advisory Committee
    Buellton Rec Center (301 2nd Street, Buellton)
    This workshop is open to landholders interested in siting renewable energy projects. Grower-shippers looking to add on-site energy and resiliency for packaging and processing facilities are invited to participate. If interested, please RSVP here. 
  • New Funding Opportunity Zones and Clean Energy in Santa Barbara County
    Friday, April 5, 2019 | 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
    Santa Maria Business Development Center (731 S. Lincoln St., Santa Maria)
    This workshop is aimed for both landholders and finance/investment partners, providing an opportunity for networking and information for people looking to offer their sites and people looking to make investments in projects. If interested, please RSVP here.

Now Open! Old Town’s Newest Park

On Saturday, March 30, the City held an opening celebration for the new Jonny D. Wallis Neighborhood Park in Old Town! It was an amazing day with hundreds of residents joining us to try out the new activities available at the park, such as pickleball, bocce ball, Bankshot and the skateboard plaza. The opening celebration also included food, fun and a ribbon cutting with City and State officials. Guests could also learn more about the services offered in Old Town by visiting the non-profit booths that were providing information. Thank you to everyone who came out and helped make this day so special! You can view a video and photos of the event on our Facebook page, and learn more about the park at https://tinyurl.com/oldtownpark.