Daily Archives: April 1, 2022

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.