Daily Archives: December 13, 2022

Utility Work for the Ekwill Street & Fowler Road Extensions and Hollister Avenue Bridge Projects to Begin

The City of Goleta is excited to finally be getting closer to delivering projects that have been in the planning development stage for many years. The Ekwill Street & Fowler Road Extensions and Hollister Avenue Bridge Relocation Projects when completed will provide new east west access across Goleta Old Town, two roundabouts on Hollister Avenue at the interchange with State Route 217, and complete flood control capacity and fish-passage improvements in the San Jose Creek Channel.

In preparation of the multi-faceted project, Goleta Water District will begin utility relocation work to move facilities that are in conflict with the future City capital improvement projects. Construction work is scheduled to begin the second week of January and continue through the end of March 2023. Work will take place on S. Fairview Avenue, the future Ekwill Street, South Street (future Fowler Road), School Bus Lane, Hollister Avenue and Dearborn Place. There will be traffic impacts on Hollister Avenue between State Route 217 and S. Kellogg Avenue for approximately four weeks beginning January 9, 2023. Alternating eastbound and westbound lane closures will be necessary to facilitate the relocation work. Construction work will take place between 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Motorists are reminded to please drive cautiously through the work zones and are encouraged to use alternate routes if possible.

Learn more about these projects on the City website. For the Ekwill Street and Fowler Road Extensions Project click here, and for the Hollister Avenue Bridge Project click here. For questions on the upcoming utility work, please contact Tierra Contracting Inc. at 805-964-8747.


Relocation Map

GoodLandGoodShopping Spotlight Series and Prize Drawing

The holiday shopping season is in full swing, and our #GoodLandGoodShopping program is continuing to highlight an assortment of local businesses from all around the Goodland.

To promote www.GoodLandGoodShopping.com businesses, the City is highlighting each of our GoodLandGoodShopping vendors on our social media sites (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) through the holiday season. Each spotlight will include a great holiday gift idea from that business.

From restaurant to spas, markets and bazaars, there are plenty of options to choose from for your holiday shopping needs! As an incentive to visit the diverse group of merchants featured on the site, if you register to have an account on GoodLandGoodShopping.com by December 31st you will automatically be entered to win a $100 gift card to a #GoodlandGoodShopping vendor of your choice.

Time is running out for holiday shoppers to find gift ideas and holiday goodies. You can never go wrong by shopping local. Browse local business and services in the Goleta area here and have personalized gift cards emailed or texted to recipients from several dozen stores, services, and professional practices.

If you are a Goleta business and haven’t signed up to be a part of GoodLandGoodShopping.com, it’s not too late. All you need to do is go to https://www.goodlandgoodshopping.com/signup and follow the simple steps.

Remember, small businesses are the fabric of our community and when they thrive, we all thrive. For every dollar spent on local businesses, approximately 67 cents stay in the local community.

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. And remember to follow us on social media (@cityofgoleta) for holiday gift ideas!

What Do You Want to See at the GCC?

Take a Survey to Share Your Vision on the Future of the Goleta Community Center

The City of Goleta needs your help to decide the future of our beloved and historic Goleta Community Center. This almost one hundred-year-old building located in the heart of Old Town at 5679 Hollister Avenue has been a long-standing and important gathering spot in our city. While it goes through renovations, the City is coming up with a plan to make it a center that truly serves the interests of our vibrant community. Please take a moment and complete a brief anonymous survey in English or Spanish by January 13th and let us know what types of programs, services and events you would like to see at the GCC. Here is a video in English and Spanish announcing the release of the survey.

The City of Goleta is committed to restoring and preserving this important resource and will soon be embarking on a critical renovation project which includes much-needed seismic and accessibility improvements. While construction is underway, the City will be working on a vision and a strategic plan for the future of the GCC, which will include input from community members and stakeholders on how to better utilize the facility and make it a more inviting gathering place in the future.

For more information on the Goleta Community Center, please visit www.CityofGoleta.org/GCC.

Background:
The City of Goleta acquired the Community Center in 2013. The building once served as the Goleta Union elementary school, but the school was closed in 1976 because it did not meet minimum seismic requirements for a school. For the next several decades it was run by a non-profit organization known as the Goleta Valley Community Center. The City of Goleta will assume management of the Goleta Community Center (GCC) on January 1, 2023.

Give Back to Goleta in 2023 by Serving on a Board or Commission

Submit Your Application by January 6, 2023

Looking for a way to give back to Goleta in 2023? NOW is the time to apply to serve on a City of Goleta Board or Commission. The City has vacancies on the Design Review Board, Library Advisory Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning Commission, and Public Tree Advisory Commission. It’s a great way to use your talent and time to make a difference and help shape the future of Goleta.

Here is what the positions entail:

The Design Review Board (DRB) is a seven-member body that encourages development that uses the best professional design practices to enhance the visual aesthetics of the community and prevent poor quality of design. There are three (3) vacancies, one (1) for a Licensed Landscape Professional, one (1) for a Licensed Architect, and one (1) for an Alternate. Members are appointed to a 3-year term. The DRB meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 3:00 p.m., and members are compensated $50 per meeting.

The Library Advisory Commission is a five-member body that aims to increase citizen participation in library issues by analyzing the library’s needs, considering goals, anticipating future needs and problems, acting as a liaison, and helping to develop consensus for advisement to the Goleta Library Board of Trustees. There is one (1) vacancy for a Commissioner in the Unincorporated Library Area; members are appointed to a 3-year term. Eligible applicants must live in the Unincorporated Service Area of the Goleta Valley. Meetings are held the first Monday of the month, and members are compensated $50 per meeting.

The Parks and Recreation Commission advises the City Council on all issues related to parks and recreational opportunities in Goleta, including the acquisition, development, maintenance, and improvement of the City’s public parks, recreational services, and open spaces. This seven-member body has three (3) vacancies. Commissioners are appointed to a 4-year term. Eligible applicants must live in the City of Goleta. The Commission holds six regular meetings and may hold additional meetings as needed; members are compensated $50 per meeting.

The Public Tree Advisory Commission 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. There are three (3) vacancies on this five-member body. Each Commissioner serves a 4-year term. Eligible applicants must live in the City of Goleta. The Commission holds six regular meetings and may hold additional meetings as needed; members are compensated $50 per meeting.

The Planning Commission acts as a decision-making body on land use issues for the City and consists of five members who each serve a 4-year term. Their role is to review and take appropriate action on discretionary development applications and to make recommendations to the City Council regarding any proposed legislative actions, including the General Plan and its implementation, as required by law. There are two (2) vacancies. This Commission meets the second and fourth Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m., members are compensated $100 per meeting.

Applications for all open Board and Commission vacancies may be submitted online at https://www.cityofgoleta.org/boardscommissions. Applications are due by January 6, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. Thank you for considering this important role in your community. For additional information, please email cityclerkgroup@cityofgoleta.org