Join Us Dec. 17 for Last Council Meeting of the Year

December 12, 2024

Thank Councilmember Kyle Richards and Welcome Jennifer Smith to the City Council

Update: To read about what happened at the meeting click here.

We hope you will join us for the last Goleta City Council meeting of the year this Tuesday, December 17, at 5:30 p.m. (closed session begins at 4:45 p.m.) It will be a sentimental evening as it is also Councilmember Kyle Richards’ last Council meeting. We hope you will join us to show your appreciation for his 11 years of service to the City and the great impact he has made during his time here. At the meeting, Councilmember Richards will be presented with an Award of Appreciation, and you will have the opportunity to thank him in person or via Zoom. You can also submit your comments in advance of the meeting. See participation instructions below. For those who come in person, we will enjoy celebratory cupcakes, sparkling apple cider, and photo opportunities.

Councilmember Richards was on the City’s first Parks and Recreation Commission in 2013 and was first elected to the Goleta City Council in 2016. He was re-elected in 2020 and served as Mayor Pro Tempore in 2019, 2020 and 2023. Councilmember Richards has lived in Goleta since 2008 and has worked at UCSB since 1997. While his career in public service has ended at the City, his next chapter includes serving as a new Trustee on the Santa Barbara City College Board of Directors.

In addition to appreciating Councilmember Richards, the last Council meeting of the year also includes the certification of election results and the Oath of Office given to Mayor Paula Perotte who was re-elected and two Councilmembers. Councilmember Stuart Kasdin, currently at an-large Councilmember, was elected to represent District 4. Jennifer Smith is Goleta’s newest City Councilmember; she was elected to represent District 3.

Following will be the selection of a Mayor Pro Tempore from among the members of the City Council.

Another special element of the night is the presentation of City Logo Tiles to three long-time employees who are retiring:

Karen Corcoran – Human Resources Analyst (20 years)
Carey McKinnon – Solvang Supervising Librarian (25 years)
Cheryle Pearson – Goleta Valley Library (22 years)

There is so much to celebrate at this final meeting of the year, and we hope you will join us!

For the complete December 17, 2024, City Council agenda and how to participate, go to: https://tinyurl.com/2rra9b9v.

#GoodLandGoodShopping Social Media Spotlights

December 12, 2024

Go to City’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for Weekday Posts

Make sure to shop Goleta this holiday season with GoodLandGoodShopping.com. To promote our local businesses, we are featuring one each weekday through the new year on our social media channels (@cityofgoleta). It’s a great way to get ideas for your holiday shopping and beyond. To see your business or a business you love on our Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) pages, send an email to PIO@CityofGoleta.org.

GoodLandGoodShopping.com is an online business directory with over 900 businesses listed, ranging from boutique stores and family-owned restaurants to professional services and apparel. This free resource includes a map view to see where each business is located, a search feature, and filter options to easily find what you are looking for. Watch our video promo in English or Spanish to find out more.

Businesses located within the City of Goleta with a business license, are automatically included in the GoodLandGoodShopping.com directory. However, we encourage you to take a moment and customize your free listing to gain more exposure. You can add your logo, social media links, promotions, photo galleries, and more. City staff will review and approve the listing before it is published. View a short tutorial on how to edit your business or add your business.

Thank you for shopping Goleta and supporting our local economy!

Lights, Camera, Stroll Wrap-Up

December 12, 2024

We hope you have been enjoying the holiday lights in Old Town. More than 200 community members gathered to see them go on for the first time on November 7th. The LIGHTS, CAMERA, STROLL event was held to welcome the lights to Old Town and kick off the GoodLandGoodShopping season.

If you didn’t make it to the event, don’t worry we have a video recap of the fun-filled evening and a photo gallery. Watch our short video here and view the photo album here.

In her first speech since being newly re-elected, Mayor Paula Perotte said, “The holiday season is a time of joy, wonder and expectation and we are all so glad you are here to be part of this magical memory. It’s also only fitting that the group that has put on our beloved holiday parade for many years is also largely responsible for bringing these beautiful lights to Old Town for all of us to enjoy all season long as we drive down Hollister Avenue.”

The Greater Goleta Santa Barbara Lions Club secured $30,000 in funding and donated the lights, garland and parade banners to the City to bring joy to the community for years to come.

Ed Holdren who has been a member of the Lions Club for 38 years, and is the Old Town Goleta Holiday Parade Coordinator, said it would not have been possible without the generous support from the Goleta Valley Community Center (GVCC) Organization. He said, “The lights are going to be a positive addition to the Old Town Goleta holiday spirit.” Ed also had everyone put their hands together for the Greater Goleta Santa Barbara Lions Club for the 80 years they have been supporting different endeavors in Goleta.

Attendees danced the night away to the beats played by award-winning DJ Darla Bea and enjoyed photos with Mr. and Mrs. Claus who traveled all the way from the North Pole for the historic event. Photo booth gallery available here.

2nd District Councilmember James Kyriaco officially kicked off the GoodLandGoodShopping season and encouraged attendees to stroll down Hollister Avenue, enjoy the lights and visit Old Town businesses. He said, “Old Town is everyone’s downtown and so many of our local Goleta downtown businesses wanted to be part of this special moment for our City. Thank you for being here, now let’s go take a stroll!”

A map of 17 business participating in the stroll with special offerings was handed out. Thank you to everyone who participated. View a list of the participating businesses here. An easy way to shop Goleta this holiday season is to visit the City’s online business directory GoodLandGoodShopping.com.

Shop EveryTown, who tabled at the event, provides another easy way to make shopping local easy. Download the free app and learn about reward and challenges to support local businesses.

A special thanks to the Lions Club members for handing out cookies and hot cocoa courtesy of Holdren’s Steak and Seafood.

Happy holidays!

New holiday lights on Hollister Avenue

Group photo from left-to-right: Kelly Hoover, City of Goleta Community Relations Manager, Ed Holdren with the Lions Club, Councilmember James Kyriaco (District 2), Mayor Pro Tempore Luz Reyes-Martín (District 1), Mayor Paula Perotte, Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, DJ Darla Bea, Councilmember Kyle Richards, and SB County 3^rd District Supervisor Joan Hartmann

Photo booth – reindeer

Photo booth – family

Holiday Stroll – SB Gift Baskets

Another Spectacular Old Town Goleta Holiday Parade

December 12, 2024

Window Decorating Contest Winners Announced

Congratulations to the Greater Goleta Santa Barbara Lions Club for putting on another memorable Goleta Old Town Holiday Parade! It took approximately 100 volunteers and a total of more than 1,000 volunteer hours to pull off this well-attended and festive event that took place Saturday night, December 7th. Thousands of people lined Hollister Avenue on this beautiful evening with new holiday lights lining the parade route. The spectators were entertained by more than 80 parade entries and 1,700 participants. Some of the highlights included an18-foot Snowman and an appearance by Santa.

The Earl Marion Hill, Jr. Family was honored as the parade grand marshals, celebrating their roots in the Goleta Valley that go back to 1874 when George Washington Hill settled here. The City of Goleta was pleased to participate once again this year. Check out this video clip.

Thank you to Kevin Haeberle from the Community Hot Rod Project who helped locate and organize the vintage cars for elected officials in the parade. The drivers and their cars included:

Efrem Reynozo with a 1957 Silver Chevy Bel Air driving Mayor Perotte
Kevin Haeberle with a 1938 Ford Deluxe Convertible (Milpas Motors) driving Mayor Pro Tempore Luz Reyes-Martín
Wally Schelvis with a 1988 Burgundy Oldsmobile Delta driving Councilmember Stuart Kasdin
David Guzik with a 1964 Light Blue Ford Falcon driving Councilmember Kyle Richards
Kay Lee Ahnemann with a 1995 Silver Pontiac Firebird Trans Am driving Councilmember James Kyriaco
John Sween with a 1987 Mercedes Benz 560 SL (Milpas Motors) driving Assemblymember Gregg Hart
John Finseth with a 1967 Chevy Corvette driving Santa Barbara County 3rd District Supervisor Joan Hartmann

Congrats also to the winners of our 2nd Annual Window Decorating Contest.

First Place: Larry’s 8 Day Auto Parts
Honorable Mention: Hollister Barbershop
Honorable Mention: Goleta Bakery
People’s Choice Award: The Edge Salon & Barbershop
People’s Choice Runner-Up: Lazy Eye Shop

Winners will receive a free car wash thanks to Fuel Depot.

See for yourself photos of the participating businesses online here. Or you can head over to Hollister Avenue in Old Town from Orange to Kinman and see them for yourself. The displays will be up throughout the rest of the holiday season.

We can’t wait for next year. Mark your calendar! The next Old Town Goleta Holiday Parade is on December 6, 2025.

City Council, City staff and volunteers holding the Happy Holidays banner