Daily Archives: March 4, 2025

Spring into Action with Beautify Goleta Saturday, March 8

Thank You to Participants of Beautify Goleta’s February Self-Guided Cleanup Month

Looking for a fun way to spend your Saturday morning? Join us for our next Beautify Goleta event THIS Saturday, March 8 in Old Town. Be part of the Volunteer Cleanup and/or get rid of unwanted items with the FREE Bulky Item Drop-Off – details below:

  • Volunteer Cleanup – Join us from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. as we meet at Community West Bank in Old Town Goleta (5827 Hollister Avenue) to help clean up the surrounding area. Tools and equipment will be provided. Close toe shoes, sunscreen, and hats are recommended. The Spotlight Captains are Community West Bank and the Goleta Rotary Club.

  • FREE Bulky Item Drop-Off – From 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., community members can dispose of large unwanted items at the Goleta Community Center located at 5679 Hollister Avenue. No electronics or hazardous materials will be accepted; No drop-offs before or after the event hours will be accepted. Staff reserve the right to close the event early if capacity is reached before 1:00 p.m.

Drumroll please! Beautify Goleta is pleased to announce the results of our Self-Guided Cleanup Month which took place throughout February. Sixteen volunteers successfully completed 15 cleanups, removing an impressive 425 pounds of trash from Goleta’s streets, parks, beaches, and open spaces. Stay tuned for the winners which will be announced soon on the City’s social media channels (@cityofgoleta)! A huge thank you to everyone who participated in keeping Goleta clean and beautiful!

Helping Beautify Goleta is a great way to make a positive impact in your community. For more details or to sign up, visit www.cityofgoleta.org/BeautifyGoleta or email EnvironmentalServices@cityofgoleta.org

Mark your calendars for upcoming Beautify Goleta dates:

  • April 19, 2025: “Earth Day”
  • July 19, 2025: “Plastic Free July”
  • September 20, 2025: “Coastal Cleanup Day”

Together, let’s keep Goleta clean and beautiful!

 

FoodBank Sharehouse Grand Opening in Goleta

A new chapter begins for food security in Santa Barbara County and the City of Goleta gets a front row seat! On Saturday, March 1, the Santa Barbara County Foodbank held a ribbon cutting for its new South County Sharehouse (82 Coromar Dr), as part of “Sharehouse Community Day.”

The new 57,600-square-foot Sharehouse in Goleta is five times larger than the previous facility, providing the capacity to store over 1 million pounds of staple food commodities. This expansion allows for more efficient food distribution and dramatically reduces unloading times—from 1.5 hours to just 15 minutes. The enhanced storage capabilities also ensure that the Foodbank can better respond to emergencies, with increased reserves of food ready to be distributed in times of crisis.

Over 400 community members attended the festive event filled with engaging activities, food trucks, interactive family-friendly entertainment, educational booths, and giveaways. Attendees also enjoyed tours of the new facility, fresh smoothies from the blender bikes, face painting, bingo, and more. The highlight of the day was the ribbon cutting ceremony where Mayor Pro Tem Stuart Kasdin and District 2 Councilmember James Kyriaco joined a host of special guests including Senator Monique Limón, Congressman Salud Carbajal, Supervisor Laura Capps, California State Assemblymember Gregg Hart, Foodbank CEO Erik Talkin, and many others for the memorable occasion.

Food insecurity remains a critical issue in Santa Barbara County, where 1 in 3 residents relies on the Foodbank for assistance, and 38% of the individuals we serve are children. The county also has one of the highest poverty rates in California, and rising food costs have made access to nutritious meals even more challenging for vulnerable families. The new Sharehouse will help address these challenges by increasing food storage capacity, streamlining distribution, and enhancing disaster preparedness efforts.

The City of Goleta congratulates the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County on this historic milestone in the region’s fight against food insecurity. Every donation, volunteer hour, and partnership helps the Foodbank ensure no one in Santa Barbara County goes hungry. For more information, including tours of the Sharehouse and ways to get involved, please visit www.FoodbankSBC.org or contact the Foodbank at (805) 967-5741.


Ribbon cutting at the Sharehouse


Group in front of the Sharehouse banner


Councilmember James Kyriaco (District 2) speaking at the event

 

Congrats to the GVGSA 2024 All-Star Thunder Team

What a spectacular Opening Day for the Goleta Valley Girls Softball Association (GVGSA)! The 2025 season kicked off on Saturday, March 1 with a special visit from Councilmember Jennifer Smith (District 3) who was in attendance to present the All-Star 2024 Goleta Thunder 12U Softball team with Certificates of Recognition for placing second in the 2024 Western National Championship in Salem, OR!

The Thunder, representing GVGSA, finished with a 30-14 summer record, including three tournament victories and second place overall in a tournament with the top 32 teams in the Western United States. A big congratulations to the 2024 All-Star Thunder, a remarkable group of players!

Players on the team are: Evie Bechler, Olivia Carleton, Reagan Cram, Cecily Benes, Karina Huie, Arina Baltadano, Bailey Conway, Sophia Munoz, Cami Weiss, Kylie Buben, Lucy Hendrick and Jasmine Rollman. The team is coached by Eric Buben, Julie Weiss, Chris Huie, Devany Bechler and Dan Carleton.

We wish all the talented softball players and dedicated coaches who are a part of GVGSA a fantastic 2025 season! We also want to thank all the wonderful volunteers, parents, and supporters that work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that our Goleta youth have the best experience possible each year.

From the City of Goleta, we wish GVGSA another electric season filled with passion, teamwork, and the joy of softball. Let’s hit it out of the park!


Thunder team at the Western National Championship

Above: Thunder Team at Opening Day with their Certificates of Recognition; also pictured: team coaches and Councilmember Jennifer Smith (District 3)

Apply for Two Vacancies on City Commissions by March 18

New Opportunity for Public Tree Advisory Commission; Still time to apply for Parks and Recreation Commission

The City of Goleta is looking to fill a vacancy on both the Public Tree Advisory Commission and the Parks & Recreation Commission. If you have an affinity for trees and the outdoors and are interested in issues related to Urban Forestry or parks and recreation, we encourage you to apply. Applications can be submitted online here through Tuesday, March 18 at 5:00 p.m. This is a great way to give back and get more involved with your community.

The Public Tree Advisory Commission provides advice to staff and the City Council on matters related to the Goleta Urban Forest. Urban forests encompass the trees and shrubs in an urban area, including trees in yards, along streets and corridors, in watersheds, and more. Urban forests are important because they are the trees right outside our doors providing air, shade, and beauty. The Public Tree Advisory Commission also hears appeals and decisions on the planting and removal of public trees.

The Public Tree Advisory Commission holds four regular meetings per year and may hold additional meetings as needed. Members are compensated $75 per meeting. There is one vacancy, eligible applicants are not required to reside within City limits.

The Parks and Recreation Commission consists of seven members that advise the City Council on issues related to parks and recreational opportunities in Goleta. This includes public parks, open spaces, beaches, and indoor and outdoor recreational facilities and opportunities in Goleta.

The Commission holds six regular meetings per year and may hold additional meetings as needed. Members are compensated $75 per meeting. Eligible applicants must live in the City of Goleta.

Apply online by 5:00 p.m. on March 18 at www.CityofGoleta.org/BoardsCommissions. Thank you for considering this important role in your community. For additional information, please email cityclerkgroup@cityofgoleta.org.

Welcome New Commission and Board Members

The City of Goleta is excited to welcome four new Commissioners who have joined the Planning Commission, Public Engagement Commission and Design Review Board.

Thank you to everyone who applied and congratulations to those selected! Here is a little background on each of them and what drew them to get involved.

Planning Commission

Cary Penniman was appointed to the Planning Commission to fill an unexpired portion of a term ending February 1, 2027. Born and raised in Goleta, Cary believes effective government relies on resident participation. Cary’s goal is to make informed decisions that serve our community.

Cary brings over a decade of experience in land use issues and has presented before various governing bodies including the California Coastal Commission, Goleta City Council, Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, and LAFCO. Additionally, Cary actively participated in the creation of the initial General Plan and Local Coastal Program (LCP).

Rita Serotkin was appointed to the Planning Commission with a term ending February 1, 2029. Rita is a 10-year resident of the City, and has served on numerous community and professional boards, commissions, and committees. Rita has been following the City’s developments and is passionate about infrastructure, roads, and how other city interests interact with the need for new housing.

Rita brings a diverse and rich background in education, administration, and community engagement. Rita has a BA in History from Douglass College, an MA in Higher & Adult Education from Columbia University, and an EdD in Higher Education Administration from Widener University. Rita is excited to bring her skills in planning and development, marketing, public relations, writing, and research to the Planning Commission. 

Public Engagement Commission

Gareth Kelly was appointed to the Public Engagement Commission to fill an unexpired portion of a term ending November 1, 2027. Gareth has spent nearly two decades working as a self-employed entrepreneur and filmmaker and aims to provide a unique take to the City in the hopes of moving Goleta forward with its goals while also strengthening and developing community engagement.

Gareth is a member of the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, an alumnus of the City of San Luis Obispo Leadership program, a volunteer and former player for the Santa Barbara Grunion Rugby Club, active in local non-profits, and is a 2024 graduate of the City’s LEAD Goleta Community Academy.

Design Review Board

Tamesha Schumacher was appointed to the Design Review Board as an At-Large Member for a term ending February 1, 2028. Tamesha has over 25 years of experience in leadership roles working in procurement for capital projects, hiring landscape architects, and interior design firms. Her goal is to guide the City toward a cohesive feel that is sensitive to the beautiful natural surroundings of Goleta.

Tamesha has a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and a Master of Business Administration from Mount St. Mary’s University. Her design philosophy is that work should be done on a human scale, where it is accessible and respectful of the environment where it stands to create a Goleta that is welcoming and considerate of user’s physical abilities. She is also a graduate of the City’s most recent LEAD Goleta Community Academy (January/February 2025).

Stay tuned for more opportunities to get involved with the City. Open Board and Commission vacancies can be found on the City website when available: www.CityofGoleta.org/BoardsCommisions. While there are none at this time, check back regularly.

34 Graduates Complete 2025 LEAD Goleta

Watch Highlight Reel of Community Academy

Congratulations to the 34 participants who graduated from the LEAD Goleta Bilingual Community Academy on February 20, 2025. This is the largest class to graduate in the program’s 5-year history and the third bilingual class with Spanish interpretation and translated materials. Former LEAD Goleta graduates, family and friends of the current class, City staff and the entire Goleta City Council gathered at the Goleta Community Center to applaud the group as each walked across the stage and received a Certificate of Completion and a City of Goleta pin. An ice cream social and sparkling apple cider toast followed the ceremony. Watch a video recap of the program here.

Mayor Perotte who had the honor of pinning each of the graduates said, “This is one of my favorite evenings. I really love coming here and seeing and thanking all of you. I hope you will take what you learned and tell your family and friends, but mostly, I hope you had a good time and know that we [Goleta City Council] are accessible. It’s really important to us that we hear from you.”

LEAD, which stands for Learn, Empower, Advocate and Discuss, is an award-winning bilingual six-week class that gives participants an up-close look at local government and in particular how the City of Goleta operates. This year, due to the rainstorm on February 13, 2025, the class ended up being five weeks long with a combined final class which took place prior to the graduation. The enthusiastic and attentive group from all walks of life received a lot of information during the course of the Academy but all expressed on the final day that they were glad they took the initiative and signed up for the eye-opening experience.

Terrie Bovaird said, “My sincere thanks to the organizers and presenters at the 2025 Goleta LEAD Academy. I truly appreciated the opportunity to learn through this valuable and educational program. I will use what I learned and the reference materials provided for many years to come.”

David Rachford said, “LEAD Goleta is a great program to introduce you to civic leadership in Goleta the Goodland. It was an opportunity to learn about City programs, issues and challenges, and celebrate the successes with the amazing team that makes things happen. I now feel more connected to our community, and I’ve lived here for 26 years.”

In addition to staff presentations from various departments, participants also toured the Goleta Valley Library, watched a Sheriff’s K-9 presentation, received a tutorial on how to pack a Go Bag in case of an emergency, and also participated in a Mock City Council Meeting. 

Community Relations Manager Kelly Hoover said, “We will never forget this dynamic class. They were hungry for information, asked great questions throughout and no matter the complexity of the subject matter, they were on the edge of their seats, engaged the entire time. It is impressive that each of them made sacrifices in their personal lives to attend this class week after week. It says a lot about each and every one of them as people. We hope they will stay connected with the City and each other as a result of this bonding experience. Hats off to my Community Relations colleagues Jaime Shaw and Marcos Martinez who went over and beyond to make this an exceptional learning experience for everyone involved.”

We also want to express our heartfelt appreciation to our Spanish interpreters Viviana Marsano, Hugo Santos, and Regina Santos.

If you are interested in signing up for a future LEAD Goleta class, please email jshaw@cityofgoleta.org to be notified when applications are available.

Photos from the LEAD Goleta Bilingual Community Academy


LEAD Goleta graduates with City Council


Mock City Council meeting participants with City Clerk staff


Goleta Police & K-9 (pictured left-to-right: K-9 Team Deputy James Carovano and Obi, Community Resource Deputy Connor Worden and Sgt. Noel Rivas)


Spanish Interpreters (pictured left-to-right: Hugo Santos, Viviana Marsano, and Regina Santos)


City Manager and Assistant City Manager Presenting

Pictured above: LEAD graduates with their certificates: Boris Grodzovsky (top left), Luz Murillo-Reyes (top right), Caroline Rind (bottom right) and Hansen Huang (bottom left)