Author Archives: Valerie Kushnerov

Looking to Serve Our Community?

Serving on a City of Goleta board or commission is one way members of the public can volunteer and get involved with their city government. The boards and commissions serve mostly in an advisory capacity to various city government departments and some county agencies. Boards and commission appointments are approved by the City Council.

Planning Commission

The Planning Commission is composed of five registered voters of the City. Each Council Member appoints a planning commission member to serve for the duration of the City Council term (4 years).

Design Review Board

The Design Review Board is composed of seven members appointed by the City Council. Of the seven members, a minimum of four shall be residents of the City. At least two members shall be licensed architects, and at least two members shall be licensed landscape professionals (of which at least one should be a landscape architect). The three at-large members must reside within the City. The members shall be skilled in reading and interpreting design drawings and able to judge the effects of a proposed building, structure, landscaping or sign upon the desirability,property value and development of surrounding areas.

Library Advisory Committee

Candidates must reside within the City of Goleta. Appointments are for one-year terms which run from July 1 to June 30 each year.

Vector Control District Board

Candidates must reside within the City of Goleta and have experience, training and education in fields that will assist in the governance of the District.

The City is currently accepting applications for all boards, commissions and committees. Questions regarding boards and commissions may be directed to the City Clerk’s office by calling (805) 961-7505.

New Lights = Less Energy = Less Money

Goleta will be getting more green lights—just not the kind you drive through. The City received an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant from the US Department of Energy and California Energy Commission through the Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program. The grant will allow the City to retrofit existing intersection safety lighting (the street lights that illuminate the crosswalks) with new high-efficiency LED lighting. While the light emanating from the new light fixtures will look a little different, each of the 84 lights throughout the City will use approximately 55% less energy while still providing the appropriate light output. It is anticipated that installation of the new lights at each of the intersections
will be completed this winter.

In addition, the EECBG grant will facilitate two additional projects in the City. The first includes installation of energy efficiency retrofits (lighting and motion sensors) at City Hall. The second involves the City sharing grant dollars with the Goleta Union School District to install occupancy sensors and retrofit existing EXIT signs with high-efficiency EXIT signs in classrooms throughout the four elementary schools within the City limits. Goleta continues to be green and encourages you to investigate green measures for your home and business.

Grants Make a Difference in Goleta

Once again the City is offering grants for local organizations and groups that provide programs that serve City residents. The goal of this program is to benefit as many residents as possible while supporting a range of community activities. $12,000 will be given out this year in grants of varying amounts. Categories of projects eligible for grants include: Goleta community organizations;cultural activities such as music, art, dance and recreation; Goleta-oriented special events; and regional projects of benefit to Goleta. Applications are now available online and must be turned in by February 16. The Mayor and two appointed community members will evaluate the applications and make recommendations which the City Council will consider at a Council meeting in April. Applications can be picked up at City Hall during business hours or are available on the City’s website at www.CityofGoleta.org.

Improving Traffic Flow in Old Town

The community has long expressed a desire for improved circulation and connectivity for vehicles and bicyclists in Old Town. The existing roadway system has inadequate east-west circulation both north and south of Hollister Avenue. It also lacks direct access into the southern portions of Old Town Goleta and the Santa Barbara Airport. One of the proposed solutions has been the Ekwill-Fowler Road Extensions Project. In fact, this project was even included in the 1998 Old Town Revitalization Plan.

WHAT IS THE EKWILL-FOWLER PROJECT?
This project is a series of transportation improvements designed to relieve regional congestion, improve traffic circulation in Old Town Goleta and improve access to the airport. The existing plans include the construction of two new roadways (Ekwill and Fowler) to connect Ekwill at Fairview over to Kellogg Avenue and to connect Fowler at Fairview to Kellogg Avenue. Both extensions will have one travel lane in each direction, Class II bike lanes and sidewalks.

The project also includes two roundabouts on Hollister Avenue at the Highway 217 intersection to allow traffic to proceed more smoothly at a lower speed. In addition, the roundabout on the west side of the Highway 217 off-ramp will eliminate the forced right-hand turn off of Dearborn and the need for vehicles to make a U-turn at Kellogg Avenue. (Please see our front page article for more on the benefits of roundabouts.)

Other improvements such as landscaping and safety lighting will be added to the new roadways and Hollister in the vicinity of the roundabouts.

The City looks forward to beginning construction on this long-awaited project. The final design will be initiated this spring. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2014 and will take approximately 18 months to complete.

Project Lifesaver

Concerned about a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia wandering away? Did you know that the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office offers a program to help keep people with these conditions safe? More than half of those with these ailments will wander at one time or another and some will become lost, requiring an urgent, well-trained response. Due to their condition, those who are lost may become fearful or may not be able to respond or even assist with being located. If not found quickly, they are at risk of injury or death.

HOW IT WORKS: A family member or caregiver contacts the Sheriff’s Department to enroll. The person is fitted with a unique, lightweight, battery-operated wrist or ankle band which emits a silent radio signal 24 hours/day. The band and battery are maintained and replaced monthly by volunteers or Sheriff’s Department personnel. When a participant is missing, caregivers notify the Sheriff’s Department. A specially trained search team responds using a mobile locator to find the missing person.

COST: The initial cost is $300 for the required batteries and bands with an annual renewal of $125. Thanks to generous donations from individuals and service groups, sponsorships are also available. No one should let cost prevent them from participating.

To get further information enroll, Contact the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department Community Services Office at 681-4136.

Channel 19 is Going Digital

As part of the upgrades to television services, all public access channels in the area, like Goleta TV Channel 19, will become digital access channels.

What does this mean for me? You will still be able to watch Goleta TV on Channel 19 and it will be solely dedicated to the City’s programming. In addition, cable subscribers will be able to access City programming in the “Free Zone” which is COX’s video on-demand service.

Do I need new equipment? You will only need new equipment if you do not have a digital box or clear QAM tuner TV. You can obtain these, at no cost, from COX.

Where can I watch KTLA? Cox is still in negotiations with KTLA. Look for future notices from COX on this issue.

For assistance, contact Sarah Clark,Public Affairs Manager, COX, at 681-3606 or Sarah.Clark@cox.com. She will be able to answer any questions you may have and provide you with a digital box or clear QAM tuner if you don’t have one.

This Is Your Park—What Would You Like to See In It?

A park is coming to Old Town! The four-acre parcel of land near the corner of Hollister and Kellogg Avenues will become the City’s next active recreation area. The City Council is in the process of hiring a design consultant and anticipates initiating additional public meetings in the early spring to gather input from the community. The City Council allocated $375,000 in Park Development Impact Fees for the park’s design, engineering and environmental review. In addition, the City received a $10,000 grant from the Davenport Institute to help with the public engagement effort. They are also waiting to hear back from the State on whether an additional $910,000 will be awarded for construction of the park.

While the City is in the process of gathering input and creating a design, you will see a construction trailer, building materials and equipment on the site. The City is allowing a small portion of the site to be used by the contractor who is building the San Jose Creek Project. Be assured that no work is being done on the site in preparation for the future park.

Tell us what you’d like to see. Basketball courts, a picnic area, a walking trail or a multi-use field? Let us know your ideas.

Look for notices of public workshops on the City’s website or email your input to Claudia Dato, Management Analyst, at cdato@cityofgoleta. org or call 805.961.7554.

Fascinating Facts About Monarch Butterflies

The monarch butterflies are back this year and are adorning the Ellwood Main with their colorful bodies and graceful movements. Since 2007, the City of Goleta has trained docents to enhance the visitor experience at Ellwood Main and lead field trips for school and community groups.

You can find docents at the Ellwood Main viewing platform on weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., November through February.

Did you know?
• Monarch butterflies that migrate to Goleta come from the
western Rocky Mountains.
• The monarchs that spend their winter at Ellwood have never
been to Goleta. They are five generations removed from last
year’s visitors.
• Migrating monarchs can fly at speeds up to 50km/hr.
• Migrating monarchs live up to nine months. Monarchs that
don’t migrate live two to five weeks.
• Monarch caterpillars only eat milkweed. Eating milkweed
makes monarch caterpillars and butterflies poisonous.
• Wild monarchs lay 300-400 eggs in their lifetime.
• Male monarchs have a dot on each of their hind wings.
This is a special sac that helps them attract a mate.
• Ellwood Main Monarch Aggregation Site is one of the largest
overwintering sites in California.

Trailer Talk

Parking detached trailers for more than 24 consecutive hours on a public roadway in Goleta is now prohibited in the City’s Municipal Code. This code section applies to detached trailers, fifth wheels and equipment. Vehicles in violation may receive a citation of $79.50 per violation. Vehicles/trailers left in the same place for 72 consecutive hours are subject to towing.

If you have questions or need more information, please contact Greg Nordyke, Code Enforcement Officer, at 961-7556.

 

Balancing Fire Concerns and Habitat Preservation in the City

Goleta has historically been a community at-risk of wildfire. It is also home to many natural resources, including the Ellwood Mesa, where thousands of monarchs migrate each winter.

In October, the City of Goleta hosted a public workshop to discuss the status of two plans that  address these issues: the Community Wildfire Protection Plan and the Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan. The Community Wildfire Protection Plan was developed alongside the Habitat Management Plan to ensure each plan balances the safety of our community with the desire to preserve our natural resources.

The plan provides guidelines on how to actively manage the areas that are at greatest risk for fire. Once this plan is adopted by the City Council and the City obtains the necessary permits, the City of Goleta will implement the plan beginning with the highest priority areas and continue in order of wildfire risk. Treatment priority is determined by the expected size and behavior of flames in relation to its proximity to structures and natural resources.

The purpose of the Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan is to determine the number of monarchs that spend the winter at the Ellwood Mesa, assess the health of their habitat and develop a plan to maintain and improve the health of identified groves. This plan is scheduled for presentation to the City Council in June 2012.

For more information on these plans, contact Dan Nemechek,Senior Planner, at dnemechek@cityofgoleta.org or call 961-7544.