Author Archives: Valerie Kushnerov

Do You Know the Way to San Jose?

The time has finally come to begin construction on the San Jose Creek Capacity Improvement and Fish Passage Project. It is an important project for the City and is particularly important to those who live and work in Old Town.

In the past, Old Town has experienced flooding when heavy rains have exceeded the capacity of the creek. The widened creek channel—the first part of the project—will be able to handle a 100- year flood event.  In practical terms, a “100-year” storm event has a one in one hundred or 1% chance of happening in any given year.  The current flood channel was only built to withstand a 25-year flood event.

It is important for you to know what the impacts and effects will be during the project. The City is committed to providing regular impact updates.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the San Jose Creek Capacity Improvement Project?

It is a project that will increase the capacity of the San Jose Creek channel to handle a 100-year storm event and will remove a significant portion of Goleta’s Old Town from the flood plain. It will also include a fish passage component to allow endangered steelhead to move upstream.

What exactly will be done?

This project consists of two phases. The first phase is the widening of the existing concrete flood control channel from Hollister Avenue south to the drive-in theater. The second phase will replace the existing Hollister Avenue Bridge over San Jose Creek, widening it to accommodate the channel below. Is it really needed? There is no question as to the necessity of this project for the Old Town area. Living in a flood plain presents a danger and an additional cost for those who live and work within it.

Who is paying for it?

The City of Goleta is footing the majority of the bill with other funds coming from the County of Santa Barbara’s Flood Control. Grants were also received from the Department of Fish and Game, Proposition 84 and the Goleta Valley Land Trust for the fish passage component.

When will the project begin?

Construction will likely begin this fall. Pre-construction meetings are already underway.

How long will it last?

The first phase is expected to take two years. The second phase, the bridge replacement, is expected to take an additional 18-24 months.

What will be different when the project is completed?

The new bridge and channel will be designed to handle a 100-year storm event. With this designation, a significant portion of Goleta’s Old Town will be removed from the flood plain. In addition, steelhead trout will have a means to move up the San Jose Creek.

 

A Future Neighborhood Park for Old Town

Goleta Old Town residents can look forward to new active, recreation space in their neighborhood in the coming years. Earlier this summer the City Council agreed to purchase a four-acre parcel of land near the corner of Hollister and Kellogg Avenues. Over the next six to nine months the City will host workshops for community members and residents to provide input on the types of facilities and recreational activities that should be part of this park. Once this process is completed, a design will move forward for approval and then fundraising will begin.

It has long been a desire of the City to provide additional park space in Old Town to add to the three existing active recreation spaces at Nectarine Park, Armitos Park and the Goleta Valley Community Center. Monies from Park Development Impact Fees and the City’s Redevel opment Agency provided the opportunity the City needed to purchase this land. The City is also pursuing grant funding for this and other open spaces.

Tell us what you’d like to see. 

Soccer fields, a skate park, play equipment, or an obstacle course? Look for notices of public workshops on the City’s website or email your input to Claudia Dato, Management Analyst, City of Goleta, cdato@cityofgoleta.org or call 805.961.7554.

Tips from Our Community Resource Deputy Greg Sorenson

People often ask whether they should file a police report for what may appear to be a non-emergency or a “small thing.” Many believe that because they don’t have any information on a suspect, the person won’t be caught. Or, they don’t think there’s any traceable evidence which would lead to the identification of a suspect. Or, they question whether what happened is even a crime. For example, it might have been something stolen from their car, or vandalism, or they might have been a target of fraud via the telephone or internet. I want to emphasize that if you are a victim of any crime (even if you aren’t sure it is a crime), you should report that incident—no matter how small or seemingly inconsequential.

HERE ARE A FEW REASONS WHY A PERSON SHOULD REPORT A CRIME

First, think globally.

It’s hard for a person who might have had a stereo stolen out of their unlocked car to think about the big picture of what might be happening in and around their neighborhood. But if the crime isn’t reported, law enforcement will not have the statistics of crime-related incidents in your area. This can help with future targeted enforcement, as well as help with identifying crime trends. More importantly, there may be a trend of car burglaries in your area that you are unaware of and reporting your stereo theft may be a missing piece of a puzzle the detectives need to get closer to catching the suspect.

Secondly, don’t assume there’s no traceable evidence to be collected.

A deputy may be able to lift a fingerprint off of an area in the car, such as the dashboard. The print may match a known person who has a history of auto burglaries. Even if the responding deputy cannot find fingerprints, or any other sort of evidence, the information about the item stolen (i.e. make, model, serial number) may help in getting the item recovered in the future. When an arrest is made on another burglary some of the items found in that location do end up being traced back to those mundane theft reports that
were generated months (even years) earlier. In these cases, not only might victims get their items back, they also have the satisfaction of knowing that the person responsible was caught.

Finally, never think you’re “bothering” law enforcement by filing a report.

If you don’t think your crime is important, or if you’re not sure if a crime even occurred, call us anyway. Let a deputy come out and determine if a crime was committed. We are here to serve you and your help is vital in keeping Goleta safe.

All About Our Budget

Just as you might create a budget for your personal finances, the City Council sets a budget that is a complex document with revenues, expenditures and line-item balance sheets. Beyond the spreadsheets, is also a statement of the Council’s goals and priorities for the community in the coming years. This current two-year budget is no exception in that it demonstrates Goleta’s fiscal health and long-term stability, project priorities, levels of service, and Council initiatives.

Below are highlights of some of the many initiatives the two-year budget provides for:
• An earmark of half a million dollars toward additional street maintenance—above usual funding levels;
• An increase in police funding by an additional $785,000 over the next two years (this, unfortunately, still resulted in the reduction of two full-time positions with potentially further reductions in the 2012-2013 budget year due to excessive cost increases);
• Making close to $170,000 of ongoing support commitments to other community organizations, including Girsh Park, the Goleta Valley Historical Society, an afterschool Junior High School program, and the Safe Route to Schools education program;
• $20,000 from Measure A monies for school crossing guards around our elementary schools;
• One-time technology allocations which will provide for the replacement of an obsolete phone system at City Hall, upgraded financial system software, and a permit tracking system to better serve the public;
• The addition of some new personnel in the area of street maintenance, the planning and permitting counter, and the City Attorney’s department to enhance services to our community;
• And notably, over $35 million in various Capital Improvement Projects. As a whole, while the budget was a challenging one for the City Council, involving many difficult decisions, the City continues its history of stable and sound fiscal planning while maximizing services to our community.

To view a complete and comprehensive copy of the City’s adopted budget, go to
www.CityofGoleta.org.

 

Mortgage Assistance Offered Through the New Keep Your Home California Programs

In an effort to aid residents suffering from the current housing crisis, the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) has developed Keep Your Home California. Keep Your Home California is a combination of four programs that help low- or moderate-income California homeowners pay their mortgages and avoid foreclosure, or transition to new housing when foreclosure is unavoidable.

THE PROGRAMS ARE:
Unemployment Mortgage Assistance Program aids unemployed homeowners who are in imminent danger of defaulting on their home loans;

Mortgage Reinstatement Assistance Program helps homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage payments due to a temporary change in household finances;

Principal Reduction Program provides lender-matched funds to reduce the principal owed on a mortgage for homeowners who are facing a serious financial hardship, are at risk of default, and owe significantly more than the home is worth;

Transition Assistance Program promotes community stabilization through financial assistance for Californians can no longer afford their home and need help transitioning to new housing after losing their home through a short sale or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure program.

To be eligible for these programs, homeowners must be experiencing a financial hardship that puts them at risk of default due to changes in household circumstance such as a death in the family, illness, disability, unemployment or loss of income.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE:
The mortgage is the first lien loan. The current, unpaid principal balance does not exceed $729,750. The property is not abandoned, vacant or condemned. The property is owner-occupied, the borrower’s principal residence, and located in California.

For more information, including a list of participating servicers and an eligibility calculator,visit KeepYourHomeCalifornia.com. You can also speak with a Keep Your Home California counselor who will help determine your eligibility by calling 888.954.KEEP(5337).

Well, Well…Well Done!

The City and the State of California (Department of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources) have completed the reconstruction phase of the Ellwood Mesa Well Abandonment Project. This project included reabandonment of three historic oil wells and destruction of five idle water wells and a ground water monitoring well on the Ellwood Mesa/Sperling Preserve.

This beneficial project was initiated to address public safety concerns and to bring the property into compliance with state and local regulations. The City and its contractors will now proceed with implementation of additional native grassland and wetland restoration efforts. This project is another example of good stewardship in Goleta.

Check out the Goleta community video on good stewardship on the City’s website at www.CityofGoleta.org.

Get A Glimpse of Goleta Online

You can now catch a glimpse of Goleta online! Six one-minute videos are now on the City’s website at www.CityofGoleta.org. Click ‘Goleta Video Tour Book’ to watch different segments on life here in the good land.

Good stewardship, tourism and recreation, business, and education are some of the features you can find. Share these tastes of Goleta with locals and with those faraway to show the best of Goleta.

Trash Tutorial: Nine Things to Know

By now, you are enjoying the savings generated by the City’s new solid waste agreement with MarBorg Industries. You should have your new trash, recycling and green waste cans in place.

AS A REMINDER, HERE ARE SOME GUIDELINES ABOUT THE SERVICE:
• Bins should be placed 12 inches apart and away from parked cars or mailboxes.
• Wheels should be against the curb so the lid opens facing the street.
• Containers should be placed on the curb no sooner than 24 hours before they are serviced and should be removed from the curbside within 12 hours after they have been serviced.
• Batteries are now collected as well. To recycle your batteries, tape the ends of each battery with electrical, masking, or duct tape so that the battery poles are not exposed. Put batteries in a zip-top plastic bag. Place the bag on top of (not inside) your recycling container on your recycling collection day.
• Sharps containers are provided at no cost and can be delivered to your home by calling MarBorg at 963-1852. When you request this container, additional information regarding our sharps collection program will be provided.
• Unlimited green waste collection is available at no cost. Need another bin? Call MarBorg at 963-1852.
• Unlimited collection of electronic waste and large household appliances (also known as “white goods”) such as a water heater or dishwasher is also available by calling MarBorg.
• Free bulky item pick up is available twice/year by calling MarBorg.
• Antifreeze, batteries, oil, paint (ABOP) and other household hazardous water (including e-waste) can be dropped off at the MarBorg recycling facility at 20 David Love Place in Goleta. Hours: Mon – Fri, 9 am – 4pm and Sat from 9:15 am – 4 pm.

Watch and Learn
A short video on the automated trash pickup service is available online at www.marborg.com/video.html. Of course, the staff at MarBorg is also available to answer any questions. Call 963-1852 or visit their website at www.marborg.com.

Turn Your Old Trash (Can) Into A Treasure

Should you decide not to recycle your old trash can, consider using your old wheeled trash container as your rolling emergency kit. After a major disaster, the usual services, such as running water, refrigeration, and telephones, may be unavailable. Experts recommend that you should be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least three days. Store your household disaster kit in an easily accessible location. Put contents in a large, watertight container (e.g. a large plastic garbage can with a lid and wheels) that you can move easily.

YOUR BASIC EMERGENCY KIT SHOULD INCLUDE:
• Water – one gallon per person per day
• Food – ready to eat or requiring minimal water
• Manual can opener and other cooking supplies
• Plates, utensils and other feeding supplies
• First aid kit and instructions
• A copy of important documents and phone numbers
• Warm clothes and rain gear for each family member
• Heavy work gloves
• Disposable camera
• Unscented liquid household bleach and an eyedropper for water purification
• Personal hygiene items, including toilet paper, feminine supplies, hand sanitizer and soap
• Plastic sheeting, duct tape, and utility knife for covering broken windows
• Tools such as a crowbar, hammer and nails, staple gun, adjustable wrench, and bungee cords
• Blanket or sleeping bag
• Large heavy duty plastic bags and a plastic bucket for waste and sanitation
• Any special needs items for children, seniors or people with disabilities. Don’t forget water and supplies for your pets.

More information on becoming prepared can be found at
www.GoletaPrepareNow.org.

 

Celebrating a Better Link for West Goleta

The community celebrated the new overcrossing connecting Cathedral Oaks and Hollister Avenue earlier this summer. The new bridge replaced an old overcrossing which was constructed from reactive aggregate and identified by Caltrans as a bridge that needed to be replaced.

About 70 local residents and representatives from other public agencies participated in the completion celebration for this important public project. Resident Tim Gaausch drove the Mayor in his 1967 Ford Shelby Cobra AC and led the crowd in an inaugural walk/bike/rollerblade across the bridge. The old bridge was quickly demolished in the week immediately following the opening and landscape area plans are in the works.