Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

Applications for the City’s First Community Garden Now Available

Priority Given to City of Goleta Residents for 50 Plots Available at Armitos Park

The City of Goleta is now accepting applications to reserve a garden plot at the soon-to-be completed Armitos Park Community Garden! Located at Armitos Avenue and S. Kellogg Avenue in Old Town there are 50 garden plots available (10 large and 40 small). Priority will be given to City of Goleta residents, and if there are more than 50 applications submitted, plots will be awarded based on a lottery system. Residents must turn in the application packet by Thursday, February 15, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. to be considered. The application, along with rules, regulations, waiver, release form, and code of conduct are available on the City’s website: www.CityofGoleta.org/ArmitosPark. You can also email your completed application to communitygarden@cityofgoleta.org, or mail it to City of Goleta, Attention: Community Garden, 130 Cremona Drive, Goleta CA 93117.

Please note, only one plot will be granted to each applicant during this process. After the initial lottery system for resident priority has been completed, remaining plots will be available on a first come first served basis. The cost for a garden plot is $120/year with a $25 refundable security deposit. The annual rate can be paid in one lump sum, quarterly or monthly installments. Fees are due at the time of application, except for the initial lottery process. For those participating in the lottery, fees will be due within three days of plot confirmation.

The Community Garden is located in the undeveloped area of Armitos park, south of the playground. In addition to the 50 garden plots, there will be a picnic area with a pizza oven, a gathering/education area, tool sheds and more. Construction is expected to be completed in early spring.

The project includes a new playground for 5–12 year-olds, with the addition of swings, sand features and music elements. Once open, the San Jose Creek Multi-Purpose Path adjacent to Jonny D. Wallis Neighborhood Park will extend to Armitos Avenue, connecting the two parks and providing more connectivity throughout Goleta. A Splash Pad is currently under construction at Jonny D. Wallis Neighborhood Park with hopes of opening in time for summer.

For questions related to the project or the application process, please contact JoAnne Plummer, Parks and Recreation Manager at jplummer@cityofgoleta.org or (805) 562-5505.


Raised pollinator garden in the shape of a butterfly at Armitos Park. It will be filled with plants that attract pollinators.


Armitos Park Sign

Show Goleta Businesses Your Love

Shop GoodLandGoodShopping.com

Show our Goleta business your love this Valentine’s Day and beyond. Before buying your loved one a gift online, think local and go to the City’s online business directory, www.GoodLandGoodShopping.com, featuring more than 800 businesses. Check out if the item or service you are looking for is available from a Goleta business and support local instead. From restaurants to the thrift store down the street to a favorite gift shop, Goleta has it all and these local merchants appreciate your loyalty.

Whether a business has one employee or 499, it provides important resources and employment opportunities for local residents. Please help support our local economy. 

And if you are a Goleta business, please go to the website and customize your listing for free (businesses must be located within the City of Goleta and have a business license to be included). The listings include business name, address, phone number, website, and hours but we encourage you to enhance it by adding your logo, social media links, promotions, photo galleries, and more. City staff will review and approve the listing before it is published.

Thanks for shopping local Goleta!

Burglary Prevention Tips

With an increase in burglaries on the South Coast, specifically Hope Ranch, Montecito, Summerland and Carpinteria, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office offers the following suggestions to deter residents from being targeted:

  • Install a Security System: A monitored security system can deter burglars and alert authorities in case of a break-in. Activate alarm systems when leaving the house. Even if you only plan on being away for a brief period.
    • Alarm systems should consist of door sensors, window sensors and glass break sensors for all windows and doors on the first and second stories of the house. Notify your alarm company and Sheriff’s Dispatch at (805)-683-2724 of gate codes that will be needed to access your property and contact information for responsible parties.
    • Replace batteries in alarms and cameras as needed.

  • Security Lighting: Well-lit exteriors make it difficult for burglars to approach unseen. Install motion sensor lights around entrances. Leave indoor lights and/or televisions on during the evening hours to give the appearance the house is occupied.

  • Secure Doors and Windows: Use solid core or metal doors and reinforce windows with security film or laminated glass. Close and lock all windows and doors when leaving the house.

  • Secure Valuables: Keep valuable items out of sight from windows, and consider a home safe for important documents and jewelry. Personal safes have been specifically targeted during these burglaries. Consider permanently securing safes, storing valuables in heavy, well-constructed safes, safe deposit boxes or other secure locations.

  • Get to Know Your Neighbors: Building strong relationships with neighbors can lead to a more vigilant and supportive community. Be a good neighbor and report suspicious vehicles or individuals immediately by calling Sheriff’s Dispatch at (805) 683-2724. Pay particular attention to vehicles that drive slowly up and down residential streets, vehicles parked on a street with the engine on and headlights off, and vehicles parked adjacent to hiking trails during hours that are not consistent with hiking.

By implementing these burglary prevention tips, you can reduce the risk of a break-in and enhance the safety of your home.

The City of Goleta would like to remind Goleta business owners and community members that the City’s Community Resource Deputy (CRD) is available to provide free assessments to Goleta businesses to help deter burglaries. Goleta business owners can book an appointment with CRD Ehren Rauch to receive an onsite inspection and personalized tips. Deputy Rauch will come to your business and provide tips on what the business can do to improve employee safety and prepare against burglaries and robberies in this free assessment. To schedule a free assessment with CRD Rauch, please call (805) 968-3878 or email goletapd@sbsheriff.org.

Verify Your Voter Registration

Deadline to register to vote for Primary Election is February 20, 2024

California voters will vote in March, but now is the time to verify and update your voter registration.

In California, the deadline to register to vote for any election is 15 days before Election Day.

The upcoming Primary Presidential Election is on March 5, 2024, and the deadline to register to vote for this election is February 20, 2024.  

For information on how to register to vote go to https://www.countyofsb.org/1139/Register-to-Vote.

If you miss the 15-day deadline to register to vote, you can register conditionally and vote a ballot at any Polling Place or Elections Office in Santa Barbara County. Please check election specific information for locations and dates. A conditional voter fills out a provisional ballot that is counted once their eligibility is confirmed.

“Voting should not be complicated, and in most instances, is simple,” says Santa Barbara County Registrar of Voters Joe Holland, “The Santa Barbara County Registrar of Voters office is here to help.”

It is easy to register to vote and to verify that your voter registration is valid.  You can apply to register to vote right now by filling out an online application.  A voter must be a citizen of the United States and be at least 18 years of age on election day.  Applications can be found at most post offices and can be returned, postage-free, to the Santa Barbara County Elections Office.  In addition, voters can register online, verify their voter registration, and update their residential and mailing address by visiting www.sbcvote.com or www.registertovote.ca.gov. 

Additional questions can also be answered by calling the Elections office at 800-722-8683.

Poll Workers Needed for March 5 Primary

The County of Santa Barbara Elections Office is looking for civic-minded individuals interested in helping as polling place workers for the Presidential Primary Election on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Volunteers are paid for their service.

To serve as a poll worker, a person must be a registered voter or an eligible high school student. Registering to vote is easy and can be done by visiting SBCVote.com.

Poll workers attend training before Election Day and are prepared to set up and close the polling place, help voters through the voting process, and protect ballots and voting equipment. The election workday begins at approximately 6:00 a.m. and ends at approximately 9:00 p.m.

Being a poll worker is a great way to get involved, help the voting process, and contribute to the community while earning extra money.

Positions are available in Santa Maria, Orcutt, Lompoc, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria, and Montecito.

Put in your application now to be a Community Election Worker or, if you already work for the County, be part of the Santa Barbara County Employee Election Worker Program.

For more information go to SBCVote.com, contact Santa Barbara County Elections at (800) 722-8683 or email poll1@countyofsb.org

Black is Beautiful Gala and Fundraiser on February 23

Celebrate and support the beauty and strength of the Black community at Healing Justice Santa Barbara’s Black is Beautiful Gala and Fundraiser on Friday, February 23 from 6:00 – 11:00 p.m. at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort (633 East Cabrillo Blvd). It will be an unforgettable evening filled with music, art, awards, raffles, and dancing.

Indulge in delicious food and drinks while mingling with like-minded individuals who share a passion for promoting equity and inclusion. The gala aims to raise funds for important initiatives that uplift and empower the Black community.

The program will be hosted by local artist and performer, Vivian Storm, and will include musical performances by a special guest for VIP sponsors, a Gospel Choir, a HBCU Honor Marching Band, a special HBCU Majorette Tribute, a Divine 9 Stroll, the Black Legacy Awards, a raffle giveaway, and HJSB will have the Black/African American Historical Timeline exhibition onsite to view for VIP sponsors.

Since the 1940s the Black/African American community in Santa Barbara has been engaging in organizing and civic leadership. Santa Barbara’s Black community members had a longstanding history of organizing around advocacy, equal opportunity, and safety for the betterment of Black lives.

The key to success and sustainability of the community was their investment in institution building. Organizations like the George Washington Carver Club, which flourished in the 1940s, worked to address educational inequities and raise scholarship money to send African American youth to college. The club held balls and galas frequently to help raise awareness to causes and to gather in community.

The Black is Beautiful Gala and Fundraiser will help raise funds to support Black-led organizations and initiatives to help re-imagine our collective investment in community care. Fundraiser beneficiaries are: Saint Paul AME Church, an historic African American landmark in Santa Barbara, Juneteenth Santa Barbara, the Sojourner Kincaid Rolle Youth Artivism Scholarship in honor of the late and beloved author and scholar, Sojourner Kincaid Rolle, and the Black Community Emergency Needs Fund.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to make a difference and celebrate the beauty of Black culture. Mark your calendars and attend the Black is Beautiful Gala & Fundraiser. Tickets available at: https://bibgala.eventbrite.com.

February Observances

The City of Goleta is highlighting a few important observances happening this month and hope you will join us in recognizing them.

  • Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. The 2024 theme is “African Americans and the Arts” spanning the many impacts Black Americans have had on visual arts, music, cultural movements, and more. Locally in Santa Barbara County, the theme “Black History: More Than A Month” was chosen to celebrate and educate our region on the local and magnanimous achievements of Black/African Americans.  

    The City of Goleta will recognize February as Black History Month with a proclamation at the February 6 City Council Meeting. This is a time for us to honor the contributions and legacy of Black Americans across U.S. history — from activists and civil rights pioneers to leaders in industry, politics, science, and culture.

    To learn more about the rich history of social, political, and cultural contributions made, make sure you check out the Goleta Valley Library‘s in-person adult and children’s displays or online catalog throughout the month of February.

    Community organizations across Santa Barbara County will be offering events both in-person and virtually. For the full calendar of events, please visit: www.JuneteenthSB.org
  • Chinese New Year is the annual 15-day festival in China and Chinese communities around the world that begins with the new moon. 2024 is the Year of the Dragon and starts on February 10, 2024, lasting until January 28, 2025. In Chinese culture, the Dragon holds a significant place as an auspicious and extraordinary creature, unparalleled in talent and excellence.

  • Presidents’ Day falls on Monday, February 19, 2024. Although the holiday is most often called “Presidents’ Day,” the observed federal holiday is officially called “Washington’s Birthday.” Presidents Day is celebrated on the third Monday of February every year and is one of only eleven permanent federal holidays established by Congress.

Thank You, Kristy Schmidt

The City’s former Assistant City Manager is settling in as the new Human Resources Director for the County of Santa Barbara. The Council and staff wanted to make sure she felt appreciated before her last day on December 30 for the positive impact she left on the City. Kristine “Kristy” Schmidt was presented with a City Tile at the December 19, 2023, City Council meeting in appreciation of her dedication, professionalism, and commitment to the City of Goleta during her nearly five years of service.

The Council praised Ms. Schmidt for her “can-do” spirit, enthusiasm, cheerfulness and integrity. Mayor Paula Perotte said, “You always make yourself available and you are so kind and professional. We wish you well and will miss you.”

Upon receiving her City Tile Ms. Schmidt said, “It has been an enormous honor to serve as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Goleta. I have been so lucky to work for two incredible City Managers and with a management team and staff that is dedicated, energized and high performing throughout the organization.” She also addressed and thanked the City Council and said, “I am so impressed with how you bring your attention, intelligence and heart to everything that affects this City. I look forward to seeing what you do next and watching Goleta thrive.”

View the tile presentation on the City website at http://tinyurl.com/36cpx36u (item C.1).

While her list of accomplishments is lengthy, Kristy served the City during a pivotal time in its history. She helped guide City operations through the COVID-19 pandemic and helped replace and transition to a new City Manager, Robert Nisbet, when Michelle Greene retired.

City Manager Robert Nisbet said, “Kristy’s impact on Goleta will be felt for years to come. She chose public service as her life’s work because of the positive impact you can make. It has been refreshing and an honor to work alongside her.”

Prior to working for the City of Goleta, Ms. Schmidt spent 22 years at the City of Santa Barbara. She began as an Administrative Analyst, became Employee Relations Manager and then Director of Administrative Services. She also spent time in human resources and employee relations. Kristy has a Juris Doctorate from the Santa Barbara College of Law and an undergraduate degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Kristy, we are so grateful for all you have done for the City and know you will continue to have a positive impact in this next chapter of your career.

Pictured: Kristy Schmidt (right) receiving her City Tile from Mayor Paula Perotte (left) at the December 19, 2023, City Council meeting

Earthquake Brace & Bolt Grants Available to Homeowners

30 years after the devastating Northridge Earthquake, new retrofit opportunities are available. Thousands of California homeowners are now eligible to apply for Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) seismic retrofit grants as approximately 300 new ZIP Codes have been added to the program. Eligible homeowners in 815 ZIP Codes can apply by February 21, 2024, for $3,000 seismic retrofit grants to help strengthen their homes against earthquake damage. Watch this video to learn more: https://vimeo.com/903441363.

More than $20 million in grant funding will be available to help offset the cost of seismic retrofits that brace the crawl space walls of older homes, when present, and bolt houses to their foundations, making them less vulnerable to earthquake damage. In the ten years since it began, the EBB program has assisted more than 23,000 homeowners in strengthening their homes against earthquake damage. The EBB grant program is administered by the California Residential Mitigation Program (CRMP) a Joint Powers Authority between the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).

Income-eligible homeowners may also qualify for supplemental grants. Up to $7,000 in additional grant funds are available for households with an annual income at or below $87,360, which may be able to provide up to 100% of the funds needed to cover a seismic retrofit. Grants are contingent upon meeting eligibility requirements and available funds.

There are more than 1.2 million houses in California built before 1980 in high-hazard areas that are vulnerable to collapse or destruction by sliding off the foundation during a strong earthquake.

Eligible homeowners can apply for a retrofit grant through February 21, 2024, at EarthquakeBraceBolt.com, where they can also find detailed program information, select a trained, California- licensed general contractor and view the full list of eligible ZIP Codes and program areas. The EBB program added ZIP Codes in new areas including areas in and around Eureka, San Francisco/San Jose/Oakland, Monterey/Salinas, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Palm Springs and San Diego.

About Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB)
Established by the California Residential Mitigation Program, EBB offers up to $3,000 to help California homeowners retrofit their house to reduce potential damage from earthquakes. A residential seismic retrofit makes a house more resistant to earthquake activity, such as ground shaking and soil failure, by bolting the house to its foundation and adding bracing around the perimeter of the crawl space. For more information, including an online media kit, please visit http://www.EarthquakeBrace Bolt.com.

About the California Residential Mitigation Program (CRMP)
CRMP was established in 2011 to help Californians strengthen their homes against damage from earthquakes. CRMP is a joint powers authority created by the California Earthquake Authority and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. For more information, please visit https://www.CaliforniaResidentialMitigationProgram.com/About-CRMP.

#TeamGoleta is Hiring

The City of Goleta is looking to fill a few vacant positions. If you are looking for a rewarding job that gives back to the community, check out the openings below.

  • Community Center Event Monitor/Building Attendant
  • Principal Civil Engineer/Senior Engineer (Engineering)
  • Principal Civil Engineer/Senior Engineer (Traffic Engineering Operations & Maintenance)
  • Supervising Librarian – coming soon

For more information and to apply, go to www.CityofGoleta.org/Jobs. Check back regularly for new listings.