Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

Peoples’ Self-Help Housing Celebrates 50th Birthday

The Goleta City Council issued a proclamation congratulating Peoples’ Self-Help Housing for 50 years of successfully building affordable housing and for the support of our citizens in Santa Barbara County.

Mayor Paula Perotte said, “I believe this organization is one of our community’s best nonprofits. As just one example of their work, we recently partnered with them to create 70 affordable housing units at the Village at Los Carneros.”

Peoples’ Self-Help Housing (PSHH) was incorporated on August 6, 1970, and since that time has been serving working families, veterans, seniors, agricultural workers and special needs groups by providing affordable housing with site-based services that offer opportunities to change lives and strengthen communities on California’s central coast.

For the past fifty years, PSHH has developed more than 1,900 affordable rental units throughout San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties and through compassionate property management of those neighborhoods brought safety, security and stability to all those who live there. Through their self-help program, PSHH has supported nearly 1,250 owner builders across the region who have worked together and used their ‘sweat equity’ to build wealth for their families and achieve the American dream of home ownership. PSHH have additionally supported those households with financial management opportunities such as homebuyer education, down payment assistance programs and foreclosure prevention counseling.

Through their resident services program, PSSH has supported thousands of individuals with empathetic case management and connection to community health services leading to independent and enriched living. Through its education department, PSSH has provided a bridge from home to school for students in grades K-8, and has provided mentorship for those collegebound and beyond. All of PSHH’s programs and services have continuously improved the quality of life for thousands of Central Coast families and empowered them to lead rewarding and enriched lives.

Learn more about Peoples’ Self-Help Housing at www.pshhc.org.

Pictured: Casas de los Carneros Apartments at the Village at Los Carneros

17 Years of Excellence in Financial Reporting

The City of Goleta is pleased to announce that our Finance Department was awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the 17th straight year. The award is for our comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019. The award embodies the City’s goal of demonstrating transparency and disclosure of City funds in our financial reporting so that it is easy to understand how money is received, where money is spent and overall financial position.

Goleta City Manager Michelle Greene said she is proud that our team of financial professionals is consistently able to meet the rigorous standards set by the GFOA. She said, “I am pleased to see the City of Goleta’s Finance Team recognized once again for its steadfast commitment to ensuring clear disclosure in financial reporting. This team understands the importance of breaking down the City’s financial information in an easily readable and efficiently organized comprehensive annual financial report. Their detailed and thorough work, day in and day out, is impressive and worthy of recognition.”

The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting. This award recognizes the City’s commitment to financial reporting and proven track record. The CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR.

Governments who want to be considered for this award must submit their report within six months of the end of the fiscal year and must satisfy both generally accepted accounting principles and applicable legal requirements. The review process takes another four to six months. Learn more about the Certificate of Achievement award at www.gfoa.org/cafr. The City’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report can be found here.

In addition to the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the Finance Department has a number of responsibilities. Their primary function is to ensure the financial integrity of the City of Goleta by providing superior financial services, maintaining the public trust, and promoting governmental efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability. The department is responsible for the maintenance of an effective financial accounting system, which accurately reflects the financial operations of the City and offers a framework for financial planning and analysis. The Finance Department also oversees and handles the investment program for the City and functions as the City’s purchasing department. The primary goal is providing accurate, reliable, and timely financial information for City Council, City Manager, City staff, and outside requests using professional standards.

More information on the City’s Finance Department is available at www.cityofgoleta.org/city-hall/finance.

Long-time Motor Unit Deputy Honored and New Deputy Welcomed

Goleta City Council presented Deputy John DeLeon with a City Tile in appreciation of his 13 plus years of service to the Goleta Motor Unit at the October 20 Council meeting.  Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Deputy DeLeon left his City of Goleta Police Department assignment on September 6, 2020 after being promoted to a Coroner’s Bureau Detective position. 

At the City Council meeting, City of Goleta Director of Neighborhood Services and Public Safety Director Vyto Adomaitis congratulated Deputy DeLeon on his new assignment and expressed his heartfelt appreciation for the important work he has provided to the City of Goleta.  He said, “We are extremely pleased with Deputy John DeLeon’s service to the City in the Motors Unit, his work in the community, with our schools, kids and residents has been excellent for the over 13 years he has been assigned to this unit.   He has helped carry out the high priority of the City Council’s emphasis on traffic safety for our community and he is a great example of the dedicated men and women of the Sheriff’s Office serving the City of Goleta. We will miss John but wish him the very best in his new assignment.”

Following the presentation of the City Tile, the City Council welcomed DeLeon’s replacement on the Goleta Motor Unit, Deputy Matt Dawson, a long-time law enforcement professional and Goleta resident.  Deputy Dawson was born and raised in Santa Barbara County and has lived in the City of Goleta for the past 30 years.  Prior to being hired by the Sheriff’s Office in 2015, Deputy Dawson worked as a California Highway Patrol Motorcycle Officer for 15 years.  His most recent assignment was working as a Bailiff for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. 

Goleta City Manager Michelle Greene said Deputy Dawson is a great addition.  She said, “Deputy Dawson brings significant experience and expertise in the area of traffic safety and is invested in our community. We are fortunate to have him on our team of safety professionals.” 

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is contracted to provide law enforcement services to the City of Goleta.

Office of Traffic Safety Awards Two Grants to Goleta

City of Goleta is pleased to announce that we received a $40,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) that focuses on the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians.

“Our goal is that education will change poor behaviors and make our roads safer,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “This funding will help ensure the safety of those out biking or walking.”

Grant funds will be used for a variety of activities promoting bicyclist and pedestrian safety:

  • Education workshops geared toward youth and older adults.
  • Education on the importance of safety equipment that improves visibility such as reflective armbands, bicycle headlights and taillights.
  • Community walks and bicycle safety courses.
  • Bicycle helmet inspections.
  • Distribution of bicycle helmets to those in need following education presentations.

“We are excited to begin working on programs with this grant money,” said City of Goleta Public Works Director Charlie Ebeling. “We will work with the Coalition for Sustainable Transportation (COAST) to provide education to the community focusing on school-aged children in the Goleta Union School District. Some of the activities will also include family members and caregivers. Educational programming options being considered include online classroom education, small group, and neighborhood focused in-person activities. Anything in person will follow COVID-19 safety guidelines.”

The grant program runs from October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The City also received a $78,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to be used by the Goleta Police Department for its efforts to reduce deaths and injuries on Goleta roads.

“These are trying times, and now more than ever, it is important that we are at the forefront of traffic safety,” Sergeant John Maxwell, who leads the Goleta Police Department’s Traffic Unit, said. “This funding allows us to educate and enhance the safety of all residents.”

The one-year grant is for the 2021 federal fiscal year, which runs from October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021.

The grant will fund a variety of traffic safety programs, including:

  • Patrols with emphasis on alcohol and drug-impaired driving prevention.
  • Patrols with emphasis on awareness and education of California’s hands-free cell phone law.
  • Patrols with emphasis on education of traffic rights for bicyclists and pedestrians.
  • Patrols with emphasis on awareness and education of primary causes of crashes: excess speed, failure to yield, failure to stop at stop signs/signals, improper turning/lane changes.
  • Community education presentations on traffic safety issues such as distracted driving, DUI, speed, bicycle and pedestrian safety.
  • Collaborative efforts with neighboring agencies on traffic safety priorities.
  • Officer training and/or recertification: Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE).

“Through education and behavior changes, we hope to create an environment that is safe and equitable for all road users in our community,” Sergeant Maxwell said.

Funding for this program was also provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The City of Goleta contracts with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office for police services.

Fairview Avenue / US 101 Intersection Sidewalk Project Complete

Bicyclists and pedestrians are enjoying the new improvements of the completed Fairview Avenue / US 101 Intersection Sidewalk Infill Project. The project took less than six weeks to complete and constructed new sidewalk to fill the sidewalk gap along the north side of S. Fairview Avenue leading to the signalized intersection at the northbound US 101 off-ramp.

Goleta Public Works Director Charlie Ebeling said, “We are committed to making Goleta a more bicycle and pedestrian friendly city. This area along Fairview Avenue had a gap in the sidewalk that had been there for many years and we are happy to see it complete and being used by our residents. We are excited to continue making these safety improvements around the City – the Old Town Sidewalk Project is also nearly finished and there are more projects in the works.”

The project consisted of the reconstruction of existing sidewalk necessary to conform to the existing bicycle and pedestrian ramp connecting Fairview Avenue and Calle Real. The City also recently started design on another directly related project to add a pedestrian signal crosswalk on Calle Real near Cajun Kitchen Café.

The City secured Measure A grant funding for the project and is excited to have completed construction. Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) is the administrator of Measure A, a local transportation sales tax measure that was approved by 79% of Santa Barbara. Information on Measure A is available at www.measurea.net. The City awarded the project to Lash Construction, and MNS Engineers provided construction oversight for the City.

Make Goleta Count Wrap-Up and Artwork

Thank you to everyone who completed the 2020 Census! We want to take this opportunity to thank the more than three quarter of Goleta households who filled out their census. The last day to respond to the census was October 15, 2020, and the City of Goleta had a self-response rate of 76.8%. Despite not being able to do in-person outreach due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this is higher than our self-response rate in 2010 (75.3% self-response rate). Our 2020 numbers are also higher than the California and Santa Barbara County averages.

Our final hoorah for the 2020 Census was celebrating our great community participation by asking residents to submit artwork with the theme “Everyone Counts.” Below are three cute images we received by some of our youngest residents.

Final census numbers won’t be released for months, but we will be sure to let you know the outcome. We appreciate the community coming together to #MakeGoletaCount.

Pictured left to right: Long (age 4), Nicole (age 7), and Alfonzo (age 7)

Don’t Forget to Follow us on our New Twitter Account @CityofGoleta

Have you followed us yet on our new Twitter account handle @CityofGoleta (formerly @GoletaPIO)? We don’t want to lose any of our followers so please come with us to our new Twitter spot. If you don’t already follow us, NOW is the time. It’s a great platform to stay updated on news and information. You can also follow us on Facebook (@CityofGoleta), Instagram (@cityofgoleta), and Nextdoor. To have information sent directly to you via email and/or text, sign up for topics that interest you at tinyurl.com/GoletaSubscriptions. Information is also available on our website at www.CityofGoleta.org.

Goleta’s Homelessness Strategic Plan Released Next Week

The City of Goleta is nearing the finish line of an important milestone: the City’s first comprehensive Homelessness Strategic Plan. Residents should be on the lookout for the public release of the Draft Homelessness Strategic Plan the week of November 9th. Once released it will mark the start of a 30-day public review period prior to final adoption by City Council. The Draft Plan will be available here next week.

On September 15, 2020, the Goleta City Council reviewed the Draft Homelessness Strategic Plan and provided direction to staff to incorporate some additional information prior to releasing the Draft for further public review.

The process to get to this point has been a collaborative and thorough effort, involving multiple agencies and extensive community engagement. Prior to bringing the full Homelessness Strategic Plan to Council in September, staff had brought a draft of the Plan before the newly-formed Homelessness Issues Standing Committee in July. The Committee reviewed the draft Plan, particularly providing input on the goals, objectives, and timeline for Goleta’s homelessness efforts. Once adopted, the document will help guide and coordinate efforts to prevent and address homelessness within the City of Goleta. During the review process, the draft Plan was reviewed by a variety of internal City staff and multiple outside agencies and partners.

The strategic planning process began in 2019 with stakeholder meetings and data gathering. In addition to public meetings, the City released a survey in December of 2019 to directly hear from those with input on homelessness in our region. Staff received input from residents, businesses, service providers, and those who are or who have experienced homelessness. In addition, staff have held stakeholder meetings, best practices discussions with communities nationwide, and held a Community Open House and information session. Community involvement has been essential since the beginning, most of which occurred prior to the onset of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

City Council and staff believe having a Homelessness Strategic Plan will provide important direction and clarity around needs, service gaps, and priorities in order to make effective and strategic funding decisions that serve both the existing homeless population, as well as those at risk of becoming homeless. The Homelessness Strategic Plan will help guide and coordinate efforts to prevent and address homelessness within the City of Goleta and help the City prioritize its efforts related to homelessness on a regional level, essential when resources are limited.

The City team thanks the community for its input and interest in this important effort. To learn more and keep up to date on next steps, please visit https://tinyurl.com/GoletaHomelessnessPlan.

Pictured: Homeless person sleeping in front of a business in Old Town Goleta

Creek and Watershed Management Plan Presented

The City of Goleta’s Creek and Watershed Management Plan (CWMP) is now available for public review on the project website. There will be a virtual public workshop on the CWMP tonight, Monday, November 2nd at 6:00pm at https://tinyurl.com/y3adk4nv. City staff will provide an overview of the CWMP and the project team will also be available to answer questions and receive comments. Spanish interpretation will be available. We encourage you to participate, get informed and be a part of shaping the future of our creeks and watersheds. A recording of the workshop will also be posted on the project website for those who cannot attend.

The Creek and Watershed Management Plan includes detailed information on the dozen creeks that run through our community, identifies impairments to these creeks, and outlines programs and specific future actions to address identified impairments. It also outlines best practices to provide habitat for fish and wildlife, accommodate wildlife movement corridors, convey stormwater runoff and floodwaters, and furnish open space and passive recreational areas for City residents. 

City of Goleta Advanced Planning Manager Anne Wells said, “Goleta’s creeks shape the environment for our rich natural resources and are worthy of coordinated stewards. The proposed Creek and Watershed Management Plan reflects a collaborative vision and presents actions that will protect and enhance our waterways, improving our valuable and valued resources for future generations to enjoy.”

The City Council will consider adoption of the Creek and Watershed Management Plan at their November 17, 2020, meeting.

Learn more about the project at https://tinyurl.com/GoletaCWMP.

Photo is of Bell Creek near Haskell’s Beach looking north towards the foothills.

Be Part of the City’s Stow Grove Park Renovation Project

Watch our video to learn more about the project and take our survey to let us know what park features are important to you

The City of Goleta is renovating Stow Grove Park and we want to hear from you! Stow Grove Park, located at 580 N. La Patera Lane, is a beloved destination for local residents and visitors to the City of Goleta. Learn more about this project by watching our video featuring City of Goleta Parks and Recreation Manager JoAnne Plummer. Also, take our survey in English or Spanish to let us know what the park means to you and your family and how you use the park, by Monday, November 16th. While the focus of this project is on the multi-purpose field, your priorities will help us establish direction for this project, as well as prepare for future phases.

City of Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte said, “Stow Grove Park is such a treasure serving all of Goleta. We are looking forward to hearing from our community to make it an even better outdoor area for picnics, sports and family gatherings for people of all ages.”

Parks and Recreation Manager JoAnne Plummer added, “This is such an exciting time for our community. To be part of the process that will improve one of Goleta’s most revered parks, adding to the rich history of this location.”

We are looking forward to receiving your surveys to find out the community’s thoughts on this cherished park. Current amenities for Stow Grove Park include (in alphabetical order): barbecues, baseball/softball field, horseshoe pits, open multi-purpose field, picnic shelters/gazebos, picnic tables; playground and tot lot; restroom; and sand volleyball court.

Thank you in advance for providing your feedback and we look forward to working with you to design and create a “new and improved” multi-purpose field at Stow Grove Park. If you have questions about the project, please contact the Project Manager, JoAnne Plummer, at 805-562-5505 or jplummer@cityofgoleta.org. For regular updates on this project, and other parks and open space related projects, please sign up for email and/or text updates from City of Goleta at https://tinyurl.com/GoletaRecreation.

Park Background

Stow Grove Park was developed when Edgar Stow first planted trees for a beautiful, shaded picnic area to share with his family, friends and neighbors. This space has remained a public picnic ground since 1920. In 1964, the Sherman P. Stow Company deeded Stow Grove to the County of Santa Barbara as a public park. When Goleta became a City in 2002, the ownership of Stow Grove Park was transferred to the City of Goleta. This location continues to be a popular destination for sports, family gatherings, fitness, bird watching and more.

In 2015, the City of Goleta participated in a Recreation Needs Assessment. During this evaluation of City facilities, parks and services, Stow Grove Park’s Multi-Purpose field was identified as an area that needed improvement and the project was approved within the City’s Capital Improvement Project Budget.