Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

Lemon Lovers Take Over Girsh Park for 28th Annual Lemon Festival

Close to 35,000 Goleta residents and visitors enjoyed another fabulous Lemon Festival at Girsh Park.  Once again, the Goleta Chamber of Commerce went all out to put on one of Goleta’s biggest celebrations of the year.  This time, the Sheriff’s Mounted Enforcement Unit and several K-9 teams joined the festivities and enjoyed interacting up close with community members.  Safety Street, the largest display of emergency response equipment around, now in its 15th year continued to be a crowd favorite.  The entertainment line-up did not disappoint and neither did the vast amount of lemon flavored food and beverages, including 1,500 pies and 2,000 lemon bars sold.

In addition to all of the fun, there was a lot of great information to be found at the vast amount of booths located throughout the event.  This year, the City’s new Community Relations Manager, Kelly Hoover, used the opportunity to meet residents at one of the City Booths and even got the chance to judge her first pie eating contest. 

City staff took advantage of the foot traffic to do some community outreach on important issues such as the upcoming 2020 Census.  ALL Goleta residents are encouraged to participate and to Make Goleta Count.  An accurate count nation-wide is important for allocation of millions of dollars in state and federal funding and for redistricting purposes.  In March, be on the lookout for an invitation in the mail from the U.S. Census to participate in an on-line survey, and remember your responses are confidential. For those who don’t have internet access, there will be options to fill out and mail in your responses.  The information is used strictly for statistical purposes and, by law, can’t be used against you in any way. 

The City also had representatives from the Goleta Valley Library sharing about library programs and downloadable services, as well as registering people for library cards.  The City’s Planning Department provided information on the upcoming Creek and Watershed Management Plan and need for public participation.  We hope you had the opportunity to stop by one or more of our booths.  Thanks to everyone who was part of making this Lemon Fest a success, and for the hard work it took to put on this thoughtful tradition.

Drop, Cover, & Hold On During the Great ShakeOut

The 2019 Great ShakeOut is October 17 at 10:17 a.m.! The Great ShakeOut is the world’s largest earthquake drill with people from all over the world practicing how to drop, cover, and hold on. It is organized to inspire people to get ready for big earthquakes, and to prevent disasters from becoming catastrophes. What we do to prepare now, before the next big earthquake, will determine how well we can survive and recover.

Register with friends, family, or co-workers to participate in the Great ShakeOut at www.shakeout.org/california/register. You will receive information on how to prepare for earthquakes and what actions to take during and after the shaking, as well as other ShakeOut news and updates.

Earthquake Country Alliance suggests following these steps to prepare for, and recover from, the next big earthquake:

PREPARE
Step 1: Secure your space by identifying hazards and securing movable items.
Step 2: Plan to be safe by creating a disaster plan and deciding how you will communicate in an emergency.
Step 3: Organize disaster supplies in convenient locations.
Step 4: Minimize financial hardship by organizing important documents, strengthening your property and considering insurance.

SURVIVE & RECOVER
Step 5: Drop, cover and hold on when the earth shakes.
Step 6: Improve safety after earthquakes by evacuating if necessary, helping the injured, and preventing further injuries or damage.
Step 7: Restore daily life by reconnecting with others, repairing damage, and rebuilding community.

Find out who is registered for the Great ShakeOut at ShakeOut.org/whoisparticipating. The City of Goleta is participating, will you?

National Teen Driver Safety Week

Sergeant John Maxwell, head of the City of Goleta’s Motor Traffic Unit, and the Goleta Police Department, encourages parents to teach their teen drivers to be a safe driver during National Teen Driver Safety Week (October 20 – 26, 2019), and every day thereafter. If they can’t handle the rules of the road, they can’t handle the keys to the car.

National Teen Driver Safety Week is a great opportunity to talk with your teen driver about the importance of safe driving. In fact, you can keep the conversation going all year long!  Parents, it doesn’t matter whether your teen drives a car, pickup truck, or SUV — the rules of the road stay the same no matter what. Talk to them about driving safety during National Teen Driver Safety Week.

  • In 2017, there were 2,247 people killed in crashes involving a teen driver. Statistics show that drugs and alcohol, inconsistent seat belt use, distracted driving, speeding, and extra passengers are contributing factors to teen driver vehicle crashes.
  • Any teenager is too young to buy or consume alcohol, but some still find a way. In fact, during 2017, 15% of teen drivers involved in fatal crashes had been drinking. Also keep in mind that impairment does not just mean alcohol. Talk with your teens about the dangers of driving under the influence of marijuana, THC vapes, or other drugs.
  • Seat belts are a simple way to stay safe in any vehicle. Parents should remind their teen drivers to buckle up — every trip, every time — and to make sure their passengers do too.
  • Safe driving requires 100% attention, so remind your teen driver to keep distractions out of the vehicle. Speeding is also especially deadly for teen drivers; in 2017, 27% of teen drivers involved in fatal crashes were speeding at the time of the crash.
  • Enforce a passenger maximum for your teen driver. Research shows the risk of a fatal crash goes up in direct relation to the number of passengers in a car.

Thank you for doing your part for National Teen Driver Safety Week.

Support for Local Green Businesses

Are you interested in becoming a Certified Green Business or already a member of the Green Business program of Santa Barbara County? The Santa Barbara Green Business Alliance (SBGBA) is here to help you build connections with other certified businesses to save money, market your business, and receive recognition. Through its cooperative network of businesses, organizations, and local leaders who are committed to the practice and promotion of environmentally and socially responsible business practices, SBGBA provides tools and resources that support local green certified businesses by:

  • Increasing capacity building through continued resource sharing, and exposure to educational opportunities and materials, pertinent legislation and other community issues.
  • Creating an integrated network of information and contacts for successful implementation and execution of green business practices.
  • Assisting in the promotion of green business development and expansion of the certified green business network.

SBGBA members gain the opportunity to network and form relationships with like-minded businesses and groups, enjoy positive exposure to the public as a responsible business, and share ideas as to how to further improve the environmental impact of their operations.

For more information on joining the Green Business Alliance and upcoming events, contact Frances Gililand at (805) 729-3472 or email coordinator@greenbizsbc.org. To become a Certified Green Business, visit www.GreenBizSBC.org.

Free Homework Help at the Library

New this year, the Goleta Valley Library will be offering free Intergenerational Afterschool Homework Help on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 – 6:15 p.m. starting October 15, for children in Kindergarten – 5th grade. Volunteer tutors and Library staff will be on hand to help kids with their homework along with the assistance of an online product called Brainfuse HelpNow, which provides access to live tutors who can help answer problematic questions. No reservations are needed, this is a drop-in program. The Library will try to pair up the same tutor with the same student so that they can build a relationship that goes beyond homework help. For more information, or if you are a senior citizen and would like to volunteer to be a tutor, please call the Library at 805-964-7878.

Brainfuse HelpNow can also be accessed here on the Library’s website (have your library card number handy). Live online tutoring is available from 1:00 – 10:00 p.m. daily.

City Hall Goes Green

The City of Goleta took a big step forward to reduce the carbon footprint in our City offices.  On September 1, 2019, we implemented a ban on single-use plastics at City Hall, the Corporation Yard, and at our libraries – Goleta Valley Library, Buellton Library and Solvang Library. Kitchens are now equipped with washable plates, metal utensils, plate scrapers and dish towels, just like at home. We are no longer ordering plastic utensils, and instead employees are bringing dishes from home or using what is provided in the kitchens. To help kick off our Single-Use Plastics Elimination, a mug contest was held. While there were many creative entries, Accounting Manager Tony Gonzalez took home the prize for best mug!

Plastic pollution has a huge negative impact on our oceans, animals, soils, food chain, and public health. Single-use plastic items are items used one time and thrown away, such as plastic forks, knives, spoons, and stirrer straws. They fill up our landfills and do not break down easily over time. When they do break down, they create a toxic sludge. Non-recyclable items like paper plates and paper cups with coating also fill up our landfills.

It’s amazing and refreshing to see how, even in just one month, the difference our Single-Use Plastics Elimination has made in reducing the amount of trash we typically generate. It feels good to be part of helping to make a positive change for our environment. None of this would have been possible without the work of our Green Team. A big thanks to Sophie Barragan, Dana Grossi, Paul Medel, Darryl Mimick, Cindy Moore, Andrea Moreno, Kim Nilsson, Sandra Rodriguez, Dominique Samario, and Francie Townes.

Holding Pattern for Airport Land Use Compatibility Plans

On September 3, 2019, the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) presented a draft of the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plans to the Goleta City Council. The plans are for all Santa Barbara County airports, including Santa Barbara Airport. At this time, the project is in a holding pattern until SBCAG and member agency staff, including in particular the City of Goleta and Santa Barbara County, can resolve outstanding issues regarding the draft plans that were presented.

The Airport Land Use Compatibility Plans (ALUCP) designates compatible land uses around public use airports in Santa Barbara County and has an important role in assuring safety around airports. However, the plan in its draft form would have significant impacts on allowable land uses within City of Goleta limits, and would have the practical effect of rendering many existing uses non-conforming to the current General Plan or zoning requirements. In limiting future development potential, the draft ALUCP would also have the effect of displacing growth and planned residential density contemplated by the City’s General Plan to other areas.  

On September 19, 2019, the SBCAG Board delayed any action to approve Airport Land Use Compatibility Plans to allow time to resolve some of the outstanding issues.

There’s No Place Like Home

City Hall is in the final stretch of securing a permanent home. The City is in escrow to buy the entire two-story building where we are currently renting at 130 Cremona Drive. Once the transaction is complete, the City will acquire a portion of an existing 5.3 acre parcel. That portion of land will become its own 2.3 acre parcel as a result of the transaction and include the two-story building which is approximately 39,718 square feet. The City currently occupies about 66% of that space and will be undergoing a space needs analysis to determine how to best use the additional 13,323 square feet. Future plans for the building will include the installation of an elevator. The purchase price under the original agreement was $11,515,400, however the actual purchase price will be slightly less at about $11,476,700 as a result of a property condition credit to the City.

The acquisition will put the City in the position of owning a sizable asset as an owner rather than the obligation of lease payments owed to a private property owner as a tenant. The cost of purchasing versus leasing is estimated to save the City about $64,000 in the first year and the savings would continue to increase in the future. While there are a few details that need to be ironed out, escrow is expected to close by November 15, 2019. We will keep you posted and hope to officially announce 130 Cremona Drive as our permanent home soon.

Boo! Parking Restrictions Return for Halloween

Halloween not only brings trick-or-treaters to areas of Goleta, but also extra visitors to Isla Vista. To ease the impacts on residents, the City’s resident-only parking program will return from Thursday, October 31, to Sunday, November 3, for the neighborhoods closest to Isla Vista. Since Halloween is on a Thursday this year, the permits will be valid for an additional night. The parking permit program has been in effect since 2014, and has been a success thanks to the collaboration of residents, law enforcement, and the City.

Households in the affected areas will receive two permits in their mailbox by October 22, 2019. Affected areas include: University 1 and University 2 neighborhoods, including the Cannon Green Condominium complex. The boundaries are: Cannon Green Drive to the west, Hollister Avenue to the north, Storke Road to the east and Whittier Drive to the south. The parking permits are required to be taped to the inside of the vehicle’s driver’s side window during the restricted hours (see below). Signage will be posted on the streets in advance to remind drivers, and electronic message boards will be at several entrances to the University 1 and 2 neighborhoods. Vehicles not displaying the appropriate permit will be subject to ticketing and/or towing. Parking restrictions are for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, when most party-goers are expected to be in the area:

  • 7:00 p.m. Thursday, October 31, 2019, to 7:00 a.m. Friday, November 1, 2019
  • 7:00 p.m. Friday, November 1, 2019, to 7:00 a.m. Saturday, November 2, 2019
  • 7:00 p.m. Saturday, November 2, 2019, to 7:00 a.m. Sunday, November 3, 2019

The overnight parking restrictions will not affect AYSO soccer games or others visiting Girsh Park over Halloween weekend. If you live in the area designated to receive a parking permit, and do not receive yours by October 22, please contact the City of Goleta Neighborhood Services Department at 805-690-5119 to make arrangements for a replacement.

For a map of the affected area and additional information, please visit http://tinyurl.com/halloweenparking.

Celebrate Goleta’s Newest Recreation Area Tomorrow, October 2!

A new recreation area is coming to Goleta! Join the City tomorrow, Wednesday, October 2, for a ribbon cutting ceremony for the renovated multi-purpose athletic field behind the Goleta Valley Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue) and next to the Boys & Girls Club. Join us from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. for activity stations, information booths, and speeches from Mayor Paula Perotte, the Project Team, and stakeholders. 

Gophers had made the field a popular hangout spot for themselves, so the City decided to take it back for the community’s use. The renovation was made possible through a Housing Related Parks Program grant worth just over $250,000 from the State of California’s Department of Housing and Community Development, and nearly $250,000 in City funds.

The City broke ground on this one-acre project on June 19, and we can’t wait for people to begin using it! The project includes a new natural grass turf with gopher mesh for the field, new irrigation, a walking perimeter path, and a fitness station. This new recreation space is a great addition for the entire community, the hundreds of children who attend the Goleta Boys & Girls Club each day, and those who use the Goleta Valley Community Center.

We hope you can join us for this family-friendly event!