Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

LED Lights Coming to a Street Near You

The City of Goleta is getting closer to replacing more than 1,300 High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) streetlight fixtures throughout Goleta with new energy efficient LED streetlights. The new lights will save the City money, require less maintenance, provide clearer lighting and are better for the environment. The project is expected to save Goleta over 345,000 kilowatt hours and approximately $115,000 in energy costs in the first year after the project is implemented.

In 2020 the City acquired the streetlights from Southern California Edison and began looking into different LED options for our community. In January 2021, we held a Pilot Study to get community input. Based on feedback, the City has selected GE fixtures that are 2700K color temperature streetlights. The wattage of the LED fixtures will vary depending on the road type of the light’s location: arterials, collectors, and residential streets will all vary in brightness. The busier streets will have higher energy, and thus brighter lights.

We know there are a lot of questions about this project and encourage you to look at the newly updated Frequently Asked Questions on our LED Streetlight webpage: http://cityofgoleta.org/LEDStreetlights. Stay tuned for information about a virtual Town Hall as well as a video sharing more information on this project.

The next City council meeting on the LED streetlight project is anticipated to be June 15, 2021, and staff will be recommending City Council approve the final plans and initiate the streetlight conversion work. If approved, installation will begin in the fall. Public comment is welcome. The agenda will be available in advance at https://cityofgoleta.org/goletameetings.  

Pictured: Deputy Public Works Director James Campero and Assistant Engineer Michael Winnewisser filming our LED streetlight video

Goleta City Council Approves Homelessness Strategic Plan

The City of Goleta has its first ever Homelessness Strategic Plan (Plan). At the April 20th Goleta City Council meeting, the Council approved the Plan which was more than two years in the making. The goal of the Homelessness Strategic Plan is to 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.

City of Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte said, “We are proud to be one of the few cities on the Central Coast with a strategic plan to address homelessness. Unfortunately, the number of people experiencing homelessness has continued to grow and many of our residents are at-risk of becoming homeless due to the pandemic. The City of Goleta wants to play a role in trying to address this regional problem.”

Jaime Valdez, City of Goleta Neighborhood Services Interim Director, said “We’ve seen a significant increase in homeless encampments and the number of people in the community needing assistance with basic needs. The Strategic Plan will provide important policy guidance to staff and identifies specific objectives to be implemented over time to fulfill unmet needs.”

The Plan will help guide and coordinate efforts to prevent and address homelessness within the City of Goleta, and particularly, funding decisions related to homelessness initiatives and grants for non-profit service providers that focus on the homeless. Public input has been an essential part of developing the Plan, and we are grateful for the public’s input and interest in this important effort.

The City’s upcoming budget process will include consideration of funding for homelessness initiatives using this new Plan for guidance. Staff will be exploring various options for implementing some of the objectives of the Plan for the coming fiscal year and will be taking additional items to the City Council related to implementation in the near future.

The Plan is available to view here. Watch the April 20, 2021, City Council meeting here.

Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

COVID-19 Business Resources

Emergency Business Assistance Program Announced from the County of Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara Foundation

The County of Santa Barbara, in partnership with the Santa Barbara Foundation, announce the Emergency Business Assistance Grant Program that consists of two components: microenterprise business assistance and small business assistance grants.

The application period is open May 10 through June 30, 2021, or when all funds are granted, whichever comes sooner. Eligible microenterprise businesses may apply for up to $10,000 in funding, while eligible small businesses may apply for up to $25,000.

To apply for a grant, please review the grant guidelines and eligibility requirements. Before accessing the grant portal and registering your business to receive access to the application, please complete the eligibility checklist.

Staff from the County and Santa Barbara Foundation will be hosting two similar workshops to discuss the Emergency Business Assistance Program with interested businesses. The first is set for 10-11:30 a.m., Monday, May 10; and repeated noon-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 19.  

For questions or more information, please contact the Santa Barbara Foundation at (805) 963-1873.

Economic Development Collaborative

Get the latest COVID-19 resources for businesses from the Economic Development Collaborative (EDC). The EDC serves Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, giving businesses, community partners and civic leaders the resources they need to succeed. During the pandemic they have compiled the business resources for the community. Please visit https://edcollaborative.com/covid19/ for grant opportunities, loan opportunities, housing-related assistance, tax credits, unemployment benefits and more.

The EDC Small Business Development Center (SBDC) call team and experienced advisors are available to answer questions and help you navigate today’s complex business environment. The Economic Development Collaborative hosts the Small Business Development Center and is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Signing up as a client takes just a few minutes and provides you lifetime access to all of our no-cost services. Get started today with no-cost consulting by calling our Business Assistance Line at 805.409.9159. Resources and advising are available in English and Spanish. For more information go to https://edcollaborative.com/.

COVID-19 Rental Assistance for Goleta Residents

Residents financially impacted by COVID-19 (e.g. job loss, reduction in wages, etc.) can apply for rental assistance funds. The City of Goleta is providing funds to assist residents with their rent through the Housing Authority of Santa Barbara County. Upon application approval, applicants may receive up to $5,000 or up to 3 months of current and/or past-due rental expenses, whichever is less. Once approved, assistance payments to applicants will be paid directly to landlords.

ELIGIBILITY / DOCUMENTATION

  • Must provide proof of residency in the City of Goleta
  • Household income must be 80% or below the area median income (AMI)
  • Must demonstrate loss of income related to COVID-19, with eligibility starting last year on March 13, 2020, and must provide:
    • Documentation of past 2 months of income for the entire household
    • Proof of lease or rental agreement

Additional documentation may be required during the review process. To apply, go to https://portal.neighborlysoftware.com/SANTABARBARACOUNTYCA/participant. If you need assistance or have questions, contact the Housing Authority at 805-735-8351 or email Questions@hasbarco.org.

Haga clic aquí para obtener información en español.

In addition, the County of Santa Barbara is offering emergency rental & utility assistance through United Way of Santa Barbara County to eligible Santa Barbara County residents. The Board of Supervisors recently voted to increase the amount of rental assistance to 100% – the first county in the nation to do so. Rental assistance is available for 3-month increments up to a 15-month span. Learn more and apply at https://www.unitedwaysb.org/rent.

mission::vaccinate – Rides for Seniors and Volunteers Needed

Through their new program, mission::vaccinate, Community Partners in Caring is providing free rides to help those aged 62+ get to their vaccination appointments. People must be able to walk without the assistance of their driver (canes and walkers will be placed in the vehicle during the ride). Those 18+ years old and considered “at risk” (if mobility is restricted by chronic illness or disability and they lack access to transportation or are unable to drive) may also be eligible for free rides.

After registering for a vaccine appointment, someone needing a ride should call Community Partners in Caring at 805-925-8000 to arrange the free ride. Two-day advance notice is required. For more information go to www.partnersincaring.org/missionvaccinate.

Partners in Caring is also looking for volunteers to take seniors to their vaccination appointments. Perks include choosing your own schedule, mileage reimbursement, and knowing you’ve helped to protect seniors in our community. Sign up as a mission::vaccinate volunteer at www.partnersincaring.org/missionvaccinate, or contact Community Partners in Caring at volunteer@partnersincaring.org or 805-925-8000.

COVID-19 Mobile Vaccine Program

The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department is excited to announce the COVID-19 Mobile Vaccine Program. With a focus on health equity, the program serves to remove barriers for groups of individuals who are not able to get their vaccine at community clinics.

The clinics will be administering the Moderna vaccine given in a series of 2 doses.

TO HOST A MOBILE CLINIC AT YOUR SITE YOU MUST BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING:

  • Identify eligible individuals who would like to receive a COVID-19 vaccine – Eligibility for vaccination is now open to anyone 18 and older
  • Fill out consent forms and assign appointment times to the eligible persons.
  • Provide a space to hold the clinic (inside or outside area)
  • Provide tents, tables, chairs, and water for the observation area
  • Be able to secure at least 80 and up to 250 eligible appointments for the day of the clinic. (smaller sites are encouraged to call. Combining efforts with other smaller entities is possible)

Click here to request a mobile clinic.

Email inquiries can be sent to mobileclinic@sbcphd.org. A flyer is available here.

I’ve Been Vaccinated! Now What?

By Dr. Henning Ansorg, M.D., FACP, Health Officer County of Santa Barbara, Department of Public Health

If you’ve been vaccinated, congratulations! If you are still awaiting your turn to be vaccinated, thank you for your patience. You can learn more about vaccinations in Santa Barbara County, including how to sign up to receive your vaccine, by visiting the County’s vaccine information website at: https://publichealthsbc.org/vaccine/.

You are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 approximately two weeks after receiving your second dose in a two-dose series, such as with Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna. If you received the Johnson and Johnson (J&J)/Janssen, you are considered fully vaccinated approximately two weeks after receiving your single-dose vaccine. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control, (CDC), those who are fully vaccinated may:

  • Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing
  • Visit with unvaccinated people (including children) from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing
  • Participate in outdoor activities and recreation without a mask, except in certain crowded settings and venues
  • Resume domestic travel and refrain from testing before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel
  • Refrain from testing before leaving the United States for international travel (unless required by the destination) and refrain from self-quarantine after arriving back in the United States
  • Refrain from testing following a known exposure, if asymptomatic, with some exceptions for specific settings
  • Refrain from quarantine following a known exposure if asymptomatic
  • Refrain from routine screening testing if asymptomatic and feasible

Even if you are fully vaccinated, remember that not everyone else is, so you should continue to:

  • Take precautions in indoor public settings like wearing a well-fitted mask
  • Wear well-fitted masks when visiting indoors with unvaccinated people who are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease or who have an unvaccinated household member who is at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease
  • Wear well-fitted masks when visiting indoors with unvaccinated people from multiple households
  • Avoid indoor large-sized in-person gatherings
  • Get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms
  • Follow guidance issued by individual employers
  • Follow CDC and health department travel requirements and recommendations

There is also information on the CDC website regarding large events and gatherings and domestic travel.

For more information about local public health orders, guidance, and vaccine distribution in Santa Barbara County, please visit: https://publichealthsbc.org/.

This article has been updated with the most recent information from the CDC.

City of Goleta Launches #VaccinateGoleta Campaign

Let’s give it a shot Goleta!

The City of Goleta is pleased to release two video messages in English and Spanish with our Mayor and City Council encouraging the community to #VaccinateGoleta. We are proud to do our part to help remind everyone about the importance of getting vaccinated.

Community Relations Manager Kelly Hoover said, “There is a lot of messaging out there already on this topic, but we thought it would be impactful for the community to see the Goleta Mayor and Council explain their reasoning for getting vaccinated as soon as they could.”

We have also included images below of each Goleta City Councilmember with their photo taken at a Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital Vaccine Clinic and a quote about why they personally were vaccinated.

Watch our videos:

English
#VaccinateGoleta: https://youtu.be/ymjR0MsLhMc
#VaccinateGoleta (30 second version): https://youtu.be/hl-0D0v981Q

Spanish
#VacunemosaGoleta: https://youtu.be/igvQzGx0_IM
#VacunemosaGoleta (30 second version): https://youtu.be/39Cxs7EilWM

Your Shot to Vaccinate – Ages 16+ Now Eligible

Progress is being made with COVID-19 vaccinations in the County. We started with those 70+ years of age being the first to receive their vaccine, and now anyone 16+ years of age is eligible. There are so many reasons why it’s important to get vaccinated once you are eligible. Santa Barbara County Public Health estimates that if we can get our population vaccinated and keep our cases down, we could reach the beginning of our immunity level in July. There is also a concern over new variants of the virus which have the potential to cause another surge. These variants are present in our County, and with the vaccines proving effecting against these variants, it is another reason to get your vaccine as soon as you are eligible.

Santa Barbara County residents ages 16+ are now eligible to receive the vaccine at Public Health Vaccination-Clinics, with Additional Community Vaccination Sites opening eligibility to this group beginning April 15.

The following groups are also currently eligible to receive a vaccine from Public Health Department Vaccination Clinics AND Additional Community Vaccination Site (pharmacies, healthcare providers):

  • Community members 50+ years of age
  • Phase 1A health care workers
  • Education and childcare workers
  • Emergency service workers
  • Food and agriculture workers
  • 16-49 years old with serious underlying medical conditions 

Appointment links:

The best vaccine is the one available to you right now. Almost 200,000 vaccinations have been administered in Santa Barbara County and more than 50% of our population age 65 and older are fully vaccinated. 20% of our population age 16 and above are fully vaccinated. Thank you for helping to do your part to #reCOVERgoleta.

For more information go to https://publichealthsbc.org/vaccine/. Sign up for vaccine email updates from Santa Barbara County here.

The Public Health Department is in need of bilingual (English/Spanish) volunteers at their Vaccination Clinics throughout Santa Barbara County. If you are interested, please send an email to margaret.fitzwilliamfigueroa@sbcphd.org.

Pictured: Mayor Perotte getting her first COVID-19 vaccine shot

Public Invited to Virtual Integrated Regional Water Management Summit

You are invited to attend the May 5th, 2021, Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Summit on the topic of Watershed Health and People Experiencing Homelessness: Spotlight on the Central Coast and Ventura Counties, Statewide Impact. This virtual event brings together key elected leaders, agency leaders, professionals and practitioners in California and at the Federal level to discuss challenges, opportunities and successes around this important and complex topic.

Date: May 5, 2021
Time: 8:30am – 12:00pm
Register: http://rebrand.ly/IRWM-Water-Summit

We would like this to be interactive and are encouraging you to submit a question or two for our panelists and/or for general discussion. You may do this on the registration page where you can also view a list of panelists. A flyer is available here.

This event is being sponsored by the Santa Barbara County IRWM, Santa Cruz IRWM, Santa Clara Valley Water District, Pajaro River Watershed IRWM, City of Watsonville, County of Santa Barbara, Watersheds Coalition of Ventura County and the Local Government Commission.