Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

Goleta Adjusts Budget to Account for Loss of Funding

The City of Goleta, like cities everywhere, is dealing with a devastating blow to revenue we count on to run operations and provide a high level of service to our community. The City has had to adjust both its remaining Fiscal Year 2019/20 budget and the upcoming Fiscal Year 2020/21 budget.

In response to the financial impacts of COVID-19, the City Council approved a resolution to amend the City of Goleta’s operating and capital improvement project (CIP) budget for fiscal year 2019/20. Staff presented the proposed budget adjustments at the May 19 City Council meeting to help bridge the revenue shortfalls the City will incur due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which include receiving less sales tax and transient occupancy tax. Expenditure reductions that will lead to operational savings include reducing non-essential service budget line items, delaying projects that have not yet started, and implementing a hiring freeze for staff vacancies to achieve salary and benefit savings as part of the City’s cost containment plan. Read the full staff report with detailed information on the budget here: https://tinyurl.com/y92aeukb.

A budget workshop was also held following the resolution to provide the City Council the opportunity to review the revised Operating and Capital Improvement Budget for Fiscal Year 2020/21, as well as the revised Five-Year Forecast for the General Fund. The report recommends adjustments to the original adopted budget as it relates to the financial impacts and economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The staff report is available here: https://tinyurl.com/ybsojc4u.

Don’t Forget Your Face Covering

Face coverings are now a part of our daily life. They have the potential to slow the spread of COVID-19 by limiting the spread of respiratory droplets. To protect the community, the County Health Officer Dr. Henning Ansorg, M.D. issued Health Officer Order No. 2020-10 which requires the use of face coverings for those over age 13 in the following situations:

  • When inside of or in line to enter any and all businesses.
  • When using public transportation, a private car service, or a ride-sharing vehicle. Drivers must wear a face covering while driving or operating vehicles regardless of whether a member of the public is in the vehicle.
  • All businesses must require employees, contractors, owners, and volunteers to wear a face covering at the workplace and at off-site work locations.

Exceptions, guidelines and information relative to this order can be found in the full Health officer Order located here.

Prior to the health order, the City of Goleta passed a resolution that requires face coverings be worn by both employees and patrons at restaurants, essential businesses, and all businesses allowed to reopen. Face coverings include any fabric coverings, such as cloth masks, scarves and bandanas that cover the nose and mouth.

Santa Barbara MTD and Santa Barbara Airport are covered by the Public Health Order, but had previously begun requiring face coverings, among other initiatives, to protect the safety of passengers and employees.

The Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade and SB Mask Makers are sewing cloth face coverings, and providing them for free, to help protect critical service workers and at-risk community members. Critical service workers include nurses, agricultural workers, disaster feeding plan volunteers, County Public Health workers, homeless shelter workers, grocery store checkers, and others.  If you or your agency is in need of masks, you can request them here: https://sbbucketbrigade.org/request-face-coverings-for-critical-service-agencies-here/.

After you sign up, a Bucket Brigade team member will get in touch within 48 hours to discuss you or your agency’s face covering needs. Signing up does not guarantee that you will receive face coverings, but – if your request meets the at-risk or critical service criteria – you will be put into the queue for available face coverings.

The Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade is also looking for volunteers to help sew masks, deliver and pick up goods, and more. Learn more here: https://sbbucketbrigade.org/make-masks-save-lives/.

Pictured: Lisa Bradbury Liles, Goleta resident, delivering 400 cloth face coverings to Isla Vista Youth Projects

Community-Based COVID-19 Testing

COVID-19 testing is available in Santa Barbara County at community-based testing sites by appointment only and in healthcare settings. For more information on COVID-19, please visit the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department website at https://publichealthsbc.org/.

About Community-Based Testing

Santa Barbara County, The State of California and OptumServe are in partnership to increase testing for COVID-19 in our county. Testing is by appointment only.  Insurance information will be collected when you register, but no co-pay required. If you do not have insurance, the State of California will pay for your test.  Please bring your identification, if you have one.

Everyone is eligible to apply for screening. Once screened, testing order will be prioritized for people with symptoms, such as a fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Additional prioritization will be offered to populations of higher risk, including: First Responders and Health Care Professionals.

Testing sites will be operational five (5) days per week from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Days and times for appointments will be adjusted based on community need.

Community-Based Testing Locations

Community based testing site locations will be available throughout the county. Testing will be by appointment only.

Santa Maria:
Santa Maria Fairpark 937 Thornburg Street, Santa Maria, CA, 93458

Santa Barbara:
Earl Warren Showgrounds 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, CA 93105

Solvang:
1745 Mission Dr, Solvang, CA 93463

Request a Community-Based Testing Appointment

If you need help making an appointment, please contact the Santa Barbara County Call Center at 1 (833) 688-5551 Monday through Friday 9:30 a.m. –5:30 p.m.

Other Testing Options:
Please contact your Primary Care Provider to inquire about additional testing option.

Santa Barbara County RISE Guide

Santa Barbara County is taking steps to reopening society and our economy within the framework of Governor Newsom’s Resilience Roadmap. To support implementation of the roadmap for phased reopening, a localized supplemental guide has been produced – the Santa Barbara County RISE Guide (Reopening In Safe Environment). The RISE Guide was developed by medical experts and supported by feedback from all sectors of the community to create a science-based framework for residents, businesses and organizations by which to reopen in a phased manner, while prioritizing public health and protecting our most vulnerable populations.

The RISE Guide outlines the steps for reopening that can be safely taken in our community, balanced with the importance of resuming individual and economic activities as the COVID-19 epidemic evolves. The reopening approach is broken down into four phases, each with public health criteria for moving to and from phases:

  • Stage 1: Safety & Preparedness
  • Stage 2: Lower Risk Workplaces
  • Stage 3: Higher Risk Workplaces
  • Stage 4: End of Stay-at-Home Order

The RISE Guide is available at https://recoverysbc.org/the-rise-guide/. You can also visit ReadySBC.org for great information to help businesses and residents in the recovery phase.

The County of Santa Barbara has formed the RISE Ambassador Team to conduct outreach, business check-ins and confirm that safety standards and operating restrictions are being followed by business operators and patrons. 

Comprised of members from the Community Wellness Team, RISE Ambassadors help local businesses through providing education, resources and support to help with understanding the guidelines for reopening and ensuring the public enjoys a safe re-opening of businesses. The Community Wellness Team is a collaboration of local agencies working together to support wellness of our community in Santa Barbara County.

Bilingual Ambassadors are available countywide and supplied with literature for businesses and customers on ideas and ways to remain in compliance, and helpful reminders of how to protect one another by wearing face coverings, and by following protocols for physical distancing and personal hygiene. 

To request assistance from a RISE Ambassador, please call the County Call Center at (888) 633-5551 or the Community Wellness Team at (805) 364-2750.

Goleta City Council Approves Outdoor Restaurant Dining Program

Come to Goleta and see what’s cooking!  Many Goleta restaurants are already open for business and are welcoming diners.  A list of open restaurants can be found below and on the City’s website at http://cityofgoleta.org/covid19, under the section “Outdoor Dining in Goleta.”

The Goleta City Council recently voted to suspend zoning and development permit requirements for open-air spaces and parking lots on private property and adopt an emergency expanded restaurant dining and other uses program. The Goleta City Council approved a resolution to help restaurants and other specified uses expand their outdoor dining and use areas to serve more customers.  With the physical distancing guidelines in effect from Public Health, restaurants are in need of additional space to serve customers now that they are allowed to reopen under Stage 2 of the State’s reopening plan and County RISE Guide.  Other specified uses that would be allowed to expand outdoors include retail sales, fitness and yoga classes, and faith-organizations.

City of Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte said, “We are so pleased that some of our restaurants in Goleta will be able to expand their dining area to accommodate more customers.  We encourage you to support our local restaurants by dining there or by continuing to order #GoletaToGo.”

The City’s Emergency Expanded Restaurant Dining and Other Uses Program allows for the expansion of dining and use areas temporarily to open-air spaces and parking lots on private property where certain requirements are met. Expanded outdoor dining and use areas are intended to allow Goleta restaurants and specified uses to re-open safely, ensuring safe and adequate pedestrian and vehicle circulation while simultaneously meeting physical distancing and public health standards to prevent the spread of COVID-19.  This Program temporarily suspends City zoning and/or land use permit provisions applicable to business premises or restaurant dining areas that are in conflict with the expanded dining or use areas allowed by this Program.

Restaurants and other uses that want to expand into adjacent, open-air spaces (Group 1 businesses) may do so without a permit, provided that they have met certain requirements, including self-certification of a COVID-19 Prevention Plan under the State Dine-In Guide and County RISE Guide.  A complete list of requirements for expansion into open-air spaces can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/ydhdb7u5. 

Restaurants and other uses that want to expand into private parking lots (Group 2 businesses) must meet the same set of requirements as Group 1 and, in addition, obtain a Temporary Use Area Expansion Permit from the City, which may be found on the City’s website here: https://tinyurl.com/y8y5sv9e.

City staff will check to make sure a proposed expansion into a private parking lot:

  1. Preserves adequate and safe circulation for vehicles and pedestrians;
  2. Ensures vehicular traffic onsite would not create a traffic problem (e.g., queueing) on public roads or obstruction of public sidewalks; and
  3. Is protected by a surrounding barrier approved by the Public Works Department.

For more information, please contact the Planning and Environmental Review Zoning Counter at (805) 961-7543.

#GoletaToGo

Goleta to Go helps rally support for our local restaurants during this COVID-19 crisis and Stay at Home Order by encouraging locals to order takeout or delivery from the more than 70 Goleta restaurants. We are asking community members to take a photo of themselves or their family getting takeout or delivery from a Goleta restaurant and sending it to us with a mention of their favorite menu item. We will share the post on our Facebook (@CityofGoleta) and Instagram (@cityofgoleta) accounts. 

Please send your photo and short caption to PIO@cityofgoleta.org and be sure and use the hashtag #GoletaToGo.  While it may be tempting to just show photos of the delicious food you are ordering, we would prefer photos of people in them as well! 

Restaurants (including coffee shops, breweries, and wineries) currently open for take-out or delivery in Goleta:

  • Alphie’s Restaurant
  • Altimirano’s Mexican Grill
  • Anna’s Bakery
  • Beachside Bar- Café
  • Ca’ Dario Cucina Italiana
  • Cajun Kitchen
  • California Coast Naturals
  • CalTaco
  • Captain Fatty’s Brewery
  • Chili’s
  • China King
  • Chipotle
  • Choppa Poke
  • Cold Stone Creamery
  • Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
  • Country Meat Market & Catering
  • Cristino’s Bakery
  • Dave’s Dogs Grill
  • Domingo’s Café
  • Draughtsman Aleworks
  • El Sitio Restaurant
  • French Press
  • Goleta Red Distilling Co.
  • Goleta Sushi House
  • The Habit Burger Grill
  • Hollister Brewing Co.
  • Home Plate Grill
  • Itsuki
  • Jane
  • Jersey Mikes
  • Kentucky Fried Chicken
  • Kyle’s Kitchen
  • La Hacienda
  • L&L Hawaiian Barbecue
  • Lemon & Coriander
  • Los Agaves
  • Los Arroyos
  • Masala Spice
  • M. Special Brewing Company
  • McDonald’s
  • Meun Fan Thai Cafe
  • Natural Cafe
  • Neighbor Tim’s BBQ
  • Nikka Ramen
  • Noodle City
  • Nothing Bundt Cakes
  • Nugget Bar & Grill
  • Old Town Coffee
  • On the Alley
  • Panda Express
  • PANINO
  • Pattaya
  • Pepe’s Mexican Restaurant
  • Phamous Café
  • Pho Bistro
  • Pickles & Swiss
  • Pollofino
  • Rusty’s Pizza
  • Saigon Noodle House
  • SAMsARA Wine Co
  • Santa Barbara Chicken Ranch
  • South Coast Deli
  • Spudnuts Donuts
  • Starbucks (Albertsons location)
  • Subway
  • Sushi-Ai
  • Sushi Teri
  • Taco Bell
  • Three Pickles Deli
  • Woodstock’s Pizza
  • Yogurtland
  • Zizzo’s Coffee
  • Zodo’s

Thank you for helping to support local restaurants!  We can’t wait to see your photos!

Pictured: Local musician Eddie EagelFeather enjoying lunch outside at Los Arroyos Goleta Mexican Restaurant & Take Out

Process Underway to Slowly Re-Open the City

We are finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel as we begin to slowly re-open additional businesses in our City, following Governor Newsom’s modifications to the stay at home order. This process will be done in a thoughtful and safe way, closely following the State and County’s direction. Please know the City cannot be less restrictive than the state or County Orders.  Decisions will be made based on data and guidance from public health officials. 

Santa Barbara County is now moving through Stage 2 of the Governor’s 4-Stage Process. Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-60-20 provides guidance regarding the criteria and procedures on how to go about re-opening low-risk businesses for curbside pick-up.

Businesses permitted to reopen for curbside pick-up with safeguards include:

  • Antique Stores
  • Book Stores
  • Clothing Stores
  • Florists
  • Home and Furnishing Stores
  • Jewelry Stores
  • Music Stores
  • Shoe Stores
  • Sporting Goods Stores
  • Toy Stores

These businesses will be open for curbside pick-up only and must also maintain physical distancing protocols for staff and customers. Supply chains supporting the above businesses in manufacturing and logistical sectors may also reopen while adhering to the physical distancing guidelines.

The County is also republishing the Social Distancing Protocol to provide guidance and resources for businesses falling in this Phase 2 Category. Low-risk businesses will be able to reopen safely while adhering to physical distancing guidelines provided by the Governor and the Santa Barbara County Health Officer.

Please visit Santa Barbara County’s coronavirus web page for other COVID-19 resources and updates at https://publichealthsbc.org/.

For general questions about COVID-19 and guidance currently recommended by the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, residents may call the Santa Barbara County Call Center at (833) 688-5551.

Tennis and pickleball courts have reopened at Evergreen Park, Jonny D. Wallis Neighborhood Park, Berkeley Park, and Stow Canyon Open Space in Goleta. Residents must comply with these regulations which follow the Santa Barbara County Public Health Order in order for the courts to remain open.

Helpful Resources During COVID-19

The City of Goleta has put together a page on our website dedicated to COVID-19 information and resources (local and national): www.cityofgoleta.org/covid19. The page is being kept updated as new resources and information become available. On the webpage you can find out about City services and closures, as well as updates from other local agencies including Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, MTD, SCE, SoCalGas, Cox Communications, and MarBorg. There are also resources for businesses and employees. Below are some of the newest updates from local organizations.

  • Foodbank of Santa Barbara County is hosting additional food distributions in order to meet the growing need in the community caused by COVID-19. The food at these sites is prepared and distributed in a way that utilized social distancing and followed CDC recommendations.  Many locations offer a drive-thru option to minimize contact, and others are scheduling food pick-up appointments for individuals to prevent crowds. You may be asked to wear provided hygienic gloves. No documentation/registration required. Everyone is welcome. View a full list of locations here. For more information visit FoodbankSBC.org.

    Please DIAL 211 for after-hours support, senior home delivery or other questions.  Or visit the County of Santa Barbara’s 211 website.

  • Zoomers to Boomers: A group of local San Marcos High School students came up with a great way help by delivering groceries to neighbors who are elderly or immunocompromised. Zoomers to Boomers is an online site where seniors can submit a grocery list and a staff of high schoolers will head out to do the shopping and deliver to their homes. There are no tips or additional payments necessary. Any tips included by customers will be donated to those in need in the Santa Barbara community.  Zoomers to Boomers chapters, started in Santa Barbara, are now popping up all over the country.

  • SoCalGas customers who have recently become unemployed or are facing financial hardship may qualify for a 20% discount on their natural gas bill, through the CARE program or be eligible for another assistance programs. For more information, please visit com/Care or call 1-800-427-2200. Everyone at SoCalGas want to do everything they can to support the communities they serve during this time.

  • Through June 30, Cox extends its pledge to: not terminate internet or telephone service to any residential or small business customer because of an inability to pay their bills due to disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic; waive any internet or telephone late fees that any residential or small business customer incurs because of their economic circumstances related to the coronavirus pandemic; and keep open its Cox WiFi hotspots to help keep the public connected in this time of need.

    In addition, Cox is offering the services below through July 15. Go to cox.com for more information.
    • Free Connect2Compete service, Cox’s low-cost internet product for families with school-aged children who are enrolled in low-income assistance programs. Customers must sign up before May 15 to qualify. All new customers that have enrolled since March 13 will receive free service through July 15.
    • Upgraded speeds of 50 Mbps download for residential customers in the company’s Starter, StraightUp Internet and Connect2Compete packages.
    • For those tiers, free Cox Complete Care phone and remote desktop support for residential customers providing assistance for loading new applications they may need to use during this time like online classroom support applications and web conferencing services.

 

 

Please click here for more COVID-19 resources and information for the community.

City of Goleta Assists Homeless Population During COVID-19 Crisis

The Coronavirus adds a new challenge for people experiencing homelessness in and around Goleta. The City is partnering with local agencies to assist houseless residents during this difficult time.

City of Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte said, “While there is still much work to be done to ensure the health and safety of Goleta’s houseless residents and the community at large, the City is committed to doing what it can to support the well-being of all its residents.”

The City is partnering with New Beginnings Counseling Center’s Safe Parking and Rapid Rehousing Program to provide parking lots for people living in their vehicles and needing to shelter in place. Monitored parking lots allow participants to remain in a consistent location both day and night during the stay at home order and access restrooms and hand washing stations. In addition, the City is providing access to drinking water, charging stations, and wi-fi.

In partnership with Goleta Union School District, Goleta Valley Community Center, United Boys and Girls Clubs at the Goleta Club and the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, food distribution and school lunches are being shared with community members via drive-thru and walk-up service to all who are in need, no questions asked. Also provided at the Goleta Valley Community Center are two temporary, portable restrooms, including an ADA accessible unit, which are available for daytime use and thoroughly sanitized daily.

While the community may see encampments in new locations, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines say that in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 communities should not clear encampments at this time unless you can provide an individual room for each person. This is to protect inhabitants, the community, and public safety personnel. To address the issue, the City is notifying outreach teams from County Behavioral Wellness and Home for Good about any new encampments so that service workers can perform safety checks and educate people regarding ways to stay safe during this time. The City is also working with both outreach teams to provide essential items to those currently experiencing homelessness. This includes bags of food, socks, and hand sanitizer. Reports of homeless encampments should be directed to the City of Goleta’s new Community Resource Deputy Ben Sandu by calling 805-335-4238 or by emailing dbs4260@sbsheriff.org.

Additionally, as part of the regional COVID-19 Homeless/Housing Task Force, the City is working with Santa Barbara County to find hotel/motel partners willing to provide rooms to people at high-risk of contracting COVID-19. If any hotels or motels are interested in learning more about partnering with the County on this effort, please contact Dominique Samario with the City of Goleta at 805-690-5126 or by emailing dsamario@cityofgoleta.org.

In the summer of 2019, the City of Goleta began the process of developing a Homelessness Strategic Plan. Once adopted, it will help guide and coordinate efforts to prevent and address homelessness within the City of Goleta. A draft is expected to be brought before the City Council for discussion this summer.  Learn more by going to https://tinyurl.com/GoletaHomelessnessPlan.

New! Goleta Valley Library is now Offering Free Children’s Craft Kits

The library is excited to announce that patrons of the Goleta, Buellton and Solvang libraries can sign up to receive free craft kits for kids! All you need to do is fill out a brief form on the Goleta Valley Library’s website and the library will send craft kits to your home!  Each month you may request up to two craft kits for each of your children. For some of the craft kits, you will need to provide items such as glue, crayons, etc… The kits are yours to keep. Please remember that some of the kits have quite small pieces so younger children should be monitored at all times. Library staff think kids will really enjoy these kits, so be sure to sign up here!

“We miss doing programs for area children, so between these craft kits and our virtual programming we feel a bit closer to our library users. I think kids will enjoy the wide variety of crafts we will be sending to them,” said Library Director Allison Gray.

For more activities for your children, stay in touch with the Goleta Valley Library on their Facebook page (@GoletaValleyLibrary). You will find recorded and live programs such as Wriggly Storytime, Family Storytime, craft programs and more. The Buellton and Solvang Libraries also have programming on their Facebook pages as well: Buellton and Solvang.

As always, please visit www.GoletaValleyLibrary.org for a list of ideas on “How to Keep Busy at Home for all Ages” and digital resources.

Live Tech Tutoring Now Available at Goleta Valley Library

Now more than ever, people are relying on technology for work, staying in touch with friends, and general entertainment. The Goleta Valley Library knows this and is moving its in-person tech tutoring to live video chat or over the phone in order to continue to support the community during the COVID-19 crisis and stay at home order. Library patrons can receive personalized one-on-one help with their laptop, tablet, cell phone, smart TV, etc… Assistance is available for general usage as well as how to access the library’s numerous downloadable options providing free e-books, audiobooks, movies, TV shows, graphic novels, and magazines to patrons.

Library Director Allison Gray said, “I am very excited to be able to offer this new service to the community. We want to make sure everyone feels connected at this time and is able to take advantage of the library’s different online offerings. We encourage anyone who needs help with their technology to take advantage of this new program.”

Live one-on-one Tech Tutoring is available with a trained library staff member Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. by appointment. Sessions are 30 or 60 minutes depending on the help needed. Fill out the Library’s Live Tech Tutoring Request Form on the library website and a staff member will confirm your date and time. You can also call (805) 964-7878 to schedule an appointment. Spanish language support is also available; complete the form in Spanish here.

If you don’t have a Goleta Valley or Santa Ynez Valley Library card, and live in those areas, you can still get one that allows you access to downloadable services by going to the Black Gold eCard Registration webpage.

For access to all of the library’s FREE electronic resources, programs, and activities please visit GoletaValleyLibrary.org. Remember to “like” us on Facebook (@GoletaValleyLibrary) and follow us on Instagram (@goletavalleylibrary) for more updates and to view live programming.

The libraries will also continue to offer personalized reading lists. Fill out this form, providing information on the type of books you like and don’t like, and a staff member will put together a reading list for you. Patrons can also order books or audiobooks not owned by the library for home delivery by filling out a Zip Books request form.

Like almost everyone, library staff are now working from home. They are still available to answer questions via email at goletavalleylibrary@cityofgoleta.org.

Coming soon, the Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley libraries will be offering a phone check-in service to keep connected with the community. A friendly library staff member will reach out with a phone call to those who are interested. Stay tuned for more information!