Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

City Breaks Ground on Community Athletic Field

On June 19, 2019, the City held a groundbreaking for the renovation of the athletic field behind the Goleta Valley Community Center and next to the Boys & Girls Club. City Staff, Councilmembers, and Boys & Girls Club Kids of the Week were all in attendance as Council helped to break ground on this exciting new project. The City is excited to improve this recreation space 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. This project includes new turf with gopher mesh for the field, new irrigation, a walking path, and a fitness station.

The City received a Housing Related Parks Program grant from the State of California’s Department of Housing and Community Development to help pay for the renovations. Construction is anticipated to be complete by the end of August. If you missed the event, you can watch the speeches and ground breaking on the City’s YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/user/CityofGoleta1.

CEC’s Solarize Program Comes to Goleta

The City of Goleta is partnering with the Community Environmental Council (CEC) and several other local jurisdictions to encourage residential solar development through CEC’s Solarize Santa Barbara program. The program is designed to help homeowners step-by-step through the solar installation process, and utilizes group purchasing to offer discounts on home systems. As of early 2019, CEC has helped 736 local homeowners, bringing 3.5 megawatts of solar to the Central Coast through the Solarize Program since it launched in 2011.

If you’re a homeowner interested in going solar and or adding battery storage to your existing solar system, attend an upcoming Solarize Santa Barbara workshop on Wednesday, July 10 at 5:30 p.m. at the Goleta Valley Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue). This workshop is free and open to everyone.

Goleta residents can take advantage of the limited-time discounted price up until August 31, 2019. For more information on the program and how you can go solar, please visit www.SolarizeSB.org or contact info@cecsolarize.org.

Provide Input on the City’s Roadways

On Wednesday, July 24, the City will hold the first of two public workshops on the Goleta Traffic Safety Study. Join us from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at the Goleta Valley Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue) to learn about the study, talk to City staff, and give feedback on the City’s roadways and corridors, traffic conditions, and perception of safety.

The Goleta Traffic Safety Study Project is an opportunity for the City to review and evaluate the City’s major east-west and north-south corridors, including the major intersections, for things such as collision frequency and magnitude, roadway and intersection design configurations, and traffic volumes. A project team is currently analyzing and assessing the roadways. Their findings, combined with public input, will help construct an analysis which will include common factors in vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian collisions, and address recommended safety improvements for vehicle lanes, bicycle lanes, and pedestrian crosswalks. 

The Goleta Traffic Safety Study is funded through a $225,000 Systemic Safety Analysis Report (SSAR) Program grant the City received in January 2018. The final report will aid the City in pursuing further grant opportunities to assist in funding recommended improvements which have been identified. Additional information, including a map of the corridors, is available at https://tinyurl.com/GoletaTrafficSafetyStudy.

Are You Prepared for a Multi-Day Power Outage?

Southern California Edison (SCE) has recently developed a plan to shut off power when high risk weather could start a wildfire. The Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) could lead to multi-day power outages in Goleta during periods of extremely hot, dry, and/or windy weather. A PSPS outage will last as long as the potentially dangerous weather conditions exist, plus the amount of time it takes for power company workers to inspect and repair their equipment in the affected area(s). Residents need to prepare for a power outage that could last 3-5 days.

The City has put together tips on how to prepare for a multi-day power outage including knowing how to manually open your automatic garage door and having a battery-operated radio. Click here to learn more.  It is also recommended to register for emergency alerts from the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management (SBCOEM) at www.ReadySBC.org. To receive emergency information from the City of Goleta, go to https://tinyurl.com/goletaemergency, text Goleta Emergency to 468311, or call 961-7508.

Learn more about Public Safety Power Shutoffs on the SCE website.

Inaugural LEAD Goleta Graduation

On July 10, 2019, the City will graduate its first LEAD Goleta (Learn, Empower, Advocate, Discuss) cohort. The City’s inaugural community academy consisted of six two-hour sessions where participants learned the inner workings of city government. The program was designed to help residents better understand the role that local government plays in the community so that they can effectively participate, share what they have learned with others, and consider getting more involved in local government. Each session was led by City Manager Michelle Greene and a Department Director, in an intimate and informal setting. Participants were encouraged to ask questions throughout the presentations which included department background information, current happenings, and future projects.

Apply for SBCAG’s Measure A Citizens Oversight Committee

The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) is recruiting for their Measure A Citizens’ Oversight committee. Measure A is a transportation measure that was approved by Santa Barbara County residents in 2008 and designates one-half of one percent (1/2%) sales tax for transportation projects and programs over 30 years. It is administered by SBCAG and is estimated to provide more than $1 billion of local investment in transportation projects through 2040. The 11 member committee helps ensure accountability to voters regarding the spending of funds. The vacancy is for an “at-large” position, and the term is for four (4) years. Applicants are being considered based on their ability to represent transportation interests countywide. The application deadline is June 7. Learn more and apply here.

Goleta Summer 2019 Events

It’s hard to believe but July 4th is only one month away! Here are a few ways to celebrate Independence Day this year:

  • Celebrate a hometown Old Fashioned 4th of July from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at Rancho La Patera & Stow House (304 N. Los Carneros Road). Enjoy live music and entertainment, hayrides, delicious BBQ, games, local artists, classic cars, an old engine show, and plenty of family-friendly fun.
  • Finish the day with the Goleta Fireworks Festival at Girsh Park (7050 Phelps Road) presented by the Rotary Clubs of Goleta. There are activities for all ages, including UCSB’s climbing wall, sack races, face painting, mini Ferris wheel, corn hole, hula hoop contest, live music, and plenty of food choices. Gates open at 5:00 p.m. and the spectacular fireworks show begins at 9:00 p.m.

Don’t miss these summertime events as well:

  • Grab your blanket and picnic basket for Music at the Ranch Tuesdays this summer (July 9 – August 20) from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Make your summer evenings sweeter by hanging at the Ranch (304 N. Los Carneros Road) with friends and family and listening to great music.
  • Concerts at the Gazebo returns this summer to the Goleta Valley Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue). Pick-up dinner from a local restaurant, bring a blanket, and get your groove on Wednesdays from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. (July 3, 17, 31, Aug. 14, 28)!
  • Bring the family to Goleta Depot Days on August 10 and 11 from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the South Coast Railroad Museum (300 N. Los Carneros Road)! Go back in time to work a handcar, attend an “unclaimed freight & baggage sale,” and bring the kids for train rides, a bounce house, and arts & crafts.
  • We’re excited for the annual Goleta Dam Dinner on Saturday, August 17, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Lake Los Carneros Dam! Join us for this fun community event in a beautiful setting. Bring your own dinner or purchase it from the on-site food truck, listen to great music, get to know your neighbors, and bring a potluck dessert to share. Stay tuned for more details. Follow us on Facebook (@DamDinner) for the latest information about this fun, family-friendly event.

Discover the Flavors of Old Town

Old Town has so much to offer that an entire festival has been created around it! Taste & Sounds of Old Town Goleta returns for its second year on Saturday, June 8, from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Sample cuisine from local restaurants, peruse vendor booths, sip beer, wine and cider in a beer garden, and enjoy live music by Soul Machine. Tickets are on sale now; buy early as prices go up at the door. The Festival is presented by the Goleta Old Town Community Association. For more information, follow the Festival on Facebook (@TasteandSoundOTG), or visit the website at www.goletataste.com.   

AIDS/LifeCycle Riding Through Goleta

The AIDS/LifeCycle Ride returns to Goleta on Friday, June 7, 2019. An estimated 2,500 bicyclists will ride 545 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles June 2 – 8 for this annual fundraiser. Riders will be in Goleta around 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will be staggered along the route. Bicyclists will enter the City riding southbound on U.S. 101 and exit at Hollister Avenue / Winchester Canyon Road. Riders will make their way to Girsh Park for lunch by taking Hollister Avenue east, turning right on Cannon Green Drive, left on Phelps Road, right on Pacific Oaks Road, left on Armstrong Road, left on Mills Way, left on Phelps Road and entering Girsh Park through the west parking lot for a lunch stop. After lunch, riders will turn right onto Phelps Road to exit Girsh Park, turn right again onto Pacific Oaks Road, and make a final right turn onto Hollister Avenue. Riders continue east on Hollister Avenue and exit the City after crossing Patterson Avenue on their way to Ventura. Click here to view a map of the Goleta route. For more information on the AIDS/LifeCycle ride, go to www.aidslifecycle.org.

Legal Aid Services Available

The Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County is celebrating 60 years of providing legal assistance to low-income and other vulnerable individuals in the community. Volunteer lawyers are available Wednesday’s at the Goleta Valley Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue). The type of law they provide assistance for alternates weekly between Family Law (4:00 – 6:00 p.m.) and Civil Law (5:00 – 6:00 p.m.). Clients are seen on a first-come, first-served basis. Please call the Goleta Valley Community Center ahead of time to ensure an attorney will be present: 805-967-1237. Additional services are available throughout Santa Barbara County. Please visit the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County’s website at www.lafsbc.org for more information.