Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

Hollister Avenue HAWK Crosswalk Project – Award Winner!

We are excited to share that the City’s Hollister Avenue HAWK Crosswalk Project was selected as Project of the Year by the American Public Works Association (APWA) California Central Coast Chapter! This was in the category of Transportation Project under $2 million. The project upgraded the existing midblock crosswalk on Hollister Avenue at the Goleta Valley Community Center by installing a High Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) system in order to increase the safety of pedestrians crossing the street. The new HAWK system replaced the existing yellow flashing beacons, installed additional roadway lighting, relocated the crosswalk approximately 100 feet to the east, and installed pavement striping and signage.

The pedestrian-activated HAWK system installation is the first of its kind on the South Coast. The HAWK system crosswalk has significantly improved the pedestrian crossing in an area heavily used by seniors and children. It links the residential neighborhood to the north of Hollister Avenue with the Goleta Valley Community Center, Boys & Girls Club of Goleta, and Rainbow and Head Start pre-schools located on the south side of Hollister Avenue. This project was completed with the help of ISL Engineering (Design Firm), Lee Wilson Electric Company, Inc. (Construction Firm) and MNS Engineers (Construction Management).

Goleta Ranked One of California’s Safest Cities

Did you hear? Goleta yet again ranked as one of the safest cities in California! This time from the National Council for Home Safety and Security, making it the eighth time Goleta has earned such honors from a variety of sources since 2013. Goleta ranked #53, coming in well below the average in California for property crime and violent crime. To generate city scores and rankings, the National Council for Home Safety and Security reviewed the most recent FBI Uniform Crime Report statistics along with their own population data and research. View all the California cities to make the National Council for Home Safety and Security’s safest city list here: www.alarms.org/safest-cities-in-california-2018/. 

Get Familiar with Santa Barbara County’s New Storm Process

We wanted to make sure you were aware of the new storm evacuation terms, 72-hour storm evacuation timeline, and interactive map for Santa Barbara County recently released by County and emergency officials. SB County Sheriff’s deputies distributed Storm Readiness Evacuation Information Booklets with this information and more, around the streets of Montecito and Carpinteria. The booklets are available throughout the community. More information on storm preparedness can be found at readysbc.org.

  • Evacuation Terms: No longer is it a mandatory or voluntary evacuation. The new terminology was created to provide more clarity to residents in the event evacuations are necessary due to an approaching storm. The three new evacuation terms are: Pre-Evacuation Advisory, Recommended Evacuation Warning and Mandatory Evacuation Order. Find the definitions at readysbc.org under “Storm Readiness”.
  • Evacuation Timeline: The 72-hour storm evacuation timeline outlines when the Sheriff’s Office will issue the first pre-evacuation advisory, the recommended evacuation warning, and the mandatory evacuation order for residents in extreme and high-risk areas.
  • Interactive map: With the interactive map, residents can enter their address and determine if they are located in extreme or high-risk areas. The map can be accessed at ReadySBC.org/stormreadymap.

City of Goleta Receives Highest Form of Recognition in Government Budgeting

We are pleased to share that the City of Goleta received its first Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the City’s two year budget plan, fiscal years 2017/18 and 2018/19. The Finance Department put together a comprehensive budget plan to increase transparency and more clearly show how money comes into the City and how it is spent. In previous years the Finance Department has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the GFOA for the City’s Annual Financial Report. The City of Goleta’s 2017/18 and 2018/19 budget is available here. For a summary, please read the Budget in Brief. More information on the Government Finance Offers Association and the award is available at www.gfoa.org.

Please Join us for our Community State of the City

The second annual community State of the City is Tuesday, April 10 at 6:00 p.m. at the Goleta Valley Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue). This event is free and open to the public. Spanish translation will be available. Hear from Mayor Paula Perotte and City Manager Michelle Greene on topics important to you and ask questions of the City. If you are unable to attend, the event will be rebroadcast on Goleta TV (channel 19/104.148) and will also be posted on the City’s website at www.cityofgoleta.org.  A broadcast schedule will be available after the event. 

Complete Streets Community Meeting

Don’t Miss Our Upcoming Hollister Complete Streets Workshops

We want your input on our Hollister Avenue Complete Streets Corridor Plan. Please attend our community workshop on March 13 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Goleta Valley Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue) or our workshop for Old Town business owners and employees on March 14 from 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. also at the Goleta Valley Community Center.

Attendees at both meetings will see three concept alternatives for what Hollister Avenue could look like. Should Hollister Avenue be reduced from two lanes to one in each direction? What should the bike lanes look like? Do you prefer parallel or diagonal parking on Hollister Avenue?

We will be gathering feedback from attendees on the different options to see which one people like best. The Hollister Complete Streets project will enhance safety, access and mobility for all users (pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders) on Hollister Avenue between Fairview Avenue and State Route 217. For those unable to attend, please take our survey in English or our survey in Spanish, which lets you rank the three concept alternatives for Hollister Avenue and provide comments. For more information on the project please visit www.goletacompletestreets.com. 

Do You Park in Old Town?

We hope you will join us for our community meeting on parking restrictions in Old Town on March 12. The City is looking at changing the parking in Old Town along Hollister Avenue and adjacent streets in order to accommodate easier access for patrons of local businesses and the desire of the Old Town community. Come to the Council’s Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Standing Committee meeting on March 12 at 6:00 p.m. at the Goleta Valley Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue) to provide input on this topic. Can’t make the meeting? We still want to hear from you! Take our survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/oldtownparking or https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/oldtownparkingespanol.

Noxious Odors Meeting Tonight!

The City’s community meeting on noxious odors in Western Goleta is tonight, March 7, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. It will take place in Goleta City Hall Council Chambers (130 Cremona Drive, Suite B). The meeting has been organized by the City to educate our residents about the steps that should be taken if someone smells a noxious odor. It is also an opportunity to have your questions answered. Attendees will hear from various local agencies about each of their roles and responsibilities. Click here to learn about the regulatory roles before the meeting.

Can’t make the meeting? Watch it live or at a later time on our website (www.cityofgoleta.org/i-want-to/news-and-updates/government-meeting-agendas-and-videos) or Cox channel 19.

Old Town Parking Restrictions Community Meeting

The City is looking at changing the timed parking in Old Town along Hollister Avenue and adjacent streets in order to accommodate easier access for patrons of local businesses and the desire of the Old Town community. We want input on this topic from residents, businesses and visitors to the area. Join us for a Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Standing Committee meeting on March 12 at 6:00 p.m. at the Goleta Valley Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue) which will include maps with the proposed restriction overlays.

 

Complete Streets Community Meeting

Join us for a Complete Streets Community Workshop

The Hollister Avenue Complete Streets Corridor Plan is moving forward and we need your input! We will be having a meeting open to the community on March 13 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Goleta Valley Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue) and a meeting for Old Town business owners and employees on March 14 from 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. also at the Goleta Valley Community Center.

Attendees at both meetings will see three alternatives for what Hollister Avenue could look like. Should it be reduced from two lanes to one in each direction? What should the bike lanes look like? Do you prefer parallel or diagonal parking on Hollister Avenue? We will be gathering feedback from attendees on the different options to see which one people like best. Hollister Avenue is a main corridor in Old Town Goleta providing access to businesses and residential homes. The Complete Streets project will enhance safety, access and mobility for all users (pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders) on Hollister Avenue between Fairview Avenue and State Route 217. For those who are unable to attend, an online survey will be available shortly to allow for ranking of the three options and comments. For more information on the project please visit www.goletacompletestreets.com.