Celebrate Independence Day Without Illegal Fireworks

June 12, 2025

Free Crates and Microchips for Pets

July 4th is almost here, and we want to encourage you that whatever your plans may be, to celebrate safely this Independence Day. As a reminder, setting off fireworks is illegal in the City of Goleta. Illegal Fireworks put us all at risk because they can lead to fires, especially during our current high fire season. Also, every year our hospitals see serious injuries caused by illegal fireworks. Goleta Police will be patrolling neighborhoods and enforcing illegal fireworks laws. Offenders are subject to hefty fines. You can also be legally and financially liable for injuries or for starting a fire. To report illegal fireworks call the non-emergency dispatch line at 805-683-2724.

Besides being dangerous, fireworks can also cause a great deal of stress for people who are noise sensitive and can be terrifying for pets. Santa Barbara County Animal Services (SBCAS) is offering free microchips in June for all pets and free crate loans through July 7^th during regular business hours, Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM at all three shelter locations, the closest being Santa Barbara Animal Shelter (5473 Overpass Road). No appointment is needed, and each microchip includes lifetime registration to increase the chances of a swift reunion if your pet becomes lost.

SBCAS encourages all pet owners to take the following steps to keep pets safe over the holiday weekend:

Keep pets indoors and in a secure, quiet space during fireworks.
Use calming music or white noise to help mask outdoor sounds.
Ensure all pets wear collars with ID tags.
Check that fences and gates are secure before the holiday.
Never bring pets to fireworks displays or crowded parties.

If your pet becomes lost:

File a report and upload a photo to Petco Love Lost. This free tool uses facial recognition to search shelter and community found pet databases.
Use Santa Barbara Animal Services interactive map to see if your pet has been reported found nearby.
Check with local shelters in person.
Post on neighborhood platforms like Nextdoor and Facebook right away—many pets are found within just a few miles of home.

For more information about services, shelter locations, and how to get involved, visit www.sbcanimalservices.org/july4.

Goleta Raises Pride Flag

June 12, 2025

The Pride Flag is up at Goleta City Hall in honor of LGBTQ+ Pride Month. City Council members gathered on June 3rd to raise the flag.

The City will also be issuing a proclamation at the June 17 City Council meeting. View the proclamation here.

LGBTQ+ individuals in the United States have fought for equal treatment, dignity, and respect, and remain determined to pursue full equality, respect, and inclusion for all individuals regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Despite being marginalized throughout the history of the United States, LGBTQ+ individuals continue to celebrate their identities, love, and contributions in various expressions of Pride. The City Council encourages the Goleta community to join in celebration and appreciation of the LGBTQ+ community.

The raising of the Pride Flag is an example of the City of Goleta’s ongoing commitment to creating a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for everyone.

Pictured: Goleta City Council raising the Pride Flag outside of City Hall [pictured left-to-right: Mayor Pro Tempore Stuart Kasdin (District 4), Councilmember James Kyriaco (District 2), Councilmember Luz Reyes-Martín (District 1) and Councilmember Jennifer Smith (District 3)]

Senior Scam Prevention Seminar June 27

June 11, 2025

9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at the Goleta Community Center

Have you or someone you know fallen victim to a scam? Join Senator Monique Limón for a Senior Scam Prevention Seminar at the Goleta Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue) on Friday, June 27 from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Gain valuable information on how to detect scams and protect yourself from fraud as you learn from a panel of experts on the latest scam tactics.

The seminar is presented by the California Department of Insurance, Department of Financial Protection & Innovation, Department of Consumer Affairs and the Department of Justice.

Please RSVP online for this event or call Senator Monique Limón’s Office at (805) 965 -0862.

For questions, please email Senator.Limon@senate.ca.gov or call the Santa Barbara District Office at (805) 965 -0862.

Public Works Week Poem

June 11, 2025

Public Works Week may be over, but the work they do is year-round. The City’s Public Works Department held a family-friendly event on May 21 at the Camino Real Marketplace as an opportunity for community members to connect with Public Works staff. Additionally, the City Council issued a proclamation at the May 20 meeting declaring May 18-24, 2025 as Public Works Week.

Public Works Director Nina Buelna accepted the Proclamation and read a poem she wrote about her department. You can watch it here and read it below.

In Goleta, Public Works rolls with a crew full of might,
Fixing what’s broken—from morning to night.
With seven divisions and thirty-three pros on a mission,
We tackle the work with skill and precision.

From trees to creeks, from parks to drains,
We power the signals and clear clogged lanes.
Streetlights are glowing, our roads stay maintained—
We hustle all day, through sunshine and rain.

Transportation & Development Engineering leads the way,
Blending safety and service in the public right-of-way.
With engineers skilled and responsibilities wide,
They build, review, and enforce with pride.

Street Maintenance keeps our infrastructure right,
From patching roads and fixing sidewalks, to signals and lights.
They stripe the roads and answer each call—
No job too small, they handle it all.

CIP pushes out the project delivery process every time,
Making sure all of our projects fall in line.
With construction management sharp and prime,
The job gets done on budget and time
No task too complex, no deadline too rough—
With our engineers, we’re more than enough.

Environmental Services protects our creeks and more,
Managing permits and zero waste at the core.
They lead with care to keep Goleta clean and true,
Ensuring a greener future for me and for you.

Parks & Open Space protects what we love,
From wild trails to habitats treasured above.
They maintain our parks, serene and bright—
Preserving nature with all their might.

Administration is our steady hand,
Guiding the ship with every plan.
They manage our budgets, our people, our pace—
And keep every project in its place.

12,000 trees? We’ve pruned every limb.
85 street centerline miles? We keep them prim.
Creeks and coastline, gutters and signs—
All in a week’s work, and still done on time!
Storm drains and bridges, all in our care,
We maintain it all with grace and great flair.

So here’s to the team who clears every jam,
Who answers the call, no matter the plan.
Public Works rocks—it’s easy to see,
We’re the heart of Goleta, from A down to Z.

Thank you, Public Works, for all the important work you do in making Goleta a great place to live, work and play!

Photo of Public Works staff with City Council at May 20 Council Meeting

Goleta’s Fire Risk and Readiness Presentations

June 11, 2025

Like so many other California communities, Goleta is at risk for wildfires which is why it is important to know what our particular risks are and how to be ready. The City held two informative presentations at the Goleta Community Center on June 9 and 11 that were well attended by over 100 community members combined and gave those attending an opportunity to hear first-hand how to better prepare for wildfire season.

The event featured over 10 vendor tables and a lineup of engaging and knowledgeable presenters who shared important insights and resources in a clear and accessible way. It was a great chance for neighbors to connect, ask questions, and feel more confident about staying safe.

At the presentations, Goleta residents learned about recent updates to the California Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps and ongoing projects to reduce wildfire risk.

Funding for this community presentation was provided by the California Coastal Conservancy Wildfire Resilience Program.

The presentations were hosted in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Wildfire Resilience Collaborative of Santa Barbara County and Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council. As wildfires become more frequent and severe, the City and its partners recognize the importance of inclusive public outreach and education.

To watch the presentation by City of Goleta staff and the Santa Barbara County Fire Department on designating Local Responsibility Area FHSZ within the City limits, as presented at the Goleta City Council meeting on May 20, 2025, click here.

For questions or more information, please email: ESD@cityofgoleta.org.

Resources:

City of Goleta Emergency Services Coordinator speaking to the audience

Fire Safe Council tabling

Wildfire Resilience Collaborative tabling

“Topping Off” Ceremony for Goleta Train Depot Project

June 11, 2025

Attendees Sign Final Steel Beam and Applaud Completion of Structural Framing

The City of Goleta held a ‘topping off’ ceremony on June 10, 2025, with the placement of the final structural steel beam for the Goleta Train Depot located at 27 S. La Patera Lane. This milestone marks the completion of the construction project’s structural framing, a project that broke ground in September of 2024. Watch a video recap here of the special event.

The topping off ceremony, a tradition in the construction industry, celebrates the safe, successful completion of the installation of structural steel framing and recognizes the accomplishments of the construction crew. The final beam was signed by workers and project partners adorned with symbolic elements like an evergreen tree for growth and good fortune, and both an American and a City of Goleta flag connecting the building to its community and identity. The beam was hoisted into place followed by applause from the audience. Due to the active construction site, attendance was limited.

Mayor Paula Perotte said, “We are excited by the progress being made and are grateful for the ongoing dedication of everyone associated with getting us to this point in construction including our city team, our consultants, Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) and our contractor, Quincon. We first envisioned the development of a new train depot in 2017. In 2018 we acquired the land using city funds and successfully secured state funding to design and construct. After that, we entered the lengthy project development and architectural design phase, and last September we started construction. We can’t wait for the ribbon cutting ceremony next year.”

2nd District Goleta City Councilmember James Kyriaco said, “The train depot is the first “from scratch building” that the city has undertaken to build, so this is doubly exciting for us all to be at the City of Goleta’s first “topping off” ceremony.”

SBCAG Executive Director Marjie KIRN said, “Delivering a project of this scale and impact takes not only vision but also significant investment – this effort would not be possible without strong support at every level – local, regional, and state. We look forward to celebrating the grand opening—and, more importantly, using this new depot to further connect Ventura County commuters to Goleta with a new rail service starting this fall.”

Leading up to this milestone, work has focused on site demolition, site grading and excavation, installation of underground utilities, and pouring of the concrete building pad. Work will continue throughout the summer with installation of internal framing, flooring, roofing, and all windows and doors. The project remains on schedule for full completion by early summer 2026.

The full-service multi-modal train depot is a transformative one for our region. It will serve increased train ridership, improve connections to bus transit, accommodate transit service to/from the Santa Barbara Airport and UCSB and add new bicycle and pedestrian facilities. This project will also accommodate the planned future expansion of passenger rail service to Goleta.

For more information on the project go to www.CityofGoleta.org/TrainDepot.

Goleta City Council and project partners celebrate “Topping Off” Ceremony on June 10^th at the Goleta Train Depot construction site

Goleta City Council stands in front of Goleta Train Depot structure at “Topping Off” Ceremony on June 10^th

Councilmembers Luz-Reyes Martin and Jennifer Smith sign final steel beam before it is placed

City consultant Gerald Comati signs the final steel beam before it is placed

The final steel beam for the Goleta Train Depot structure is hoisted into place by a crane at the “Topping Off Ceremony”