Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

Beautify Goleta Self-Guided Cleanup Month

Love Where You Live this February

Get ready to show your neighborhood some serious affection because the 3rd Annual Beautify Goleta Self-Guided Cleanup Month is officially here. Whether you’re a solo eco-warrior, a dynamic duo, or a family squad, we need you to help keep Goleta gorgeous all month long.

Here’s the deal: Forget early morning roll calls. This is a cleanup on your schedule! Throughout the entire month of February, you are encouraged to pick up litter whenever and wherever it is most convenient for you (just remember to stick to public spaces, or private property only with permission).

Whether it’s a quick 10-minute pickup while walking the dog or a dedicated hour at your favorite park, every piece of litter removed makes a difference!

Snap, Tag, and Inspire!
We want to see your efforts! As you are out there making Goleta shine, snap a selfie or a photo of your cleanup crew.

  • Post it to social media
  • Tag us @cityofgoleta
  • Use the hashtag #BeautifyGoleta

We’ll be sharing your posts to inspire others to get out there and show their love for the community!

Did Someone Say Prizes?

Yes! It’s not just about the warm fuzzy feeling of doing good; we’ve got giveaways, too! Once you finish a cleanup, report your results using our online form. Reporting your cleanup enters you into our end-of-the-month prize drawing.

We are giving away prizes for:

  1. Grand Prize Drawing: Open to all participants (3 winners chosen at random!)
  2. The Heavy Lifter: Prize for picking up the most trash by weight (1 winner)
  3. The Frequent Cleaner: Prize for the most individual cleanups reported throughout the month (1 winner)

Winners will be announced in early March 2026!

Gear Up & Stay Safe

Need Equipment? Don’t let a lack of gear stop you! The City has trash grabbers, gloves, bags, and buckets available for free checkout. Email us at EnvironmentalServices@cityofgoleta.gov to schedule a pickup time.

Safety First: Before you head out, please check out our Self-Guided Cleanup Cheat Sheet and Safety Guidance.

Ready to get started? Visit www.CityofGoleta.org/BeautifyGoleta to sign up, report your trash, and learn more. Let’s make this the cleanest February yet!

Mathilda Park Construction Underway

Improvements to Include a New Playground

A neighborhood park in Goleta is under construction and is expected to be completed in the spring. Mathilda Park is located on the top of a hill in western Goleta at 311 Mathilda Drive. The improvements include upgrades designed to enhance accessibility, functionality, and sustainability at the park.

Planned improvements include:

  • Replacement of the existing playground equipment
  • Installation of defined turf areas
  • Drought-tolerant landscaping
  • Drainage improvements
  • Adjustments to the walkway alignment to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements

Construction activities are scheduled to take place Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. While every effort will be made to minimize impacts to nearby residents, temporary disruptions may occur during construction.

Please note that the construction schedule is subject to change due to weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances. The City appreciates the community’s patience and cooperation during this project.

For additional information or questions, please contact Project Manager, Melissa Angeles at mangeles@cityofgoleta.gov or 805-690-5122. You can also visit the project page here for the latest information. 

 

City Pavement Program Update

There has been a whole lot of pavement rehabilitation going on in the City of Goleta.  In 2025 more than 5 center lane miles of roadway were improved as part of the on-going Pavement Management Program. This is significantly more than the year prior. We are also pleased that due to budget availability the City is now able to add three more streets to the rehab repair list. The planned work is intended as a bridge treatment to stabilize current roadway conditions and extend the pavement’s service life. The streets include:

  • Pacific Oaks Road: Hollister Avenue to Phelps Road
  • Calle Real: Salisbury Avenue to Rochester Way
  • Verdura Avenue: Carlo Drive to Vega Drive

While most of the major work scheduled on the City’s main roads for the 2025 Arterial Pavement Project is near completion, remaining tasks include slurry seal and striping on select roadways including:

  • Hollister Avenue: Cathedral Oaks Drive to Elderberry Drive
  • Storke Road: Hollister Avenue to Bollay Drive
  • Hollister Avenue: Camino Real Marketplace to Storke Road

Crews will return to finish these tasks, though no major traffic impacts are expected.

Other updates:

  • Tree replanting along Berkeley Road and Stow Canyon is scheduled to begin soon.

Residential Road Repair

As far as residential roads go, the resurfacing project in northeast Goleta completed its first phase in 2025. Phase two, which includes slurry seal treatment, is planned for spring 2026, weather permitting. Impacted residents will receive advance notifications, including mailed notices, before construction begins. Work is expected to continue into early summer 2026.

Finally, the City is in the process of designing the 2026 Arterial Pavement Project and the 2026 Residential Resurfacing Project.

For the latest updates, visit the project webpage, which will provide confirmed schedules. Please note that timelines may change due to material availability, weather, or equipment issues.

Questions? Contact us:
Email: pavement@cityofgoleta.gov
Phone: 805-562-5504


Paving work on Storke Road near Camino Real Marketplace


Paving work on Hollister Avenue by Viajero Drive

Save-the-Date for Goleta’s Community State of the City

April 15 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Goleta Community Center

Mark your calendar for the City’s biggest night of the year! The Goleta Community State of the City is taking place on Wednesday, April 15 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Goleta Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue). This event, in its ninth year, will have a new format. The Mayor and the entire City Council will be presenting on the City’s accomplishments and challenges. Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be available and light refreshments provided.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive at 5:00 p.m. to check out the City information tables. City staff will be available to talk about upcoming projects and programs. This is also an opportunity to mingle with the City Council, City staff, stakeholders and fellow Goletans. At 6:00 p.m. the main program begins featuring the Mayor and City Councilmembers giving a State of the City Address, followed by a Financial Update from Goleta City Manager Robert Nisbet. The program ends with the popular Q&A session featuring City of Goleta Department Directors.

We hope you can join us for this important City event. Please tell your family and friends.

Drone Light Show Still Needs Donors

The return of Goleta’s Fourth of July Drone Light Show at Dos Pueblos High School will be here before you know it and we need your help! While the City has raised a portion of the funds needed, we still need additional sponsors to make this second year better than the first! We are planning a fun event and hope to get all of our community partners in place soon. If your business or organization is interested in supporting the Drone Light Show, let us know! Email Kelly Hoover at PIO@CityofGoleta.gov or fill out a brief online interest form at www.CityofGoleta.org/July4Sponsor.

The event will take place the evening of July 4, 2026, at the Dos Pueblos High School football stadium located at 7266 Alameda Avenue. In addition to the Drone Light Show itself, there will be music, activities, entertainment, food trucks and for the first time, a reserved seating section. Last year almost 6,000 people attended. Now that we know its popularity, we are looking to grow the event to accommodate the great turnout we experienced. Watch our video recap of the 2025 Drone Light Show event here: https://youtu.be/B3azqD2hx0U.

A huge thank you to Yardi Systems who was our first sponsor for the inaugural show in 2025 and has once again stepped up to be the first sponsor in 2026. The City is also grateful for returning sponsors Best, Best & Krieger, The Cederlof Family, Cottage Health, Deckers, Ergomotion, Fuel Depot and Point Market, Goleta Valley Historical Society, Santa Barbara Airbus, Santa Barbara Airport, Teledyne FLIR, True North Wealth Management and UCSB Athletics, as well as new sponsors American Riviera Bank, The Eng-Denbaars Family, Leonardo DRS, and SEE International. Sponsors help cover the costs of the drone light show itself, security, audio/visual, custodial services, entertainment and more. Who will our next sponsors be? We can’t wait to thank you!

Attention Goleta Business Owners: Renew Your Business License

2026 is well underway. Have you renewed your Goleta business license? Remember, doing so can help keep your business in compliance and avoid late filing fees. You can renew using our online portal. Thank you for being a part of what makes Goleta a great place to live, work, and play!

Special Notice: Old Town Initiatives Fee Waiver

As a reminder, businesses located within the Old Town Initiatives area may qualify for a fee waiver on their business license fee through February 28, 2026. Check the Old Town Initiatives Map to see if you qualify.

Eligibility Guidelines:

  • Businesses in the Old Town Initiatives area may qualify. Select “Old Town Initiatives – Fee Waiver” before checkout.
  • Outside the Area? Fees must be paid. Incorrect fee waiver selection delays processing, and fees will still be required.
  • If your business license expires on or before February 28, 2025, you are eligible for the fee waiver.
  • Paid by Mistake? If eligible, you may request reimbursement after staff review.

If you have any questions, our business license team is happy to assist you by phone at (805) 562-5503, by email at businesslicense@cityofgoleta.gov, or in person at City Hall (130 Cremona Drive).

Show Some Love to Goleta Businesses

Valentine’s Day is almost here and it’s the perfect time to show some love to the many businesses that call Goleta home. Shopping local helps strengthen our economy, supports neighbors and families, and preserves the unique character that makes Goleta special.

With over 1,000 local businesses listed, www.GoodLandGoodShopping.com is your go-to resource for discovering and supporting locally owned businesses throughout Goleta. Whether you’re looking for a favorite restaurant, a trusted service, or a new place to explore, the website makes it easy to keep your support local year-round.

If you’re a local business and not yet part of GoodLandGoodShopping, it’s not too late to join. Signing up is easy—view our video and follow the simple steps.

#GoodLandGoodShopping Local Spotlights

We want to hear from you! Do you have a favorite store, restaurant, or go-to business that deserves recognition? Your recommendations help us highlight the special offerings and passionate people behind Goleta’s locally owned businesses.

To nominate a business to be featured, please email PIO@CityofGoleta.gov with the business name, a brief description of why it’s special to you, and any additional details you’d like us to share.

Holiday Closures

City Hall, Goleta Valley Library and Goleta Community Center

The City of Goleta would like to wish our community a happy holidays! We would also like to remind you about our upcoming holiday closures. 

We look forward to a great 2026 in the Good Land!

New Mayor Pro Tempore Selected

Congrats to Councilmember Jennifer Smith (District 3) for being selected by the City Council as the next Mayor Pro Tempore at the December 16 Goleta City Council meeting. She will serve a one-year term. With this appointment comes a new seat next to the Mayor at Council meetings and an important leadership role representing the City.

As Mayor Pro Tempore, she will step in for Mayor Perotte at events or meetings during her absence. Thank you to Mayor Pro Tempore Jennifer Smith for stepping up to serve in this leadership position.

2026 Winter Bird Count 4 Kids

January 24, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at Lake Los Carneros

Santa Barbara Audubon’s Society (SBAS) 12th Annual Winter Bird Count 4 Kids is Saturday, January 24, 2026, at Lake Los Carneros. Registration is from 9:00 – 9:30 a.m. in the Stow House parking lot – participants must register before 9:30 a.m.

The Winter Bird Count 4 Kids introduces young people to the fun of bird watching! Here’s what to expect:

  • A free birding basics event for kids 8-16 with a responsible adult
  • Guided walk around the lake with an experienced naturalist
  • Binocular Boot Camp – bring binoculars or borrow from SBAS
  • Free souvenir bird list and t-shirt (for the first 75 kids)
  • Record and tally the bird species you see

For more information, or to volunteer, go to https://santabarbaraaudubon.org/events/wbc4k/.