Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

CycleMAYnia in Goleta

May is here and that means it’s CycleMAYnia time. This year organizers have a number of activities planned to celebrate the 15th anniversary of National Bike Month, including some here in Goleta.

  • Bike 2 Bird on Saturday, May 18th at 9:00 a.m. is a fun, easy bike ride and learn event. Participants will meet at Stow House in Goleta, for a loop thru Lake Los Carneros Nature Preserve onward to three nearby birding hot spots. At each site participants will stop briefly to identify and learn about the birds and their habitat. Please bring sunscreen and water for the ride. You can register here.
  • Bike to Places invites community members to bike to locations across Santa Barbara County in May top receive herb seeds and a chance to win the RadWagon5. The featured locations in Goleta are Draughtsman Aleworks (53 Santa Felicia Dr) and TREK Bicycles (320 S. Kellogg Ave).

Here is more information from the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) on all that is planned this month:

Spring has arrived, marking the perfect time to celebrate the 15th annual “CycleMAYnia” in Santa Barbara County. Throughout May, the public is invited to join over 40 community events and local businesses participating in a Bike Challenge countywide for CycleMAYnia as part of National Bike Month. Details are available online at CycleMAYnia.org.

The 2024 CycleMAYnia theme is “Spring is here. Bikes are in bloom.”

Participants in CycleMAYnia have the unique opportunity to win a RadWagon 5 Electric Cargo Bike. By joining any event or bicycling to any participating local business, attendees can collect special flower and herb seed packets. These packets include instructions on how to enter the RadWagon giveaway.

This year’s CycleMAYnia calendar features traditional favorites such as the Chicano Culture de Santa Barbara Cinco de Mayo Mural Ride, Mayors’ Ride, Trail Mix ride in Santa Maria, and many Bike-to-Work Day events, including one hosted for the first time by Santa Barbara City College (SBCC). New additions include the Bike 2 Bird nature ride in Goleta, Bike to Ice Cream in Santa Maria, and a Bike to the Park event in Solvang.

Members of the public can also ride to any of the 24 CycleMAYnia supporting local businesses from Santa Maria and New Cuyama to Santa Barbara and Carpinteria to participate anytime during May. The locations are featured on an interactive map at CycleMAYnia.org/events/bikechallenge.

Other local businesses have stepped forward to support CycleMAYnia, participants who log their bike trips on Smartride.org in May are eligible for a $200 giveaway from Jersey Mike’s Subs.

To support inclusivity and accessibility, Cycling Without Age provides piloted trishaws at no cost for individuals with limited mobility wishing to participate in a CycleMAYnia event. These specially designed trishaws can accommodate two individuals on one bench seat or one person in a wheelchair, making the joy of bicycling accessible to everyone. Members of the public are encouraged to call (805) 845-9855, extension 3, to reserve their spot for any CycleMAYnia event at least seven days in advance.

Each flower and herb seed packet that participants receive at an event or local business comes with a unique code, accompanied by instructions on how to enter these codes for a chance to win the grand prize. Those who participate in multiple events can receive a collectible Stik N Stuck CycleMAYnia patch while supplies last.

CycleMAYnia is a collaborative effort between public entities and private organizations, leveraging community resources and South Coast Measure A Bicycle and Pedestrian funds to foster and support community-driven activities. CycleMAYnia 2024 partners include: Rad Power Bikes, MOVE Santa Barbara County, Cottage Health, BCycle, Cycling Without Age, Chicano Culture de Santa Barbara, County of Santa Barbara, and the Cities of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria, and Santa Maria.

Information on the Bike Challenge and a calendar of bike month activities is available on the CycleMAYnia website at CycleMAYnia.org.

Celebrate Public Works Week at Camino Real Marketplace

Join Us on May 22 from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Mark your calendars and get ready to celebrate National Public Works Week (May 19 – 25) with staff from the City of Goleta’s Public Works Department and partner agencies! Join us for a family-friendly tradition on Wednesday, May 22nd from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at the Camino Real Marketplace (7004 Market Place Drive). It’s a great opportunity to get to know the Public Works professionals who are working in your neighborhoods every day, learn about current and upcoming projects and ask questions.

There will be interactive activities, equipment show-and-tell, information tables, giveaways and more. Stop by our City table to pick up a Live • Work • Play sticker and use it to get a free cup of coffee at Anna’s Bakery or free soda at Los Agaves. Thank you to both businesses for partnering with us!

National Public Works Week is sponsored by the American Public Works Association (APWA) and this year’s theme is “Advancing Quality of Life for All.” Each year, APWA members in the U.S. and Canada spend this week honoring the tens of thousands of men and women who provide and maintain the infrastructure and services collectively known as public works, and educating the public on the important role public works plays in our everyday lives. Public works contributes to advancing and enhancing our quality of life, and public works professionals provide essential services that lead to healthier, happier, more vibrant communities.

We continue to be grateful to our outstanding Goleta Public Works team for all that they do. We are especially thankful for the around-the-clock work they do preparing and responding to storm activity. During the recent winter storms we experienced, Public Works staff went above and beyond to make sure our community was safe. Learn more about our Public Works Department here: www.cityofgoleta.org/your-city/public-works.

The Public Works team will also be acknowledged with a proclamation at the May 21 City Council meeting. Please join us in thanking for them all they do by coming to the meeting and joining us for the May 22 event. There’s so much happening in the Goleta Public Works Department. We hope to see you later this month!

Pictured above: Public Works staff at our 2023 event

Splash Pad Construction Happening Now

Construction of the long-awaited Splash Pad at Jonny D. Wallis Neighborhood Park (170 S. Kellogg) continues prompting some closures. Here is what you need to know. The park, playground, parking lot and restrooms are closed. The field, walking perimeter and fitness equipment will remain open for pedestrian access only. The skatepark has reopened. The project team will work diligently to re-open the impacted areas as soon as it is safe to do so. As the construction project enters this pivotal phase, areas of the park will be closed intermittently to the public to accommodate construction needs. We will keep you updated.

While this project has been delayed several times due to supply chain issues and other unanticipated challenges, the City hopes to have the Splash Pad open sometime this summer. Once it is complete, the much-anticipated recreational attraction will be nestled between the basketball court and one of the picnic shelters. 

The City of Goleta appreciates your support and patience as the project moves forward.  For questions, please contact JoAnne Plummer, Parks and Recreation Manager at 805-562-5505 or visit the project page on the City’s website.

Pictured: Mechanical building for the splash pad being placed via crane at Jonny D. Wallis Neighborhood Park

Meet Me in Old Town Goleta

Free Summer Events Celebrating Goleta’s Vibrant Community Spirit

Old Town Goleta is the happening place to be this summer. Join us for “Meet Me in Old Town,” a free summer series put on by the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the City of Goleta. Mark your calendars for 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on May 16, July 18 and August 15. The events take place on Magnolia Avenue between Hollister Avenue and Gaviota Street. Parking is available in the Yardi parking lot at 430 S. Fairview Avenue or the public parking lot next to Community West Bank at 5827 Hollister Avenue.

Designed to enhance community engagement, boost local business visibility, and showcase the unique charm of Old Town Goleta, these events will imitate the lively atmosphere of an evening block party, featuring shaded tables, games, and a variety of food and music options. Local businesses will host specials and participate in ways that highlight their unique offerings, from tastings to promotions. This initiative not only promotes visiting local businesses but also encourages them to engage directly with the community and their neighbors in the heart of Old Town.

Residents are invited to join their neighbors in interactive and family-friendly activities. Visitors from neighboring areas can explore the distinctive attractions that Old Town Goleta has to offer and enjoy a lineup of performers such as The Goodlanders, Mezcal Martini, and Tequila Mockingbird.

Grab your favorite fare from an Old Town eatery and head to Magnolia Avenue for live music, games and refreshments, including beer and wine. Community organizations and local vendors will be on-site and Goleta shirts and sweatshirts along with commemorative merchandise will be available for purchase.

Kristen Miller, President and CEO of the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, stated, “This initiative is a direct response to the City of Goleta’s strategic goal to return Old Town to its status as the vital center of the city, as outlined in the Goleta Strategic Plan. This partnership aims to activate local businesses and bring the Goleta community together in celebration of its rich heritage. Come for the fun, stay for the community!”

More info: https://sbscchamber.com/event/meet-me-in-old-town-goleta/.

We hope to see you there!

Two Upcoming Events at Ellwood Open Space

Butterfly Grove BioBlitz May 4 and Guided Tour May 6

The City of Goleta has two events planned at Ellwood Open Space this month that we don’t want you to miss! Join us for the Butterfly Grove BioBlitz on Saturday morning, May 4, from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. and for a guided tour of Ellwood on Monday evening, May 6 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. More details on each of these free community events below.

Butterfly Grove BioBlitz – May 4

The BioBlitz is an opportunity for nature lovers, citizen scientists and community members to participate in a single day inventory of biodiversity at the Butterfly Grove. The goal is to identify and record as many plants, animals, fungi, and other species as possible in a single day. This hands-on experience promises an engaging and educational opportunity for all ages to connect with nature and foster a deeper understanding of environmental conservation. Kids are welcome too! UCSB’s Cheadle Center is providing a free kids program for ages 6-10. Young scientists who want to join the data collection groups are also welcome to join the adults who are exploring the site. 

Participants will become citizen scientists, contributing valuable data to ongoing biodiversity research, and playing a role in the conservation of important habitat for plants and wildlife. This BioBlitz will be used as an informal baseline survey of biodiversity at the Goleta Butterfly Grove before the City enters the next phase of enhancement and restoration. Surveys can be conducted in different seasons this year and again after several years to track changes in plants, birds, insects, and other living things.

Event Details
Date: Saturday, May 4
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Location: Ellwood Mesa – meet at the Parking Lot at 7729 Hollister Avenue across the street from Ellwood School.
Bring:

  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Water bottle
  • Sunscreen
  • Hat
  • Snacks
  • Whatever else you need for your comfort
  • Smartphone for documentation – download iNaturalist to your smartphone and join the “BioBlitz Ellwood Mesa” project
  • Binoculars (optional)

The Goleta Butterfly Grove BioBlitz is co-hosted by The City of Goleta’s Parks and Open Space Division, UC Santa Barbara’s Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration, and LegacyWorks Group. This event is funded by the California State Coastal Conservancy.  

Please RSVP here so we know how many to expect and can notify you of any changes.

Guided Tour of Ellwood Open Space – May 6

Join the City for Ellwood Now: A Guided Tour of Habitat Stewardship. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the active work taking place now at Ellwood with the City’s Parks and Open Space Manager George Thomson. Attendees will learn about the meticulous steps being taken to reduce wildfire risk, from clearing flammable materials to mowing grass to trimming and thinning trees. See firsthand the actions taking place to protect homes and preserve the natural beauty of Ellwood.

Event Details:
Date: Monday May 6
Time: 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. 
Location: Park at Ellwood Mesa Open Space & Sperling Preserve parking area, 7729 Hollister Avenue, across the street from Ellwood School.

This event is free and open to all. It is especially designed for community members and neighbors eager to understand the vital work happening in our shared backyard. No RSVP required. 

Learn more about the Ellwood Mesa Neighborhoods Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project here. For more information on Ellwood, go to www.CityofGoleta.org/Ellwood.

We hope to see you at one or both events! For questions or more information, contact Melissa Fontaine at melissa@legacyworksgroup.com.

Goleta Public Works Director Heads to Ventura

Interim Director Announced

Goleta’s former Public Works Director Charlie Ebeling has taken on the role of Public Works Director for the City of Ventura. After almost six years of service his last day with Goleta was Friday, March 29. Assistant Public Works Director Nina Buelna is the interim Director for Goleta.

We wish Charlie well and thank him for his leadership and dedication. During his time with the City he helped deliver significant projects that will have a lasting positive impact on our community.

Among these projects were the rehabilitation of Old Town Sidewalks, obtaining grants from the Office of Traffic Safety for Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Program, repairing Cathedral Oaks Road settlement, infilling sidewalks on Fairview Avenue and the US 101, and most recently, the groundbreaking for Project Connect, the City’s largest capital improvement project to date.

Charlie has over 15 years of experience as a Public Works Director and more than 27 years of engineering experience in the private and public sectors.

We know he will bring all of this great knowledge and experience to the City of Ventura and do great things!  Best of luck Charlie!


Charlie with Mayor Perotte after receiving his 5-Year Certificate


Charlie presenting at LEAD Goleta (pictured with Autumn Glaeser, Principal Civil Engineer)


Charlie out and about in Goleta

Is a Heat Pump Water Heater Right for Me?

Join the Zoom Webinar April 11 from 12-1pm

Tri-county residents are getting incentives from $4,000 to $11,000 for upgrading to heat pump water heaters. With such high incentives people are eager to know — is a heat pump water heater right for me?!

Join 3C-REN on Thursday, April 11 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. via Zoom to discuss the pros and cons of heat pump water heaters with expert Gregory Holladay* and local residents that live with heat pump water heaters. You’ll be sure to get answers to questions such as:

  • Is a heat pump water heater appropriate for my home? 
  • Are they really that much better than gas water heaters? 
  • Should I wait until my gas water heater burns out to upgrade? 
  • Will I need electrical work done? 
  • How much do they cost to install—and how will my bills change? 
  • Are they really more affordable than gas water heaters? 
  • Who can install heat pump water heaters? 
  • Will I run out of hot water? 

Don’t miss out—register now to receive the link. Also available in Spanish on April 17th here.

*Guest speaker Gregg Holladay is an expert on heat pump water heaters who spent 32 years with General Electric (GE), where he introduced the first Energy Star electric heat pump water heater to the US market. Currently a Business Development Manager for Specialty Markets for Bradford White Water Heaters, Gregg works to educate utilities, architects, builders, engineers and the plumbing/HVAC trade on the benefits of Energy Star heat pump water heaters and currently serves as a member of the Energy Star Manufacturers Action Council. 

Ellwood Now: A Guided Tour of Habitat Stewardship

Join Parks and Open Space Manager George Thomson on May 6 at 6:00 p.m.

Get a behind the scenes look at the active work taking place now at Ellwood with City of Goleta Parks and Open Space Manager George Thomson. Come to Ellwood Open Space on Monday, May 6 at 6:00 p.m. for a guided tour. It’s an opportunity to learn about the meticulous steps being taken to reduce wildfire risk, from clearing flammable materials to mowing grass to trimming and thinning trees. See firsthand the actions taking place to protect our homes and preserve the natural beauty of Ellwood.

Details:
Date: Monday May 6, 2024
Time: 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. 
Location: Park at Ellwood Mesa Open Space & Sperling Preserve parking area, 7729 Hollister Avenue, across the street from Ellwood School.

This event is free and open to all. It is especially designed for community members and neighbors eager to understand the vital work happening in our shared backyard. No RSVP required. 

To learn more about the Ellwood Mesa Neighborhoods Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project, visit Ellwood Mesa Neighborhoods Hazardous Fuel Reduction.

Funding for fire prevention activities in and near Ellwood Mesa (Ellwood Mesa Neighborhoods Hazard Fuel Reduction) is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing GHG emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment– particularly in disadvantaged communities. The Cap-and-Trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. California Climate Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling, and much more. At least 35 percent of these investments are located within and benefiting residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households across California. For more information, visit the California Climate Investments website at: www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov.

April is Fair Housing Month

It’s Fair Housing Month in the City of Goleta. On Tuesday, April 2, the City will issue a proclamation celebrating the 56th Anniversary of the Federal Fair Housing Act. The Act prohibits discrimination concerning the sale, rental and finance of housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability and familial status.

By honoring Fair Housing Month, Goleta’s City Council is celebrating a more than 20- year partnership with the City of Santa Barbara’s Rental Housing Mediation Program (SBRHMP) which provides education, eviction prevention, and mediation of rental housing disputes. The SBRHMP has served Goleta tenants and landlords in an effort to ensure fairness, equity, and housing preservation in our community. To contact the Rental Housing Mediation Program, call (805) 564-5420.

City of Goleta Homelessness Services Coordinator Chuck Flacks said, “We are working to end homelessness on all fronts. The RHMP is a valued partner who helps us maintain housing for people who often find it hard to live in Goleta’s expensive market.”

View the City of Goleta’s proclamation here and tune in to the meeting at 5:30 p.m.

Goleta Community State of the City April 10

Check Out Ten Reasons Why You Should Be There

The Goleta Community State of the City is just around the corner on Wednesday, April 10, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the newly reopened Goleta Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue). This is a must attend event for anyone who cares about Goleta. Spanish interpretation will be available. Here are ten reasons why you should go:

  1. Mingle with the Mayor and City Councilmembers, Community Leaders and fellow Goletans.
  2. Hear the Mayor’s State of the City Address (a reflection on all that we have accomplished this past year, challenges we are facing and exciting projects ahead).
  3. Receive an update on the City’s finances from City Manager Robert Nisbet.
  4. Submit a question for the popular Q&A session with the Mayor and Department Directors.
  5. Check out more than 15 City tables to learn about all that is happening in Goleta and meet City staff across all departments.
  6. Check out the newly reopened Goleta Community Center.
  7. Watch the Dos Pueblos High School Jazz Band perform in the gazebo before the doors open at 4:00 p.m. and listen to talented musician Andrew Manos play inside during the event.
  8. Enjoy charcuterie cups and fresh baked cookies.
  9. Take photos with the City of Goleta backdrop and be forever a part of the 2024 event memories.
  10. Last, but not least, because you LOVE Goleta and care about what is happening now and in the future.

Timeline of Events

  • 4:00 p.m. – The Dos Pueblos High School Jazz Band will be performing from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
  • 5:00 p.m. – Doors open to visit our City information tables and the mingling begins.
  • 6:00 p.m. – The main event starts with presentations from the Mayor and City Manager.

If you don’t see a spot in the front or side parking areas, there is additional parking behind the building.

We look forward to seeing you at the 2024 Goleta Community State of the City! Make sure to bring your family and friends.

Then on Friday April 12, the South Coast Chamber of Commerce is holding its State of the City from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort (633 E. Cabrillo Blvd in Santa Barbara).

The Mayor of Goleta and City Manager will be presenting at this event as will those same representatives from Carpinteria and Santa Barbara. This is a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights into upcoming projects, economic development, and community initiatives shaping the South Coast.

Registration is open. Read the full press release from the Chamber for more information.