Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

Goleta Energy Storage Project Complete

The City of Goleta is proud to welcome the newest battery storage facility in California which is also now the largest power source in Santa Barbara County. GridStor, a developer and operator of grid-scale battery energy storage systems, dedicated its Goleta Energy Storage facility on December 1st with public officials and regional business leaders. Following opening remarks, there was a ceremonial “flipping the switch” moment to represent turning on the battery facility – watch it here.

The 60 MW / 160 MWh lithium-ion Goleta Energy Storage facility will power the equivalent of 30,000 households – enough to supply electricity to all of Goleta’s residential customer base – every day through the hours of greatest demand on the electric system.

“Goleta became a more resilient city today, with the dedication of GridStor’s storage batteries to our grid,” said Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte. “We are committed to our renewable energy goals, and this facility brings us that much closer to a day where we will rely predominately on wind and solar and have less need for the traditional gas-powered plant that has historically served us locally.”

“California has an urgent need for grid reliability as it decarbonizes its economy, and battery storage is the critical resource that meets both challenges,” said Chris Taylor, CEO of GridStor. “The transition to clean energy takes the support of many partners, from developers and utilities to skilled tradespeople and the local leadership who oversee zoning and permitting. We could not be prouder to work with the City of Goleta and other stakeholders to bring this facility to life and support California’s goals for clean, reliable energy.”

The Goleta Energy Storage facility not only supports the existing 900 MW of wind and solar power operating in the region but also assists with maintaining grid reliability during the planned build out of thousands of megawatts of additional renewable energy projects over the next decade. GridStor will provide resource adequacy services from the facility to Southern California Edison under a contract while operating the facility in response to market signals from the California Independent System Operator.

The 44 emission-free containerized Tesla batteries installed at the GridStor facility were manufactured in-state in Lathrop, California. NORD/LB provided $55 million of project debt financing to GridStor to complete the development of the facility.

For more info go to www.gridstor.com.

Pictured above: Mayor Pro Tempore Kyle Richards flips the switch at the event

Goleta City Council and Staff – Pictured left-to-right: Supervising Senior Planner Kathy Allen, Planning and Environmental Review Director Peter Imhof, Councilmember Stuart Kasdin, Mayor Pro Tempore Kyle Richards, District 1 Councilmember Luz Reyes-Martín, District 2 Councilmember James Kyriaco, Sustainability Manager Dana Murray, and Sustainability Analyst Angeline Foshay


Aerial view of Goleta Energy Storage facility

Goleta Holiday Parade Highlights

Thank You Greater Goleta Santa Barbara Lions Club!

Congratulations to the Greater Goleta Santa Barbara Lions Club for putting on the best Goleta Old Town Holiday Parade ever! It took more than 70 volunteers and a total of more than 1,000 volunteer hours to pull off this well-attended and festive event that took place the night of December 2. Approximately 5,000 people bundled up and lined Hollister Avenue on this beautiful evening and were entertained by 70 parade entries and 1,400 participants. Some of the highlights included a 25 foot tall reindeer and an appearance by Santa. The City of Goleta was pleased to participate once again this year. Check out this video clip showing the Mayor, Councilmembers, the Goleta Valley Library Bookvan and www.GoodLandGoodShopping.com banner cruising the parade route.

To see the parade in its entirety, go to TVSB’s Facebook page. Also, stay tuned for an edited version of the parade coming soon from TVSB. 

Thank you to Goleta resident, Mark McClenathen, who organized the vintage cars for the Mayor, Council and Supervisor Hartmann. We appreciated our awesome drivers for donating both their time and their classic vehicles. Drivers included Wally Schelvis, Kay Lee Ahnemann, David Guzik and Lisa Johnson.

Another highlight this year was the City’s Window Decorating contest for businesses located along the parade route. Thanks to Fuel Depot for providing a $100 gas card to the winner. We were thrilled to see Old Town Goleta shine bright with the holiday spirit. Goleta Bakery took home the top prize with Paperback Alley and GoodLand BBQ receiving Honorable Mentions. We also want to give a special round of applause to the amazing work that community members David Nelson and Erica Smith did in beautifying the SB Electronics store front. Thank you to everyone who participated!

For photos of the parade and decorated windows, go to https://photos.app.goo.gl/5DSZMPeKb8q7beBJ7.

Happy holidays!


Goleta City Council and Staff


Window Decorating Contest Participants

It’s a Wrap: NatureTrack Film Festival in Goleta

The NatureTrack Film Festival’s first year in Goleta brought out more than a thousand nature and film lovers the weekend of October 6-8. The three-day festival celebrating nature and outdoor adventure included one dozen features and 30 shorts. Most the festival took place at the Metropolitan Fairview Theatre with opening night at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara and several events at The Leta Hotel. Watch this short recap to see highlights from the fun-filled weekend.

This is the 5th year for the festival which is typically held in Los Olivos. The Best of the Fest screening still took place in Los Olivos. Here are the award winners:

AUDIENCE AWARD 
Winner – Hudson River Wild
Honorable Mention – Range Rider

BEST FEATURE FILM
Winner – Big Wave Guardians
Honorable Mention – Out There: A National Parks Story

CONNECTING WITH NATURE DAN CONAWAY AWARD
Winner – Between Earth & Sky
Honorable Mention – The Little Fox of Limuw

BEST SHORT FILM
Winner – Between Earth & Sky
Honorable Mentions – Range Rider and Reel Rock: Resistance Climbing

BEST STUDENT FILM
Winner – Diagonal
Honorable Mention – My Neighbour is a Bear 

The NatureTrack Foundation is a 501c3 Non-Profit. All proceeds from the NatureTrack Film Festival will support NatureTrack in introducing school children and wheelchair users to outdoor spaces from the seashore to the inland oak woodlands of Santa Barbara County by providing cost-free outdoor field trips.

For more info go to naturetrackfilmfestival.org.

Looking forward to seeing the film festival return to Goleta next year! Stay tuned.

Pictured: Left-to-right: Goleta City Councilmember Kyle Richards, U.S. Congressman Salud Carbajal, 3rd District Santa Barbara County Supervisor Joan Hartmann and 2nd District Goleta City Councilmember James Kyriaco at Opening Night

Goleta’s Finest Winners Announced

Drumroll please…the 2023 Goleta’s Finest Award Winners have been announced! Recipients are:

  • Woman of the Year – Jackie Parker
  • Man of the Year – Marty Plourd
  • Educator of the Year – Scott Guttentag
  • Student of the Year – Valeria Tiburcio Romo
  • Volunteer of the Year – Fritz Olenberger
  • Innovator of the Year – Demis D. John, PhD
  • Public Servant of the Year – Allison Gray
  • President’s Award – Christine LeBon

Goleta’s Finest, presented by the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, is a 73-year-old tradition honoring remarkable individuals whose contributions have enhanced the Goleta community.

The 2023 award recipients will be honored at a formal celebration on December 1, 5:30-9:00 p.m., at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara. The evening will include dinner followed by the awards ceremony.

Learn more about the award recipients and register to attend here: https://sbscchamber.com/event/goletas-finest-2023/.

Goleta’s Housing Element Revisions Meet State Requirements

Planning Commission Public Hearings Nov. 13

The City of Goleta’s draft revisions to the Housing Element 2023-2031 have been accepted by the State of California’s Housing and Community Development Department (State). The City received the notification on October 16, 2023, via a comment letter, that the draft Housing Element revisions provided by the City address all statutory requirements and substantially comply with State housing law. 

The revisions submitted by the City include rezoning of certain housing sites to increase housing supply potential and meet the City’s share of the identified regional housing need. Previous Housing Element drafts submitted by the City to the State did not include rezoning.

The Planning Commission will hold public hearings to consider recommending to the City Council adoption of the State-approved revised Housing Element, including rezoning, at its meeting on November 13, 2023. The agenda will be available in advance of the meeting at www.CityofGoleta.org/GoletaMeetings. The City Council will meet on this topic in December, and once City Council adopts the revisions, the City’s Housing Element will be re-transmitted to the State for final certification.

Goleta’s Housing Element is important because it establishes City policies and programs for maintaining and improving existing housing and plans for how to accommodate the City’s share of the region’s housing needs as identified by the Regional Housing Needs Assessment.

To learn more about the Housing Element Update Project and review the State’s comment letter and the proposed draft revisions, visit the project page on the City’s website at https://www.cityofgoleta.org/housingelement.

Meet New Youth Commissioner

The City is pleased to welcome Jessica Avila-Ruiz as our newest Youth Commissioner. She was recently appointed to the Public Engagement Commission and participated in her first meeting on October 18, 2023.

Currently a senior at Dos Pueblos High School, Jessica has been an active presence in the community. She has been a student representative for her class, served on the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council for the Santa Barbara Unified School District, and is on the Varsity Cheer Team. Jessica is also dedicated to community work having volunteered at the Goleta Boys & Girls Club, Beautify Goleta, and Beautify DP, all in support of her passion to promote clean environments.  

As a Public Engagement Commissioner, Jessica hopes to help create a welcoming environment for all community members and encourage others to care for Goleta.

Jessica’s unique set of talents, interests, and experience will be a great addition to the Public Engagement Commission. We appreciate her willingness to take an active role and thank her for helping serve our community.

To learn more here about the City’s various Boards and Commissions, and how you can get involved, please visit www.CityofGoleta.org/BoardsCommissions.  

Goleta Holiday Parade Window Decorating Contest

The City of Goleta is pleased to announce the first Old Town Goleta Holiday Parade Window Decorating Contest! The purpose of the contest is to get the parade route in Old Town looking festive for the 2023 Goleta Holiday Parade happening on December 2 at 6:00 p.m. Businesses with store fronts along the parade route from Orange Avenue to Kinman Avenue along Hollister Avenue are encouraged to decorate their storefront windows in classic holiday themes for all to enjoy on parade night and for the holiday season. As an added bonus, a Fuel Depot $100 gas card will be given to the business who has the most festive storefront. 

City of Goleta Community Relations Manager Kelly Hoover said, “The Goleta Holiday Parade is a cherished Goleta tradition. Let’s show our support for the Greater Goleta Santa Barbara Lions Club who puts on this event every year by making this the best parade ever with a parade route that is merry and bright. We can’t wait to see Old Town businesses participate in what we hope will become a yearly tradition.”

Here’s how it works:

  • If you are on the parade route, decorate your storefront window in time for the Goleta Holiday Parade on December 2nd at 6:00 p.m.
  • Keep it family-friendly! Be Creative, festive, and have fun!
  • Please remember the City’s Plastic-Free Ordinance and refrain from the use of mylar balloons and decorations made of plastic.
  • Decorated windows should be viewable from the sidewalk but must not obstruct the sidewalk and/or pedestrian right of way.
  • A panel of judges (TBD) will view the windows at the event and a winner will be announced on Monday, December 4th.

Also, if you do not have a business on the parade route but want to help decorate existing or vacant businesses on the parade route, send an email to PIO@cityofgoleta.org. 

Holiday at the Ranch

Save the date for Holiday at the Ranch! Join the fun on Saturday, December 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Stow House (304 N. Los Carneros Rd). Meet Santa and his goats, enjoy seasonal music, make children’s crafts, tour the decorated Stow house. Tractor rides will be available as well as food trucks on site. Schedule your time to meet Santa at Eventbrite. Tickets go on sale Friday November 24 (Children $5/Adults $10) and can be purchased here. For more information on events at the Stow House go to www.GoletaHistory.org.

City Strategizes Funding for Upcoming Capital Improvement Projects

There are twelve Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) scheduled to be delivered in the City of Goleta over the next five years. The City held a Special Council meeting on October 30 to discuss a funding strategy for the projects including the biggest project in the City’s history, Project Connect. The Council directed Goleta Public Works staff to return to Council on December 5th, 2023, to award Project Connect (estimated total cost is $100 million) and approve funding strategy for the unfunded portion. Council also rejected all bids received for the Hollister Old Town Interim Striping Improvements and directed staff to negotiate a construction change to add the Hollister Avenue Interim Striping Improvements to the Project Connect contract which would be more efficient and cost effective (estimated to save between $500,000 to $1,000,000). Council directed staff to return on December 19th, 2023, to approve the change order if negotiations are successful. A description of both projects is below.

Council also directed staff to come back in April 2024 to further review the CIP project delivery and funding for these projects. The City faces a gap in funding due to the significant cost increases over the past few years.

City staff will return to Council to hold a CIP workshop in early 2024 to discuss future CIP projects, prioritization goals, maintenance needs, and non-CIP master planning programs. CIP projects improve and enhance public safety, achieve sustainability, enhance livability, and expand economic development. Public Works, Neighborhood Services, and General Services all have CIP projects that will be part of this workshop.

The Special Council Meeting can be viewed on the City website at https://tinyurl.com/4k4n56j6.

About Project Connect

Project Connect is the City of Goleta’s comprehensive program to enhance pedestrian access and safety, improve road conditions and build critical linkage through Goleta while upgrading stormwater flows through San Jose Creek. Project Connect will be the City’s largest capital improvement project to date, requiring numerous right-of-way acquisitions and permits as well as close coordination with Caltrans. 

About Hollister Avenue Old Town Interim Striping Project

On January 19, 2021, the City Council approved a new Capital Improvement Program (CIP) project titled Hollister Avenue Old Town Interim Striping Project (Project). Council directed staff to develop striping plans that did not adjust the street width or existing sidewalk but implement parking and multi-modal improvements envisioned in the Hollister Avenue Complete Streets Corridor Plan Project. The Project allows for cost effective interim improvements (e.g., striping and pavement marking changes).

The Hollister Avenue Old Town Interim Striping Project is a cost effective, easily modified improvement that will be evaluated for how well it serves the needs of Old Town and will inform the final design of streetscape improvements once funding becomes available to construct the Hollister Avenue Complete Streets Corridor Project. When completed, the Hollister Avenue Complete Streets Corridor 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.

City Relaunches GoodLandGoodShopping.com as Online Business Directory

Watch Video Promo and Shop Local this Holiday Season

Goleta now has an online business directory! The City of Goleta has relaunched its shop local program, GoodLandGoodShopping.com just in time for the holiday shopping season. The revamped format, formerly a digital gift card platform, is now an online, interactive business directory designed to encourage residents and visitors to shop, dine, and spend locally. The free resource includes businesses located within the city, a map view to see where the business is located, a search feature and filter options to easily find what you are looking for. The new business directory can be found on the City’s website at www.GoodLandGoodShopping.com. Watch our video promo to find out more:

Community Relations Manager Kelly Hoover said, “There are over 800 businesses that call Goleta home and this online business directory is a one stop shop where you can find them all in one place.  We hope you will use this resource to support Goleta businesses not only during the holidays but year-round and for years to come. Thanks in advance for shopping Goleta and supporting our local economy.”

Businesses located within the City of Goleta with a business license are eligible to be listed in the directory. If you are a Goleta business, we encourage you to take a moment and customize your free listing. The directory includes business name, address, phone number, website, and hours. Through the website, businesses can submit a request to be listed as well as update and add to their listing details such as: logo, social media links, promotions, photo galleries, and more. City staff will review and approve the listing before it is published.

For further updates, questions/concerns, or if you would like to speak with someone from the City regarding the directory, please contact the Community Relations Division at PIO@CityofGoleta.org.