Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

New Parental Leave Policies for City Staff

The City of Goleta will soon have a comprehensive parental leave program for its employees giving parents peace of mind that they will have the time to bond with their new child without added financial worry. At the October 17, 2023, Goleta City Council meeting, the Council adopted new policies that will provide staff with at least ten weeks of pregnancy disability leave and at least six weeks of parental bonding leave, without losing their pay and benefit contributions, and without having to use their accrued vacation and sick time.

Mayor Paula Perotte said, “We are proud to be able to offer our employees this benefit. Welcoming a new child is an intense and joyful time for a family. This new policy will ensure that our employees don’t have to worry about losing pay and health benefits, or exhausting their leave balances, during a pregnancy. It will also allow all new parents paid time away from work to bond with their new child.”

District 1 Councilmember Luz Reyes-Martín added, “As a working mom of young children, I understand firsthand how vital this policy is. It is important that our City employees are supported with family leave policies that allow them and their children to thrive. I hope that Goleta can be an example for other public agencies and businesses in doing all they can to support parents in the workplace.”

Currently, City employees who take time off for pregnancy or to bond with a new child often end up exhausting their leave balances and transitioning to only partially paid (via California State Disability or Paid Family Leave) or fully unpaid leave. Parents may also end up exhausting their City-paid contribution to medical benefits, requiring them to pay the full premium amount during parental bonding leave. The new policies will supplement California State Disability or Paid Family Leave payments to provide better income replacement and benefit continuation for new parents.

Multiple studies have shown improved physical and mental health outcomes for parents and children related to the availability of paid pregnancy and parental leave, and resulting reductions in negative outcomes such as interfamily abuse. The City hopes that the existence of these policies further demonstrates its commitment to families and has a positive impact on employee recruitment, retention, and engagement.

The City Council meeting is available to watch on the City website at https://tinyurl.com/ym28fmyn. The staff report can also be found here: https://tinyurl.com/4rv7zcnp.

Ellwood Mesa Neighbors Become Firewise

Find Out How to Get Your Neighborhood in the Firewise USA® Program

More than 30 Ellwood area residents are now Firewise after an informative meeting on October 12 at Ellwood School. The main purpose of the meeting was to introduce the neighborhood to Firewise USA®, a free program run by the National Fire Protection Association. The program mission is to provide a collaborative framework for communities to get organized, identify their wildfire risks, and work together to create a plan to mitigate those risks. Communities and residents participate in the program on a voluntary basis. Locally, the Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council assists interested neighborhoods in the Firewise USA® process. Ellwood neighbors that attended the meeting took the first step in preparing for the next wildfire.

The meeting was hosted by the City of Goleta and the Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council. Goleta City Councilmember Stuart Kasdin, City of Goleta Parks and Open Space Manager George Thomson, Santa Barbara County Fire Marshal Rob Hazard, and Fire Safe Council staff were among the speakers. Santa Barbara County 3rd District Supervisor Joan Hartmann’s Chief of Staff was also in attendance.

Becoming a Firewise USA® community can increase your wildfire knowledge and reduce wildfire risk. Benefits may include homeowners’ insurance savings and grant funding. There are currently nine neighborhoods along the Santa Barbara South Coast Region that have completed the Firewise USA® certification process and are better prepared for the next wildfire.

The City of Goleta is also reducing the risk of wildfire at the Ellwood Mesa/Sperling Preserve Open Space through a variety of methods. Attendees at the meeting learned about the City’s new High Fire Ordinance, which allows for increased enforcement of no camping violations at select City open spaces, including Ellwood Mesa. In addition, the City is proposing to reduce the number of dead trees in the Goleta Monarch Butterfly Grove and implement an annual defensible space mowing program along the open space boundary with private residences. Reducing the risk of wildfire at Ellwood Mesa is part of a developed program designed to protect wildlife, including the western monarch butterfly and breeding birds. Work is underway and is expected to increase significantly in the coming months, in areas not used by monarch butterflies or breeding birds.

To find out more about the Firewise USA® program, contact Kate Furlong at the Firesafe Council at kfurlong@sbfiresafecouncil.org or visit https://sbfiresafecouncil.org/firewise-usa/. More information about the City’s efforts to reduce wildfire risk at Ellwood Mesa can be found here.

Pictured above: Breakout group at Firewise meeting

 
George Thomson speaking at the Firewise USA meeting


Fire Marshal Rob Hazard with Firewise meeting attendees

Council Approves Monarch Butterfly Habitat Implementation Plan

Plan Highlights Habitat Reconstruction, Fire Risk Reduction and Stewardship Programs

Marking a major watershed moment for Ellwood Mesa and the western monarch butterfly, the Goleta City Council unanimously approved the Ellwood Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Phase 1 Implementation Plan on October 17. The Implementation Plan details the comprehensive, on-the-ground work needed to improve monarch butterfly habitat, reduce wildfire risk, and repair basic public infrastructure at the popular Ellwood Mesa Open Space. Approval of the plan is a major milestone for the City and an important step for conservation efforts to recover monarch butterfly populations in the western United States. 

Goleta Parks and Open Space Manager George Thomson said, “Decisive action to restore critically important habitat for the western monarch butterfly is necessary at Ellwood. The City of Goleta is positioned to be a leader in this nationally significant conservation effort and we are bringing the best available science and technology to help the iconic monarch butterfly. With the City Council’s approval of the Phase 1 Implementation Plan, we are one step closer to enhancing over 60-acres of butterfly habitat.”

The western monarch butterfly is experiencing an alarming population decline throughout the United States, primarily due to loss of habitat, historic drought, and increased insecticide use. Locally, the Goleta Butterfly Grove at Ellwood Mesa is one of the top five most important sites in California for monarch butterflies as they migrate hundreds of miles in the fall to spend several months in the eucalyptus forests along the coast. An historic drought during the last decade killed thousands of eucalyptus trees at the Goleta Butterfly Grove, increasing fire risk, closing popular recreational trails, and threatening a total collapse of the monarch butterfly habitat. The Phase 1 Implementation Plan builds on three years of community input and scientific research to create a detailed roadmap that balances reforestation of the Ellwood eucalyptus grove with wildfire risk reduction. Improved recreational trails and educational opportunities are also eagerly anticipated parts of the plan. 

Specific project elements approved by the Goleta City Council include:

  • Replanting more than 1,200 eucalyptus and native trees in monarch butterfly habitat areas.
  • Installation of over 100,000 native plants to increase nectar sources for butterflies and other wildlife.
  • A new irrigation system to ensure plant establishment and future emergency tree watering.
  • Felling and chipping several thousand dead eucalyptus trees to reduce the risk of devastating wildfire.
  • A new wooden footbridge to allow all-weather and accessible access across Devereux Creek.
  • Recreational trail improvements and a signage program to reduce site impacts and increase educational opportunities.
  • Rehabilitation of two butterfly viewing areas to facilitate learning and nature appreciation.
  • Reconstruction of emergency and maintenance vehicle access to Ellwood Mesa.
  • Wildlife and nesting bird management plans to ensure the protection of sensitive environmental resources during construction.

Goleta City Councilmember Stuart Kasdin noted the City “planned ahead, figured out what we need to do to preserve the ecosystem, and how to do it right—how to provide safety to the public, reduce wildfire risk, and prioritize the monarch butterfly.” Reflecting on the decades of community volunteerism and financial contributions to keep Ellwood Mesa a protected open space and, more recently, engagement with the City’s team to improve the Phase 1 Implementation Plan, Mayor Pro Tempore Kyle Richards said, “We owe a debt of gratitude to our community for making this happen and saving this treasure. The Implementation Plan is very well thought out and we are moving forward. We have a plan to accomplish major improvements to the monarch butterfly habitat.”

A prominent international wildlife conservation group agrees. Emma Pelton, Senior Conservation Biologist for the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation reviewed the City’s plan and concluded, “We support the swift approval of the proposed implementation plan…in particular, replanting of trees to replace the standing dead trees proposed for removal during the fuels reduction work and additional restoration plantings.” The Xerces Society also emphasized the importance of Goleta’s Butterfly Grove and the urgency of the conservation efforts, “Western monarchs overwintering in coastal California have declined more than 95% from their historic size and the migratory population faces a high risk of extinction. The Ellwood Mesa monarch overwintering sites are among the most important habitat areas—of the hundreds of sites in California where monarchs spend the winter, Ellwood is ranked as the fourth highest priority to conserve.”

The Goleta City Council also approved two agreements that establish new relationships with neighboring universities to bring academic expertise and real-world solutions to the Goleta Butterfly Grove. The City is contracting with the University of California at Santa Barbara’s Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration (CCBER, https://www.ccber.ucsb.edu/) to provide on-the-ground land stewardship, including native seed collection and grow out, invasive plant removal, erosion control, and other activities necessary to rehabilitate the Butterfly Grove. CCBER staff will also lead volunteer work days and assist with a new community stewardship program. The Goleta City Council also approved a contract with California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo’s Plant Conservatory (https://plantconservatory.calpoly.edu/welcome-plant-conservatory) to provide eucalyptus trees carefully selected to restore the microclimate that monarch butterflies need during their winter stay in Goleta.

The City’s next step is approval of the plan by the California Coastal Commission next spring. Pending approval of all permits, the Butterfly Grove Phase 1 Implementation Plan construction is anticipated to begin next summer.

Funding for the management of Ellwood Mesa, including the Goleta Butterfly Grove, is provided by the City of Goleta and grants from the California State Coastal Conservancy and California Climate Investments.

To learn more about the Implementation Plan, and the City’s stewardship of Ellwood, please visit cityofgoleta.org/ellwood. If you have any questions or comments, or are interested in volunteering, please contact the Parks and Open Space Division at ellwoodmesa@cityofgoleta.org.


Parks and Open Space Manager George Thomson at the City Council Meeting


Western monarch butterflies depend on the Goleta Butterfly Grove for protection from winter storms. Drought and tree die offs have led to major declines in the butterfly population at Ellwood and across the western United States.


Improvements to butterfly habitat areas include new trees and native plants. Viewing areas will include natural log benches and educational signage.


Dead trees (depicted in pink and orange, upper left) were mapped using a drone and technology called LiDAR. A computer model was developed to simulate removal of the dead wood and demonstrate the best configuration for replanting trees to reduce wind speeds within the Butterfly Grove. Low wind speeds (depicted on the right as shades of blue) are a critical requirement for monarch butterfly habitat.

Goleta Holiday Parade Returns to Old Town Dec. 2

Entry Applications Due by November 17th

One of Goleta’s most cherished holiday traditions is back thanks to the Greater Goleta Santa Barbara Lions Club. The 2023 Old Town Goleta Holiday Parade presented by Fuel Depot and Elks Lodge is on Saturday, December 2, 2023, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. in Old Town Goleta. The parade will travel along the traditional route on Hollister Avenue from Orange Avenue to Kinman Avenue. Boasting colorful floats, musical ensembles, spirited dance groups, and cheerful participants, the parade brings together family, friends, and a cross-section of community members. New this year, there will be a Holiday Window Decorating contest along the parade route in Old Town.

Ed Holdren, President of the Greater Goleta Santa Barbara Lion’s Club says, “The Old Town Goleta Holiday Parade holds a special place in our hearts, providing a chance for the community to unite and celebrate the holidays. It wouldn’t be possible without our sponsors, and we are incredibly grateful for their generous contributions and support. We also cannot do this without the help of volunteers and encourage anyone interested in volunteering to sign up on our website.”

While the Santa Barbara Elks Lodge and Fuel Depot have generously stepped forward as the presenting sponsors for this year’s parade, more sponsors are needed. There are a variety of sponsorship opportunities available, such as North Pole Diamond Sponsorships ($3000), Reindeer Platinum Sponsorships ($1500), Candy Cane Gold Sponsorships ($1000), Silver Bells Silver Sponsorship ($500), and more.

Community organizations, groups and individuals are encouraged to be part of the parade. The general entry fee is $45, and the school/non-profit entry fee is $30. The deadline for entry is November 17, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to join in on the festivities and support your local community.

For more information about how to volunteer, sponsor, or participate in the parade, please email goletaholidayparade@gmail.com or visit the website at www.goletaholidayparade.org. Get in the holiday spirit by watching this parade video.

Thanks for helping us make this the best Goleta Holiday Parade yet! 

Applications Being Accepted for Upcoming LEAD Goleta Academy

Limited Spots Available for Bilingual, Six Week Course

Applications are being accepted for the upcoming LEAD Goleta Academy which begins in January.  LEAD stands for Learn, Empower, Advocate and Discuss. Space is limited for this six-week bilingual class which provides a unique up-close look at how local government works. Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn how the City is run, in a small, intimate setting of 30 participants. You will walk away from the experience more connected to the City with a deeper understanding of how to get involved in shaping the future of Goleta – whether it’s staying informed, volunteering, applying for a Board or Commission, or even running for City Council.

Watch this video promo to see why you should apply for a spot in the LEAD Goleta Academy.

You can also watch this video recap of the April/May 2023 LEAD Goleta Academy and see first-hand why participants give this program rave reviews. 

The LEAD Goleta Academy begins on January 11, 2024, and takes place Thursday evenings from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. for six consecutive weeks. You must attend all the classes to participate. The course ends on February 15, 2024, with a celebratory graduation ceremony. Most classes will be held in City Hall Council Chambers located at 130 Cremona Drive with the exception of two classes that will be at the Goleta Valley Library and Goleta Community Center.

Priority is given to Goleta residents, but is open to any resident of Santa Barbara County. We strongly encourage students to apply. Don’t wait, apply here.

This will be the second time that LEAD Goleta will be offered in Spanish. To access the application in Spanish, click here.

We can’t wait to meet the next LEAD Goleta Academy Class in January. For more information go to www.CityofGoleta.org/LEADGoleta.


Community Relations Manager Kelly Hoover and Spanish Engagement Specialist Marcos Martinez at the April/May 2023 LEAD Goleta graduation.

October Cultural Celebrations

Embracing the spirit of inclusivity, the City of Goleta recognizes the many October awareness days and campaigns throughout the month that promote the ideas of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Indigenous Peoples Day – Monday, Oct 9th

Indigenous Peoples’ Day honors and acknowledges the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Indigenous peoples around the world. This day serves as an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations that can build toward a more equitable future. By taking the time to learn and understand their experiences, struggles, and triumphs we can amplify their voices and advocate for their rights.

Disability Employment Awareness Month

Disability Employment Awareness Month is an opportunity to shine a spotlight and recognize the talents, skills, and unique perspectives that disabled employees bring to the table. Let’s break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and foster a culture of inclusivity in the workplace. Together, we can create a workplace that embraces diversity and empowers everyone to thrive.

Filipino American Heritage Month

Join us as we honor the rich culture, traditions, and contributions of the Filipino American community and appreciate the vibrant culture that has shaped our communities. Let’s take this opportunity to educate, inspire, and celebrate the achievements of our Filipino American heroes!

Italian American Heritage Month

It’s time to honor and explore Italian American Heritage Month! This month is a great opportunity to dive into the vibrant tapestry of the Italian American culture. Discover the captivating stories of resilience, passion, and success. From art and music to fashion and food, let’s celebrate the incredible contributions of Italian Americans and the rich impact on American society.

We hope you can join the city of Goleta in acknowledging and learning more about the different cultural and awareness observances every month as we work to foster a more inclusive Goleta for all.

Go Solar with No Upfront Cost

Attend October 11 Webinar to Learn More

The City of Goleta is partnering with Electriq Power to provide home solar and battery storage systems to Goleta residents at no upfront cost. Attend a virtual Lunch & Learn on Wednesday, October 11th at noon to learn more. Please pre-register at https://bit.ly/PoweredGoleta to reserve your spot and receive a link.

Through the program’s City-vetted Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), called the PoweredUp Network, all Goleta homeowners, regardless of means, will have access to a turnkey, distributed home energy solution that includes smart battery storage. By signing up with the PoweredUp Network, residents can protect themselves and their homes from rising utility rates while creating a more resilient local grid infrastructure, furthering the City of Goleta’s renewable energy goals.

Goleta is committed to improving and increasing access to renewable technologies within the community to advance energy resilience and reduce climate impacts. The City’s partnership with Electriq Power for PoweredUp Goleta supports equitable access to renewable, affordable and resilient energy, and further advances the City’s strategic energy and climate goals.

For more information, please visit www.poweredupnetwork.com.

Eleven Adopt-A-Park Spaces Available in Goleta

Watch Newly Released Promo to Find Out How to Get a Spot

The City of Goleta’s Adopt-A-Park program is taking off with many of its parks and open spaces adopted, but there is still time for you to get involved. There are eleven spots available now and ready for an individual or group to step up and adopt. To see the open locations, go to www.CityofGoleta.org/AdoptAPark. You can also watch our video explaining how to get involved:

Whether it is a place that you have a connection to or just a way to give back to your community, the commitment to adopting a park can be as much or as little time as fits into your schedule. You supply the time, and we supply the equipment.

Tasks will vary depending on the adopted location, but examples of duties that may be performed include:

  • Picking up trash
  • Sweeping walkways
  • Wiping down tables, benches and/or playground equipment
  • Occasional special projects

The City’s Adopt-A-Park coordinator Leonel Mendoza-Diaz said, “Some community members will spend an hour a week picking up trash along their walks, while others will gather with their neighbors or organizations they are affiliated with, for an hour or two once a month.”

In addition to providing a helping hand to your adopted location, you will also serve as an additional set of eyes to let the City know of any issues that need to be addressed.

Thanks to everyone who has participated in Adopt-A-Park since the program launched as a pilot project in December of 2019. Your time and effort go a long way in helping to keep Goleta’s parks and open spaces ready for everyone to enjoy.

If you are interested in learning more about the program, visit our webpage at https://cityofgoleta.org/adoptapark or email Leonel Mendoza-Diaz at lmendoza-diaz@cityofgoleta.org. 

Pictured top right: City of Goleta Adopt-A-Park Coordinator Leonel Mendoza-Diaz


Goleta Noontime Rotary volunteers at their Adopt-A-Park location – Jonny D. Wallis Neighborhood Park


Lake Los Carneros Adopt-A-Park volunteers from the Northside Optimist Club of Santa Barbara

 

 

Warning: “Skimming” Devices on Gas Pumps

Consumer Protection Division stays vigilant in their inspections

The Santa Barbara County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office/Department of Weights and Measures is warning of the dangers of “skimmers” after finding them at local gas stations.

On Tuesday, September 5, the department’s Consumer Protection Division was notified by a local gas station that an external keypad and card swipe skimmer were removed by a service agent at a gas pump in Buellton.

After receiving the call, the Consumer Protection Division visited the site and confirmed the two devices were overlay (external) credit card theft devices “skimmers”. A sweep of the surrounding area and stations throughout the county was conducted by the Consumer Protection Division. While no additional skimmers were found during the sweep, adhesive residue on the PIN pad and card swipe reader were found at several other stations countywide. Adhesive residue found on financial components of a fuel filling station or ATM can indicate that an overlay skimmer device was installed and removed from operation at that location.

Skimming devices can be internal or external and come in many shapes or sizes. The intent of installing these is always the same, to steal credit or debit card information, including PIN digits and ZIP codes. The majority of skimming device are installed internally. These intercept customer’s information as its being transferred from the sales system. Additionally, skimmers like those found recently, are installed externally. These retrofit devices are falsely portrayed as a true component of the machine and installed over the top or front of the original. They store the “skimmed” information and are later removed from operation to download that data.

Trends show that skimmers are typically installed at gas pumps furthest from the staff kiosk and where cameras are unlikely to be installed. External skimming devices target credit or debit card swipe readers as well as PIN pads. Customers are encouraged to use “tap” to pay when available to bypass the swiping readers. When not available, going inside the location to pay can also be a financially safer practice.

The Agricultural Commissioner’s Office Consumer Protections Division strives to “level the playing field” when weights and measures are involved in commercial transactions. As a consumer, you should feel assured that you’re getting what you pay for with regard to a product’s weight, volume, count, duration or advertised price. Commercial weighing and measuring devices, package content statements and advertised prices are regularly inspected to ensure their accuracy.

The Consumer Protections Division is taking a vigilant approach in inspection of filling stations countywide and are also providing education and outreach to local station managers. The skimming devices removed from operation are carried by County inspectors and used as a show-and-tell tool to display the level of intricate fraud that’s occurring. Filling station managers are encouraged to use security tape on their equipment and to check for manipulation frequently.

To report suspect equipment at filling stations or improper performance of equipment please contact:

Watch City’s Highlights from Goleta Lemon Fest

We had a ball at the 30th anniversary of the Goleta Lemon Festival this past weekend and loved seeing so many of you there!  Our City of Goleta booth area had non-stop visitors for the entire two-day festival. We enjoyed seeing all of the smiling faces and hearing the laughter as people spun the wheel for a chance to win some of our newly released Live • Work • Play themed giveaways. Some had to pass the City of Goleta beach ball or bounce it ten times to take it home, others did squats, jumping jacks, toe touches or arm circles to get a prize, but everyone walked away a winner. 

Here is a short video clip with highlights from the weekend: https://youtu.be/2fsSiOwpDzs.

More than 600 adults and children participated in the “Guess How Many Lemon Drops in the Jar” contest. Congratulations to Michelle Cronk of Camarillo who guessed the closest on Saturday and Stephen Crosby of Santa Barbara who guessed the closest on Sunday. Each will take home a Goleta Prize Pack with Live • Work • Play merchandise. For those wondering, the correct answer is 591 lemon drops.

We had pages and pages of new sign-ups for our City notifications, don’t get left behind! You can register for City information here.

The Goleta Valley Library booth right next to us was another popular spot with 1,500+ visitors learning about the wonderful programming options. In addition, 86 people signed up and received their free library cards.

Our Sustainability and Environmental Services team members handed out 1,800 Plastic Free Goleta reusable utensil sets, 1,700 metal straws, and 1,000 Creek coloring books.

While there were so many fun moments, one of the best parts as always was watching the pie-eating contests each day. Thanks to our distinguished judges, many including our Mayor and Councilmembers, for helping to pick the winners.

Thanks also to the Goleta Police Department and Goleta CERT for being at the largest Safety Street section ever at the Lemon Festival. The Sheriff’s Office was there in force showing off so many of their specialty units including a helicopter landing and the Mounted Unit.

Finally, we want to congratulate and thank the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce for putting on another awesome Goleta Lemon Festival. Can’t wait till next year to do it all over again.


Michelle’s relatives John and Cheryle Brion with her prize pack


Stephen Crosby holding his prize pack