Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

Playground Installations Underway

The City is currently working on renovating four parks with new play or outdoor fitness equipment. We are excited to announce that work to replace and install playground equipment at Berkeley Park is complete! Installation of fitness equipment has begun at Winchester 1 Park and work has begun on Winchester 2 Park to replace and expand the playground and add a walkway from the new playground to the sidewalk at Calle Real. The playground renovation and expansion at Andamar Park will begin later this month and includes a replacement of the access road to accommodate accessibility needs.

During construction, portions of the park(s), or in some cases the entire park(s), will be closed to public access. Please keep in my mind this schedule is tentative and could be modified based on field and/or weather conditions.

Thank you for your patience as we work to bring new playground equipment to Goleta! For more information, visit the project page on our website here.

Pictured: New playground equipment at Berkeley Park

Planning for the Future of Pickleball on November 18

At a special meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission on November 18 at 6:00 p.m., the Commission will consider a proposal from the Goleta Valley Community Center to renovate the existing tennis courts into permanent pickleball courts. The tennis courts are behind the Goleta Community Center building, located at 5679 Hollister Avenue.

The proposal includes the resurfacing and renovation of the existing tennis courts into four permanent pickleball courts and a fifth court that will be striped to accommodate both basketball and temporary pickleball, serving two recreational uses. All interested community members are invited to attend the meeting and/or provide input on this matter.

The meeting will be held virtually and broadcast live on the City’s website at www.cityofgoleta.org/goletameetings and on Goleta TV Channel 19. Written comments may be submitted via email to sdawson@cityofgoleta.org at least 24 hours prior to the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting.

The meeting agenda, instructions for participating in the meeting to provide oral comments, details of the proposed project, and other meeting materials will be available here on the City’s website approximately 72 hours in advance of the meeting. Questions about the project can be directed to the Goleta Valley Community Center at 805-967-1237. Questions related to the meeting can be directed to JoAnne Plummer, Parks and Recreation Manager, at jplummer@cityofgoleta.org.

#VaccinateGoleta Update: Vaccine and Mask Mandate

The number of those getting vaccinated continues to increase. As of November 4, the percentage of eligible to be vaccinated Santa Barbara County residents is 71.5%. View the Santa Barbara County Community Data Dashboard here. 

There have been a lot of developments over the last few weeks. Not only have Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson all been approved for booster shots, but children ages 5 to 11 years are now eligible to receive the vaccine. Also, the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department has extended the indoor mask mandate as transmission level in the County is not yet classified as Low.

COVID-19 Vaccination Available for Children 5 to 11 Years of Age

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) endorsed recommendations that children 5 to 11 years old be vaccinated against COVID-19 with the Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric vaccine on November 2, 2021. This announcement follows the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authorization of the pediatric vaccine the week prior. The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup has also approved these recommendations. With this authorization, approximately 42,000 children ages 5 through 11 are now eligible to be vaccinated in Santa Barbara County.

Local distribution of pediatric COVID-19 vaccines has already begun with full-scale availability anticipated the week on November 8. Vaccines will be available at pediatric healthcare provider offices, pharmacies, and through targeted community events at schools and other venues.

For information about the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine and countywide availability, please visit www.publichealthsbc.org/vaccine/ or call 2-1-1.

The full  announcement can be found here.

Is It Time to Get Your COVID-19 Booster Shot?

By Dr. Henning Ansorg, M.D., FACP, Health Officer County of Santa Barbara, Department of Public Health

Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 booster doses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup followed suit and recommended a booster dose especially for persons over 65 and to persons with chronic medical conditions.

These decisions, as well as the authorization to allow for mixing and matching of COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers for boosters, will allow more Californians to increase and maintain a robust protection against infection heading into the winter months.

Learn more about booster shots here.

County Extends Health Officer Order Requiring Use of Face Coverings Indoors

The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department has extended a Health Officer Order which requires the use of masks in indoor public settings. This order requires all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear face coverings when indoors in public settings, with limited exceptions. This Order 2021-10.6 is in effect until 5 p.m. on December 4, 2021, or until it is extended, rescinded, superseded, or amended. Read the full announcement here.

For more information on COVID-19, including vaccines and testing, please go to https://publichealthsbc.org/.

Get Involved! #DrawGoleta

Now is the time to participate in the City of Goleta’s historic district mapping process! You have until January 6, 2022, to turn in a map showing your recommended boundaries. With district elections, the City will be divided into four districts, and voters in each district will elect a City Council member who lives in their own district. The Mayor will continue to be elected by voters across Goleta.

Public participation is a very important part of this process. On November 4, 2021, we held our fourth community workshop that was also the public’s first chance to work with the final Census data. Don’t worry if you missed it, a video recording of the meeting, and the presentation, are available here.

Everyone is encouraged to draw and submit their own map. Get started by going to https://drawgoleta.org/draw-a-map/. If you prefer to submit your ideas using a paper map, you can pick one up from Goleta City Hall or the Goleta Valley Library during hours of operation.

Thank you to those community members who have already submitted a map. We recently learned that any maps submitted before the mapping tools were updated with the official population data need to be resubmitted. We apologize for this inconvenience, as people were supposed to be able to edit their maps, but unfortunately that is not the case.

Below are tips for people who have already submitted an online map and need to create a new one. The tips are also useful for anyone creating a map online.

  • To guarantee that your DistrictR map is balanced, you must start a new drawing by clicking the purple button “built out of 2020 blocks”; if you click on your original version that you made with the estimated data and try to edit that, it will not adjust for the new official data, but continue to use the estimated data
  • If you would like to use your original version as a template, you can have that open in another tab and try to do your best to replicate it as you make a new drawing
  • Once you are done, make sure to select “Share Now” to save it to the Public Gallery; drafts are not shared with the Council
  • When you are using DistrictR, please be mindful of what the percentage value displayed at the bottom right side of the page is showing you
  • It is showing the maximum population deviation, or the most a single district deviates from the ideal
  • We are looking for plans that have a total population deviation that is less than 10%
  • Having a maximum population deviation that is less than 10% does not necessarily mean that the total population deviation is less than 10%
  • So, to be safe, aim for a maximum population deviation that is under 5%

For more information go to www.DrawGoleta.org. For additional questions, contact cityclerkgroup@cityofgoleta.org or call 805-961-7505. Thank you for your interest and participation in shaping the future of Goleta.

Construction Begins on $5.8 Million Paving Project

Construction to improve the City’s roadway system began on November 8th. The nearly $6 million worth of work includes much-needed pavement rehabilitation on Cathedral Oaks Road from Glen Annie Road to Los Carneros Road. The work is expected to take approximately 8 months to complete. We appreciate your patience in advance as repairs are made to this well-traveled Goleta roadway.

Although this will be a big benefit to the City’s roadway network and a major step in the right direction, this is a one-time funding allocation. City staff will continue to explore all options to identify potential funding sources for the additional $3.3 million needed annually to appropriately maintain the City’s entire roadway system. The City is also working on evaluating the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and identifying how to reprioritize and/or fund the approximately $110 million worth of unfunded CIP Projects.

For more information, please read the staff report here.

Pictured: Cathedral Oaks Road

Public Asked to Give Input on Unmet Transit Needs

Informational listening session on December 1 seeks public input on how bus systems, dial-a-ride, and paratransit services can better serve residents in Santa Barbara County.

An unmet transit needs listening session will take place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, via Zoom Webinar hosted by the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG). The public is encouraged to stop by anytime during the two-hour virtual listening session to share comments or concerns about bus systems, dial-a-ride and paratransit services in Santa Barbara County, or express needs for new or expanded services in the county. Spanish language interpretation services will be available during the listening session.

Those unable to attend the December 1, 2021, listening session can take an online survey in English or Spanish until Friday, December 3, 2021. The public can also submit comments in writing to SBCAG at 260 North San Antonio Road, Suite B, Santa Barbara, CA 93110, or by email to comment@sbcag.org.

Comments provided at the listening session, on the online survey, or in writing are shared with local decision makers, transit agencies, and the California Department of Transportation to help influence options for transit services and projects. A summary of public input is presented to Santa Barbara County Transit Advisory Committee and SBCAG Board of Directors in early 2022.

WHAT: Unmet Transit Needs Listening Session

WHEN: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday, December 1, 2021, (visit virtually anytime during the two-hour listening session)

WHERE: Zoom Webinar*:

  • Webinar ID: 843 8403 4139; Passcode: 718234; OR
  • Telephone: (669) 900-9128

*Spanish-language interpretation services available

DETAILS: SBCAG is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for this meeting. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, accommodation requests should be made by Monday, November 29 to SBCAG at (805) 961-8900.

Online Survey, www.surveymonkey.com/r/SBCAG_TNA (English); www.surveymonkey.com/r/TNA_ESP (Spanish)

Provide feedback in writing to SBCAG at 260 North San Antonio Road, Suite B, Santa Barbara, CA 93110, or by email to comment@sbcag.org.

SBCAG will receive comments on transit needs in Santa Barbara County, as required under Section 99401.5 of the Public Utilities Code.

Citrus Infestation: Look Out for Invasive Tiny Beetles

Tiny beetles that have killed tens of thousands of trees in Southern California, recently were found and identified in Santa Barbara County. Known as invasive shothole borers, the beetles tunnel into trees and introduce a fungus that serves as the food source for adult beetles and their larva. As the fungus spreads in the tree, it disrupts the flow of water and nutrients, leading to tree decline, branch dieback, and tree death.

While they seem to prefer box elder, sycamore and willow, invasive shothole borers attack a wide variety of trees and can live and reproduce in more than 65 tree species found in California. They could be infesting trees in your neighborhood without you even knowing it.

What to look for? The main sign of infestation is the presence of small, perfectly round entry holes (about the size of the tip of a medium ballpoint pen), often associated with staining; gumming; sugar-like buildup; and/or boring dust. Dead branches with wilting leaves may be a sign of severe infestation. Look for these signs on trees in your yard and neighborhood. Light to moderately infested trees can usually be managed with branch removals and ongoing monitoring, while heavier infestations may require treatments. Unfortunately, severely infested trees rarely survive, can quickly become hazardous, and are a big source of beetles, so they need to be removed. Proper disposal of green waste including chipping infested wood is a critical step in effective management to prevent the spread of this pest.

With the help of a grant from Cal-Fire, the County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office has identified invasive shothole borers in Montecito and the Santa Ynez Valley, and it has begun removing the most seriously infested trees on county lands. The department is assisting other jurisdictions and the public with ISHB identification, trapping, visual surveys and resources to manage the ISHB. 

To learn more, visit www.ishb.org and/or www.agcommissioner.com.

Top right photo: Beetle infestation in castor bean by Akif Eskalen of UC, Davis


Entry hole in a sycamore, photo by Monica Dimson of UC Cooperative Extension


Tree removal in Santa Barbara County, photo by Randall Oliver, UC Statewide IPM Program

Goleta’s Finest Returns December 4 – Award Recipients Announced

The Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, from Goleta to Carpinteria, is excited to announce the 2021 Goleta’s Finest Award Winners. Goleta’s Finest is a 71-year-old tradition honoring remarkable individuals whose contributions have enhanced the Goleta community. 

“We are honored to bring our Goleta’s Finest Community Awards Gala back this year, after taking a year off due to the pandemic,” said Kristen Miller, President & CEO of the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce. “The Goleta community has an amazing history of volunteerism and philanthropy, and we are eager to honor those individuals and organizations who have shined over the last two years.”

The 2021 award recipients will be honored with a formal celebration on, December 4th (5:30-9:00 p.m.), at the beautiful The Ritz-Carlton Bacara. The evening will include dinner followed by the awards ceremony.

Congratulations to the recipients!

  • Woman of the Year – Dr. Lynn Fitzgibbons 
  • Man of the Year – Mark Ingalls
  • Educator of the Year – William Woodard, Dos Pueblos High School
  • Student of the Year – Isabella Mireles, Dos Pueblos High School
  • Volunteer of the Year – Lisa Gosdschan
  • Non-Profit Leader of the Year – Lori Goodman
  • Innovator of the Year – Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital
  • Non-Profit Organization of the Year – Foodbank of Santa Barbara County
  • Special Recognition – Her Festival 2020

For more information about the event, click here or contact  Chelsea@SBSCChamber.com.

Holiday Parade Returns to Old Town on December 11

The Goleta Holiday Parade in Old Town Goleta is back by popular demand. Mark your calendar for 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 11, 2021, and join the fun! The parade route will take place on Hollister Avenue from Orange Avenue to Kinman Avenue.

Get ready to see dozens of local business and individual community groups head down Hollister Avenue in brightly decorated floats and vehicles. Local schools will proudly march bands along the entire route and special entries will show off their finest holiday decorations. And, of course, Santa will be flying in to join us!

The parade is presented by the Goleta Lions Club, in partnership with the City of Goleta and community sponsors.

For more information about the parade, including participant and volunteer information, go to https://goletaholidayparade.org/. We hope to see you there!

Our Water Our World: Controlling Spiders Around Your Home

Learn how to control spiders with these tips from the City of Goleta Environmental Services Division.

Only A Few Spiders Are Dangerous!
Spiders are helpful creatures, and very few of them bite! Because they eat large quantities of insects, you should probably tolerate them around home and garden if you can. There are more than 3,000 species of spiders in the U.S., but few are dangerous or even have mouthparts strong enough to pierce human skin. If you think you have a spider bite, it’s more likely a bite from a flea, tick, mosquito, or mite—or a skin condition.

What Can I Do?
Harmless or not, the presence of spiders or their webs in the house is upsetting to many people. Unfortunately, spider webs are often associated with poor housekeeping, under the mistaken assumption that a “clean” house harbors no insects or spiders at all. On the contrary, spiders can be an asset to the conscientious housekeeper since they capture and consume many pest insects before the human residents ever see the pests.

Keeping Spiders Away From Your Home

Inside Your Home
If you’re not comfortable having a few spiders indoors to assist with pest management, it’s better to move them outside rather than killing them.

  • Catch the spiders you find in a container, cover with a piece of paper, and release outside.
  • Get rid of messy spider webs by periodically vacuuming with a crevice tool. If some spiders escape, know that they’ll continue to eat bugs in your house.
  • Reduce spiders’ food supply. What are those spiders eating? If they’re going after fruit flies, try storing ripening fruit in paper bags that are folded over twice and sealed with a large clip.
  • Keep spiders out of the house. Caulk cracks and crevices. Install doorsweeps under doors and screens on windows.

Outside Your Home
Don’t spray your garden or around the outside of your house to kill spiders. Sprays generally don’t last long and will not affect spiders unless there’s direct contact. Outdoors, spiders provide a very useful pest control service. Leave them to do their job!

  • Use a cobweb brush to remove spiders and webs from the side of your house and under eaves. You’ll find these brushes at hardware stores and garden centers. Look for brushes that have telescoping handles and soft, microfiber bristles.
  • Consider replacing your porch light with a yellow bulb. The yellow light will attract fewer insects, so the spiders that feast on them will also stay away from your door.

Find more information on controlling spiders with eco-friendly products in our OWOW brochures in English and Spanish. 

The City of Goleta along with the Cities of Buellton, Carpinteria, Solvang, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria and the County of Santa Barbara have partnered with the OWOW organization to promote the use of less-toxic products in an effort to reduce pesticide pollution in our communities. By reducing pesticide use and the use of less-toxic products around the home, you can help reduce pesticides and other pollutants such as herbicides and fertilizers from being picked up while watering or when it rains and transported to the nearest storm drain inlet and into our waterways. The OWOW website is user-friendly and a great resource for finding less-toxic products to use around your home or garden.