Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

Goleta Community Center Update

Antiquated Building to Undergo Seismic and Accessibility Upgrades: Funding Needed for Additional Improvements and Future Programming Needs

There are big changes in store over the next year for the nearly 100-year-old Goleta Community Center (GCC). Located at 5679 Hollister Avenue in Old Town, two of the biggest rooms in the city-owned building have been closed since January of 2021 due to seismic concerns. The City will assume direct management of the city-owned building in January of 2023 and plans to immediately begin a seismic retrofit construction program. The goal is to re-open the full facility for community use by summer 2023. 

City of Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte said, “The City Council wants to ensure that this important gathering spot for Goleta meets the needs of the community for years to come.”

During the seismic retrofit construction, the main building will be closed for several months, however, operations in the auxiliary buildings, including the Senior Center Program, the CommUnify/Head Start programs, Rainbow School, Resilience Personal Training, and the Boys and Girls Club will continue as usual. 

Following the seismic renovation, the building will undergo disability access improvements to sidewalks, paths of travel, the bathrooms and sewer lines in the main building required under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These projects are largely funded by federal grants from FEMA (the GCC serves as a shelter in emergencies) and a federal Community Project Funding grant secured for the project through the efforts of Representative Salud Carbajal. 

While the upcoming projects will ensure that the building is again fully usable, additional funding is needed in the future for other important upgrades. The entire building needs a refresh, both in functional systems and aesthetics, the parking lot needs to be repaved, and the Gazebo area in the front of the building needs to be rebuilt and re-landscaped. Also, funding will be needed for City programming requested at the facility once the Council adopts a Goleta Community Center Strategic Plan. Staff will work diligently to identify ways to fund the important community priorities identified in the Plan.

A group of community members is working with an Ad Hoc Committee of the City Council to create a Strategic Plan for the GCC. The plan will help set a vision and goals for the Goleta Community Center and the role it will play in our community over the short- and long-term and will outline specific steps that can be taken to achieve those goals. The plan will draw upon the results of an extensive community outreach process conducted in 2020, which included surveys and focus groups of community members and other stakeholders. It will also reflect current priorities and needs identified by the working group and community members. The Strategic Plan will use this input to set the expectations for future management of the GCC, whether it is managed by a non-profit lessee or directly by the City.

If you have any feedback or questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know. Contact Shannon Kirn, Management Analyst, at skirn@cityofgoleta.org.

Background:
The City of Goleta acquired the Community Center in 2013. In a previous life, the building served as the Goleta Union elementary school, but the school was closed in 1976 because it did not meet minimum seismic requirements for a school. For the next several decades it was run by a non-profit organization known as the Goleta Valley Community Center. 

Lake Los Carneros Footbridge Update

Replacement and Design Process Underway: Cost to Replace Bridge Estimated at Over $2 Million

The City of Goleta is looking at options for the removal of the treasured Lake Los Carneros Footbridge. This popular, scenic bridge has been closed for more than a year due to significant rot of the wooden structure. The 30 plus year old bridge has provided countless visitors an up-close and personal look at the wetland habitats and wildlife at Lake Los Carneros. The City knows the community is eager to see a functioning bridge at this important recreation spot.

Goleta’s Public Works Department is putting together an independent team to design and seek regulatory agency permits for removal of the footbridge. Various conceptual designs for a replacement bridge will also be developed for the community’s feedback. Removal of the existing bridge is anticipated to cost over $500,000. The cost to replace the bridge is currently unfunded and is estimated to be well over $2 million.

City of Goleta Parks and Open Space Manager George Thomson said “Lake Los Carneros is one of the City’s premier open spaces and the footbridge provided generations of Goletans inspiring opportunities to observe wildlife in their natural habitat. The City is balancing a variety of high-priority programs and projects in our parks and open space system. Removing the rotted bridge, while protecting the sensitive wetland habitats, is the initial phase of this project. As bridge replacement designs are developed in 2023, we look forward to collaborating with the community to ensure the new bridge is compatible with our limited funding, can be easily maintained, and will provide the next generation a window into the wonders of Lake Los Carneros.”

Once a team is put into place it will create designs for the bridge, develop bridge removal and replacement costs, and coordinate state and federal regulatory permits. The community will play an integral role in providing design input and ensuring the project is financially and ecologically sustainable. 

The footbridge was closed in 2020 when it came to the City’s attention that it may not be structurally sound and a structural assessment was conducted. An independent, licensed structural engineer determined the bridge should remain closed for all operational and service usage and that it should be demolished and removed due to the significant level of decay. The report found that the level of deterioration was beyond repair considering American with Disabilities Act requirements for accessibility and updated building code requirements.

For questions or concerns, please contact George Thomson, Parks and Open Space Manager at gthomson@cityofgoleta.org or (805) 961-7578.


Significant levels of rot in the wooden footbridge supports require demolition of the existing structure.

City Awarded Grant for Ellwood Mesa Fire Prevention

The City of Goleta is pleased to announce it is receiving a $1.7 million grant from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Wildfire Prevention Grants Program to reduce the risk of wildfire at Ellwood Mesa and surrounding neighborhoods. The Ellwood Mesa Neighborhoods Hazard Fuel Reduction Project will create a defensible space buffer on public lands around residences, protect over 3,500 homes from uncontrollable wildfire, conduct a community firesafe education campaign, and protect sensitive wildlife species from wildfire. The work funded by the grant will also address the excessive buildup of dead eucalyptus trees killed by the on-going drought while ensuring monarch butterflies and other wildlife are not harmed.

George Thomson, City of Goleta’s Parks and Open Space Manager, shared “This is great news for Goleta. Our community experienced devastating wildfires in the recent past and this grant award helps us be proactive in addressing the fire risk at Ellwood Mesa and the surrounding neighborhoods.”  Fire Marshal Rob Hazard adds “Santa Barbara County Fire Department fully supports the project and looks forward to working with the City of Goleta, its residents, and project partners to reduce the likelihood of wildfire at Ellwood Mesa.”    

The work proposed under the grant agreement is identified in the City’s adopted Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) and the Ellwood Mesa Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan (MBHMP). The eucalyptus groves and windrows, composed primarily of Tasmanian blue gum eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), are fire-prone and present a threat to residential communities adjacent to the butterfly habitats. The Monarch Butterfly Aggregation Area Treatment Strategy section of the CWPP states that vegetative fuel treatments in areas near human developments are critical measures in the wildfire protection strategy for both residences and butterfly aggregations and habitat. Larger trees are not the primary fuel of concern in the spread of wildfire; rather, the greater hazard and threat are understory vegetation, dead/downed trees, and fuels that can spread fire into the forest canopy. The grant funded work to reduce wildfires at Ellwood compliments other work the City of Goleta is undertaking to enhance habitat for monarch butterflies, migratory birds, and other species that call Ellwood home.

Scientists guiding work to improve monarch butterfly habitat at Ellwood Mesa concluded the removal of dead downed wood and dead standing trees benefits monarch butterfly habitat and the forest. Specifically, the accumulation of bark and dead wood on the ground creates a major fire hazard to monarch habitats. Ignition from human sources can feed on ground debris and quickly escalate into a catastrophic fire event. This risk can be managed by reducing fuel load through the removal of dead branches, trunks, and highly flammable vegetation that can create fire ladders into the forest crown. The project will help to protect life, property, and natural resources including monarch butterfly habitat.

The Ellwood Mesa Neighborhoods Hazard Fuel Reduction Project 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.

CAL FIRE’s Wildfire Prevention Grants enable local organizations to implement activities that address the hazards of wildfire and reduce wildfire risk to communities. Funded activities include hazardous fuel reduction, wildfire prevention planning, and wildfire prevention education. These projects all meet the goals and objectives of California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, as well as the Strategic Fire Plan for California. The Wildfire Prevention Grants Program is funded as part of the State’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Strategy, in part with Cap-and-Trade auction proceeds administered by the California Climate Investments (CCI) Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. For more information about CAL FIRE’s other CCI programs, please visit CAL FIRE Grants. These grants are part of the Governor’s unprecedented $1.5 billion investment in wildfire resilience. The Governor’s Wildfire Resilience initiative has launched 588 projects to date, in addition to projects to be funded by these grants. Learn more about the program here.

Questions or comments about the project can be directed to George Thomson, City of Goleta Parks and Open Space Manager, at gthomson@cityofgoleta.org or 805-961-7578.

Photo caption: A $1.7 million grant from CAL FIRE will help the City of Goleta address high wildfire risk associated with dead trees while also helping protect monarch butterfly habitat.

Ellwood Mesa Workshop Sep. 2022

Ellwood Mesa Update

The City of Goleta is designing and permitting the implementation phase of the Ellwood Mesa Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan. This winter, the updated project plans will be presented to the City Council for review of a Development Plan Application and a Coastal Development Permit application which the City will submit to the California Coastal Commission. Vegetation management work to reduce fire risk is anticipated to start this fall, with the larger project to enhance monarch butterfly habitat and trails slated to start next summer, pending all permit approvals.

The City held a workshop on the Ellwood Mesa Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan last month at Ellwood Elementary School. The workshop was a great opportunity for community members to learn about the City’s plans to improve butterfly habitat and public access. Community members split into break out groups, had one-on-one conversations with project team members, observed detailed project plans, and provided input via group activities. The City’s project team received a lot of valuable feedback from workshop participants. A presentation recapping the workshop is scheduled for the City of Goleta Parks and Recreation Commission on October 12, 2022. View the agenda for the meeting here.

Thank you to everyone who attended. If you have questions or comments about the project, please reach out to George Thomson, the City of Goleta’s Parks and Open Space Manager, at gthomson@cityofgoleta.org or 805-961-7578.

Pictured: Ellwood Mesa Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan Workshop, September 12, 2022, Ellwood School

Coffee with a Cop Day Recap

Thank you to McDonald’s at Camino Real Marketplace for hosting Coffee with a Cop on October 5. We appreciate the opportunity for community members to get a chance to meet members of the Goleta Police Department serving the Good Land, including Chief of Police Services, Lt. Rich Brittingham. 

National Coffee with a Cop Day began as part of Community Policing Week in 2016 and now continues each year on the first Wednesday in October furthering efforts nationwide to bridge the gap between the community and law enforcement. Thanks to everyone who came.

A special thanks to Dave Peterson, owner of the McDonald’s at the Camino Real Marketplace for stopping by and giving everyone at the event a free cup of coffee. #GoodLandGoodPeople

Pictured below: Photos from October 5 event

 

 

Pavement Rehabilitation Project to Begin Construction Soon

Backlog of Deferred Roadway Maintenance Remains

Pavement Rehabilitation work is scheduled to take place this fall in the Cannon Green Neighborhood, the Covington Neighborhood, a portion of Cathedral Oaks Road from Evergreen Drive to Alameda Avenue and Armstrong Road from Reed Court to Mills Way. The work is all part of the 2022-2023 Pavement Rehabilitation Project and is expected to take six months to complete.  We will keep you posted on construction dates as soon as we receive them and appreciate your patience.

Construction will begin with concrete work, that consists of the reconstruction of cross gutters and spandrels, adjacent curb ramps to meet ADA standards, and miscellaneous concrete repairs. This work will be followed by asphalt roadway work, then striping and signage.

Goleta Public Works Director Charlie Ebeling said, “While we are pleased to have more work being done to improve our City streets, we are well aware that there is so much more that needs to be done. The City has a backlog of deferred roadway pavement maintenance. It has been many years since the City has been able to fully fund its pavement program.  With the backlog as well as the recent significant increase in the cost of construction, it gets harder and harder to maintain the City’s pavement condition goals.”

One of the biggest concerns for residents remains the condition of Cathedral Oaks Road.  Due to funding limitations, there is only budget to pave limited segments of Cathedral Oaks each year.

The City constructs an Annual Pavement Rehabilitation Project as part of its Pavement Management Program (PMP). Following the PMP ensures the most efficient use of available funding for maintaining the City’s roadway network. The PMP consists of tracking the condition of the pavement and based on the condition, developing periodic pavement maintenance activities and projects. Pavement maintenance ranges from pothole repair and crack sealing to slurry seals, overlays, and reconstructions. The PMP is also a critical planning tool that assists staff in establishing a list of priority roadways to be included in the City’s annual pavement rehabilitation projects. In addition to the PMP recommendations, the paving priority list is developed based on public input and staff’s experience and understanding of the roadways.

If you have any questions on the Annual Pavement Projects, please contact Debbie Talarico, Contract Project Manager, at dtalarico@cityofgoleta.org.

Goleta Holiday Parade on December 3rd

Sponsorship, Volunteer, and Participants Requested to Light Up Old Town Goleta

The Goleta Lions Club is pleased to announce the return of the annual Goleta Holiday Parade to kick off the 2022 Holiday Season in Old Town on Saturday, December 3rd starting at 6:00 p.m. Now organizers of The Santa Cruz Market 5th Annual Goleta Holiday Parade Presented by Fuel Depot are looking for volunteers, event participants and sponsors to ensure the parade is a great success. 

As City of Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte shares, the parade is an important part of Goleta’s community spirit and a special event every year. She said, “The Holiday Parade has become a much-anticipated tradition in Goleta, and this year could be the best one yet. The parade will feature local schools, nonprofits, youth sport teams, friends, families, and other wonderful organizations.”

The parade gives all members of the community the opportunity to come together and celebrate the spirit of the holidays as well as indulge in good old fashioned, hometown fun. No matter your age, the event is sure to put the holiday twinkle in your eye. This year’s route will have participants traveling from Orange Avenue to Kinman Avenue and, while excitement builds for this festive parade, volunteers and sponsors are still needed to ensure its success. 

A variety of sponsorship levels are available, including North Pole Sponsorships ($3000), Regal Stars Diamond Sponsorships ($2500), Reindeer Sponsorships ($1500), or Candy Cane Sponsorships ($1000), in addition to other levels. All sponsorship dollars will fund parade expenses and local youth projects. Volunteers can visit the parade website to sign up and offer help day-of or leading up to the event.

Current sponsors include:

  • North Pole Sponsors: Fuel Depot and Santa Cruz Market
  • Reindeer Sponsors: American Riviera Bank, Mechanics Bank, Rockin’ Double RC Ranch/Robin and Reid Cederlof
  • Candy Cane Sponsors: Community West Bank

Visit www.goletaholidayparade.org for more information about sponsorship opportunities, volunteer positions, and participant information.

Pictured: Goleta City Council at last year’s holiday parade

Hollister Ave Old Town Interim Striping Project Special Council Meeting

Join Us October 27 In-Person, Participate Via Zoom or Watch Live Broadcast

The City of Goleta is holding a Special City Council meeting on the Hollister Avenue Old Town Interim Striping Project on October 27, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. Join us for this important discussion on traffic conditions in Old Town, how the Hollister Avenue Old Town Interim Striping Project addresses area traffic issues and whether to move the project into the final design and construction phases. There are many ways you can participate. Join us in person at the Goleta Council Chambers (130 Cremona Drive), via Zoom or Watch Live on www.cityofgoleta.org or Goleta TV Channel 19.

At a well-attended community workshop held at the Goleta Community Center on September 30th, the City presented information on traffic volumes, speeds and safety. Staff also presented the plan created to address parking, speed, and safety concerns in Old Town, which includes:

  • One vehicle and bike lane in each direction
  • A non-traversable painted median
  • Back-in angled 90-minute parking along the north side of the street
  • Parallel 90-minute parking along the south side of the street
  • Traffic signal equipment and timing upgrades

Meeting participants asked questions and provided input. Based on the turnout at the workshop and the positive feedback received, the City plans to expedite the project by converting the second planned community meeting into a Special City Council hearing. The City Council hearing will continue to be a forum for members of the public to receive project information and to voice their opinions. After public discussion, City Council will direct staff on how to continue with the project. Combining the community meeting and City Council hearing could potentially save months in the project schedule, if approved by the City Council.

For more information on this project, please visit: https://cityofgoleta.org/hollisterinterimstriping.

Instructions on how to participate in the Special Council Meeting will be available in the agenda. The agenda is posted at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting at www.CityofGoleta.org/GoletaMeetings.

Pictured: Hollister Ave in Old Town

Know Your Goleta Ballot

There is a lot for Goleta voters to consider this upcoming election on November 8, 2022. Not only is it the City’s first By-District election, but there are also two ballot measures. Measure B2022 is for a 1% Sales and Transaction Use tax and Measure C2022 is for a Flavored Tobacco Ban Ordinance. 

To help voters know what to expect on the Goleta November 2022 Election, the City sent a Know Your Goleta Ballot mailer to all registered voters. To view it, click here. For more information on the upcoming election, visit the City website at www.CityofGoleta.org/Elections.

Important Dates:

  • October 11: Registered voters should receive a ballot on or around this date
  • October 24: The last day to register to vote in this election; register now at https://www.registertovote.ca.gov/
  • November 8: Election Day

Drop Box Locations:

There will be over 30 secure Ballot Drop Boxes located throughout the County to safely return your ballot directly to the Registrar of Voters. The drop boxes are open for 24 hours beginning 29 days before a federal or state election through 8:00 pm on Election night. There will be two locations in Goleta:

  • Goleta City Hall (130 Cremona Drive)
  • Goleta Valley Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue) – at end of parking lot in front of building

An interactive map of the Ballot Drop Box locations in the County is available here.

Wildfire Preparedness Expo October 14 & 15

Event held at the Direct Relief Building in Goleta

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department would like to invite the community to attend the second 2022 Wildfire Preparedness Exposition October 14-15, 2022.

Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council in partnership with the UCSB Wildfire Prevention and Policy Lecture Series is hosting the Exposition. The Event will be held at the Direct Relief building, 6100 Wallace Becknell Road in Goleta. There will be family friendly exhibits, activities, presentations, and will feature a panel of speakers.

Friday October 14th, 4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.: Opening Reception with Speakers and Exhibits. “Why Have Humans Lost Control of Wildfire in the Western United States?” Keynote Speaker Dr. Park Williams.

Saturday October 15th, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Speakers, Exhibits, Activities & Food. Come see your local firefighters, engines, bulldozers, hand-crew, and helicopter.

This event is funded by a Fire Prevention Grant and is part of the Regional Wildfire Mitigation Program (RWMP).

For more information, visit the websites of the Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council and the Regional Wildfire Mitigation Program. See you there!