On-Road, Off-Road, Marine, Agricultural, and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Projects Qualify

Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) is accepting applications for the 2022 Clean Air Grants Program July 25 through August 31. A record amount of funding (approximately $3.8 million) is available for voluntary Clean Air Grant projects this year — twice as much funding as was available last year.

APCD will prioritize applications proposing zero-emission or near-zero emission technology projects, along with projects in low-income and disadvantaged communities, as defined by this map: https://webmaps.arb.ca.gov/PriorityPopulations/.

Individuals, businesses, and nonprofits looking to replace old equipment with newer, cleaner technology, or transition to zero-emission or near-zero emission vehicles, equipment, and/or fueling infrastructure, are encouraged to apply. Successful projects will be eligible to receive a grant within a range from $10,000 to $250,000. Emission reductions from the project must be surplus to any rule or regulation. Examples of eligible projects include:

• On-Road Heavy-Duty Vehicles:
  • Heavy-duty trucks and buses
  • School buses
  • Solid waste collection vehicles
  • Transit fleet vehicles, including urban buses
  • Public agency and utility vehicles
  • Emergency vehicles
• Alternative Fueling Infrastructure
• Off-Road Equipment:
  • Tractors
  • Forklifts
  • Loaders and dozers
  • Excavators
  • Agricultural utility vehicles
• Marine Vessels (regulated and non-regulated commercial vessels)
• Agricultural Engines

Over the past 34 years, APCD has collaborated with local operators and awarded more than $50 million to various engine replacement projects throughout Santa Barbara County. These projects have eliminated several thousand tons of smog-forming pollution and particulate matter, both of which harm human health. Here are some testimonials from previous recipients:

“We are proud of the fact that we have been able through this Grant Program to be able to upgrade our tractors over the past few years. Without this program, we would have continued to repair our old tractors and not replace them with much cleaner-running, energy-efficient tractors. This has also had a positive effect with the morale of our employees.” – Plantel Nurseries (Santa Maria)

“Access to grant funds are crucial for small businesses like mine, looking to upgrade to best available technology in order to reduce emissions. Especially because we carry the public, health and safety are our priority. Having the newest equipment ensures reduced mechanical issues and easier access to parts.” – Stardust Sportfishing (Santa Barbara Harbor)

“I enjoy hearing from previous Clean Air Grant recipients about how transitioning to newer, cleaner technology has benefited their operations while improving our air quality,” said Aeron Arlin Genet, APCD Director. “I strongly encourage all interested companies and organizations to apply.”

For more information, visit the Grants webpage.

One of Goleta’s gem locations is the stunning Lake Los Carneros. Now there is a newly released 7-minute short film, Birds of Lake Carneros, shot at this special location available to view. The Santa Barbara Audubon Society (SBAS) and filmmaker Michael Love recently released the short film which is rich in bird conservation, local history, and ecology.

The film can be viewed here: https://santabarbaraaudubon.org/learning-resources/.

The film celebrates local and migrating birds at Lake Los Carneros, raises awareness about the importance of this open space for providing critical habitat to avifauna and other wildlife, and inspires community environmental stewardship and nature conservation. 

Movie footage includes iconic shots of hummingbirds, predators, and new chicks, as well as other important wildlife around the lake. Guest appearances in the film include SBAS Board Field Trips Chair Peter Thompson leading a group and City of Goleta Councilmember Stuart Kasdin birding with local students at the lake.

Lake Los Carneros is owned and managed by the City of Goleta.

About Santa Barbara Audubon Society
Founded in 1963, SBAS’s mission is to protect area birdlife and habitat and connect people with birds through education, conservation and science. SBAS strengthens people’s connection to birds through outreach, local presentations and birding events, promotes avifauna protections through meetings with agency decision-makers, public comments, and conservation letters, and advances knowledge about birdlife through community and research-based science. To learn more about SBAS and how you may join and help our local birds, please visit https://santabarbaraaudubon.org.

Available Now at the Goleta Valley Historical Society Museum Store

If you want to show off your love for Goleta, NOW is your chance by purchasing a limited-edition City of Goleta 20-Year logo t-shirt and/or coffee mug while supplies last. This specialty merchandise, custom made to commemorate the City of Goleta’s 20th Birthday, is also a great gift for anyone you know who loves the Good Land.  

Thanks to the Goleta Valley Historical Society (GVHS) for selling the 20-year gear at its Museum Store located at 304 N. Los Carneros Road. Store hours are Saturday and Sunday 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. and by appointment. T-Shirts are $25 and mugs are $10. 

Once the merchandise is sold, there are no plans to purchase more, so we encourage you to get your gear before its gone.  

The shirts and mugs will also be available to purchase at special events including the popular Tuesday night concert series “Music at the Ranch” (now through August 16 from 5:30 p.m. -7:30 p.m.) and the Dam Dinner on August 20 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. You can learn more about GVHS and its upcoming events at https://goletahistory.org/.

We are excited to see you with the 20-year merchandise. Send a photo of you and your Goleta merch to PIO@cityofgoleta.org for a chance to be featured on our Facebook (@cityofgoleta) and Instagram (@cityofgoleta) accounts! #happybirthdaygoleta

Pictured above and below: 20-year mugs and t-shirts

City also receives its first Special Capital Recognition

The City of Goleta is proud to announce that it has received its third Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the City’s two-year budget plan, fiscal years 2021/22 and 2022/23. The City first received this award in 2018 for fiscal years 2017/18 and 2018/19, and again in 2020 for fiscal years 2019/20 and 2020/21. Alongside this prestigious award, the City of Goleta also received its first Special Capital Recognition which requires three outstanding ratings on the capital program from the reviewers.

The award is now the third consecutive award since the City of Goleta has prepared and submitted their entry in accordance with GFOA standards. Finance Director Luke Rioux and a support team of dedicated staff members continue to put together a comprehensive budget plan that increases transparency and allows community members to easily see how money comes into our City and how it is spent.

Luke said, “This is a great accomplishment for our team, and especially the special recognition for capital budgeting. It reflects the many hours of effort and hard work that goes into budget development and producing a well-organized budget document our City can take pride in. This award is a tribute to all of staff’s hard work, dedication, and commitment to improve Goleta’s budget document. We appreciate City Council’s support and expectation of only the highest standards in budget preparation. It is an honor to share this award with Council and City staff.”

The Distinguished Budget Award and the first Special Capital Recognition represents a summation of the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. In order to receive the Award, recipients must satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation, and the budget must serve as a: policy document; financial plan; operations guide; and communications device. View the City’s Two-Year Budget Plan for FY 2021/22 & 2022/23 here. To learn more about the award, please visit www.gfoa.org.

The primary function of the City’s Finance Department is to ensure the financial integrity of the City by providing superior financial services, maintaining public trust, and promoting governmental efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability in a transparent and easy to understand manner. Finance maintains an effective financial accounting system that accurately reflects the financial operations of the City and offers a framework for both financial planning and analysis. The department provides accurate, reliable, and timely financial information for City Council, City Manager, City staff, and outside requests using the highest-level of professional standards.

More information on the City’s Finance Department, including objectives and accomplishments, is available at https://www.cityofgoleta.org/your-city/finance.

Have you ever thought of a career in local government? Are you looking for a rewarding job where you can give back to the community? If you answered yes to either of those questions, then check out the available jobs the City of Goleta is looking to fill at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/goletaca. We have close to 20 job openings throughout multiple departments including the newly posted Senior Manager Analyst – Purchasing & Procurement and the Senior Planner in our Advance Planning department. If you love Goleta as much as we do, we encourage you to apply!

Current job openings include (in alphabetical order):

• Accounting Specialist & Accounting Supervisor
• Administrative Assistant (multiple)
• Engineering Positions (multiple)
• Homelessness Services Coordinator
• Library Positions (multiple)
• Maintenance Worker (multiple)
• Public Works Supervisor
• Senior Management Analyst – Purchase & Procurement
• Senior Planner

You can learn more about the open positions and apply at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/goletaca. Job availability subject to change. #TeamGoleta #GoodLandGreatJobs

Deadline to Apply is August 31st

The City of Goleta has opportunities for community members to get involved, two of them specifically for teens. The Parks and Recreation Commission and Public Engagement Commission are both looking to fill a student / youth position. This is a great opportunity to learn more about how local government works, have your voice heard, and give back to your community. The City is also looking for applicants for an opening on the Santa Barbara County Library Advisory Committee. Interested community members can apply here by August 31.

Parks and Recreation Commission – one (1) vacancy for a Student Commissioner (age 15 years or older); This Commission advises the City Council on all issues related to parks and recreational opportunities in Goleta, including the acquisition, development, maintenance, and improvement of the City’s public parks, recreational services, and open spaces. Eligible applicants must live in the City of Goleta. Members are compensated at the rate of $50 per meeting; the student commissioner may choose to waive their compensation to receive community service credit.

Public Engagement Commission – one (1) vacancy for a Youth Commissioner (must be between the ages of 15 – 21); This Commission provides City residents a venue to address opportunities and ways to increase public engagement in City government and advises the City Council on related issues. Members are compensated at the rate of $50 per meeting.

Santa Barbara County Library Advisory Committee – one (1) vacancy for a Committee member; This Committee’s role is to advise the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. It reviews and maintains the master plan for each County library service zone, makes recommendations to ensure adequate library services to all, determines the per capita level of service, reviews budgets, considers site locations and building programs, and reviews the operation of the library. The member represents all of Zone 4, which includes Goleta, Buellton and Solvang. Eligible applicants must live in the City of Goleta.

Applications for all open vacancies may be submitted online at https://www.cityofgoleta.org/boardscommissions. Applications are due by August 31, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. For additional information, please email cityclerkgroup@cityofgoleta.org.

The City of Goleta is pleased to introduce Dana Murray as the City’s new Sustainability Manager. Ms. Murray began on July 18 and will oversee Goleta’s Sustainability Program and its vision for a cleaner and greener Goleta for all. She will manage projects that help Goleta address climate action, sustainability, community resilience, renewable energy and shared mobility.

Mayor Paula Perotte said, “This is an important role for the City and a great hire for Goleta. We are thrilled to have someone with this caliber of experience to help Goleta achieve its ambitious sustainability goals. We proudly welcome Ms. Murray to our team and wish her great success ahead and a rewarding time serving our City.”

Ms. Murray brings more than 20 years of professional experience in the conservation, sustainability, and environmental field and broad international experience including the Peace Corps. She comes to the City from Manhattan Beach, where she served as the Environmental Sustainability Manager over the past five years. Ms. Murray accomplished a great deal during her time there, including helping the City move to 100% renewable energy. Before diving into local government, Dana was the Senior Marine Scientist and Coastal Policy Manager at Heal the Bay, where she worked on science and policy issues related to coastal habitats and marine wildlife in California. Prior to that, she lived and worked in Goleta. Ms. Murray earned her master’s degree in Environmental Science and Management from UC Santa Barbara’s Bren School, specializing in Conservation Planning and Coastal Marine Resource Management, and her bachelor’s in Geography and Environmental Studies from UCLA.

Ms. Murray said, “I believe in furthering the City’s vision to support a “cleaner, greener” Goleta and have been inspired by how the City has taken great strides to achieve this vision. I believe meaningful public engagement is critical to furthering that success, especially as we move forward to create a sustainable, equitable, and climate-resilient city. As a former Goleta resident, I have ties to the community and great love for the Good Land and the people that live here. I am honored to lead Goleta’s future sustainability efforts.”

To learn more about the City’s Sustainability programs, projects, and initiatives, please visit: www.CityofGoleta.org/sustainability.