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Our 166th Year
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Happy birthday, Goleta
COVID hospitalizations down 61% at LVMC
City’s leaders look to future, more citizen involvement as the 20th anniversary celebration commences By KAITLYN SCHALLHORN
By KATHERINE ZEHNDER
NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
As Goleta celebrates 20 years of cityhood, it’s more than just a birthday party but a recognition of how much its citizens and fledgling government have accomplished in the two decades it has been incorporated. It was 20 years ago, Feb. 1, 2002, when the Goodland became incorporated following a voterapproved referendum. Then more than 57.8% of voters — and 20 of the 30 precincts — said yes to Measure H, the incorporation proposal. “When we first became a city, we were still very much working with the (Santa Barbara) county government and what the county government had put in place because it’s hard to create a whole new set of things,” Margaret Connell, Goleta’s first mayor, told the News-Press. “But now, Goleta is very independent in making its own decisions, and that’s exciting to see — the way Goleta is in charge of making decisions about its future.” The Goleta City Council kicked off its celebration last week with a proclamation highlighting its accomplishments throughout the years — from improvements made to Ellwood Mesa Monarch Butterfly Grove to the purchase of City Hall and other successful infrastructure projects. Also recognized in the proclamation was the very first city council, made up of Cynthia Brock, Jonny Wallis, Jack Hawxhurst, Jean Blois and Ms. Connell. That council set an example for future Goleta city servants, Mayor Paula Perotte told the News-Press. “They didn’t have offices. It was a struggle (at the beginning), but they pulled it together and set a really good tone and model for the rest of us,” Mayor Perotte said. “I always look back and think how fiscally responsible they were, how caring they were.” During the presentation of the proclamation on Tuesday evening, Councilmember Kyle Richards said even though the incorporation of the city is still fairly new, the Goleta community has a long and storied history that precluded cityhood. “I did want to express the Please see GOLETA on A7
News-Press Staff Writer
Hospitalizations are down 61% at Lompoc Valley Medical Center in Lompoc, since two weeks ago during the peak of the Omicron wave, when hospitalizations at LVMC were at 23 with 4 in the ICU. “The other hospitals in the county peaked a week or so
Board of Supervisors to reconsider COVID-19 state of emergency By KAITLYN SCHALLHORN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
COURTESY PHOTO
Mayor Paula Perotte holds the Goleta City Council’s proclamation honoring the city on the 20th anniversary of its incorporation.
KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Goleta long rented its City Hall offices on Cremona Drive, but purchased the building in 2019 for $11.5 million.
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Understanding New Retirement Account Rules FEBRUARY 15, 2022 Noon–1:00 PM // Zoom
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors will discuss whether to reconsider the COVID19 pandemic-related state of emergency at its 9 a.m. meeting Tuesday. In September, the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department recommended local legislative bodies utilize teleconference options for public meetings to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19. The board has allowed for remote meetings since November and must reconsider its COVID-19 state of emergency every 30 days to remain in compliance with Assembly Bill 361 signed last year. (The board also allows the public to attend meetings in person.) According to background information provided to supervisors ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention categorized Santa Barbara County as having a “high” level of community transmission. Additionally, the board is set to consider abolishing an improvement zone no longer needed for the Vintage Ranch Tract development project. The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors will also consider a proposal to rename the county-owned El Colegio Property
to Hedges House of Hope in memory of Father Jon-Stephen Hedges. The board is scheduled to consider a response to the grand jury “The Keys to Housing the Homeless” report. The board must respond to the presiding judge by Feb. 15. People can attend the meeting in-person in the board hearing room on the fourth floor of the County Administration Building, 105 E. Anapamu St. People can also attend the meeting virtually. The meeting will be televised on local cable channel 20 and live-streamed at countyofsb.org/ceo/csbtv/ livestream.sbc and youtube.com/ user/CSBTV20. To make a public comment on Zoom during the meeting, register in advance at countyofsb. zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ M7PJaki2RyG8RTpOMQUFVQ. There is time for public comment scheduled after the various agenda items. Individuals can also email comments to the board clerk at sbcob@countyofsb.org. Emailed comments are due at 5 p.m. Monday. The board consists of Supervisors Das Williams, Gregg Hart, Joan Hartmann, Bob Nelson and Steve Lavagnino. For more information, go to www.countyofsb.org/bos. email: kschallhorn@newspress.com
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before LVMC, but have declined significantly from their respective peaks, as well,” said Dr. Steve Poplins, CEO at LVMC. Overall, in Santa Barbara County there were 108 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, with 15 of those receiving ICU care, according to Friday’s numbers. “Two weeks ago, there were Please see COVID on A5
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