Anonymous
Photo is of the first 100% virtual Goleta City Council meeting held on April 7, 2020
Source: City of Goleta
At its first 100% virtual meeting held last night, April 7, 2020, the Goleta City Council approved a number of COVID-19 related measures to help protect residents and businesses during the COVID-19 crisis.
The actions included increasing penalties for violations of the City’s moratorium on evictions. The City passed a resolution prohibiting commercial and residential evictions due to COVID-19 on March 17 and on March 27 the Governor issued a similar order. The City order will impose a higher financial cost to disregarding the City’s orders to deter landlords from evicting a tenant who cannot pay rent due to loss of income due to COVID-19. The first violation would be subject to a $5,000 fine, second violation within one year of the first violation would be subject to a $7,500 fine, and subsequent violation within one year of the first violation would be subject to a $10,000 fine. For more details on City’s eviction prohibitions and associated fines go to our website at www.cityofgoleta.org/covid19.
Mayor Paula Perotte said, “It’s important that we do whatever we can to help ensure that residents don’t lose their homes due to this unprecedented health crisis. People need a safe place to call home now more than ever.”
The City Council also approved issuing administrative citations or prosecution of a misdemeanor for violations of the City’s orders issued during a declared local emergency. The City’s current emergency order, which was ratified on March 17, required the immediate closure of restaurants and bars, with the exception of take-out orders, the closure of gyms, bowling alleys, movie theatres and arcades. The order also prohibited the use of play structures and fitness equipment. The skatepark at Jonny D. Wallis park, group picnic sites and recreation courts are also closed. The action by Council gives the City a means to enforce the City’s emergency order, which is aimed at preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The standard penalties would apply including $100 per occurrence for the first violation, $200 per occurrence for the second violation, and $500 for each subsequent violation. If a misdemeanor is pursued it would be punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 or by imprisonment not to exceed six months.
Mayor Paula Perotte said, “While our community has been extremely cooperative and understanding of the City’s Urgency Order and the Governor’s Stay at Home Order, this gives us a means to hold people accountable who willfully violate these orders and put our whole community at risk.”
The City also passed a measure to help provide some relief to the City’s hotel industry which is experiencing a sharp decline in business with low occupancy rates. The City Council agreed to allow hotels, motels and short-term vacation rental operators within its jurisdiction, upon written request, to defer payment of the transient occupancy tax (TOT) for two months. The City Council granted the first deferral of payment of the TOT for the months of March and April 2020 and required payment to be made by June 30, 2020. The City Manager is authorized to grant subsequent deferrals at two month increments if the local emergency is still in place. The City’s TOT rate is equivalent to 12% of the cost of a room per night and is a tax imposed upon visitors.
Mayor Paula Perotte said, “The hotel industry provides jobs and important revenue to the City and we want to help ease the financial blow being dealt to them at this time.”
For updated information on the City’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, please go to our website at www.cityofgoleta.org. If you would like to receive City alerts, you can sign up on our website or text GOLETA COVID19 to 468311.
Low occupancy rates at local hotels?! Ya think! Have you checked the rates at some of the hotels in the Goleta area? They still think they can charge $200 plus a night when a disaster is going on, get over yourselves. I just now am looking at an arrival date of April 13 for one night. The Residence Inn—-$283! And the Courtyard $186! Are you insane! They should be giving rooms away for about a hundred bucks…..you might get a few people to do a staycations but not for $300 bucks at a Residence Inn in the middle of nowhere next to an airport runway! Get real.
SANTABARBARAOBSERVER – I am a healthcare provider, doing my darndest to continue providing necessary care to my patients, while a hairstylist is potentially spreading disease in my community. I consider it an obligation to do what’s necessary to “encourage” social distancing and community guidelines to close non-essential businesses. I haven’t found “hair stylist” on any list of essential services yet.
The price of gasoline in California is 75% taxes. There was a Proposition to reduce gas taxes but Californians wouldn’t have it. Suck it up.
So this is only for Goleta? People can walk around in SB and not get tickets but goleta will ticket? I hope SB catches on and starts to ticketing people as well. Lots of people still on the beach and walking around
8:45 – Please understand, being “on the beach and walking around” are both completely legal and allowed. Doing so in groups from other households, however, is not. So, when you a family on the beach or someone walking down the street, don’t call the cops. There’s nothing wrong with that. In Goleta, we’re out at the parks, walking on the beach, going to the store, etc. BUT we are doing it smart and safe. Distancing and keeping only near family from the same household. I even stay away from my parents when I drop their groceries off. It can be done!
The Goleta City Council and staff have done a superb job of handling this crises. Really appreciate the online presence, the measured, reasonable and appropriate steps to protect the citizens of Goleta and the daily updates on the virus.
Where can I report a business that is still open, that shouldn’t be because it’s non-essential?
Goleta Beach, I was there yesterday, and lots of people walking around, no masks, close together. Also, require masks in grocery stores, and for picking up food at restaurants. Los Angeles, starting tomorrow/Friday, will require stores to refuse admittance to anyone without a mask on. Goleta, do this, too. Trader Joe’s, Costco, restaurants, gas stations, buses, food stands/farmer’s market. REQUIRE masks.
LJMDANCE, This is not a war. We do not have enemies. These are your neighbors and your fellow humans. If they are engaged in criminal acts, call the police. Otherwise, mind your own P’s and Q’s . Worry about your own health and your own actions. You cannot control other people. We are not under Martial law.
SBOBSERVER – Standing ovation! Thank you!
You don’t need to wear a mask while walking on the beach, unless maybe you have it and you’re near others.
Disagree with SBOBSERVER and SACJON. Community spread is happening. Community health = individual health. I feel bad for non-essential business owners, I do. But that’s not the point – operate remotely or not at all, this is bigger than just your business. SB County COVID19 numbers are jumping up rapidly. Our case rate is in the upper percentiles of all counties in California.
@11:43 that is merely an unproven theory at this point. We, as in, everyone on earth, do not know the exact mechanisms of spread for this particular virus.
A mask at Goleta beach won’t do you any good. It’s a toxic swamp as they keep dumping diseased mud and debris from Montecito creeks and calling it “beach nourishment”.