Author: Lea Boyd

The Carpinteria Architectural Review Board’s meeting on Thursday, Jan. 13 has been canceled at the applicant’s request. The meeting was to be the final review of the 700 Linden Adaptive Reuse Project.

The 2021 Pavement Rehabilitation Project is underway again this week after a short delay due to rain. The following streets will be the focus of roadway rehabilitation: Fourth Street, Third Street, Calle Ocho, Elm Lane, Eighth Street and Holly Avenue. Contractor crews are using technologies and material recycling techniques that reduce costs and lower greenhouse gas emissions in the reduction of truck trips. Major funding for the $1.4 million project will come from the Measure X sales tax, which voters approved in 2018.

In response to the rapid increase of COVID-19 cases in our area, Carpinteria City Hall will implement temporary measures to ensure the safety of staff. City Hall will remain open, but lobby access will require screening for COVID-19 symptoms. Other precautions that may impact the public are seating limitations at public meetings in the Council Chambers to promote social distancing. Members of the public are also encouraged to participate in City Council meetings through Zoom rather than in person to reduce the risk of transmission. “Taking reasonable precautionary measures is necessary to help protect our employees and to allow us to continue to deliver important services to the community,” said City Manager Dave Durflinger.

Due to the recent surge of COVID-19 infections in the County of Santa Barbara, the City of Carpinteria reminds members of the public that they can participate in City Council meetings through the Zoom virtual platform and encourages this form of participation to avoid any risk of spreading the virus. The City continues to offer members of the public in-person access to the meetings; however, use of Zoom in the near future is encouraged.

“With the case rates rising in the community, it is safest for all to remain active and engaged with City matters but at a distance to protect every community member,” said Olivia Uribe-Mutal, Program Manager for the City of Carpinteria.

Detailed information about how to participate in City meetings through Zoom is available in meeting agendas provided on the City website at https://carpinteriaca.gov/city-hall/agendas-meetings/.

Prospective contractors met with City staff yesterday at a pre-bid meeting to go over plans for the future Carpinteria Skatepark. Pictured here, Director of Parks and Recreation Matt Roberts reviews plans with contractor Aaron Spohn. The skatepark project is now open to bids, and construction may begin as early as March and be completed by mid to late summer. Located adjacent to City Hall at 5775 Carpinteria Ave., the skatepark is a partnership between the City and the Carpinteria Skate Foundation. Design plans are approved and funding has been secured for construction of the $1.1-$1.4 million world-class skating facility. Plans include lighting for night skating, an amphitheater that is skatable and will accommodate events, a bathroom and parking.

The Carpinteria City Council will hold its next regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 10 at 5:30 p.m. In accordance with State guidance, the City will provide both in-person and virtual attendance and participation options for the meeting.

Members of the public may attend the meeting at City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave., but the City encourages the public to participate via Zoom (details in agenda link below) to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Those who attend in person will be required to wear a mask. Members of the public may also view the meeting live at www.carpinteria.ca.us, on Government Access Television Channel 21 or by logging into the Zoom webinar.

The following topics are highlights of the agenda. Additional details and numerous ways for the public to provide comments can be found at https://bit.ly/citycouncildec10. Comments posted on social media will not be provided to council members.

• Advance purchase of a prefabricated restroom building for installation at the future Carpinteria Skate Park located at City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave.
• Authorization of the Execution of a Freeway Maintenance Agreement with the State of California Department of Transportation for the Highway 101 Carpinteria to Santa Barbara Project – Phase 4A.
• Authorization to submit the Local Coastal Program Planning Grant Round 7 Application to the California Coastal Commission and execute necessary agreements for updating the City of Carpinteria Coastal Land Use Plan/General Plan and Zoning Ordinance.
• Certification of Sufficiency of the initiative petition titled “An Initiative Measure to Change and/or Readopt the City of Carpinteria’s General Plan Designation and Zoning Designation for Two Parcels of City-Owned Property (APN 004-105-011 and APN 004-105-026) Located Adjacent to the Railroad Tracks to the West of Linden Avenue and to Amend the Definition of the Open Space/Recreation (OSR) Land Use Category of the General Plan Land Use Element.”
• Consideration of actions in response to the City Clerk’s certification of the results of the examination of the petition for the initiative measure referenced above. Potential actions include (1) adoption of the Initiative by ordinance or (2) calling an election and submitting the Initiative to the voters by either (a) placing the Initiative on the ballot for the City of Carpinteria’s next regular election or (b) calling a special election.

Due to the increased community transmission of COVID-19, the Carpinteria Branch Library will modify services from Thursday, Jan. 6 – 31. These changes are part of the Santa Barbara Public Library system’s shift into its Library Express model, which aims to reduce transmission of COVID-19. Visits to the Library must be 30 minutes or less. To ensure that all are able to access the Library, patrons will be limited to one visit per day. The Carpinteria Library will have a capacity of one family or six individuals to ensure social distancing. Library modifications will be re-evaluated at the end of January. Learn more about changes to other SBPL services at https://bit.ly/3q0XoFu.

Carpinteria Library Hours

Tuesday: 9 AM – 6 PM

Wednesday: 9 AM – 6 PM

Thursday: 9 AM – 6 PM

Friday: 9 AM – 5:30 PM

Saturday: 9 AM – 5:30 PM

The City of Carpinteria Public Works Department is scheduled to repair potholes citywide starting on Thursday, January 6. The following streets are currently identified for pothole repairs: Carpinteria Avenue, Cravens Lane, Dariesa Street, Eighth Street, Linden Avenue, Malibu Drive, Ogan Road, Palm Avenue, Sawyer Avenue, Seventh Street, Star Pine Road, Sterling Avenue and Via Real.

If you see a pothole on a City street, please report it in a service request through the City website. Visit carpinteriaca.gov, then select “Local Info” and “Service Request” Thank you in advance for obeying all temporary traffic control devices when the pothole repairs are being performed.

The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department has updated its COVID-19 isolation and quarantine guidance to align with new guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). This guidance does not apply to health care personnel. Changes of note include:

• Updated isolation and quarantine recommendations for the general public are now in alignment with timeframe recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Additional mitigation measures, including testing to exit isolation and quarantine and improved masking are included.
• Clarification that fully-vaccinated persons who are booster-eligible but have not yet received their booster dose are now recommended to quarantine.

Read key elements of these new guidances in English at https://bit.ly/3tajd7B and in Spanish at https://bit.ly/3EPEi9l.

The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department has extended the Health Officer Order that 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 continues until 5 p.m., on Feb. 1, or until it is extended, rescinded, superseded, or amended.

As of Dec. 20, the COVID-19 community transmission level is categorized as “High” in California and Santa Barbara County by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). As of Dec. 25, 2021, the County has a case rate of 33.5 per 100,000 and a test positivity of 9.5%. The CDC continues to recommend fully vaccinated individuals wear a face covering in public indoor settings in areas with Substantial or High community transmission rates.

An update to the previous framework has been outlined by local health officials to consider rescinding the indoor mask mandate. The county case rate should be 7.0 cases per 100,000 people or lower for three consecutive weeks. In addition to this, hospitalizations should be low and stable for at least 3 days. Local health officials will consider these metrics, along with any other relevant factors, including the spread of new variants.