Author: Lea Boyd

In an effort to support the downward trend in COVID-19 infection rates, the City of Carpinteria has decided to cancel its Downtown Trick-or-Treat event that is traditionally scheduled for late October. Children under the age of 12 are not eligible for the vaccine, which puts them at higher risk for spreading the disease. Given the significant effort that has gone into protecting children and other vulnerable community members, the City felt a responsibility to practice caution and cancel the event that typically draws hundreds of families together on City sidewalks.

By Dr. Henning Ansorg, M.D., FACP, Health Officer County of Santa Barbara, Department of Public Health

You may have heard that a COVID-19 booster shot is being recommended and are wondering if you are eligible for it and if you should get it.

On Friday, September 24, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) endorsed the recommendation for a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in certain populations and for persons in high risk occupational and institutional settings.

People previously vaccinated with Pfizer BioNTech who SHOULD receive a booster include:

• Age 65 years and older;
• Long term care residents; and
• Age 50 through 64 years with underlying medical conditions or at increased risk of social inequities (including communities of color and others at risk of inequities).

People who MAY CONSIDER receiving a booster based on their individual benefits and risks include:

• Age 18 through 49 years with underlying medical conditions; and
• Age 18 through 64 who are at increased risk of exposure to COVID-19 due to their occupation or institutional setting. The CDC currently defines occupations at increased risk for COVID-19 as: First responders (healthcare workers, firefighters, police, congregate care staff), Education staff (teachers, support staff, daycare workers), Food and agriculture workers, Manufacturing workers, Corrections workers, U.S. Postal Service workers, Public transit workers, Grocery store workers

Why do I need a booster shot?

COVID-19 booster doses are meant to boost immunity that may have waned overtime and are the same dose of vaccine that were given as part of the primary series. Those that should receive a booster dose are at highest risk of hospitalization or death and need to be prioritized for booster doses.

Booster doses can be received at least six months after completion of the initial vaccine series. California is ready to administer boosters to those that are recommended for boosters immediately.

What about those who didn’t get the Pfizer-BioNTech shot?

At this time, CDC is evaluating available data to make recommendations for other populations or people who got the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines. We are anticipating these recommendations imminently.

Where do I get a booster shot?

You may obtain your booster shot at local pharmacies and in some instances, through your primary care provider. Please consult with your primary health care provider if you have questions about receiving a booster shot.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html

Japanese-American World War II Incarceration Camp Internees are invited to take part in a flag signing on Saturday, Oct. 9 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave. The event is part of an effort to get all internees to sign a WWII era, 48-star, American flag that will be donated to the Japanese American Museum in San Jose on Fred Korematsu Day, Jan. 30. For more information about the flag signing project, visit http://www.discovernikkei.org/en/journal/2021/5/27/flag-signing-project/. For questions about the flag signing event in Carpinteria, contact Wade Nomura at wade@wadenomura.com.

The City of Carpinteria is looking to hire a full-time Senior Financial Analyst who will oversee staff and be responsible for professional accounting services for the City. The annual salary range is $71,574.07 – $98,413.76, and the first review of applications will take place on Oct. 25. To learn more about the position and to apply, visit https://carpinteria.applicantpro.com/jobs/2010228.html

The City of Carpinteria welcomes Amber Workman to our team as the new Aquatics Superintendent. In her new position, Amber oversees all aquatic facilities and programs at the Community Pool and City Beaches. She brings nearly two decades of experience in the aquatics field, along with a Master of Business Administration. We are excited about the contributions Amber will make to the City’s aquatics programs. Learn more about Amber in English at https://bit.ly/3uE2DLO and in Spanish at https://bit.ly/3a2AJzG.

Carpinteria students in grades 6-12 are invited to submit a design for the future Carpinteria City Library card. New library cards will be issued to Carpinterians on July 1, 2022, and will feature original artwork from a local student. The chosen student artist will also win a $100 prize. Entries must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 13. They can be drawn, painted or digitally designed, but they must be exactly 4 inches in height by 6.5 inches wide. A jpeg photo of the artwork should be sent to librarycontest@gmail.com. Entrants must then visit https://forms.gle/Fh84rYKAbD62UTVk7 to fill out an entry form, which includes a portion for their parents to complete. The contest is sponsored by the Friends of the Carpinteria Library, City of Carpinteria and the Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center.

The County of Santa Barbara Emergency Rental Assistance Program, administered through United Way of Santa Barbara County, is now accepting applications.

The program is open to Santa Barbara County tenant-households with an annual income at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), who have experienced a loss of income due to or during the COVID-19 pandemic and experiencing a risk of homelessness or housing instability.

Qualified applicants may apply for rent and utility debt dating back to March 2020. To apply, go to unitedwaysb.org/rent. To check the status of an application already submitted to United Way, tenants or landlords may call (805) 965-8591.

A separate California Emergency Rental Assistance application portal is closed to new applications for Santa Barbara County residents. Applications already received will continue to be processed. Tenants or landlords who need to confirm the status of an application with the state program may call (833) 430-2122 or go to their application at housing.ca.gov.

On Sept. 27, State Senator Monique Limón and Assemblymember Steve Bennett awarded a $1.05 million check to the City of Carpinteria and the County of Santa Barbara to support oil remediation work.

The City of Carpinteria’s $500,000 portion of the state funding will be used to carry out proper abandonment of an oil pipeline that runs east from the Carpinteria Oil & Gas Plant on Dump Road to La Conchita. As an outcome of Venoco Inc.’s 2017 bankruptcy, Chevron has taken responsibility for decommissioning the Carpinteria Oil & Gas Plant, but the pipeline is outside of the Plant site and, like many other oil and gas facilities throughout the state, the government will be required to complete the abandonment work.

“This funding will ensure that local taxpayers are not burdened with the costs for the abandonment of oil facilities left in limbo by the bankruptcy of a private oil company,” stated Mayor Wade Nomura. “Although indicative of a broader regulatory and policy issue concerning costs and responsibility for decommissioning and abandonment of oil and gas facilities in California, today we can celebrate a success.”

The City of Carpinteria thanks Senator Limón and Assemblymember Bennett for their incredibly important work to ensure the California budget trailer bill included the necessary funding.

The Carpinteria Planning Commission will discuss the status of the Proposed Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Program at its meeting on Monday, Oct. 4 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave. City staff will provide a status report on the proposed program that would implement recent State enactments of housing laws to promote development of ADUs. The Planning Commission may then provide recommendations to the City Council regarding program components. For more information, contact Rita Bright, Principal Planner, at (805) 755-4441. The full meeting agenda and associated staff reports are available at carpinteria.ca.us/city-hall/agendas-meetings/

ARB TO CONSIDER DOWNTOWN PROJECTS

The City’s Architectural Review Board will consider two downtown commercial projects at its next meeting on Thursday, Sept. 30 at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in person in the City Council Chambers, 5775 Carpinteria Ave. The agenda, linked below, includes detailed information on how to participate and how to submit public comment. All attendees are required to wear face coverings regardless of vaccination status. Highlights of the meeting are listed below. The full agenda and staff reports can be found at https://bit.ly/2XKfhwD.

700 Linden Adaptive Reuse

In-progress review of a proposal for an adaptive reuse project that would remodel and reconfigure the existing buildings in the 700 block of Linden Avenue to create a multi-tenant retail, restaurant and office development with a central outdoor plaza. The project includes a new second floor addition comprised of office suites, a bar and rooftop deck/patio areas. A 20-space surface parking lot is proposed for the rear of the property, accessed from Cactus Lane.

4835 Carpinteria Avenue

Preliminary/final review of a request to allow for exterior alterations to accommodate a new outdoor patio addition and a minor interior remodel for a new coffee house within an existing business. Exterior work would involve alterations to the existing parking lot for a new outdoor patio addition, new site wall, landscaping and partial reconfiguration of the parking lot.