Author: Lea Boyd

The County of Santa Barbara recommends masking indoors for everyone, as a precaution against increased circulation of COVID-19. As of July 16, Santa Barbara County’s reported daily case rate is now 3.6 per 100,000 and rising. With cases of COVID-19 rising locally and increased circulation of the highly transmissible Delta variant, the County of Santa Barbara recommends that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks indoors in public places as an extra precautionary measure for those who are fully vaccinated, and to ensure easy verification that all unvaccinated people are masked in those settings. Read the full County press release in English at https://bit.ly/3eB7VB4 and in Spanish at https://bit.ly/3zdFwIZ.

A final fundraising push of $300,000 is all that stands between the Carpinteria community and a world class skate park. Years of volunteer work by the Carpinteria Skate Foundation has produced City-approved plans by renowned skate park designers as well as $1.2 million in funds raised toward the $1.5 million cost.

The park will be located on the east side of Carpinteria City Hall, at 5775 Carpinteria Ave. Plans include lighting for night skating and events, a skatable stage that will allow the park to double as an event venue, numerous skating features designed to serve all levels of skaters, new bathrooms and new parking. If fundraising goals are met soon, a construction contract could be authorized in October.

There are many ways to donate toward the new park. The Food Liaison will dedicate the proceeds of its annual Christmas in July fundraiser toward building the park. The Skate Foundation is selling engraved fundraising bricks that will be installed at the park and can be ordered through the park’s website at carpskatepark.org. The Foundation also offers opportunities for direct donations and stock donations. To arrange for a donation, visit the website or call Julia at (805) 403-9911.

The Carpinteria City Council will consider a Lease Disposition and Development Agreement for the Surfliner Inn at a special meeting on Monday, July 19 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave. The agreement under consideration is between the City of Carpinteria and 499 Linden Managers, LLC., and it concerns a ground lease and development of a hotel at 499 Linden Avenue, at the southwest corner of Linden and Fifth Street. If the DDA is approved, the developer, 499 Linden Managers, is expected to file a project application that the City would subsequently consider at public meetings through its regular development review process. The meeting agenda with additional details and instructions for public participation is available at https://carpinteriaca.gov/city-hall/agendas-meetings/.

A project to resurface State Route 192 in both directions from Linden Avenue to State Route 150 will begin today, July 15, and is expected to be completed in August. Drivers will encounter one-way reversing traffic control Sunday night through Friday morning during the overnight hours from 11:55 p.m. to 6 a.m. Roadwork and traffic control will also take place Monday through Friday from 8 p.m. until 11:55 p.m.

Construction will also take place during the daytime hours Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Fridays. Delays should not exceed five minutes.

Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when driving through highway work zones. For information on traffic updates on other Caltrans projects in Santa Barbara County, residents may call the District 5 Public Affairs Office at (805) 549-3237 or visit the District 5 website at https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-5.

To find a COVID-19 vaccination site near you, text your zip code to GETVAX (438829) and receive a list of vaccination sites near your location instantly.

Para encontrar un sitio de vacunación COVID-19 cerca de usted, envíe un mensaje de texto con su código postal a VACUNA (822862) y reciba una lista de los sitios de vacunación cerca de su ubicación al instante.

Did you know? Beginning in October 2021, Central Coast Community Energy will be sourcing electricity from clean and renewable sources on behalf of all electricity customers in the City of Carpinteria, as well as the communities of Carpinteria, Goleta and southern Unincorporated Santa Barbara County. CCCE provides electric generation services while SCE continues to deliver electricity and provide billing and customer service. No action is required for you to receive service beginning October 2021. Your new competitively priced electricity provider supports clean and renewable energy and locally reduces GHG emissions through energy program incentives for customers. Learn about what CCCE means for you: www.3CEnergy.org/2021-enrollment. Look for the first of four monthly notification via mail or email in early August. Follow their social media channels to be the first to know about new energy program incentives! Questions? Contact them directly through their website or call 1-888-909-6227.

The Carpinteria City Council will hold its next regular meeting on Monday, July 12 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. Unvaccinated individuals will be required to wear masks. 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 through the link in the agenda below.

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/3qWoFrq. Comments posted on social media will not be provided to council members.

Approval of the application of funds for the Urban Flood Protection Grant Program

Renewal of an agreement for rental housing mediation program services between the City of Carpinteria and the City of Santa Barbara for a three-year term.

Skate park status report.

Options for the formation of a committee to study the decline and preservation of harbors seals in the City of Carpinteria and make related recommendations to the City Council.

Approval and Adoption of the Updated Street Tree and Special Conditions Streets Management Plans.

Closeout of the Pedestrian Crossing Safety lmprovements Project.

Review of City process and options for legislative advocacy; and response to a request by California Cities for Local Control for adoption of a resolution in support of retaining strong local control over land use and zoning matters.

Organizers of the California Avocado Festival recently announced plans to hold a scaled down version of the annual festival on Saturday, Oct. 2 at Linden Field. Themed “Back to the Roots,” the festival will include two performance stages, two beer and wine gardens, commercial booths and food booths. The popular strong-arm contest and guacamole contest are also on the menu. This year mark’s the festival’s 35th year. To find out more, email info@avofest.com.

Patrol deputies in Carpinteria have arrested three suspects for theft of catalytic converters. On Thursday, July 8, at approximately 2:49 a.m., deputies were dispatched to the 1000-block of Palmetto Way for a reported theft of a catalytic converter that had just occurred. The reporting party heard what sounded like a saw, recognized that a theft was likely occurring, quickly called the Sheriff’s Office and provided a vehicle description and direction of travel.

Patrol deputies located and stopped a vehicle that matched the suspect’s within minutes. Inside the vehicle were three occupants, two catalytic converters, two reciprocating saws, and two car jacks. Deputies arrested the three occupants, 39-year-old Rufino Garcia-Vasquez, 37-year-old Gustavo Pineda-Duran, and 34-year-old Samuel Gallegos-Espinoza, all from Los Angeles. They were each booked at the Santa Barbara County Jail for possession of stolen property (felony), grand theft (felony), conspiracy (felony), and possession of burglary tools (felony).

Pineda-Duran was also booked for possession of a controlled substance (misdemeanor), and Gallegos-Espinoza was driving without a license (misdemeanor). All three suspects are being held on $1,000,000 bail.

Lieutenant Butch Arnoldi, who serves as the Chief of Police for the City of Carpinteria, said, “We would like to thank the community member for calling to report this crime and for providing a vehicle description and direction of travel.” He added, “This is a great example of community awareness that resulted in the successful apprehension of suspects who often slip away undetected.”

Starting this Thursday, July 8, EJ Harrison & Sons will provide weekly green waste and recycle service for Carpinteria residents. Anyone with questions about the new collection schedule can call EJ Harrison & Sons at (805) 647-1414 or email customerservice@ejharrison.com.