Author: Lea Boyd

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.

The Carpinteria Planning Commission will hold its next regular webinar meeting on Tuesday, July 6 at 5:30 p.m. To minimize the potential spread of COVID-19, the meeting will be held virtually. Members of the public are encouraged to 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 are highlights of the agenda. Additional details and numerous ways for the public to provide comments can be found at https://bit.ly/3Alkytb. Comments posted on social media will not be provided to commissioners.

Draft Downtown Carpinteria Parking Study: Hearing at the request of the City of Carpinteria for the Planning Commission to receive the Draft Downtown Carpinteria Parking Study prepared by Walker Consultants for the City, and make recommendations to the City Council for additions, modifications, and/or deletions, as determined appropriate.

700 Linden Avenue Adaptive Reuse Project: Request of a Development Plan and a Coastal Development Permit (and a parking modification to zone district requirements) to complete a commercial adaptive reuse project to reconfigure and remodel the existing buildings to create a new multi-tenant retail, restaurant and office development, including a new 3,176 square foot second floor addition, a new central courtyard, and a new 20-space parking lot.

Carpinteria City Hall facility fully opened last week after a prolonged partial closure to protect staff and the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public counters and the lobby are open, and the public is welcome inside. Unvaccinated individuals will be required to wear a mask in accordance with State and County guidelines. Some additional health precautions remain in place, such as plexiglass dividers, hand sanitizing stations and air filters in the building.