The Surfliner Inn project is scheduled for preliminary review by the City’s Architectural Review Board (ARB) on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave. 

The ARB will review the project’s architectural and landscape design in conformance with the City’s development standards and design policies, and will provide feedback to the project applicant and Community Development Department staff. The ARB will also provide a recommendation and comments to the Planning Commission and City Council for their consideration of the project. 

Story poles have been installed to represent the project’s general siting, massing and scale in compliance with the City’s Story Pole Guidelines in advance of the Dec. 12 ARB meeting. Due to the location of the project occupying a portion of City Parking Lot #3 (at the intersection of Fifth Street and Linden Avenue), the story pole installation requires partial closure of the parking lot until their removal and the parking lot reopening on Jan. 9.

The ARB staff report and related attachments are available at https://carpinteriaca.gov/city-hall/agendas-meetings/

Environmental review of the project will commence after feedback is provided by the ARB. A hearing date for consideration of the project by the Planning Commission will be determined after the environmental review has been completed, which is anticipated to take several months.

The public can track the progress of the Community Development Department’s review of the project application by visiting https://carpinteriaca.gov/city-hall/community-development/linden-inn-project/ 

Your City is facing rising costs, increased need, and limited resources that require difficult funding decisions and tradeoffs. In coming months, your City Council will create a strategic plan with goals and priorities for the next two years.

We want to hear from you about what programs, services, spaces and issues you feel we should focus on over the next two years.

For a quick and easy way to share your thoughts, please complete our online questionnaire at https://carpinteriaca.gov/strategicplan/. To share more of your thoughts in a discussion format, please consider participating in the last of our three community workshops. The final workshop on Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m. is bilingual and will be held via Zoom. Find the Zoom link on our Strategic Plan webpage at https://carpinteriaca.gov/strategicplan/.

During the holiday season, our consumption habits often reach their peak, increasing our environmental impact. Keeping sustainability in mind as you shop and prepare for this holiday season helps to ensure that the holidays remain joyous, bright, and resilient for future generations.

The Carpinteria City Council will hold its next regular meeting on Monday, Dec. 9 at 5:30 p.m. Members of the public may attend the meeting at City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave., or view the meeting live at https://carpinteriaca.gov/, 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/3Vsq6yf. Comments posted on social media will not be provided to council members.

• Installation of new councilmembers, commendation for outgoing Councilmember Roy Lee, and election of mayor and vice-mayor.
• Annual Report of the Development Impact Fee Program and updating the Capital Improvement Plan.
• Selection of City Council representatives to other government agencies, regional committees, City Council joint and standing committees, and City ad hoc committees.

The Carpinteria Valley Association (CVA) is marking its 60th anniversary this year. Since its founding in 1964, CVA has been a steadfast advocate for preserving the natural beauty and small-town charm of the Carpinteria Valley and Summerland.

Over the decades, CVA has played a crucial role in numerous environmental victories, including the preservation of the Carpinteria Bluffs and the establishment of the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Preserve. The organization has also worked tirelessly to protect open space, limit urban sprawl, and ensure responsible land use practices.

As CVA enters its next 60 years, it remains committed to its mission of preserving the Carpinteria Valley’s unique character and advocating for a sustainable future. The City of Carpinteria recently recognized CVA’s significant contributions to the community, commending its dedication to the residents of Carpinteria.

Improperly disposing of cooking oil can block your pipes, attract rodents to your trash, damage soils, and inhibit the composting process in your compost bin. The City will be hosting one more ABOP before the end of the year. At the Saturday, Dec. 14 event, Public Works staff will be on hand from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave., to accept cooking fats, oils, and grease, antifreeze, paint, used motor oil, batteries, oil filters, 6 fluorescent lightbulb tubes, 3 small household electronics, and mercury thermostats. There is a 5 gallon liquid maximum per visit and please keep items separated.

The third annual Frosty Fest Holiday Party will bring a warm dose of holiday cheer on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. in the Community Room of the Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave.

Come celebrate the season with us as we enjoy a variety of fun and festive activities, including crafts, games, and our popular Best Beanie Contest. It’s sure to be a joyful occasion for the whole family!

Robitaille’s Fine Candies, a beloved Carpinteria institution for 36 years, closed its doors on Dec. 1. Known for its iconic Presidential Inauguration Mints and generations of family-run service, the candy shop has been a cherished part of the community. The City Council of Carpinteria honors Robitaille’s for its enduring legacy and sweet contributions to the city.

Dozens of local children were recognized by the Carpinteria City Council last week for earning their Gold Card at the Boys and Girls Club of Carpinteria. These dedicated students were honored individually at the Nov. 25 meeting for attending the Carpinteria Club for 105 days or more this year. 

In addition to celebrating the youths, the Council thanked Diana Ornelas, director of the Carpinteria club, and Michael Baker, CEO of the United Boys & Girls Club of Santa Barbara County. Baker noted that members who attend 105 days in a year are twice as likely to graduate high school and twice as likely to lead a healthy lifestyle. 

Congratulations to these local students who are on the road to success!

The City of Carpinteria is currently recruiting for a full-time Program Manager assigned to the General Government Department. The deadline to apply is Sunday, Dec. 22

Under the general direction of the Assistant City Manager, this critical role focuses on Emergency Preparedness, Volunteer Coordination, and Community Outreach. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong leadership skills, experience as a Public Information Officer, and expertise in creating clear and compelling communications tailored to diverse audiences.

Please visit the following link to view the full job announcement: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/carpinteriaca/jobs/4736502/program-manager-general-government?pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs