Surf checks, weather peeks and updated views of our City Beach are back now that the City beach camera is up and running again. Thank you for your patience as we worked to restore service over the last month. Images that are captured and posted online every 30 minutes can once again be viewed at https://video-monitoring.com/beachcams/carpinteria/. We also are researching a replacement of the existing aging equipment with the goal of increasing reliability and adding live streaming services.

The Carpinteria City Council will hold its next regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 8 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/3RLxVMP. Comments posted on social media will not be provided to council members.

⛓️Proclamation Designating January 2024 as “Human Trafficking Awareness Month.”

📬 Appointment to the Mobile Home Park Rent Stabilization Board.

🧰 Award of construction contract for the City Hall Campus Improvements Project – Sewer Replacement.

🏗️ Consideration of adding a chapter to the Carpinteria Municipal Code regarding building seismic safety. New code would mandate that owners of soft story structures seismically retrofit the first story of the structure to adequately support additional stories.

🥤 Consideration of repealing and replacing Carpinteria Municipal Code (CMC) concerning the regulation of certain polystyrene and single-use plastic items.

Motor oil collection services from Monday to Friday are suspended until further notice. Please bring your motor oil and filters on ABOP collection days only (second and fourth Saturday of the month). If needed, take oil to the nearest collection site and remember to not mix motor oil with other fluids. For more information, please visit the City’s website or contact sustainability@carpinteriaca.gov

The staircase between Tar Pits Park and Carpinteria State Beach will be closed indefinitely after sustaining significant damage in the last high surf event. The State Park is planning a formal assessment and subsequent repair of the structure, but there is currently no timeline for re-opening. Please access the beach to the west through the campground or to the east through Tar Pits Park.

According to the National Weather Service, Santa Barbara County faces a moderate risk of coastal flooding due to heavy surf and high tides Saturday through Monday (Jan. 6-8) with the greatest risk on Sunday, Jan. 7. Storm systems arriving on Wednesday, Jan. 3 are expected to bring another round of high surf that will cause large waves and strong rip currents. Rain amounts in the first storm, hitting Wednesday and Thursday, are expected to be under 1 inch in most parts of the county.

Handsome Malibu is seeking his forever home! This sweet adult husky mix is neutered, vaccinated and ready for a family to call his own. He’s a people dog, and not a great fit for a home with cats or small dogs. If you are interested in meeting Malibu or learning more, please start by filling out our volunteer form at https://bit.ly/3srR3qv. Let’s find this good boy a loving home!

Please be aware! The surf is forecast to increase in size on Saturday, Dec. 30, and could pose a threat to coastal zones and a danger to anyone in or near the water. Be particularly vigilant along the coast in the morning; the tide will reach its maximum at 10:40 a.m. Also, light-to-moderate rain is forecast through Saturday, which could contribute to dangerous conditions. Remember to stay well above the waterline and to avoid low-lying coastal areas that could experience flooding.

The National Weather Service warns that the risk of coastal flooding will continue on Friday, Dec. 29, and will peak on Saturday, Dec. 30 around 10 a.m. when the tide reaches its highest point.

High tides and heavy surf caused damage along the coast of California today, Thursday, and conditions are expected to continue to be dangerous and potentially damaging through Saturday.

In addition to heavy surf and high tides, a storm is forecast to bring some rain on Friday and Saturday and a slight chance of thunderstorms on Saturday.

The City of Carpinteria advises against use of the City Beach below the water line and avoiding the beach end of Ash Avenue where work to reconstruct the protective sand berm is underway.

Santa Barbara County residents are encouraged to submit information on property damages sustained as a result of the December 20-21, 2023 storm.

Click on this link to submit: https://www.countyofsb.org/…/December-20-21-Storm-Recovery

The info compiled will assist the County in understanding the extent of local impacts & advocate on behalf of the community for state and federal assistance. This form is not an application for financial assistance, nor does it indicate that assistance is currently available.