This May, the City of Carpinteria joined hundreds of agencies and organizations across the nation who are lighting up buildings in green in honor of Mental Health Month. Green is the color of mental health awareness, and the City encourages the public to learn more about their own well-being and to provide empathy and support to those struggling with mental health challenges. The Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness offers the following list of mental health resource providers for those in need:

• YouthWell: youthwell.org
• American Indian Health Services: (805) 681-7144
• Anxiety and Panic D/O clinic of Santa Barbara: (805) 369-1346
• Anxiety Experts: (805) 705-0614
• AHA: (805) 770-7200

The City of Carpinteria recognizes May 21-27 as National Public Works Week and honors our hardworking staff in the Public Works Department. These men and women dedicate themselves to our infrastructure, facilities, and services that are vital to a sustainable and resilient community, and support our health, safety, and quality of life. At its May 22 meeting, the Carpinteria City Council unanimously approved a proclamation designating May 21-27, 2023, as National Public Works Week.

At its May 22 meeting, the Carpinteria City Council unanimously approved a resolution honoring the 95th anniversary of the Alcazar Theatre. First opened as the Alcazar Theatre in 1928 by Oliver Pricket, the venue changed hands and names numerous times before returning to its roots as the Alcazar and becoming a volunteer-operated community performing arts and entertainment center. Over the years, the theater has offered classes on improvisation and drama, hosted community events, and opened the stage to schools and private celebrations. The City of Carpinteria celebrates the theater’s long history and exciting future!

The City Council recognized Franklin Trail’s 10th anniversary with a resolution approved at the council’s May 22 meeting. The original trail is believed to have been established over 100 years ago, but access was closed for several decades before many organizations and individuals came together to plan, fund and build the existing trail. The multi-year effort led by Santa Barbara County Trails Council along with the City of Carpinteria, the County of Santa Barbara, U.S. Forest Service, Montecito Trails Foundation and the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County created the trail that now stretches from the City of Carpinteria to the crest of the Santa Ynez Mountains in the Los Padres National Forest. Franklin Trail is a well used and well loved route used by thousands of hikers, runners, bicyclists and equestrians annually. In upcoming months, Santa Barbara County Trails Council will hold several community activities for the 10-year anniversary celebration. The first event will be a community workshop to set goals and objectives for the future of the Franklin Trail.

The Carpinteria City Council will hold its next regular meeting on Monday, May 22 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/42WVN4u. Comments posted on social media will not be provided to council members.

• Resolutions recognizing the 10th Anniversary of the Franklin Trail and the 95th Anniversary of the Alcazar Theatre
• Proclamation designating May 21-27, 2023, as National Public Works Week in the City of Carpinteria
• Appoint a member to the Architectural Review Board
• Approve the Revised Measure A Five-Year Local Program of Projects for Fiscal Years 2023-24 through 2027-28.
• Continuation of several assessment districts including the Carpinteria Street Lighting District No. 1, Carpinteria Lighting, Landscaping and Right-Of-Way Improvement District No. 3, Parking and Business Improvement Area Assessment District No. 4, and  the Winter Protection Berm Assessment District No. 5.
• Agreement with CivicWell to provide staff augmentation services through the CivicSpark Program
• 2022 Annual Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Report.
• Initiation of the following legislation position letters: Oppose Senate Bill 423 (Wiener), Land Use: streamlined housing approvals: multifamily housing developments, support for permanent budget allocation for housing production and state mandated programs payback, and request state response to the Fentanyl public health crisis.

The Architectural Review Board for the City of Carpinteria will meet to review several projects on Thursday, May 25 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave. 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/42L66se. Comments posted on social media will not be provided to ARB members.

• Preliminary review of a comprehensive sign program for the 700 Linden multi-tenant commercial development currently under construction. The proposed sign program would provide specifications on the permissible types, locations, sizes, and designs of tenant signage and other building signage, murals and graphics for the entire multi-tenant commercial development.
• Conceptual review of a new commercial/residential mixed-use development at 4745 Carpinteria Avenue (presently occupied by Sun Coast Rentals). The proposal (pictured here) calls for removing all existing structures and construction of a three-story mixed-use building comprised of 4,303 square feet of commercial space, 24 apartment units (2 one-bedroom units and 22 two-bedroom units), and a 53-space ground level parking garage.

Teens aged 14-16 who are interested in serving their community by volunteering as a Safety Aid for the Junior Lifeguard Program should consider trying out on Sunday, June 4 or June 11 from 9 a.m. to noon at Ash Avenue beach. Tryouts are required for the volunteer position and will involve a 550-yard ocean swim that must be completed in 10 minutes or less. Safety Aids can earn volunteer community service hours through the program. To learn more, contact Amber Workman at amberw@carpinteriaca.gov

At its May 8 meeting, the Carpinteria City Council declared the month of May as Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month and called on all residents to raise awareness of the issues affecting the AAPI community and to celebrate the many contributions of AAPI community members. Carpinteria’s history is intertwined with Asian American families, who contributed to the early growth and success of agriculture in the Carpinteria Valley, were some of the founders of the Carpinteria community and helped with the establishment and success of the City of Carpinteria.

The City of Carpinteria thanks the Rotary Club of Carpinteria for helping to fund a new ADA lift at the Carpinteria Community Pool, it has been installed by our wonderful public works team and is available for use. Pictured are Barry Enticknap, Tom Collins, and Paul Wright of Rotary Club of Carpinteria and Amber Workman, Aquatics Superintendent.

The Carpinteria City Council will consider three design concepts for the Carpinteria Rincon Trail at a special meeting on Monday, May 15 at 5:30 p.m. at Carpinteria City Hall. After receiving an update on the status of the project, the council will consider alternative trail alignments and select a preferred project design for further evaluation. All three designs connect the eastern end of Carpinteria Avenue to Rincon Point with a pedestrian and cyclist trail. The Council will choose between a trail that runs along the ocean side of the hill and two that are aligned along the freeway. Members of the public may attend the meeting at City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave. or view the meeting live at www.carpinteria.ca.us, on Government Access Television Channel 21 or by logging into the Zoom webinar. Additional details and numerous ways for the public to provide comments can be found at http://bit.ly/3HXklly. Comments posted on social media will not be provided to council members.