The Carpinteria City Council will hold its next regular meeting on Monday, March 27 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. or view the meeting live at www.carpinteria.ca.us, 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/3nntah6. Comments posted on social media will not be provided to council members.

• Proclamations: 1) designating April 2023 as Carpinteria Business Month, 2) designating April 2023 as DMV/Donate Life Month, and 3) designating the week of April 15-22 as “International Dark Sky Week.”
• Authorize a construction contract for the interim trail from Linden Avenue to Holly Avenue (399 Linden Ave).
• Authorize a $46,800 agreement to demolish an outbuilding located at 6155 Carpinteria Ave. (behind the S&S Seeds Building). The demolition is a necessary step toward adding a link in the Coastal Vista Trail in this area.
• Legislation position letter opposing Initiative 21-0042A1, a proposed state constitutional amendment to limit the ability of voters and state and local governments to raise revenues for government services.
• Receive the recommendation of the City Manager Succession Process Committee to seek consultant proposals for executive search services for the City Manager position and for the Committee to vet proposals received and recommend a firm for Council consideration.

The City’s Public Works Crew has been hard at work clearing paths on the Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve. Tuesday’s storm took down multiple large trees whose fallen trunks blocked pedestrian trails. The cleared walkways are once again safe and open for public use. Thank you, Public Works!

Carpinteria Community Library will host Local Authors Open Mic on Saturday, March 25 at 3 p.m. The free event is open to anyone who would like to read their writing aloud or listen to others read aloud. Authors should submit their work in advance to carpinterialibrary@carpinteriaca.gov. Submissions should be a maximum of 1,000 words or seven minutes worth of text. Poetry or prose, fiction or nonfiction, all genres of writing are welcome.

The rain and cold failed to dampen the spirits of the Carpinterians who came out on March 21 for the first day of Active Adult & Senior Services programming held at the Girls Inc. of Carpinteria. The twice weekly program, led by the City of Carpinteria, begins with time for socialization, snacks, and hot coffee provided by Starbucks. The first day included a discussion of future programs, bingo and a fall prevention neuroplasticity class led by Cyndi Macias, owner of The Gym Next Door, who will lead a class every Tuesday at 11 a.m. Programming takes place every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to noon at Girls Inc., 5315 Foothill Road. For more information and a March calendar of events, visit www.carpinteriaca.gov/seniors.

A large eucalyptus tree fell this morning, March 21, in Linden Field. The massive blue gum that was growing near the trail alongside Tomol Interpretive Play Area fell during high winds. No one was injured in the fall. When the ground is saturated from rain, trees become highly vulnerable to wind. Please be aware of this potential danger and try to stay off the roads as much as possible during today’s storm.

The City of Carpinteria is seeking a full-time Aquatics Program Coordinator to plan and manage swim instruction programs, ocean and pool lifeguard training and aquatic special events. The salary range is $52,083.20 – $71,635.20, and the position comes with a comprehensive benefits package. Learn more at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/carpinteriaca?

An atmospheric river storm is expected to arrive in Santa Barbara County tonight, March 20, and is forecast to bring strong winds, localized and coastal flooding, and the possibility of isolated thunderstorms.

• A FLOOD WATCH has been issued countywide effective the evening of Monday, March 20 through Wednesday morning, March 22. Avoid low-lying and flood-prone areas, areas with standing water, and areas near creeks or streams. If you are in one of these areas be prepared to go to higher ground.
• A HIGH WIND WARNING is also in effect for the Cuyama Valley area for Tuesday, March 21.

Evacuations are NOT being issued at this time. Public safety officials will continue to work together to further assess if any protective actions are necessary.

Residents should take steps to prepare ahead of the storm.

• Preparedness tips and resources can be accessed through the link in our bio.
• If you are concerned that this storm may cause unsafe conditions to your home, leave the area before rain starts. Do not wait for an official evacuation notification to leave.

At its March 13 meeting, the Carpinteria City Council honored Chuck McQuary for serving as the City of Carpinteria’s Representative on the Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District Board of Directors for the past 16 years. Chuck was appointed to the position after working for Santa Barbara MTD and South Coast Transit. He brought extensive knowledge of transit systems into his role as the City’s representative, and he made valuable contributions through improved in transit operations and increased ridership.

April 2023 has been designated as Carpinteria Beautiful Month, and the City urges all residents to share in the observance of this month by making a personal commitment to enhance the beauty of their own properties and neighborhoods for the benefit and enjoyment of all. At the March 13 City Council meeting, representatives from the Carpinteria Beautiful organization donated $500 toward planting street trees (pictured above), which brings the organization’s total donation toward street trees in 2023 to $1,000. Carpinteria Beautiful volunteers work year-round to keep Carpinteria “clean, green and beautiful” by removing graffiti, filling the doggie bag dispensers, and providing Adopt-a-Spotters and Trash Mob volunteers to keep the City litter-free. For members of the public to get involved, consider joining Carpinteria Beautiful and the City of Carpinteria at their Community-wide Clean-up Day on Saturday, March 25 from 9 a.m. to noon at Parking Lot No. 3, next to the Amtrak Station.

Tickets are now on sale for Girls Inc. of Carpinteria’s freshly formatted Women of Inspiration event on Monday, April 3 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This year’s Women of Inspiration honorees are City of Carpinteria Planning Commissioner Jane Benefield and Carpinteria Community Library Program Specialist Jena Jenkins. Designed to empower and inspire, the half-day retreat features breakout growth sessions and a community keynote lunch. Renowned comedian and author Katie Goodman will deliver the keynote, and strong, smart and bold professionals Marisol Alarcon, Sonia Aguila, Danielle Bordenave and Lauren Bragg will lead hands-on workshops. Learn more about the event and purchase tickets at https://girlsinc-carp.org/ways-to-give/special-events/