Category: News

Everyone loves to hear a good story, even our furry, four-legged companions. On the first Wednesday of the month, readers of all ages and skill levels can read to a dog at the Carpinteria Community Library. Come by between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 6 for an opportunity to be paired with a pooch for a fun reading session. Learn more by calling the library at (805) 684-4314 or drop by at 5141 Carpinteria Ave.

It was standing room only last night, Nov. 27, in the Carpinteria City Council Chambers where retiring City Manager Dave Durflinger led his last Council meeting and received high praise for his 24-year tenure at the City and his record 22 years as City Manager. Council members took turns reading a resolution that enumerated Durflinger’s astute leadership, prudent financial responsibility and positive legacy on the City organization and Carpinteria community. Several past councilmembers and other community members spoke to Durflinger’s accomplishments and thanked him for his many years of service. Taking a short break from the meeting, the Council and meeting attendees enjoyed celebratory cake and wished Durflinger the best of luck in his retirement. Durflinger’s last day at the City of Carpinteria is Dec. 8, 2023, after which Michael Ramirez, current Assistant City Manager, will step into the role of City Manager.

The Resilient Workplace Webinar, which will be held on Thursday, Nov. 30 from 10 to 11:30 a.m., will help small businesses and non-profits prepare for and endure disasters of all types. Free and interactive, the webinar will be provided in English and Spanish. It will show you how easy it is to organize your existing details, prioritize your operations, understand your risk, take action, and train employees, all captured in your new disaster plan. Learn how to strengthen the business to remain open regardless of the disaster type. See live demonstrations and videos, from industry experts and businesses, who will show you how the Disaster Resistant Business Toolkit will help you strengthen your business or non-profit for multiple hazards and create a disaster plan while answering your questions. Sign up at https://bit.ly/48aCZ47

The Carpinteria City Council will hold its next regular meeting on Monday, Nov. 27 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/3RgYbzN. Comments posted on social media will not be provided to council members.

• Recognition of the  2023 Outgoing Santa Barbara Association of Realtors President Todd Shea.
• New Employee Introduction: Mindy Fogg, Principal Planner, and Megan Musolf, Assistant Planner.
• Presentation of the 2023 Carpinteria Valley Economic Profile.
• Congratulating Dave Durflinger on his retirement and commending and thanking him for 24 years of loyal and dedicated service to the City of Carpinteria.
• Appointments of public members to the Ad Hoc Harbor Seal Advisory Committee.
• Authorize the City Manager to sign the Landscape Equipment Electrification Fund Program Application.
• A Maintenance Agreement with the California Department of Transportation concerning the Carpinteria High School Area Crosswalk Safety Improvement Project.
• Amending the Carpinteria Municipal Code regarding fee and service charge revenue/cost comparison system, and approving and adopting the City’s Master Fee Schedule.
• Annual Report of the Development Impact Fee Program and updating the Capital Improvement Plan.
• 2023 Economic Vitality Program Report.
• Approval and adoption of the City Manager Employment Agreement with a base salary of $225,000.

The City of Carpinteria wishes you a Thanksgiving filled with love and gratitude. We are thankful for all the things that make living and working in Carpinteria uniquely wonderful. Please enjoy a safe, relaxing and fun-filled holiday.

Wendi Dunn, our new Garden Coordinator, has an extensive background in sustainability and horticulture. She operates a successful garden business, Plowgirl, and is passionate about heirloom seeds and regenerative garden/farming practices that revive the soil. Wendi’s hours at the Carpinteria Community Garden are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and she can be reached at CarpGarden@Carpinteriaca.gov/. We’re so happy to have you, Wendi!

Members of the public are invited to join the City Council at its Nov. 27 meeting to honor retiring City Manager Dave Durflinger on his remarkable 24-year tenure. Durflinger, who announced his retirement early this year, has served a record 22 years as City Manager. The public is cordially invited to attend the recognition ceremony and a brief intermission for cake that will follow.

It’s just about berm time! Construction of the Winter Protection Berm will begin the week of Nov. 27 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. as weather permits. For public safety, beach users are advised to avoid the area while tractor work is underway. The berm is built annually to protect private and public properties from potentially damaging winter storms. Its cost is shared between the City and the homeowners on Sandyland. The bulldozer work will not close access to properties or emergency vehicles. To learn more, please contact the Public Works Department at (805) 755-4431 or tiffanys@carpinteriaca.gov

Shay Darrington, our new Engineering Tech, is a civil engineer in the making. He holds an Engineer-In-Training certificate, as well as two degrees from California State University Chico, one in Civil Engineering and a second in German. We welcome Shay to our staff!