Category: News

We congratulate Aquatics Coordinator Kalyn Pina, who successfully completed a week-long American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Trainer (WSIT) course. This certification enables her to train and certify staff in Water Safety Instruction (WSI), allowing them to become swim instructors. Having a certified WSIT on staff is a significant asset, as it ensures the ability to offer in-house certification courses, continuously recruit and train new instructors, and provide ongoing staff training specific to swim lesson instruction. This will help maintain the highest quality of swim instruction at the community pool.

Join us at Carpinteria’s first FIX-IT FAIR happening on May 31, 2025. We are looking for volunteers who have skills in repairing clothing, lamps, small appliances, small electronics, computers, jewelry, and more.

As a volunteer, you’ll play a key role in providing repair assistance and education, empowering attendees to learn how to fix their own belongings. Volunteers will need to bring their own tools, but the City of Carpinteria will provide tables and chairs.

In exchange for donating your time and skills to the community, you will be able to:

• Promote your business at the event
• Be featured on the event webpage and outreach materials as a sponsor for this event

Fix-it Fairs demonstrate that repair is a practical and accessible option in Santa Barbara County. By keeping items out of landfills, supporting local families, and strengthening our local economy, these events help build a more resilient and connected community.

Sign up as a volunteer today HERE.

Questions ? Contact sustainability@carpinteriaca.gov

Our Community Development Department planners Mindy Fogg, Syndi Souter, Marysol Smith and Megan Musolf recently represented the City of Carpinteria at the 2025 Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP) CA State Conference in Oxnard. Our team gained valuable insights on CEQA best practices, legal updates and innovations. Special shoutout to Mindy, who currently serves as the AEP President, for her panelist role on AEP’s “People and Culture” initiatives and to Megan for her role as a panelist guiding future professionals!

At its April 14 meeting, the Carpinteria City Council issued a proclamation in honor of the 66th annual Carpinteria Community Awards Banquet and praised event organizers for keeping an important tradition alive.

Hosted by the Carpinteria Community Association, this year’s event will take place on Saturday, April 26, at 5:30 p.m. at Girls Inc. of Carpinteria. Dozens of outstanding individuals and businesses will be honored. Merit Awards will recognize dedicated volunteers from local organizations, including the City’s Volunteer of the Year, Ted Rhodes. Special recognitions include Robitaille’s Fine Candies for their long-standing business, Local Business Awards honoring the Mascari and Ballat families, Educator of the Year awardees, and finalists for Junior Carpinterian of the Year. The evening will culminate in announcing the Carpinterian of the Year.

Purchase tickets and learn more at https://www.carpinteriacommunityassociation.org/.

We are thrilled to introduce Juliza Briones, our new Program Manager and Public Information Officer. Juliza brings key experience in public communication and community engagement to this vital role.

Having previously served as a Communications Analyst for the City of Thousand Oaks and worked with various health departments, Juliza has a strong background in connecting with residents on key policy-driven initiatives and community-focused messaging.

A proud Latina and U.C. Santa Barbara alumna, Juliza says, “I’m eager to use my bilingual skills to help improve bilingual emergency preparedness efforts, making sure all Carpinteria residents have the information and support they need in times of need.”

Outside of work, Juliza enjoys hiking with her husband and her mini Australian Shepherd, Canela, as well as cooking and trying new foods.

The Carpinteria Architectural Review Board will hold its next regular meeting on Thursday, April 17 at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will include a preliminary review of the Franklin Creek Trail Improvement Project, a proposal to construct a new multi-use trail that would be located adjacent to Franklin Creek and extend from Carpinteria Avenue to Seventh Street. New landscaping, seating benches, night lighting and trash receptacles are proposed along the trail.

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.

Additional details and numerous ways for the public to provide comments can be found at https://bit.ly/4jg1MJY.

In order to hold our quarterly all staff meeting, we will close the doors of City Hall to the public on Thursday, April 17 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Please plan your visit around this closure. We apologize for any inconveniences this may cause.

The Carpinteria City Council will hold its next regular meeting on Monday, April 14 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/4cx7HYz.

• Proclamations: designating April 2025 as “Fair Housing Month,” designating the week of April 21-28, 2025 as “International Dark Sky Week,” and celebrating the 66th Anniversary of the Carpinteria Community Awards Banquet.
• Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District Update Presentation by Jerry Estrada, General Manager of Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District.
• Introduction of New Employee: Pam Greer, Finance Manager.
• Approving the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account Fiscal Year 2025-26 Project List.
• Adopt modified amendments to the Carpinteria Municipal Code as required by the California Coastal Commission in order to finalize the Local Coastal Program Amendment and allow the Zoning Amendments to go into effect.
• Update Budget and Fiscal Policy to include a 2-Year Budget.
• Formation of the Ad Hoc E-Conveyance Committee and appointment of up to two Council members to the Committee. Formation of the committee is in response to the growing number of collisions involving cyclists, drivers, and pedestrians within the City.
• Update the City’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department Program & Facility Fee Schedule.
• Consultant Services Agreement between the City of Carpinteria and Environmental Science Associates (ESA) to oversee and prepare environmental review documents for the Surfliner Inn Project for an amount not-to-exceed $258,890.

Whether your kiddo has never stepped on a skateboard or is working to perfect an ollie, Carpinteria Skate Foundation’s summer camp is the place for any interested 7- to 12-year-old. Seven one-week sessions of skate camp will be held this summer between June 16 and Aug. 8 at Carpinteria Skate Park, located next to City Hall at 5775 Carpinteria Ave. Participants will learn the basics of skateboarding and build on existing skills through instruction from experienced skate coaches. Camp runs Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Campers will need to pack a lunch, water bottle, and the appropriate safety equipment, including helmet, knee and elbow pads, and wrist guards. Snacks will be provided and there is a water bottle fill up station on site at the park. Registration is now open at www.carpskatepark.org.

The Carpinteria City Council has proudly selected Ted Rhodes as the 2024 City of Carpinteria Volunteer of the Year. A dedicated advocate for open space preservation since 1988, Ted’s efforts have helped to ensure that generations of Carpinterians will have access to hundreds of acres of natural lands.

Ted’s contributions include pivotal roles in the establishment and maintenance of cherished areas like the Carpinteria Bluffs Preserve, Salt Marsh, Franklin Trail, and most recently, the Rincon Gateway Preserve. Beyond his long-standing involvement with the Carpinteria Open Space Management Board (COSMAB), Ted generously donated approximately 100 hours in 2024 alone to education, preservation and maintenance initiatives. “He’s done thousands of hours over 30-plus years,” remarked Council Member Al Clark, highlighting Ted’s remarkable commitment.

Ted will receive his award at the Carpinteria Community Awards Banquet on April 26, hosted by the Carpinteria Community Association. The event will also honor volunteers from other local organizations and recognize the 2024 Carpinterian and Junior Carpinterian of the Year. Photo above by Ingrid Bostrom.