Category: News

Hey pool patrons! Carpinteria Community Pool has announced its February schedule. Learn more at https://bit.ly/CarpinteriaPool.

At the Jan. 23 Carpinteria City Council meeting, Mayor Al Clark awarded John Callender a City tile to commend and thank him for his 15 years of service on the Planning Commission.

Carpinteria City Manager Dave Durflinger has announced that he will be retiring by the end of the calendar year. His announcement was made to City Council and all City staff this week.

“It has been my honor and privilege to serve the Carpinteria community for the past 24 years (in the role of City Manager since July 2001), and to work alongside such great people,” Durflinger said “Any success that I have had I owe to the team—a team made up of dedicated staff members, City Council leaders and involved community members.”

Under Durflinger’s leadership, the City organization has  played an important role in helping Carpinteria remain a unique and vital small beach town that is well positioned to take on the challenges that lie ahead.

“Dave has not only provided his skills, intelligence and vast knowledge of the Carpinteria on a 24/7 basis for the City but he is also a resident and valued member of the community,” said Carpinteria Mayor Al Clark “Dave has established a strong, stable and consistent government for over 20 years. Dave is irreplaceable.”

The organization has moved toward being more representative of Carpinteria, reflecting the community in both the people that work for the City and by the community voices that influence decision-making.

In his closing remarks to Council via a memorandum and staff via an email, Durflinger  noted, “I’d like to emphasize that nothing will change at the City in the near term. My priority is to leave the organization in capable hands. I want to allow the City Council sufficient time to plan and facilitate this transition and to provide time for some overlap with the new City Manager prior to my retirement.”

In addition to setting a policy agenda, the City Council is responsible for hiring for the positions of City Manager and Legal Counsel. No timeline or process has been set for hiring Durflinger’s successor.

“My employment with the City has afforded my family and me many wonderful opportunities and experiences we would not otherwise have had, none more important than being part of a true community. For that I am eternally grateful,” said Durflinger.

The Draft 2023 Work Plan for the City of Carpinteria is now available on the City’s website at and here.  On Monday, Jan. 30, from 4 to 8 p.m., the Carpinteria City Council will hold a meeting with City staff to discuss the draft work plan for the year. Open to the public, the meeting gives community members an opportunity to learn about upcoming programs and projects, and to express their views to City leaders. Please consider joining us on Jan. 30 at City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave.

The Carpinteria City Council will hold its next regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 23 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/3D44OxT. Comments posted on social media will not be provided to council members.

• Proclamation designating the month of February 2023 as “Black History Month.”
• Presentation of City tile commending and thanking Planning Commissioner John Callender for 15 years of service on the Planning Commission.
• City Manager report on the following: January Storm Cleanup Update, Carpinteria Skate Park Drone Video, Introduction of New City Employees and Planning Commission Actions.
• Extension of the emergency proclamation in response to the January 2023 storms and related emergency response.
• Continuance of the off-leash dog park program at El Carro Park.
• Review, update and selection of  City Council Representatives to regional agencies and committees and representatives to area boards and committees.
• Selection of interview questions for City boards, committees and commissions.
• Adoption of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the period of July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2027 between the City of Carpinteria and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 620.

The City is thrilled to announce that the Palm Avenue tennis and pickleball courts are now open to the public for reservations every Monday. Carpinteria Middle School reserves access to the courts during the school day Tuesday through Friday. Reservations are required on Mondays, as well as the other days/hours that the courts are available to the public. To reserve a court, please visit https://carpinteria-community-pool.reservio.com/ . To pay for the reservation, visit the Carpinteria Community Pool at 5305 Carpinteria Ave.

Transportation of mineral sediment from Carpinteria debris basins to the City Beach at Ash Avenue has begun. Santa Barbara County Flood Control’s (SBCFC) clearing of the Carpinteria Valley Watershed Debris Basins is critical in order to restore capacity and functionality. The rocks, gravel and sand being transported would naturally flow down the creeks to the beaches without the benefit of the basin. While the debris basins help to reduce floods, they also intercept sediment important to maintaining the beach and protecting properties near it. We apologize for any inconveniences the operation may bring, and we are working to mitigate impacts to residents. Street sweepers are cleaning roadways, and special efforts are being made to reduce leaking from trucks transporting sediment.

The public bathrooms at City Parking Lot 1 (located at 9th Street & Elm Avenue) will be closed until Monday, Jan. 23, due to a main water line break below ground. There are portable bathrooms available adjacent to the temporarily closed structure.

Emergency work to repair the bank of Carpinteria Creek near 6th Street will be completed by the end of today, Jan. 18. The California State Parks project has involved placement of  approximately 10,000 cubic yards of 2 – 4 foot diameter rock to stabilize about 250 feet of creek bank and protect against further erosion caused in the Jan. 9/10 storms. The severe erosion put the nearby wastewater treatment plant and other public infrastructure at risk, as well as buildings and improvements located along nearby sections of 6th Street and Palm Avenue.

The Carpinteria Creek bike path remains closed due to large quantities of mud deposited during the storms on Jan. 9/10. The path will remain closed until mud and debris are cleared and the connector between Via Real and Carpinteria Avenue is once again safe for public use.