Category: News

On Feb. 19, the Carpinteria Valley Water District will begin rehabilitation work on the El Carro Well to improve well performance and water quality. The well is located in a fenced area at the north end of the south field, adjacent to the Girls Inc. of Carpinteria campus. General Pump Company will perform the work, which will last through the spring of 2024.

Throughout the well rehabilitation, El Carro Park will be open and available for public use. Well work will take place on weekdays, and impacts from the project will be limited to some construction noise.

El Carro Well produces water that is critical to Carpinteria’s water supply. The City of Carpinteria and Carpinteria Valley Water District appreciate the public’s patience with this important project to ensure water security.

EVACUATION WARNINGS have been issued effective Saturday, February 17, 2024 for the following areas in Santa Barbara County:

• Properties along waterways associated with the Thomas, Cave and Alisal burn areas
• Properties in the vicinity of Sycamore Creek, from Stanwood Dr. down to parts of Ninos Dr., in the city of Santa Barbara
• Properties in the vicinity of Mission Creek, from Cota St. down to Highway 101 and between Chapala St. and Castillo St., in the city of Santa Barbara

Click here to access the interactive incident map.

These EVACUATION WARNINGS are due to an incoming storm arriving Saturday, February 17, 2024 through Wednesday, February 21, 2024 with the potential to produce localized flooding, flash flooding, and landslides.

These EVACUATION WARNINGS are in effect until further notice and may be upgraded to Evacuation Orders depending on localized conditions and changes to the weather forecast.

During an Evacuation Warning, community members living in the impacted areas are asked to:

• Prepare to leave: fill gas tank, load up important documents, essential items, etc.
• LEAVE if you feel unsafe. DO NOT wait for an evacuation order.
• People with disabilities, access and functional needs should LEAVE NOW.
• People with large animals should LEAVE NOW.
• DO NOT attempt to drive while it is dark or raining, as roads may be damaged or your car may be swept away by moving water or debris.
• BE PREPARED to sustain yourself and your household for multiple days if you choose not to evacuate, as you may not be able to leave the area and emergency responders may not be able to access your property in the event of road damage, flooding, or a debris flow.

The National Weather Service is forecasting a major storm expected to arrive Saturday, February 17 and last through Wednesday, February 21 and has issued a Flood Watch for all of Santa Barbara County. Flooding in low-lying areas and strong winds are expected. Isolated thunderstorms capable of producing brief heavy rainfall and dangerous flash flooding are possible. Detailed weather forecasts are available at https://www.weather.gov/lox/.

If you are concerned that this storm may cause unsafe conditions to your local roads and your home, leave the area before rain starts.  Do not wait for an official evacuation notification to leave.

Lights are back on until 9 p.m. every night at Carpinteria Skate Park! Big shout out to our Parks & Rec and Public Works staff for diligently working to resolve an electrical programming issue that interfered with our ability to keep park lights on for night skating. The park has been open for several months now and is well used throughout the day and into the evening by locals and visitors alike. We thank the public for its patience in awaiting a resolution to our recent lighting issue.

On Feb. 12, the Carpinteria City Council proclaimed February 2024 as Black History Month in the City of Carpinteria. With this proclamation, the City highlights the historical struggles that Black citizens have faced and celebrates the local organizations like Santa Barbara Young Black Professionals and Juneteenth Santa Barbara that work tirelessly to improve and help the community. The City also honors, both within the month of February and throughout the rest of the year, Black artists and cultural movements and the progress, integrity and determination that Black communities have exhibited. Accepting the proclamation on behalf of the public was Dianne Travis-Teague from Pacifica Graduate Institute, who acknowledged the importance of the proclamation and said, “We are resilient, we are resolute, and we will continue working hard to ensure new opportunities for our families, our children, our grandchildren and our community.”

On the afternoon of Feb. 12, City staff gathered for the unveiling of a plaque in front of City Hall honoring Carpinteria’s recently retired City Manager Dave Durflinger. Current City Manager Michael Ramirez spoke briefly in tribute to Durflinger, who led the City for more than two decades. Durflinger attended the event and, with his typical humility, credited the hard work of the staff and his support system for the City’s accomplishments during his time as City Manager. Later, he was honored again at the City Council meeting, where photos of the new plaque were displayed.

Tomatoes fresh from the garden are a favorite delicacy for many, and on Saturday, March 2, you can learn how to grow your very own. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Carpinteria Community Garden, Tomato-palooza will cover the tomato-gardening gamut, including planting, feeding and production for maximum yield. The class is free and open to the public. RSVP to carpgarden@carpinteriaca.gov

The Carpinteria City Council will hold its next regular meeting on Monday, Feb. 12 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/3SQIEaA.

???? Presentation of proclamation designating February 2024 as Black History Month.

???? Congratulating contract building inspector Roy W. Harthorn on his retirement and commending and thanking him for 26 years of loyal and dedicated service to the City of Carpinteria.

???? Plaque honoring former City Manager Dave Durflinger’s service

???????????? Presentation of Employee Service Awards

???? Accept proposal from VIDIFLO, LLC in the Amount of $32,221.37 for replacement of the Government Access Television (GATV) Equipment.

???? Request letter to Cox Communications to Provide Public, Education, and Government (PEG) Channels in Hi-Definition (HD).

???? Continuation of public hearing for approval of the Measure A Five-Year Local Program of Projects for Fiscal Years 2024-25 through 2028-29.

???? Approval and adoption of establishing Renter Relocation Assistance Payment amounts for No-Fault Just Cause Evictions

???? Approval of standardized design for single-use dog parks within the City of Carpinteria, including at Monte Vista Park, and associated budget appropriation.

???? Approval of the first reading of an ordinance amending Carpinteria Municipal Code Section 2.52 pertaining to abandoned and unattended personal property.

 

The City of Carpinteria will open registration for its 2024 summer Junior Lifeguards Program on March 4 at 6:30 p.m. through our website at https://carpinteria.recdesk.com/Community/Program.

The Junior Lifeguards, which is for children aged 7 to 16, will run from June 17 through Aug. 2 at Carpinteria City Beach. Participants meet Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for fun activities aimed at building fitness, beach safety, and appreciation of the marine ecosystem.

Tryouts will be held for any new JGs (or former mini-JGs interested in participating in JGs) from 10 a.m. to noon every Saturday through March 2 at the Carpinteria Community Pool, 5305 Carpinteria Ave. Please learn more about the JG program, sign up for a tryout time or review expectations at https://carpinteriaca.gov/?s=junior+lifeguards

The National Weather Service has issued a Beach Hazards Statement for Santa Barbara County through the morning of Friday, Feb. 9. Dangerous rip currents and waves due to high surf are expected. Minor coastal flooding is possible, with the highest surf and coastal flooding risks today, Thursday, Feb. 8. Please remain out of the water and be cautious on the beach. Rock jetties can be deadly in such conditions; stay off the rocks.