City Manager Dave Durflinger Announces Retirement

Carpinteria City Manager Dave Durflinger has announced that he will be retiring by the end of the calendar year. Under Durflinger’s leadership for the past 22 years, 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.”

Mayor Honors Longtime Planning Commissioner

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.

Creek Bank Repair Work Completed

Emergency work to repair the bank of Carpinteria Creek near 6th Street took place after the storms of Jan. 9/10 caused severe erosion. The California State Parks project 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. Reinforcing the creekbank protects the nearby wastewater treatment plant and other public infrastructure, as well as buildings and improvements located along nearby sections of 6th Street and Palm Avenue.

Sediment Transport to Carpinteria Beach Continues

Transportation of mineral sediment from Carpinteria debris basins to the City Beach at Ash Avenue began shortly after the Jan. 9/10 storms and will continue until Santa Barbara County Flood Control finishes clearing Carpinteria Valley’s debris basins. The work is critical in order to restore capacity at the local basins, which serve the critical function of protecting downstream areas from flooding and potential damage. The rocks, gravel and sand being transported would naturally flow down the creeks to the beaches without the benefit of the basins (see 1987 photo above). 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. Efforts to mitigate the impact on residents include frequent roadway cleaning by street sweepers. Please view a short video that helps to describe the project and its importance HERE.

Annual Work Plan Meeting: Join us!

What is the City of Carpinteria planning for 2023? How can I get my ideas in front of decision makers? If you’re asking these questions, please consider joining us at our Annual Work Plan Meeting on Monday, Jan. 30, from 4 to 8 p.m., at City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave. At this annual meeting, the Carpinteria City Council hears from City staff about plans for 2023, allowing opportunities for the public to listen, learn and contribute to the conversation. The guiding document for the discussion, the Draft 2023 Work Plan for the City of Carpinteria, is now available for review HERE.

Tennis/Pickleball Courts Open on Mondays

The City is thrilled to announce that the Palm Avenue tennis and pickleball courts are now open for public reservations every Monday. Carpinteria Middle School reserves access to the courts during school hours Tuesday through Friday. Reservations are required on Mondays, as well as after school Tuesday through Friday, and Saturday. The courts are free and open every Sunday for use on a first-come, first-served (no pun intended) basis. Reserve a court HERE. To pay for the reservation, visit the Carpinteria Community Pool at 5305 Carpinteria Ave.

Need help post-storms?

If you were impacted by recent storms, there are resources available to help. A Disaster Recovery Center/Local Assistance Center will open on Saturday, Jan. 28 at Direct Relief, 6100 Wallace Becknell Road in Santa Barbara. The center will be open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Additionally, a Virtual Local Assistance Center with online resources is available in English HERE and in Spanish HERE.