Message from the Mayor

Dear Carpinterians,

The 36th annual California Avocado Festival was truly one for the record books. Throughout the three days of “peace, love and guacamole,” I was approached by dozens of people who told me how thrilled they were to be back at Avofest and how its absence made them appreciate it even more.

My guess is that most of the 64,000 people enjoyed the music, food and activities of the Avocado Festival without thinking about the enormous amount of work that goes into a multi-day, multi-block, multi-stage event. I would like to thank the incredible Avofest board of directors and all the hardworking volunteers who helped to ensure this massive event went off without a hitch. I would also like to thank the Sheriff’s Office and firefighters/EMTs for working to keep everyone safe during the festival. And lastly, let’s not forget our own Public Works department, which provides critical support before, during and after the festival!

If you drive on the west end of town, you’ve probably noticed the construction on Carpinteria Avenue. This is work for the new Santa Claus Lane Bikeway for bicycles and pedestrians to travel between Carpinteria Avenue and Santa Claus Lane. This work will require a five-month closure of the southbound on-ramp at Santa Claus Lane. Thank you for being patient with the construction, and please remember to support the businesses in that area that are being impacted by the construction. By next summer, we’ll be pedaling or strolling to Santa Claus Lane for a visit to the beach or the shops!

I’ll leave you with a message that I like to repeat periodically in this letter: please spend your dollars in Carpinteria. We are entering that slow retail period between the summer and the holidays, and our local businesses need your support. Do you have something in your Amazon cart that you could pick up in Carpinteria instead? Have you tried any of our wonderful newer restaurants, cafes or shops? Have you stopped by one of your old favorites to grab a bite or a gift lately? These are the things that keep our local merchant community strong and capable of being donors to our local nonprofits. If you love Carp, shop Carp and invest in our community!

Stay Well, Stay Safe, and Stay Cool!

Mayor Wade Nomura

City News & More

Boys & Girls Club Members Receive Council Commendation

At the Sept. 26 Carpinteria City Council meeting, 17 local children received certificates of commendation for earning their Gold Cards through the Carpinteria Boys & Girls Club. Members of the local organization achieve Gold Card status by attending the club for a minimum of 105 days in a calendar year. The local children were congratulated by City Council members as well as the CEO of United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County Michael Baker. “We’re very proud of these children,” said Baker.

Sign Up for our Lifeguard Training

Carpinteria Community Pool will host a lifeguard training Nov. 4-6 for anyone who wants to become certified in pool lifeguarding and title 22. The course includes the latest in water rescues, back boarding, CPR, AED, and First Aid. The blended learning course will include some course work online and some in-person training. Participants must be at least 15 years old by the start of the in-person course. The $350 course fee includes certification, pocket mask, and whistle. Register HERE.

City Staff Tackle an Adventure (in Risk Management)

Our Assistant City Manager Michael Ramirez and Program Manager Olivia Uribe-Mutal just wrapped up two and a half days of “Adventures in Risk Management.” Held by the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority, the annual Risk Management Educational Forum features world-class keynotes and knowledge experts in the field of risk. Our City staff members learned about topics and issues relevant to local government in areas such as legal liability, workers’ compensation, employment law, public safety, organizational thinking, governance, and legislation.

Pool Closures Planned for Youth Competitions

The Carpinteria Community Pool October calendar includes closures due to Carpinteria High School water polo games and a youth swim meet. Water polo games will result in closures beginning at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 11; Thursday, Oct. 20; Tuesday, Oct. 24; and Thursday, Oct. 27. The pool will be closed all day for a swim meet on Saturday, Oct. 22. We apologize for any inconveniences caused by the closures.

Coming Soon

Council to Meet Oct. 10

The Carpinteria City Council will hold its next regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 10 at 5:30 p.m. Agenda highlights include an informational report on Parking Lot No. 1 issues and recommendations by business owners, a construction contract to abandon the former Venoco pipeline, and a design agreement for improvements to the stretch of Franklin Creek Trail that runs between Carpinteria Avenue and Seventh Street. 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.

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Housing Element Meeting Scheduled for Oct. 17

The Carpinteria City Council and Planning Commission will hold a joint meeting on Monday, Oct. 17 at 5:30 p.m. to consider the 2023-2031 Housing Element Update. The Housing Element is a component of the City’s General Plan and includes analysis of housing needs, opportunities and constraints, and impediments to fair housing. The policies and programs address housing for all segments of the community and include strategies to accommodate the 901 additional residential units assigned to the City through the Regional Housing Needs Assessment process. On Monday, Oct. 10, a meeting agenda will be posted to the link below.

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