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3 days ago

Carpinteria board reviews 2026-27 draft budget and approves Measure U change order District staff presented a draft 2026-27 budget projecting a $5.6M general-fund contribution to special education; the board approved warrants, donations, a Lexia software renewal and a $436,771.94 Measure U change order after groundwater was found at the Aliso Elementary site.

The Carpinteria Unified School District faces a $5.6 million gap in special education funding as it navigates budget challenges and essential updates to Measure U construction.

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3 days ago

Teachers and union fault district's push-in model as board hears special-education presentation Teachers, union representatives and middle-school staff told the Carpinteria Unified School District board that a recent "push-in" model has reduced specialized instruction and coincided with higher D/F rates among students with IEPs; Special Education Director Carolyn Haines defended IEP-team decision-making and explained state LRE expectations.

Teachers are sounding the alarm as the district's new "push-in" model for special education is linked to soaring D and F grades among students with IEPs.

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2 months ago

Annual audit clean but flags teacher‑salary compliance; public scrutiny over legal fees Auditors issued unmodified opinions for Carpinteria Unified School District’s 2024‑25 financial, federal and state compliance but reported a repeat finding on classroom teacher salaries; public commenters and union representatives criticized recent legal spending and large warrants while trustees defended actions taken to protect students.

The Carpinteria Unified School District's latest audit raises concerns over teacher salary compliance while public scrutiny intensifies over soaring legal fees affecting classroom funding.

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2 months ago

Carpinteria council approves raise in tenant relocation assistance to $6,750 The City Council approved a staff recommendation to raise relocation assistance for tenants displaced through no fault of their own to $6,750 (or two months’ rent, whichever is greater), citing inflation and neighboring-jurisdiction practices; the measure passed on a recorded vote.

Carpinteria City Council has just approved a significant increase in tenant relocation assistance to $6,750, aiming to better support those displaced through no fault of their own.

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2 months ago

Planning commission gives Verizon two months to explore county site, tolls shot clock After extensive public testimony from downtown business owners and neighbors, the Carpinteria Planning Commission unanimously continued Verizon’s rooftop wireless application for two months and the applicant agreed to toll the federal 'shot clock' while the county property option is explored. Commissioners asked staff to coordinate with the County Supervisor’s office.

The Carpinteria Planning Commission has given Verizon two months to explore a potential county site for their controversial rooftop wireless facility, leaving business owners and residents on edge.

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2 months ago

Council hears detailed explanation of Prop 218 assessment districts and how ballots, increases would work City staff explained two proposed assessment districts (landscape maintenance and beach berm), the Prop 218 process, that proposed assessments would not be one‑time fees and could increase annually by a CPI‑based formula, and council and residents discussed voter impacts and ballot timing.

Carpinteria's city council is tackling the complexities of two new assessment districts that could change your tax bill—are you ready for the potential impact on your property?

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2 months ago

Sanitary district outlines Carpinteria Advanced Purification project; council receives presentation The Carpinteria Sanitary District presented plans for a $61 million Advanced Water Purification plant on its wastewater site that would purify the community’s average dry‑weather flow and cut ocean discharge by roughly 85%. Council voted to receive and file the presentation.

A groundbreaking $61 million Advanced Purification Project is set to transform Carpinteria's wastewater treatment, promising to reduce ocean discharge by 85% and deliver highly purified water to the community.

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2 months ago

Carpinteria wastewater district outlines $61 million advanced purification project, says operations will be local The Carpinteria Wastewater District told the council it will lease site space and operate a new advanced water-purification plant funded partly by a $61,000,000 construction award; staff said the project is in design and construction could take about three years.

Carpinteria's wastewater district is gearing up for a groundbreaking $61 million advanced purification project that promises to revitalize aging infrastructure and ensure cleaner water for the community.

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2 months ago

Carpinteria board approves $7.54 million GMP and increases bond allocation for Aliso TKK project The Carpinteria Unified School District board approved a $7,539,885 guaranteed maximum price (GMP) and increased bond allocation for the Aliso TKK building, citing higher foundation and soft costs after updated geotechnical reviews; the board also authorized lease-leaseback documents.

The Carpinteria Unified School District has approved a staggering $7.54 million for the Aliso TKK project, citing unexpected costs that could reshape the future of local education.

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2 months ago

Residents and union leaders accuse district leadership of a 'culture of violation' as superintendent's contract is extended Public commenters at the Jan. 13 Carpinteria school board meeting accused superintendent Rigby and trustees of fostering a 'culture of violation,' raised concerns about enrollment declines and legal spending, and asked the board to agendize investigations; the board reported a closed-session approval of a three‑year contract extension for the superintendent.

Carpinteria Unified School District faces mounting criticism from residents and union leaders over a troubling "culture of violation" as leadership prioritizes pay raises over student needs.

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3 months ago

Council approves Chevron license to access Tar Pits Beach for pipeline removal; company to use exclusion zones only while working The council authorized a limited, revocable license allowing Chevron staged access to defined areas of Tar Pits Beach and adjacent tidelands to remove buried pipeline segments. Work is estimated at about 15 total workdays and will require public notices, permits, insurance, and delineated temporary exclusion zones.

Chevron is set to access Tar Pits Beach for a crucial pipeline removal, but don't worry—public access will remain open during most of the work!

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3 months ago

Carpinteria council adopts resolution opposing new federal offshore oil and gas leasing Carpinteria adopted Resolution No. 6430 opposing inclusion of new offshore oil and gas leasing in federal waters off California, citing local risks to tourism, fisheries and coastal ecosystems; staff encouraged residents to submit comments to BOEM before Jan. 23, 2026.

Carpinteria City Council takes a bold stand, unanimously opposing new offshore oil and gas leasing that threatens local tourism, fisheries, and public health.

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3 months ago

Carpinteria council accepts $800,000 county grant to advance bluffs improvements, leaves acquisition option open Carpinteria authorized a funding agreement with Santa Barbara County to accept up to $800,000 on a reimbursement basis for Carpinteria Bluffs improvements. Council and public commenters pushed staff to preserve the option to direct some funds toward land acquisition if parcels become available.

Carpinteria City Council has greenlit an $800,000 funding agreement to enhance the scenic Carpinteria Bluffs, with hopes of acquiring new land for public use!

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3 months ago

Carpinteria ARB forwards revised Verizon rooftop antenna plan to Planning Commission with design conditions After hearing staff and the applicant, the Carpinteria Architectural Review Board voted 3–1 to forward a revised Verizon rooftop wireless installation at 912 Linden Ave to the Planning Commission, with comments urging tighter concealment, back-side screening and relocation of visible ladders.

The Carpinteria Architectural Review Board has moved a revised Verizon rooftop antenna plan forward, aiming to enhance visual appeal while addressing local wireless congestion—what changes are on the horizon for the iconic clock tower?

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4 months ago

Supervisor's office: proposed rezone would raise affordable-unit requirements and extend affordability terms A First District supervisor's office representative told council the Coastal Commission approved rezones for four county parcels (three affecting Carpinteria) and that the Board of Supervisors will consider modifications in February; key changes would raise required affordable units from 20% to 32% and extend affordability covenants from 90 years to the life of the project.

Carpinteria is set for a major shift in housing policy, with a proposed increase in affordable units from 20% to an impressive 32%, ensuring long-term community support!

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4 months ago

Council authorizes county-led hazard mitigation process and adopts DIF annual report and CIP updates The Carpinteria City Council authorized the city manager to join a county-led update to the multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan (grant-dependent; city share ~ $25,000 if grant not awarded) and adopted Resolution No. 6427 accepting the annual Development Impact Fee report and updating the capital improvement plan and fee schedule.

Carpinteria City Council takes significant steps towards community resilience by joining a county-led hazard mitigation plan and updating vital development impact fees for 2024-25.

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4 months ago

Sheriff's deputy warns Carpinteria residents about phone and online fraud schemes A Santa Barbara County Sheriff's deputy told the Carpinteria City Council about common scams — including grandparent, government impersonation, tech support, sweepstakes and romance scams — and urged residents to report incidents to local police and the FBIIC3. Local cases include 16 check-washing incidents in the region.

Local authorities are sounding the alarm as fraudsters unleash a wave of scams targeting Carpinteria residents, leaving many vulnerable to devastating financial losses.

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4 months ago

SCE outlines outage and PSPS procedures, local reliability data for Carpinteria A Southern California Edison representative described PSPS notification timelines, outage-mapping tools, community resource centers, grid-hardening work (covered conductor and targeted undergrounding) and local customer figures; council members pressed SCE on outage detection and impacts to businesses and medical-dependent residents.

Southern California Edison is ramping up efforts to enhance safety and communication about outages, but are you prepared for the next power disruption?

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4 months ago

Council authorizes county hazard-mitigation participation and adopts impact-fee/CIP update The Carpinteria council authorized the city manager to submit a letter of intent to participate in the county’s Hazard Mitigation Plan update (possible shared cost if grant funding not awarded) and adopted Resolution 6427 to accept the annual development impact-fee report and update the capital improvement plan; both measures were approved by council vote.

Carpinteria City Council takes significant steps toward community safety and development by participating in a county hazard-mitigation update and adopting a crucial impact-fee program.

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4 months ago

County rezonings affecting Carpinteria would raise affordability requirements; Caltrans funds phase-two Santa Claus Lane work County staff told the council the Coastal Commission approved rezonings for four parcels (including Carpinteria) that would require 32% of units to be affordable (20% low-income plus 12% moderate-income) and extend affordability to a project's life; staff also said Caltrans will fund about $12.5 million for phase two of the Santa Claus Lane/Highway 101 pedestrian and beach-side improvements, with construction anticipated next spring/summer.

Exciting changes are coming to Carpinteria with new Coastal Commission approvals that will enhance affordability requirements and a $12.5 million Caltrans-funded project to improve Santa Claus Lane!

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4 months ago

Southern California Edison outlines PSPS procedures, mitigation programs and customer supports SCE told the Carpinteria Council it monitors weather 4–7 days in advance of wildfire-risk events, activates incident teams three days out, has completed about 119 miles of insulated conductor in the south Santa Barbara service area and offers battery-generator supports and coupons; council members pressed SCE on outage reporting and restoration timelines.

Southern California Edison is ramping up safety measures with new power shutoff protocols and support programs, ensuring residents stay informed and secure during outages.

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4 months ago

Board authorizes pursuit of a term sheet to sell 2,000 acre‑feet of surplus state water to United Water Facing a high spill risk in San Luis Reservoir and depressed transfer prices, the board authorized the general manager to pursue terms with United Water for a one‑year sale of 2,000 acre‑feet at $275/acre‑foot; the motion passed 5‑0 and staff will return with an agreement for Dec. 10 consideration.

The board has taken decisive action to prevent a costly spill of state water by authorizing a lucrative sale of 2,000 acre-feet to United Water, potentially bringing in $550,000 in revenue!

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4 months ago

Carpinteria Valley Water District: AWPF bids come in far above estimate, prompting review and funding questions Contractors returned AWPF construction bids clustered around $61–62 million versus an engineer's estimate of $42 million. District staff said they will review low‑bid open‑book documents, meet with other bidders, and explore scope, sequencing and funding options before any award.

Bids for the Carpinteria Valley Water District's advanced water purification project soared over $60 million, shocking officials who expected costs to be around $42 million.

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4 months ago

Carpinteria council authorizes city to join county-led hazard mitigation update with potential grant funding The council authorized the city manager to submit a letter of intent to participate in a county-led multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan update; staff said a $375,000 county grant could cover plan costs and the city's share would be about $25,000 if the grant is not awarded. The motion passed unanimously.

Carpinteria's council just voted to join a crucial hazard mitigation plan update, unlocking the potential for $375,000 in grant funding—will they secure the support they need?

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4 months ago

County rezoning to add affordable-unit requirements will return to supervisors; Carpinteria officials expect local impacts County-approved coastal rezonings affecting Carpinteria will require 20% low-income units plus an additional 12% for moderate incomes (32% total affordability); the county will return changes to the Board of Supervisors in February and the city is working with county housing staff on outreach and public meetings.

Exciting changes are on the horizon for Carpinteria as county officials push for a groundbreaking rezoning plan that mandates 32% affordable housing units!

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4 months ago

Carpinteria council joins county-led hazard-mitigation update and adopts development-impact-fee annual report The council authorized the city manager to sign a letter of intent to participate in a county-led update of the multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan (a grant would cover costs if awarded); the council also adopted the annual development-impact-fee (DIF) report and updated the city capital-improvement plan and fee schedule.

Carpinteria City Council is taking bold steps to secure funding for crucial hazard mitigation updates that could protect the community from wildfires, flooding, and seismic risks.

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4 months ago

Supervisor's office: Baylard and Van Wingerden parcels to face county vote with higher affordability terms A representative of Supervisor Lee's office told the council that Coastal Commission-approved zoning changes for four county parcels (including three in Carpinteria) will return to the Board of Supervisors in February; the changes would raise affordable-unit requirements at Baylard and Van Wingerden from 20% to 32% and extend affordability from 90 years to the life of the project.

Big changes are coming to Carpinteria's housing landscape as the county proposes to increase affordable unit requirements and extend affordability terms for key parcels!

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4 months ago

SCE outlines PSPS notification tools, grid-hardening and local outage steps for Carpinteria Southern California Edison briefed the council on outage types, PSPS procedures, the outage map and community support resources; SCE said 3 of Carpinteria's five feeder circuits are PSPS-designated and described covered-conductor upgrades, vegetation inspections and costs/timelines for undergrounding.

Southern California Edison reveals vital updates on outage notifications and safety measures, ensuring residents stay informed and protected during high fire-risk periods.

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4 months ago

SCE explains PSPS procedures, backup programs and local outage trends to Carpinteria council Southern California Edison told the Carpinteria City Council how it decides public-safety power shutoffs, how it notifies residents and the support programs available for medically dependent customers; SCE offered to produce a local reliability report after council questions about outage frequency.

Southern California Edison just revealed critical details about their public-safety power shutoffs and the resources available to keep Carpinteria residents safe during outages.

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5 months ago

Carpinteria Unified board approves minutes, policies, donations, facilities repairs and names McGillivray Construction for Aliso TK/K project The Nov. 12 board meeting included votes to approve corrected minutes, adopt updated board policies, accept donations totaling approximately $171,900 (plus CEF site grants), approve the ELOP plan funded at $1,909,605, award softball repairs contracts totaling $13,738, adopt the annual developer fee report (Resolution 25942) and select McGillivray (

The Carpinteria Unified School District's recent board meeting brought in significant donations and new policies aimed at enhancing student programs and safety.

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