Carpinteria meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Carpinteria City Council to vote on $719,640 landscape contract; no decisions last week

No decisions were made at Carpinteria's public meetings in the past week, as both the City Council and Architectural Review Board cancelled their sessions. The most consequential action ahead is the City Council's Aug. 24 vote on a $719,640 landscape maintenance contract.

Recent meetings

City Council

The regular City Council meeting scheduled for Aug. 10 was cancelled. The next regular meeting is Aug. 24.

Architectural Review Board

The Architectural Review Board meeting scheduled for Aug. 13 was cancelled due to lack of business. The next regular meeting is Aug. 27.

Public Engagement Committee

On Aug. 10, the committee held a special meeting to review a digital outreach report covering April through June 2026 and to plan the State of the City/Local Address & Town Hall event. Committee members also presented future projects and events. A second special meeting with the same agenda was held Aug. 11. Both meetings were agenda-only; minutes have not yet been published.

Open Space Management Advisory Board

On Aug. 20, the board met to approve minutes from the July 23 meeting and discuss status updates on the Rincon Gateway, Bluffs II, and Bluffs III/Rincon Bluffs projects. The board also reviewed ongoing action items, including a Showscapes field guide and a map of the Bluffs. It noted that the Farmer Parcel naming is scheduled for the City Council on Aug. 24.

Coming up

City Council – Aug. 24

The council will hold a regular meeting starting with a closed session on anticipated litigation. The consent calendar includes:

• Purchase of 30 trash receptacles from Forms+Surfaces for $85,749.21
• Landscape maintenance agreement with Showscapes Inc. for $719,640
• Amendment to the Dudek agreement for the Rincon Multi-Use Trail CEQA, total $252,818
• Resolution to name City-owned property (APN 001-180-062) the Vera Bensen Bioswale
• Proclamations for the California Coastal Act 50th anniversary and Senior Citizens Day

Architectural Review Board – Aug. 27

The board will conduct a conceptual review of a proposal to subdivide a 19,098-square-foot lot at 5533 Callejon Drive into two lots (12,097 sq ft and 7,001 sq ft), remodel the existing 4,133 sq ft two-story residence, and build a new 2,800 sq ft two-story residence on the proposed 7,001 sq ft lot. The board will also consider approving minutes from the Feb. 12 and July 16 meetings.

Library Advisory Commission – rescheduled to Sept. 21

The regular meeting originally set for Sept. 7 has been moved to Sept. 21 at 3:30 pm at the Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Avenue, due to the Labor Day holiday. No other business items are listed.

Carpinteria boards consider housing conversion, fire fees, and trail work

Over the past two weeks, Carpinteria's City Council, Planning Commission, and other advisory boards met to consider a range of items, including a proposed mixed-use housing conversion, fire protection fees, and a trail project amendment. Minutes from these meetings have not yet been published, so no official decisions are available.

City Council

The City Council held a public hearing on July 27 for the annual review of the Fire Protection Mitigation Fee Program. The council also considered Resolution No. 6487 to vacate a portion of Olive Avenue, and Resolution No. 6489 establishing a Public Artwork Policy. In addition, the council reviewed Amendment No. 3 for the Rincon Multi-Use Trail Project with Bengal Engineering, Inc., not to exceed $122,077, and a closeout agreement for the Linden Avenue Improvements Project with Toro Enterprises, Inc.

On July 28, the council held a special retreat to discuss governance principles and strategic planning for the FY 27-29 period. The agenda included a review of the previous strategic plan process, a fiscal and operational framework, and framing the new strategic plan.

Planning Commission

The Planning Commission held a public hearing on August 3 for Project #26-2404-CON, a proposal to convert two office buildings at 6185 Carpinteria Avenue into 20 live-work units and 11 housing units. The commission also approved meeting minutes from May 4 and June 1, 2026, and reviewed Architectural Review Board action minutes from January 29 and March 12, 2026, along with monthly activity and building permit reports.

Library Advisory Committee

The Library Advisory Committee met on August 3 to discuss its Strategic Plan. The committee received reports from City Librarian Eric Castro, First District Supervisor Daisy Weber, and the Friends of the Carpinteria Library.

Downtown T Business Advisory Board

On August 6, the Downtown T Business Advisory Board discussed planning for the 2026-2027 Holiday Lights Program. The board also received updates on the Downtown T map project, including a proposed large-format map installation at 5th Street and Linden Avenue, and on consolidating City Business License and Property-Based Improvement Area (PBIA) annual assessment fee billing. Staff provided an update on pending business permit applications and new business activity within the Downtown T.

Cancellations

The Architectural Review Board cancelled its July 30 meeting due to a lack of business. Its next regular meeting is scheduled for August 13, but that meeting has also been cancelled for the same reason; the following regular meeting is set for August 27.

Coming up

• **Public Engagement Committee** – Special meeting on August 10 to review a digital outreach report (April–June 2026), plan the State of the City/Local Address & Town Hall event, and discuss future projects and events. Public comment is available in person or in writing.
• **City Council** – The regular meeting scheduled for August 10 has been cancelled. The next regular meeting is August 24.
• **Architectural Review Board** – The August 13 meeting is cancelled; next regular meeting is August 27.

Carpinteria boards set Rincon trail funding, Olive Avenue vacation, and public art policy for review; outcomes pending

Most Carpinteria advisory and council bodies met in the last two weeks, but minutes have not yet been published for any of the sessions. The summaries below reflect what each agenda listed for consideration; the city's official records will confirm what was actually decided.

Open Space board: $5,947 for Rincon Gateway Acquisition

The Carpinteria Open Space Management Advisory Board met July 23 with an agenda that included approving $5,947 to cover escrow fees and a title policy for the Rincon Gateway Acquisition. The board was also scheduled to adopt minutes from its June 18, 2026 meeting, receive an update on the Bluffs II project, and discuss preparing a one-page field guide for Showscapes and a map of the Bluffs, both targeted for October. Additional listed items were vegetation management at the Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve parking lot and a pending management plan.

City Council: fire fees, Olive Avenue vacation, trail amendment, and public art

The City Council had a July 27 agenda that included a public hearing on the annual review of the Fire Protection Mitigation Fee Program. The council was scheduled to consider Resolution No. 6487 to vacate a portion of Olive Avenue and Amendment No. 3 for the Rincon Multi-Use Trail Project with Bengal Engineering, Inc., not to exceed $122,077. Also listed were Resolution No. 6489 establishing a Public Artwork Policy, a community outreach plan for a display at the Community Plaza on Linden Avenue, and a Closeout Agreement for the Linden Avenue Improvements Project with Toro Enterprises, Inc.

City Council retreat: FY 27-29 strategic planning

On July 28, the council held a special retreat to discuss governance norms, values, and principles, along with a strategic plan process audit and expectations for fiscal years 27-29. The agenda listed framing of the fiscal and operational framework and the FY 27-29 Strategic Plan.

Finance Committee: June report and budget prioritization

The Finance Committee met July 23 to review the preliminary Monthly Finance Report for June 2026 and to hold a discussion on budget prioritization and program review.

Architectural Review Board: July 30 meeting cancelled

The Architectural Review Board meeting scheduled for July 30, 2026 was cancelled due to a lack of business. The next regular meeting is set for August 13, 2026.

Coming up

• **Aug. 3 — Library Advisory Committee:** Scheduled to approve July 6, 2026 minutes, discuss the Strategic Plan, and hear reports from City Librarian Eric Castro and First District Supervisor Daisy Weber, plus the Friends of the Carpinteria Library.
• **Aug. 3 — Planning Commission:** Public hearing for Project # 26-2404-CON, a conceptual review of converting two office buildings at 6185 Carpinteria Avenue into 20 live-work units and 11 housing units. The commission will also approve May 4 and June 1, 2026 minutes, review Architectural Review Board action minutes from January 29 and March 12, 2026, and review the July Planning Activity Report and July Building Permit Report.
• **Aug. 10 — City Council:** Regular meeting cancelled. The next regular meeting is August 24, 2026.

Because all recent meetings are listed as agenda-only with minutes not yet published, residents should check the city's official agendas and minutes for confirmed outcomes and vote tallies.

Carpinteria council set to review 31-unit housing conversion at 6185 Carpinteria Avenue; boards weigh dog park, open-space funds

Carpinteria's City Council is scheduled to take a conceptual look at a proposal to convert an office building at 6185 Carpinteria Avenue into 20 live-work units and 11 housing units, the most substantial item on a busy two-week stretch of local government agendas. Because minutes have not yet been published for the meetings below, the items reflect what was scheduled for discussion or action, not confirmed outcomes.

City Council — July 13

The council agenda lists a conceptual review of the adaptive reuse project (Project 26-2404-CON) at 6185 Carpinteria Avenue. Also scheduled: consideration of Resolution No. 6485 to adjust the 2026 affordable housing in-lieu fee for single-family dwellings based on 2025 home sales prices; authorization of a first amendment to the landscape maintenance agreement with Showscapes, Inc. (dba Treescapes), not to exceed $111,250; a request from the Lions Club of Carpinteria to waive rental and associated fees for use of the Veterans Memorial Building, Veterans Hall; and an appointment to the Architectural Review Board via Resolution No. 6486.

City Council — July 15 (closed session)

A separate council meeting was set for a closed session to discuss one case of anticipated litigation, with a report on the closed session proceedings to follow. Written comments were due by 12:00 p.m.

Architectural Review Board — July 16

The board was scheduled to conduct preliminary reviews of two projects: a 15,044 sq ft off-leash dog park at Monte Vista Park on Bailard Avenue, which would replace temporary fencing, and a 475 sq ft addition and comprehensive remodel of a 1,816 sq ft residence at 5398 El Carro Lane, including demolition of an unpermitted 168 sq ft covered patio. The board also planned to approve minutes from its January 29, February 12, and March 12, 2026 meetings.

Finance Committee — July 9

A special meeting was set to receive an audit update, review the May 2026 monthly finance report, and discuss a potential county pavement project. No dollar amount or location was specified for the pavement discussion, and no decisions were listed on the agenda.

Economic Vitality Committee — July 15

The committee scheduled two discussion items: a presentation from the Carpinteria Immigrant Rights Coalition on a business survey regarding immigration concerns, and a discussion with the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce on an economic development proposal. No formal decisions were scheduled.

Library Advisory Committee — July 6

The committee was set to receive a budget update from Jeanette Gant, Carpinteria Parks & Recreation Director; discuss a strategic plan; and hear reports from Fred Shaw (Friends of the Carpinteria Library), Glynn Birdwell (County Library Advisory Committee), and City Librarian Eric Castro. Approval of May and June 2026 minutes was also on the agenda.

Planning Commission — July 6

The July 6 Planning Commission meeting was cancelled due to a lack of business.

Coming up

• **July 23 — Carpinteria Open Space Management Advisory Board:** The board is scheduled to approve $5,947 for escrow fees and title policy for the Rincon Gateway Acquisition, adopt June 18, 2026 minutes, and receive updates on Bluffs II and related projects including a Showscapes field guide and a Bluffs map.