Carpentaria City Council Denies Arredondo's Appeal on Cultural Resource Monitoring Requirements

The Carpinteria Special City Council meeting held on July 15, 2025, focused on significant discussions regarding cultural resource monitoring related to a development project. The primary issue addressed was an appeal by Mr. Arredondo, who raised concerns about the requirement for cultural resource monitors to be affiliated with the San Inés Chumash tribe.

City officials clarified that there was a misunderstanding regarding the Environmental Impact Report (EIR). They explained that while the San Ynez Band of Chumash requested a tribal representative for monitoring, the EIR does not mandate that the monitor be from a specific tribe. Instead, it states that monitoring should be conducted under the supervision of a county-approved archaeologist and a Native American representative who meets professional standards.

Additionally, Chevron, the developer, has agreed to include extra monitors as part of the cultural resources monitoring plan. This plan allows advising tribes to hire monitors of their choosing, provided they meet the necessary qualifications. The city emphasized that there is no requirement for the monitor to be a member of any particular tribe.

The council also discussed the process for selecting advising tribes under the AB 52 consultation framework. This process involves a defined consultation protocol that requires jurisdictions to maintain a list of recognized Native American tribes interested in participating in cultural resource discussions. The city sent out consultation letters to tribes once the project application was deemed complete. Mr. Arredondo was not included in this process as he had not requested participation earlier.

Despite this, the city offered Mr. Arredondo an opportunity to provide input on the EIR outside the formal AB 52 consultation, which he accepted. The council noted that several tribes were involved in discussions regarding the cultural mitigation plan, although only one tribe participated in the AB 52 process.

In conclusion, the council recommended adopting a resolution to deny Mr. Arredondo's appeal and approve the development plan and coastal development permit, certifying the EIR as previously approved by the planning commission. The meeting underscored the city's commitment to addressing cultural resource concerns while moving forward with the development project.