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Council directs staff to estimate cost of consultant and coastal-permit pathway after Harbor Seal Advisory Committee recommends three-year rookery closure
Summary
Following months of advisory committee work and public comment, council voted to receive and file the Harbor Seal Advisory Committee report and to ask staff to seek an estimate for consultant costs to pursue a coastal development permit that could enable a temporary three-year closure at the Carpinteria rookery.
Carpinteria City Council on Feb. 3 received the final recommendations of the 2024 ad hoc Harbor Seal Advisory Committee (HSAC) and, by majority vote, directed staff to seek an estimate for consultant costs to assemble a coastal development permit application and to evaluate a potential three-year closure of the city’s rookery area east of Carpinteria Pier.
What the committee recommended: HSAC reviewed decades of volunteer SealWatch counts and other data and considered a range of possible actions including new signage, docent training, and a temporary beach closure. By majority vote the committee recommended a time-limited three-year closure of the rookery to reduce disturbances and collect monitoring data to evaluate effectiveness. HSAC also completed outreach steps in 2024 including digitizing SealWatch logs, deploying NOAA signage, surveying volunteers and creating a web page with legal and educational information.
Staff and Coastal Commission guidance: city staff said Coastal Commission staff previously advised that Carpinteria’s situation does not fit an emergency coastal permitting pathway and directed the city to follow the Coastal Commission’s development-permit process — a route used by the City of San Diego for a La Jolla closure. City staff reported that San Diego’s permit required extensive monitoring, two dedicated ranger positions stationed daily at the closure site and a heavy workload for city staff and consultants. Staff estimated roughly $380,000 per year in full-cost staff time if the city were to support two full-time rangers and senior planner time.
Public comment and committee views: public comment was extensive and sharply divided. SealWatch volunteers, wildlife researchers and local conservation groups urged swift action and favored a multi-year closure and expanded monitoring; several speakers cited scientific literature and examples from other California rookeries. Others — including some residents and business representatives — urged caution on the grounds of cost, enforceability and the need for more targeted data. Several speakers offered to form fundraising or volunteer partnerships to help cover consultant or enforcement costs.
Council action: after staff and HSAC presentations and extended public comment, the council moved to receive and file the HSAC report and directed staff to obtain an estimate for consultant costs and what would be required to pursue a coastal development permit and a three-year closure. The motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.
Next steps and timeline: staff said the Coastal Commission review and any permit effort could require specialized consultants and a significant staff workload; the council directed staff to return with cost estimates and to work with community groups. Councilmembers and staff stressed a desire to pursue the process in a way that will succeed with the Coastal Commission and recommended community fundraising or partnering to reduce city budget impacts.
