Carpinteria council accepts $800,000 county grant to advance bluffs improvements, leaves acquisition option open

The Carpinteria City Council voted Jan. 12 to authorize the city manager to execute a funding agreement with Santa Barbara County that provides up to $800,000 for improvements to the Carpinteria Bluffs, including maintenance, trail development and stewardship.

City staff said the funding will be paid on a reimbursement basis and may be disbursed in installments of up to $200,000 per year; all work funded under the agreement must be completed by June 30, 2029. Staff told the council the money is limited to bluffs‑related uses and that the city will coordinate project work with the Carpinteria Open Space Management Advisory Board (COSMAB).

“I'll be turning to COSMAB and the community as these projects come forward,” staff said in the presentation. The staff report lists a range of eligible activities and notes acquisition is a permissible use if parcels are available.

Public commenters and several council members pressed staff to prioritize acquisition if any relevant parcels — including parts of the so‑called Tea Time property discussed previously by the public — become available. “This $800,000 was seed funding to support the eventual fundraising effort to purchase the property for the public,” a resident said, urging the council to preserve acquisition as an option.

Council members also asked how the city will track and report spending; staff said reimbursable expenditures above established contract thresholds will return to the council for authorization and that regular updates will be provided to COSMAB and in city manager reports.

The motion to authorize the agreement passed on a roll‑call vote with all members present voting yes.