Council approves bridge consultant amendment, midyear budget changes and accepts housing progress report; ballots set for two benefit districts

The Carpinteria City Council on March 9 approved a set of administrative and budget actions and set the schedule to count weighted protest ballots on two proposed benefit-assessment districts.

The council authorized a consultant contract amendment to continue right-of-way and design work on the Carpinteria Avenue bridge replacement project, approved midyear budget adjustments and position authorizations, and accepted the city’s annual housing element progress report for submittal to state agencies.

Why it matters: the consultant authorization moves a major capital project forward while preserving previously budgeted funding; the budget amendments adjust reserves and realign revenues and expenses mid-year; accepting the housing progress report keeps the city in compliance with state reporting so the city keeps its certified housing element status.

Contract approval: council authorized the city manager to sign an amendment with the bridge design consultant (listed in the staff report as Duberry/Duberri/Duperry — contract language uses the consultant’s legal name) for additional right-of-way work and related…