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News from the City of Carlsbad | April 17, 2025

Monday’s jolt served as a not-so-subtle reminder that we live in earthquake country. 

While I'm glad to report there was no major damage and no injuries, I thought this would be a good time to remind you of a few earthquake and emergency preparedness tips from our Fire Department. These simple tips can help ensure you’re ready for any emergencies that might come our way.

• Form a family emergency plan and go over it together.
• Assemble an emergency supply kit with what you’ll need for 72 to 96 hours.
• Register to receive emergency alerts to your cell phone from Alert San Diego.
• Download our emergency preparedness guide and review it regularly.

Once we confirmed all was well here in Carlsbad, we turned our attention back to something we’d been looking forward to: opening the new Stagecoach Community Garden. You can get a peek at the festivities in this video and learn more about the garden in today’s update. Here’s the full lineup:

• New community garden in south Carlsbad now open
• City to obtain coastal land near power plant site
• Plan ahead for temporary traffic delays on El Camino Real
• Beach sand project hours extended at Agua Hedionda Lagoon 
• Help plant trees at Stagecoach Park on Arbor Day 
• Community events and activities
• What’s on the agenda for your next City Council meeting

New community garden in south Carlsbad now open

Members of the City Council and community members celebrated National Gardening Day on Monday with a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Stagecoach Community Garden.

The community garden is the city’s first in south Carlsbad and fourth citywide, and features 35 raised planting beds designed to support healthy plant growth while conserving water. The garden also includes a shared picnic area, information kiosk, composting stations and tool storage area.

Watch this video for some highlights of the ribbon cutting ceremony and the garden. 

Adding more community gardens was identified as a top priority by residents when we gathered feedback to help with the recent update of our Parks & Recreation Master Plan. City staff saw an opportunity to address that need at Stagecoach Park by transforming what was previously used as a maintenance yard into the new community garden.



Whether at a community garden or at home, you can dig into gardening with some simple tips on our website and through the Carlsbad City Library’s Grow Your Garden Program.

City to obtain coastal land near power plant site 

On Tuesday, the City Council approved a new agreement with SDG&E and Cabrillo Power I LLC (the owners of the former power plant site) that will give the city six acres of coastal land including Cannon Park and the land next door, plus a lease and funding from SDG&E to help create the long-proposed Hub Park Trail system along the south shore of Agua Hedionda Lagoon. 

Background 

• The city has been negotiating with SDG&E and Cabrillo Power I LLC (a subsidiary of NRG Energy) since a 2014 agreement was established when NRG was seeking to build a new power plant in Carlsbad. The agreement included the removal of the old Encina Power Plant once it stopped operating. 
• As part of the 2014 deal, the city agreed to work with SDG&E to relocate its service yard currently on the property next to Cannon Park, freeing up that land for transfer to the city.  
• The new agreement approved on Tuesday will replace the original 2014 agreement and includes relocating the existing SDG&E service yard and administration building to the eastern portion of the existing SDG&E Service Center site, closer to the railroad tracks and away from the coastline. 

Below is a look at how the land at the corner of Carlsbad Boulevard and Cannon Road would be split once the agreement is complete.

As part of the new agreement the city will also get:

• 5.76 acres along the north shore of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon’s outer lagoon. 
• Ownership of the middle and inner Agua Hedionda Lagoon basins. The city currently has a lease agreement for the inner basin and previously had a lease agreement for the middle basin. 
• 10.2 acres of bluff land along the west side of Carlsbad Boulevard. 
• Ownership of the Carlsbad Boulevard and Cannon Road land in front of the SDG&E service center site and Cabrillo Power I’s property.  

SDG&E will also partner with the city to develop the Hub Park Trail system on the south shore of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon, including allowing parking and access to the trail system via an easement through SDG&E's Lot 11 property on the north side of Cannon Road near Legoland Drive and two existing pedestrian tunnels underneath Cannon Road.   

The areas in orange on the map below show the land the city would obtain, in addition to the middle and inner lagoon basins. 

Community benefits

How the land near Cannon Park will be used will be determined later, but some options could include a permanent location for Fire Station #7, ownership and possible expansion of Cannon Park and an area to provide parking for Cannon Park and beach visitors.  

Next steps

This is a complex settlement agreement and will require extensive review and approval from both the California Public Utilities Commission and California Coastal Commission. We expect the process will take between 3.5 and 7 years until the transfer of properties is completed. 

Plan ahead for temporary traffic delays on northbound El Camino Real 

Now that prep work is done, construction to widen a portion of northbound El Camino Real between College Avenue and Jackspar/Rancho Carlsbad Drive is anticipated to start next week.

Initial steps

• Crews will first set up concrete barriers to separate traffic from construction, a process that can take a couple of days.
• During that time, the two northbound lanes may temporarily be reduced to one lane.
• After the concrete barriers are in place, both northbound lanes will once again reopen during construction.

In the construction zone

• Speed limits will be temporarily reduced to 45 mph, so please slow down and watch for workers.
• Make sure to plan ahead and give yourself extra time to get where you need to go.
• Residents of the area will still be able to access their homes.

Biking northbound El Camino Real

• The bike lane in the area will be closed.
• Bicyclists are encouraged to detour to College Boulevard, Faraday Avenue, Camino Hills and Jackspar drives.

Work timeline

April 2025 to mid-2026*

Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

*Pending weather and other factors 

See other projects that might impact traffic 

Check the city’s construction map, which is updated weekly to help you avoid or minimize traffic delays and detours that often come with construction. The map only shows city projects. It doesn’t include construction projects by local utilities, private companies or other agencies.  

Beach sand project hours extended at Agua Hedionda Lagoon 

To make sure as much sand as possible ends up on Carlsbad beaches, dredging at Agua Hedionda Lagoon will take place over longer hours and on weekends during the next few weeks.

The extended hours will give Channelside Water Resources, which operates the Carlsbad desalination plant, more time to put sand on the beaches before Carlsbad’s busy summer season.

The dredging project takes place every two to four years to remove sand that builds up on the bottom of the outer lagoon basin. That sand is then used to replenish Carlsbad beaches. This year, up to 275,000 cubic yards of sand will be placed on local beaches from Pine Avenue to just north of Cannon Road.

• Work will take place daily, seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• The project started during weekdays in February and is expected to continue through the end of this month
• Noise from construction equipment can be expected
• Crews will direct beachgoers around active work areas as sand replenishment progresses along the beach
• Sidewalks along the seawall will remain open
• Work will conform to all related resource agency biological permits conditions and requirements

While this is not a city-led project, the City of Carlsbad is one of the permitting agencies. More details about the project can be found in the city-issued environmental document.

Help plant trees at Stagecoach Park on Arbor Day

The City of Carlsbad is celebrating Arbor Day on Saturday, April 26, by hosting a volunteer tree-planting event at Stagecoach Community Park.

This marks the 21st year that Carlsbad has been named a Tree City by the National Arbor Day Foundation. The honor recognizes the city’s commitment to tree care and urban forest sustainability.

Volunteer tree planting

Saturday, April 26

8:30 to 10:30 a.m. (registration starts at 8 a.m.)

Stagecoach Community Park

3420 Camino de los Coches

RSVP by April 24

• Volunteer registration begins at 8 a.m., followed by a tree planting demonstration.
• Check in at the Parks & Recreation table.
• Explore tree maintenance displays and information booths from event sponsors.
• Tools and snacks will be provided. Please wear work gloves, a hat, sunscreen and closed-toe shoes.
• Bring water to stay hydrated.
• Please park on the street along Camino de los Coches (not in the parking lots). 

Please email Irina in our Parks & Recreation Department with any questions.   

Community events and activities

Here are some City of Carlsbad events and activities coming up soon at our libraries, community centers and the Carlsbad Senior Center.

• Creative Crafting (adults 50+) – Friday, April 18, 1 to 3 p.m., Carlsbad Senior Center
• EGGstravaganza Spring Festival – Saturday, April 19, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Poinsettia Community Park
• Cinema Club, “Wicked!” Sing Along – Saturday, April 19, 1:30 to 6 p.m. (film begins at 3 p.m.), Dove Library. Seating is limited. Free tickets will be distributed to the first 200 guests starting at 2 p.m.
• Reel Wednesday, “In the Time of Butterflies" – Wednesday, April 23, showings at 4 and 7 p.m., Dove Library
• Saturdays in the Courtyard – VeDanza Dance Studio and Ruben V. and & Latin Sounds – Saturday, April 26, 4:30 to 6 p.m., Dove Library

Find more activities and information in our city calendar, the Senior Center’s Seaside Insider newsletter and our Spring Community Services Guide.

What's on the agenda for your next City Council meeting

The next City Council meeting is Tuesday, April 22, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Topics include:

• Authorizing bidding on a project to upgrade sewer access holes in the Ponto area 
• Scheduling a public hearing to close out the former Carlsbad Tourism Business Improvement District which was replaced by a new district in 2023
• Buying a housing unit originally sold by a developer as affordable housing so it remains designated as affordable housing. It can then be resold to an eligible lower-income buyer as part of the city’s efforts to increase the amount of affordable housing in Carlsbad.
• The city’s annual Growth Management Plan Monitoring Report, which includes an analysis of development activity and the adequacy of public facilities and improvements
• Adjusting water, recycled water and sewer rates to keep up with the costs of providing these services
• An update on the city’s Information Technology efforts to modernize and streamline processes
• Changing the Beach Preservation Commission to the Environmental Sustainability Commission

The agenda and staff reports are available on the city’s website.

3 easy ways to participate

1. Sign up to get agendas and staff reports emailed to you directly
2. Provide feedback via email before the meeting 
3. Sign up to speak at the meeting

… and 3 ways to watch

1. Follow the meeting live on the city's website 
2. Watch the meeting live on the city’s cable channel: Spectrum channel 24 or AT&T U-verse channel 99
3. Watch a recording of the meeting afterward (online or on our channel)

Board and commission meetings are also livestreamed on the city’s website and available to watch afterward. You can see the meeting schedule on our city calendar.

Have a great weekend and I’ll be back next Thursday with more city news.

Geoff Patnoe

City Manager