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April 21, 2022
We have had a busy week here at the city, with two City Council meetings, the graduation of our first Citizens Academy class since pre-COVID and gathering input on public art. I’ll cover all that and more in today’s update.
City Council meeting recap
Here are some highlights from Tuesday’s regular City Council meeting.

  • The City Council adopted the ordinance we introduced at the last meeting to phase out single use plastics at restaurants and other food establishments. 
  • The first part goes into effect in June and will require food establishments to provide plastic cutlery, condiment packets and straws only upon request.
  • This is just one of several new environmental initiatives the City Council has approved recently. We’ll be sharing more about these programs in the coming weeks and months.
  • The goal is to phase these changes in over time, and make sure those affecting small businesses are coupled with ample notice and outreach from the city.

New police equipment use policy
The City Council approved an update to the Carlsbad Municipal Code (our local laws) to comply with a new state law having to do with certain vehicles and equipment used by law enforcement.
 
Why?
  • Today’s police departments use a wide range of equipment to protect public safety. Much of this equipment is also used by the military.
  • A new state law requires law enforcement agencies to obtain their governing body’s approval of a policy regarding the use of this equipment and to provide information about its use to the public.
  • You can read more about this new law and get additional details in the staff report.
 
Climate Action Plan progress
  • The City of Carlsbad is on track to achieve the goals outlined in its Climate Action Plan, including meeting statewide greenhouse gas emission targets by 2035.
  • The city has already surpassed the plan’s 2020 target, which was to reduce greenhouse gases 4% below 2012 levels.
  • On Tuesday, the City Council heard an update on measures and activities the city conducted in 2021 toward meeting its action plan goals. 
  • In 2015, the City of Carlsbad was one of the first cities in the county to adopt a qualified Climate Action Plan.
  • The city is now in the process of updating the plan, and you can provide input now or once the new draft is ready for review.
 

Carlsbad recognized as a Tree City USA
Finally, the City Council presented a proclamation recognizing Carlsbad as a Tree City USA for the 18th consecutive year.
 
This designation is made by the national Arbor Day Foundation, reflecting the city’s ongoing commitment to protecting and preserving trees as vital to the community’s well-being.
 
Our Community Forest Management Plan is one of many ways Carlsbad promotes expanding our “urban canopy,” (a term referring to the percent of cover trees provide in a city). If you’re into trees, it’s actually pretty interesting reading, including detailed descriptions of the different kinds of trees the city has chosen for our parks and medians and why.
 
Get a free tree
If you live in a home that has space between the sidewalk and the street (called the right of way), you could qualify for a free tree. This is another way we are reaching our goal of planting more trees in Carlsbad. Someone from our Parks & Recreation Department will assess your site and, if approved, recommend the right tree for the conditions.
 
Call Stephanie Smith, 760-696-0598 or email stephanie.smith@carlsbadca.gov for more info.
City Council special meeting recap
The City Council held a special meeting Wednesday to talk about city finances and major projects planned for the next five years.
 
Sustaining our financial health
Carlsbad is reaching a stage of life when the pace of growth is changing, as are traditional sources of revenue, like building fees. At the same time, we have billions of dollars’ worth of infrastructure that is aging and needs to be maintained along with more people using our services.
 
At Wednesday’s meeting, the City Council talked about the city’s financial status and a study conducted recently to see what the public thinks about different options to raise new revenue.

  • Carlsbad has been able to maintain strong financial health by planning ahead and using data to make informed decisions.
  • One tool used by the city’s Finance Department is a 10-year forecast of planned spending and expected revenues. This provides a very early warning sign if adjustments are needed in the future.
  • During the presentation of the annual budget in 2021, staff identified a potential gap in funding in fiscal year 2025-26. At that time, city staff recommended, and the City Council approved, a study of potential new revenue sources.
 
After hearing detailed updates about our current financial status, the latest projections and the results of the revenue study, the City Council took no action.
 
It’s never easy to talk about finances, especially the tradeoffs that are often required as a city ages (did you know this year is Carlsbad’s 70th birthday?). One of many reasons we have been able to maintain strong financial health all these years is that our City Council is willing to have these kinds of candid conversations. We’ll talk more about the budget next week and in May when the preliminary annual budget is presented to the City Council.
 
Upcoming major projects

  • Also at Wednesday’s special meeting, the City Council began discussing all the major “capital” projects planned for the next five years. 
  • Capital Improvement Projects typically refer to those that involve building or improving property or a major city asset, like water pipes.
  • This conversation will continue at special meeting next Tuesday, April 26, starting at noon.
 
You can see the list of projects they’ll be discussing in the staff report (they are not going over projects like sewer improvements and other infrastructure projects, although there is a list of those in the staff report too). At this time, all of the projects on the list (55 in all) are approved and moving forward. The City Council will decide if they want to make any changes to the list so we can have that information in time for the presentation of the draft budget in May.
New pedestrian bridge installed
If you noticed some commotion around El Camino Real and Cannon Road last Friday, it was the installation of a new pedestrian bridge across Agua Hedionda Creek. Watch the video
 
This is part of several improvements the city is making to this key intersection to make travel flow more smoothly and to make it safer and more inviting for walkers and bicyclists:

  • The new 120-foot, 47,000-lb steel bridge was built off-site in South Carolina and shipped to Carlsbad earlier this month.
  • Now that the new bridge is in, a short wall will be built along the sidewalk, and overhead poles owned by SDG&E will be removed. A new wider sidewalk on the east side of El Camino Real and new landscaping are also in the works.
  • The Phase 1 work is expected to be totally complete by late spring.
  • This summer, work will begin on the Phase 2, which will realign the median and re-stripe northbound El Camino Real to provide a third northbound lane near the intersection.
  • It will also include an enhanced dedicated bike lane heading northbound. Existing left- and right-turn lanes onto westbound and eastbound Cannon will remain.
  • Phase 2 work is expected to wrap up by this fall.
 
Once complete, that will mark the end of the nearly $4 million project to enhance the intersection that began in April 2021. Please continue to drive carefully through the area during this final phase of work and take alternate routes, when possible, to help ease traffic.
Fire Station 2 artwork design
Meet artist Mary Carter Taub and learn about the proposed artwork being designed for the new Fire Station 2 at two events April 30 or online.
 
Your feedback will help the artist finalize the artwork design so it can proceed through the formal review and approval process.
 
           Saturday, April 30
           10-11:30 a.m., Children’s Garden at Dove Library
           2-4 p.m., Batiquitos Lagoon Nature Center, 6880 Gabbiano Lane
 
As part of the city’s commitment to arts and culture, money is set aside to incorporate art into most major city projects. Artists are selected through a community-based process to bring a wide variety of artistic perspectives and styles to our city.
 
Speaking of Fire Station 2, construction is progressing well, and the station is on track to be completed this fall. Earlier this week, the Fire Department did a fit test of our largest piece of firefighting equipment – a 68-foot ladder truck. And, yes, it fit perfectly. To put this in perspective, the old station’s garage was a mere 35 feet deep.
Support old California history
If you’ve ever been to Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park, you know what a special place it is. If you haven’t, I strongly encourage a visit as soon as possible. There really isn’t anything else quite like it in our region.
 
The Friends of Carrillo Ranch raise money to help with the restoration, preservation and promotion of this slice of old California history. After a two-year break, they are bringing back their popular Fiesta at the Rancho fundraiser Saturday, May 14 at 5:30 p.m. The proceeds from the dinner and silent auction allow over 1,200 local fourth grade students in Carlsbad participate in the award-winning California History and Art Program each year. 
 
Get involved: Upcoming meetings
The next regular City Council meeting will be Tuesday, May 10, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council chamber (note two special City Council meetings are planned for next week).
 
Here is the full list of public meetings:
 
  • April 25, 3 p.m. – Village & Barrio Design Review Committee (read more about this new committee and what it will be doing)
  • April 26, 12 p.m. – City Council Special Meeting (this is the one I mentioned earlier)
  • April 26, 2 p.m. – Joint Meeting: City Council, Planning Commission, Housing Commission (This will be a very interesting and important discussion about new housing laws and how they affect our city)
  • April 27, 4 p.m. – Library Board of Trustees
  • April 28, 5 p.m. – Growth Management Citizens Committee (another very important effort having to do with how we will maintain Carlsbad’s excellent quality of life in the future)
  • April 29, 9 a.m. – Legislative Subcommittee 
Saying goodbye to a colleague
In Carlsbad, the City Council appoints two employees only, the City Attorney and me. City Managers and City Attorneys must work very closely together, each in our own way, helping to make sure the City Council’s policy priorities are achieved.
 
I have had the privilege of working alongside City Attorney Celia Brewer ever since I came to Carlsbad four + years ago. Celia has been so much more than just a talented and hard-working City Attorney, she has also been my partner and my friend.
 
That’s why is it was with very mixed emotions that I announced earlier today that she has decided to retire. You can read more about Celia, including her reasons for an early retirement, on the city’s website.
 
On behalf of the entire city organization, I wish her all the best and many healthy years ahead.
 
I know that was a lot for one update. Thanks for hanging in there (if you made it this far).
 
Have a great weekend! And if you know others who would like to get this newsletter, please send them this link to sign up.
 
 
Scott Chadwick
CarlsbadConnects app is an easy way to report things that need repair or attention around town, like potholes, sidewalk cracks, traffic light outages, graffiti and code enforcement issues.

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