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News from the City of Carlsbad | Aug. 27, 2026

It’s been a hot few days in Carlsbad, with a heat advisory in effect through Friday. If you need to cool off, you can visit our air-conditioned Carlsbad City Library on Dove Lane. Our website has more tips to help you stay safe in the heat.

The final days of August are here, and we’re looking ahead to September, which happens to be Emergency Preparedness Month. In this week’s update, I’ll highlight how we’re partnering with our community to prepare for emergencies, what you can do to be ready and our ongoing work to reduce wildfire risk.

Here’s the full lineup:

• Emergency preparedness is a community partnership
• Experience what it’s like to work in public safety
• Beach stairs project resuming soon
• Thank you for a TGIF season to remember
• City earns award for financial reporting
• Apply to serve on a city commission
• Upcoming events and activities
• State of the City presentation kicks off next City Council meeting

Emergency preparedness is a community partnership

Our Carlsbad Police and Fire Department personnel stand ready to respond if an emergency comes our way, but safety and emergency preparedness are stronger when we partner with the community. With September being National Preparedness Month, I want to highlight our CERT volunteers, who play an important role in our emergency response. CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Team.

• Each year, dozens of Carlsbad community members go through our annual CERT Academy.
• Over five sessions, participants receive hands-on training in emergency preparedness, disaster medical operations, first aid, fire extinguisher use, emergency radio communications, search and rescue, and terrorism awareness and prevention.
• This year’s academy recently concluded with a full day of practical exercises and a graduation ceremony at Carlsbad Fire Station 5. We added 32 new CERT volunteers in 2026, bringing the total to approximately 250 across the city.

How the city is staying prepared

At the same time, the city continues to be proactive in emergency preparedness. Since 2025, we have invested more than $1.4 million in wildfire mitigation, including brush management and fuel reduction in our preserves and city-owned urban forests such as Hosp Grove, as well as vegetation management and invasive species removal.

• Carlsbad Fire, in collaboration with Environmental Sustainability’s Habitat Management team and Parks & Recreation, developed a Community Risk Analysis to guide our efforts to better protect lives, property and the natural environment while meeting state and federal requirements.
• This year, we’re taking it a step further by developing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan. This effort will bring together a wide range of experts and community partners to identify practical strategies that improve defensible space, reduce wildfire risk and strengthen community resilience.

The Community Wildfire Protection Plan will also build upon the key components of our Community Risk Analysis to create a comprehensive Wildfire Mitigation Plan that provides a coordinated roadmap for reducing wildfire risk and protecting our community into the future.

Tips for staying prepared

Even if you can't be a CERT volunteer, there is still plenty you can do to prepare for an emergency. Community members are our first line of detection, notification and prevention. If you see something, say something. Call 911 in an emergency or our non-emergency line at 442-339-2197.

In the meantime, preparedness starts with three steps:

1. Build an emergency kit with a three-day supply of water, non-perishable food, clothes and other essentials.
2. Have a family disaster plan that designates an out-of-town friend or relative as a family contact and includes alternate routes out of your neighborhood.
3. Sign up for emergency alerts. Add your mobile devices and email addresses to Alert San Diego. Visit the Genasys Protect website or download the app to find your zone and subscribe to location-specific guidance during emergencies.

You can find emergency preparedness information and links to our alert systems at carlsbadca.gov/prepare.

Experience what it’s like to work in public safety

While we’re talking about keeping our community safe, the City of Carlsbad is now accepting applications for a program that gives young people interested in a career in public safety a glimpse of what it’s like to work for the Fire Department.

• The Carlsbad Fire Department Explorer Program is for Carlsbad residents15 to 20 years old who want to go behind the scenes to learn about daily life and career opportunities in fire and Emergency Medical Services roles.
• This volunteer program emphasizes character building, leadership, community service and physical fitness.
• Explorers will learn about Fire Department equipment, policies and procedures, and will participate in firefighting training scenarios and fire station ride-alongs.

Applications will be accepted online through Sept. 14 at 5 p.m. The academy will take place in February 2027.

Beach stairs project resuming soon

Construction on the city’s beach stair replacement and sidewalk widening project will resume next month as planned. The city paused the work over the summer to allow residents and visitors to enjoy the newly widened sidewalk along Carlsbad Boulevard between Pine and Tamarack avenues.

• Crews are replacing the upper beach stairs and installing new concrete components to support the upgraded stairways and widened sidewalk. After decades of exposure to sea air, these improvements are long overdue.
• In some areas, concrete had chipped away, exposing rebar, with visible corrosion and soil erosion around portions of the foundation.
• These upgrades will address those issues while enhancing safety, improving accessibility and creating a better overall coastal experience for residents and visitors.

The next phase of the project will begin with wrapping up the installation of new stairs and railings at Cherry and Hemlock avenues. Once those are done, work will begin to replace the stairs at Maple and Sycamore avenues.

• During construction, traffic in the work area will be reduced to one lane in each direction on Carlsbad Boulevard.
• Portions of the upper sidewalk will be closed. At least two beach stairways between Tamarack and Pine avenues will remain open throughout the project.
• The grass area south of Hemlock Avenue will also remain open for public use.

The project remains on schedule for completion by summer 2027. 

Thank you for your patience as we continue investing in safe, durable and accessible coastal infrastructure.

Thank you for a TGIF season to remember

Another massively successful TGIF summer concert series is in the books! Thank you to the community members, bands, city staff and volunteers who brought TGIF to life. We welcomed 23,757 attendees to nine concerts at three city parks this summer.

There’s nothing quite like seeing thousands of friends, family members and neighbors gathered together to enjoy live music at our beautiful parks. We look forward to it every year and are already counting down the days to the next season – 295 days until June 18, 2027. 

Until then, here are a few highlights from this memorable season. 

Sponsors who helped make it all possible

We’d like to take a moment to thank the sponsors that helped the city offset the cost of providing this beloved concert experience.

• Opener sponsor – The Op Games
• Bike valet sponsor – H.G. Fenton, Tower24 Ponto Beach 
• Up-and-comer sponsors – Beach Genie, Crispý Cones, Gyminny Kids La Costa 
• Pop-up art and activities sponsor – Carlsbad Library & Arts Foundation
• Raffle fundraiser sponsor – Carlsbad Friends of the Arts

City earns award for financial reporting 

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada recently notified the City of Carlsbad that our fiscal year 2024-25 annual financial report earned the Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 36th time, and the 29th year in a row.

• The award is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting.
• You can think of it sort of like a corporate financial report.
• Preparing this report includes an independent audit, the results of which are also included in the report.

Learn more about city finances.

City’s Investment Policy certified

And while we’re talking about city finances, the California Municipal Treasurers Association has officially certified the city’s Investment Policy. The Investment Policy Certification recognizes that the association has validated that the City of Carlsbad’s Investment Policy adheres with the State of California Government Code and meets the program requirements in 18 different topics deemed to be best practices for investment policies.

Earning this certification speaks volumes to the fiscal stewardship of the City Council, City Treasurer and staff by ensuring residents' tax dollars are managed safely and in compliance with state law. 

Apply to serve on a city commission

If you want to get involved and make a difference in our community, the city is now accepting applications for five scheduled vacancies on our Agriculture Conversion Mitigation Fee Citizens Advisory Committee. 

This committee reviews grant applications and recommends funding for agricultural, coastal and wetland restoration projects using available developer mitigation fees.

Applicants must be Carlsbad residents who are registered to vote in the city. You can apply online or pick up an application in the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive.

Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee Citizens Advisory Committee

Five vacancies

Meetings: As needed, at least one per year

Deadline to apply: Wednesday, Sept. 9 at noon

Upcoming events and activities

Here are some of the events and activities happening soon at our city libraries, community centers and the Carlsbad Senior Center:

• End of Summer Bash – Friday, Aug. 28, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Carlsbad Senior Center (indoors)
• Community Friendship Builders – Friday, Aug. 28, 11 a.m. to noon, Carlsbad Senior Center
• Cinema Club Friday: “The Talented Mr. Ripley” – Friday, Aug. 28, 4 and 7 p.m., Dove Library
• Author event: Tess Gerritsen – Monday, Aug. 31, noon to 1:30 p.m., Dove Library
• Reel Wednesday: “Same Time Next Year” – Wednesday, Sept. 2, 4 and 7 p.m., Dove Library 
• Hispanic Heritage Festival – Saturday, Sept. 5, 1 to 4 p.m., Library Learning Center 

State of the City presentation kicks off next City Council meeting

The City of Carlsbad’s annual State of the City presentation will kick off the next City Council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive.

After the State of the City presentation, the City Council will address the following topics:

• A monthly report on how the city’s investments are performing
• Amending an agreement for a project to update the system the city uses for functions such as finance, human resources and timekeeping
• Accepting the Fiscal Year 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant
• Amending an agreement for updating the city’s Drainage Master Plan
• The work plan and annual report for the city’s Housing Commission

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

Three easy ways to participate

1. Sign up to get agendas and staff reports emailed to you directly
2. Provide feedback via email to clerk@carlsbadca.gov by 2 p.m. the day of the meeting 
3. Sign up to speak at the meeting or comment virtually

… and three 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)

The city’s Arts Commission is also scheduled to meet next week. Board and commission meetings are livestreamed on the city’s website and available to watch afterward. See the full meeting schedule on our city calendar.

Have an excellent weekend.

Geoff Patnoe

City Manager