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News from the City of Carlsbad | Dec. 11, 2025

We’re now in the heart of the holiday season, so today I’ll share some safety tips if you’re decorating your home, putting up a tree or ordering packages.

I’ve also got updates on City Council actions this week to improve traffic safety around Kelly Elementary School and add more parking in the Barrio, plus a video showing how the city is helping students experience history through film.

Here’s the full lineup:

• Home safety tips this holiday season
• Preventing holiday package theft
• More parking coming to the Barrio
• Next steps for Kelly and Park street improvements
• Two hikes to enjoy this holiday season
• Start the new year by diving into a good book
• Bringing history to life through film
• Movies, community events and more activities
• Upcoming city meetings
• A Heisman Trophy finalist from Carlsbad

Home safety tips this holiday season 

As you prepare for the holidays, the Carlsbad Fire Department wants to remind you that December is one of the busiest months for home fires, often caused by candles or electrical issues. These precautions can help prevent emergencies and keep celebrations safe:

• When hanging outdoor lights, use a sturdy ladder on level ground and avoid overloading outlets.
• Use lights tested by a recognized lab and locate them only where they’re rated for (indoor/outdoor).
• Don’t connect more than three light strands together or overload circuits.
• Replace light strands that have frayed cords or loose bulbs.
• If you have a live tree, water it daily, keep it 3 feet from heat sources and unplug the lights at night.
• Keep candles at least 1 foot from anything that can burn and never leave them unattended.
• Keep children and pets away from candles and electrical decorations.
• Once your live tree begins to drop needles, remove it from your home. (We’ll share information soon about this year’s curbside tree recycling program.)

Find more holiday home safety tips on our website.

Preventing holiday package theft

Online shopping and deliveries are also at their peak this time of year and that can increase the opportunity for package thefts. The Carlsbad Police Department is sharing these tips on deterring thieves and protecting your home:

• Schedule deliveries when you or someone you trust will be home
• Track packages and sign up for delivery notifications
• Bring packages inside as soon as they arrive
• Install security cameras or doorbell cameras as a deterrent

Whether you do your shopping in person or online, it’s a good idea to review these holiday shopping safety tips to help reduce crimes of opportunity.

As always, report any suspicious activity to Carlsbad Police 24/7 by calling 442-339-2197. In an emergency, dial 911.

More parking coming to the Barrio

Additional parking is coming to the Barrio under a plan the City Council approved Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know:

• Four parking spaces will be added by converting five existing parallel spaces to perpendicular parking on Chestnut Avenue east of Madison Street, in front of Pine Avenue Community Park. This will increase the total number of spaces along that stretch from five to nine, while maintaining existing trees.
• A broader parking study will move forward to explore converting parallel parking spaces to diagonal parking on wider streets, including Madison Street, Pine Avenue and Palm Avenue, to increase overall parking availability in the Barrio. 

This work is in addition to ongoing parking evaluation efforts that have resulted in more than 40 parking spaces in the Village and Barrio since January. 

Some ways to add parking included restriping, sign removal or repainting red curbs that no longer need to be red (think of a red curb near a driveway that is no longer being used). Below is a video of some of that work taking place in the Village earlier this year.

Staff will continue to look at additional ways to add more on-street parking in the Village and Barrio.

Next steps for Kelly and Park street improvements 

The City Council also approved a series of street improvements to enhance safety and reduce traffic congestion for the area around Kelly Elementary School.



The city will complete construction during the school’s winter break on two near-term improvements:  

• Creating a new pickup/drop-off queue lane to improve access to the school and reduce traffic backups. This includes adding approximately 170 feet of red curb (no parking) on Kelly Drive in front of the school.  
• Restriping the existing median on Kelly Drive in front of Kelly Elementary School to discourage left turns from the parking lot. 

Additionally, the city will develop a Safe Routes to School plan to identify street improvements in collaboration with Kelly Elementary School and the neighboring community.  

• Safe Routes to School plans create opportunities for city staff to work closely with students, parents, school officials and residents to gain a better understanding of the needs and priorities of the surrounding community. 
• In early 2026, the city will get a consultant under contract to assist in preparing a Safe Routes to School plan for the project, begin an assessment of current conditions and reach out to the community to identify potential improvements.  
• The city anticipates it will take about a year to develop the Safe Routes to School plan.  
• Once a draft plan is developed, the Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission and City Council will review and weigh in before implementation begins.  

Sign up to receive email updates on the project and to be notified when there are opportunities for input. 

Two hikes to enjoy this holiday season 

As we move into the winter holiday season, many families look for simple ways to spend time outdoors. With 67 miles of trails in Carlsbad, here are two options you may want to explore.

Batiquitos Lagoon North Bluff Trail — This easy 0.7-mile trail offers views of the lagoon wetlands, coastal bluffs and Ponto Beach. It’s a short, family-friendly option where you can watch for local birds and other wildlife. The trail includes both paved and unpaved sections and a bench, making it accessible for a wide range of walkers.

Carlsbad Oaks North Business Park Trail — For those looking for a more challenging outing, this one-mile unpaved trail recently received improvements during a volunteer event in October. It winds through a natural area with posted wildlife photos to help you identify what you see. The western entrance is wide and accessible, while the eastern side includes rolling terrain — a good option for those wanting a workout or a more rugged trail experience.  

If you’d like to find a different trail that suits your plans, the city’s website and GoHike Carlsbad portal provide maps and descriptions of all local trails.

Start the new year by diving into a good book 

The starting line is almost here for “The Reading Olympics,” our month-long Winter Reading Challenge happening throughout the month of January. The challenge is an engaging way for readers of all ages to stay motivated, track their progress and earn a chance at special rewards by reaching this year’s reading goal. Here’s how it works:

Register: Starting Sunday, Jan. 1, sign up here or use the Beanstack Tracker app on the Apple App or Google Play stores from your smartphone. After signing up, swing by any Carlsbad City Library location to claim a registration reward, including Dave & Buster's Power Vouchers (while supplies last).

Record: In Beanstack, log the amount of time you spend reading each week.



Rewards: Participants who read 240 minutes during the challenge will score entries in the raffle for experience-based prizes, including free skate passes to Ice Realm Skating Rink and free music and vocal lessons from Ascend Music Studios.

Bringing history to life through film  

Carlsbad High School students recently learned about different time periods through film at the Carlsbad City Library’s Schulman Auditorium.

Their front row seat came after City of Carlsbad Cultural Arts staff worked with Carlsbad High School to relaunch the Film Academy for the first time since the pandemic.



Students viewed three films at the recently renovated Schulman and then engaged in a lively discussion. In this video, you will hear from a couple of students and their teacher on what the program means to them. 

No need to worry if you missed these films. The city’s Cultural Arts team presents free films four times per week at the Schulman Auditorium, and the community is always invited to attend.

Sign up to get details on film screenings and other Cultural Arts events and programs sent right to your inbox.

Reel Wednesdays and Film Fridays

Showings at 4 and 7 p.m.

Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium

1775 Dove Lane 

Movies, community events and more activities

Here are the films showing this week at the Schulman Auditorium, along with more community events and activities happening at our city libraries, community centers and the Carlsbad Senior Center:

• Cinema Club Friday: "Spencer" – Friday, Dec. 12, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library
• Front Row Saturday performance: Hot Pstromi – Saturday, Dec. 13, 5 p.m., Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium, Dove Library
• Free Holiday Concert – Tuesday, Dec. 16, 1 p.m., Cole Library
• Seaside Singers Concert (Adults 50+) – Wednesday, Dec. 17 and Thursday, Dec. 18, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Carlsbad Senior Center
• Reel Wednesday: “The Holiday” – Wednesday, Dec. 17, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library

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

Upcoming city meetings 

There’s no City Council meeting next week, but the Planning Commission is scheduled to meet Wednesday. Board and commission meetings are livestreamed on the city’s website and available to watch afterward.

You can see the full meeting schedule on our city calendar.

A Heisman Trophy finalist from Carlsbad

Congratulations to Ohio State Quarterback and Carlsbad High School alum Julian Sayin on becoming a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. They’ll announce the winner this weekend on national TV, and I know many people back here will be rooting for Julian to take home the trophy, and in the upcoming college football playoffs. 

Enjoy your weekend!

Geoff Patnoe

City Manager