As 2021 winds down, I will be sharing two more updates before picking back up again in January. This week’s news includes:
- The latest on the COVID-19 front
- We’re about to become even more environmentally sustainable
- Strategic planning process kicking off
- Thumbs up from annual financial audit
- Thinking of getting more involved? Apply for a city board or commission
- 2021 by the numbers: a year in review
|
|
COVID-19 update
In the past week Carlsbad and the county as a whole have moved from the “substantial” level of COVID-19 transmission to “high.”
|
|
Looking at the ZIP code breakdowns, all have gone up, two are still in the substantial tier, and we no longer have a ZIP code in the low tier. City and ZIP code data is not as current as the county data. The most recent available is for the week ending Dec. 4. |
|
The final data I’ll share is active cases in Carlsbad, which have also gone up since last week: |
|
Mask update
By now you’ve likely heard that the California Department of Public Health is requiring masks indoors through Jan. 15, because the new Omicron variant appears to spread more easily, and people gather and travel much more this time of year. Already since Thanksgiving, cases in California have gone up by 47%, and hospitalizations by 14%, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Some places, like Los Angeles, already required masks indoors. We have required masks indoors at city buildings for a while now as well, as have schools, health care settings and public transportation, among other places.
Just as with previous mask requirements, there are exceptions. You can find out more in this Q&A on the state’s website.
I am also sharing this mask fact sheet from the state, which points out that surgical masks are preferable to cloth masks. Originally, the public was told not to use surgical masks because supply was a concern. That has seen been worked out, so now there are enough surgical masks for health care professionals and the public.
My final word on COVID-19 this week is to encourage you to check official public health sources for the latest information and guidance.
I am not a health expert, and cities do not have an official public health role as part of our core services. For that, we look to the county, which, in turn, is guided by the state. My goal is to make it easy to find reliable information and wherever possible help highlight impacts specific to Carlsbad. Why this disclaimer? I do get messages from time to time, and especially when public health rules change, expressing concern with some aspect of health guidance I have shared. I am happy to get your feedback, but please know that I am doing my very best to stay focused on protecting our community and following the rules that apply to us.
|
|
New sustainability initiatives coming to Carlsbad
On Tuesday, the City Council approved the Sustainable Materials Management Implementation Plan (yes, this is a mouthful), which outlines how the city will eliminate hard-to-recycle waste, reduce plastic pollution and cut down on greenhouse gas emissions.
Over the next three years, staff will develop and implement the plan’s new policies including:
- A single-use plastic and expanded polystyrene food ware upon-request ordinance by June 1, 2022, and phased-in material ban by July 1, 2023
- A ban on the use of plastic beverage bottles for city facilities and city-affiliated events by July 1, 2023
- A ban on intentionally releasing balloons, which would go into effect by July 1, 2023
- A phased in implementation of a plastic bag ban, which would go into effect for retail stores only in July 2023 and expand to restaurants by July 2024
Some of these things are required by the state, but the City Council decided to go beyond the minimum in several areas to demonstrate the city’s commitment to environmental sustainability. Environmental sustainability is one of nine core values the community told us was important to the future of Carlsbad in the Carlsbad Community Vision.
One of the City Council’s goals in approving these new policies was to ensure the public and businesses had plenty of time to prepare. Be on the lookout for more information about these new programs after the first of the year.
|
|
City Council kicks off strategic planning process
Speaking of the Carlsbad Community Vision, the City Council held a special meeting Monday to kick off a six-month strategic planning process that will identify goals and lay out a work plan for delivering on the Carlsbad Community Vision over the next five years. Key areas of focus will include:
- Economic vitality
- Sustainability and the natural environment
- Community character
- Quality of life and safety
- Organizational excellence and fiscal health
Monday’s workshop replaces the goal-setting process typically held each year to identify priorities for the upcoming year’s budget. The City Council decided instead to create a five-year strategic plan that will include goals that could be implemented over several years, providing greater continuity and momentum around the community’s top priorities.
In January, we will begin gathering input on these topics, which will be presented to the City Council in March to help finalize and prioritize the plan’s goals. The March discussion will influence what goes into the fiscal year 2021-22 budget, which is normally approved in June. The city’s fiscal year starts July 1. The final five-year strategic plan is expected to be finalized in mid 2022.
|
|
City gets all clear from annual financial audit
Most people dread being audited, but the city actually kind of enjoys it. This is a good thing, because we do one every year.
At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, we presented the results of our latest audit, which looks at how we are doing in terms of fiscal responsibility, accuracy and transparency.
- The state of California requires cities to be audited each year by an independent public accountant.
- Carlsbad’s audit was performed by the CPA firm Davis Farr LLP, which began its work in June and issued a report Nov. 30.
- The city received an “unmodified” opinion, which means the auditor judged the city’s financial statements and footnotes to be fairly stated, without any material exceptions and in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles.
That might not sound exciting to you, but it’s music to our ears.
-
The audit was included in the city’s Fiscal Year 2020-21 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, which is now available on the city’s website.
- This report is sort of like the budget in reverse. It reports out on what was actually spent in the previous fiscal year, how much money we have in different funds and other fiscal information.
- I am proud to say we have won an award for this report every year for the past 15 years straight.
- One of the criteria for the award is how easy it is to read for a member of the public.
|
|
Get involved: Upcoming meetings
The City Council decided to keep all meetings virtual for the next 30 days due to ongoing concerns about COVID-19 spread. The next City Council meeting is Jan. 11. The agenda will be posted on the city’s website by the Friday before the meeting, along with detailed instructions on how to watch the virtual meeting and participate.
There are no other public meetings next week because of the Christmas holiday, but I do have some important information about the city’s boards, commissions and committees that I want to share before we go…
|
|
Apply to fill vacancies on these city commissions
If you’ve made it to the end of this update, you are obviously someone who cares about Carlsbad and wants to stay up on what’s going on with your local government. As you think about the year ahead, I really encourage you to consider serving on a city board or commission.
Several boards, commissions and committees will have scheduled vacancies in 2022, and a few have unplanned vacancies now. They cover a broad range of topics, from beach preservation to the arts, history and issues affecting older adults.
Members volunteer their time to study issues and policies and advise the City Council on matters that affect our community. The members are appointed by the City Council.
- Some of advisory panels require applicants to meet specific qualifications, and all require applicants to be Carlsbad residents who are registered to vote in the city.
-
The application process is easy. Applications are accepted year-round, and you can fill out and submit the application on the city’s website.
- You can apply for more than one board, commission or committee, but if you’re appointed to one you won’t be considered for any others.
- In addition to scheduled vacancies, unscheduled vacancies may come up throughout the year.
- Your application will stay active until Dec. 31, 2022.
|
|
2021 by the numbers
By now you know a few things about me:
- I love public service
- I find all aspects of municipal government endlessly fascinating
- I could not be prouder of our city team
So, naturally, I love taking time at the end of the year to reflect on what has been accomplished for our community.
- Big issues get attention throughout the year, but the vast majority of our work happens in the background.
- This includes things like keeping safe, affordable water flowing from the tap and maintaining streets so they are smooth and safe.
- So, I hope you will take a few minutes to look at this year in review compilation our team has assembled.
-
Some highlights are below, and you can see the whole thing here.
|
|
Have a great weekend, and I’ll be back next Thursday with more updates. |
|
Fun things to do
Quick Links
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
