Weather has turned a bit chilly here in Carlsbad as we approach the Dec. 21 winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Chilly, of course, is relative. The coldest place in the U.S. right now is Wakefield, Michigan, with a low of -4 degrees!
Here’s what’s new in Carlsbad this week:
- COVID-19 precautions recommended
- Making progress on reducing homelessness
- Protecting natural open spaces
- First age-friendly action plan in North County
- New schedule of classes now available
- City parks get improved lighting
- Holiday events
- Upcoming public meetings
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COVID-19 precautions recommended
This week, the number of COVID-19 cases worldwide reached the 5 million mark. The first time I remember seeing this statistic was when the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 dashboard was projected on the wall of the city’s Emergency Operations Center. It was at 13,000 cases during our first week of activation in March 2020.
As scientists gather more data about the Omicron variant, it’s still too soon to know for sure what exactly is in store. However, even before this new strain was identified, we knew that the combination of more people gathering indoors and holiday travel put us at a higher risk of COVID-19 infection this month.
Public health officials are advising everyone continue to follow these precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, including the Omicron variant:
- Get vaccinated and get a booster if you qualify.
- Wear a mask, especially in public indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status.
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Get tested if you have any symptoms, regardless of your vaccination status. Information on appointments and walk-in locations can be found at coronavirus-sd.com.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Stay home if you have symptoms and distance yourself from others.
The good news is that San Diego County’s vaccination rates are among the highest in the state, and boosters are now approved for everyone 18 and up. The county has put together a table that makes it very easy to see if you qualify for a booster shot and this list of places you can get one.
On the other hand, all four metrics in the table below are up during the latest reporting period, some more than doubled.
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COVID-19 spread in San Diego County is classified as substantial. The chart below shows how Carlsbad ZIP codes compare. Carlsbad’s overall new case rate per 100,000 in population puts us in the “substantial” transmission category, but when you break out case rates by ZIP code we actually represent three different categories, from moderate to high: |
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Progress reported on efforts to reduce homelessness
During the first three months of the fiscal year, the City of Carlsbad transitioned 16 people experiencing homelessness into permanent housing, made 28 shelter placements, cleaned up encampments and updated city laws to address camping, aggressive panhandling and other quality of life concerns.
The city’s homeless response team shared this progress Tuesday during a quarterly update on the City Council’s goal to reduce homelessness. Part of that goal included providing regular updates to ensure progress was being tracked and efforts adjusted as needed.
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- About 9% of all calls to the Carlsbad Police Department between July 1 and Sept. 30, 2021, were for issues related to homelessness.
- In September, the City Council approved an ordinance updating the city’s municipal code to address quality of life issues related to homelessness and public spaces.
- The changes took effect Nov. 11, so the effects of the new laws were not included in the first quarterly report.
- However, I can tell you our Police Department has already seen a positive difference.
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New plan approved for protecting habitat
Preserving open spaces is one of the community’s top priorities, and on Tuesday the City Council approved an updated plan to do just that. Carlsbad has different kinds of open space – this week’s action has to do with natural open space that has been permanently set aside for habitat.
We now have a new four-year plan for city-owned nature preserves and a new contract with a nonprofit organization that will manage the land to protect sensitive plants and animals that call Carlsbad home.
The city recently purchased two properties to add to its city-owned preserves:
- 1.3‐acre Paseo del Norte property
- 15.1‐acre Aura Circle Property by Kelly Elementary School
These purchases resulted in a net increase of 5.6 acres of habitat overall (the rest of the land was already set aside as habitat, just not owned by the city).
The Center for Natural Land Management, a nonprofit organization that specializes in overseeing natural open spaces, will perform ongoing management and monitoring activities in city-owned preserves, such as:
- Invasive species monitoring and control
- Installation and maintenance of fences and signage
- Rare plant counts and habitat assessments
- Vegetation mapping
- Sensitive bird species surveys
- Wildlife movement monitoring
- Public outreach
Carlsbad is the only city in North San Diego County with an approved Habitat Management Plan. If you’re interested in this topic, I highly recommend reading the recently approved plan. It will give you a detailed look at what it takes to preserve and care for habitat and includes lists of all the different plants and animals that live among us.
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Carlsbad approves 1st age-friendly plan in North County
The Carlsbad City Council approved North County’s first Age-Friendly Action Plan Tuesday, a collaboration with AARP and Circulate San Diego. The plan will serve as roadmap for how Carlsbad can create policies and programs that make neighborhoods walkable, provide transportation options, offer basic services and opportunities to participate in community activities and support affordable and adaptable housing for people with special needs.
The Age-Friendly Carlsbad Action Plan outlines recommendations for city goals and policies spanning six categories, including:
- Outdoor space and buildings
- Social and civic participation
- Housing
- Health and wellness
- Mobility
- Community connections
The Age-Friendly Carlsbad project is part of the AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities and supported by the San Diego Foundation’s Age-Friendly Communities Program. Carlsbad community members helped shape the plan through workshops, online surveys, a digital ideas wall and mapping tool.
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New energy efficient lighting installed at three parks
Safety and sustainability continue to be top priorities here in Carlsbad. With that in mind, the city recently completed a project to upgrade parking lot and pathway lighting to new energy efficient LED lights at three of our parks: Stagecoach, Calavera Hills and Poinsettia community parks.
These are just the first parks to receive the improvements; more are scheduled in the coming year. The project also included replacing aging light poles and foundations.
The new LED light fixtures use approximately 50 percent less electricity, have a longer service life and are generally lower in cost to maintain than the old lighting fixtures.
Check out the improvements next time you visit one of these parks.
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Sign up for winter classes and spring break camps
There are adult and youth classes, preschool, sports leagues, senior activities, spring break camps and more. Staff is closely monitoring all recommended COVID-19 precautions and has protocols in place for all activities.
The mix of programs includes everything from karate and sewing to Painting Like the Masters for kids. For adults, there’s a Culinary Lab class that combines cooking and science, which looks like lots of fun. Sessions begin in January and run through spring.
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Holiday events
The city’s library is hosting a special concert, A Holiday Cabaret, this Saturday with beloved vocalist Celeste Barbier and harpist Candace LiVolsi Valentine.
Schulman Auditorium
Dove Library Complex
6:30 p.m. courtyard reception
7:30 p.m. performance
Both events are free.
Seating is first come, first served. Masks required.
Library bookstore
Visit the Dove Library Friends Bookstore through Thursday, Dec. 23, for special deals on books filled with the magic of the season! The bookstore is open Mondays, 10:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. and Tuesdays – Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more information, call 760-602-2020.
While you’re there (or at our other two library locations) consider checking out one of the holiday-themed books recommended by our library staff.
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Get involved: Upcoming meetings
Our last regular City Council meeting of the year is scheduled for Dec. 14. The meeting will be virtual and starts at 3 p.m. You can find the full agenda and staff reports on the city’s website starting Friday, but here is a preview of topics scheduled to be discussed:
- Reports on the city’s capital project funds, special taxes and the annual financial audit
- Adjustments to city employee salary schedules, partly to match January’s minimum wage increase
- Updating an agreement for software used for building and development permits
- Extending a contract for the city computer network’s firewall
- Amending an agreement with the City of Vista to complete a sewer line project
- A list of planned openings on city boards, commissions, committees and appointments
- Contracts and compensation for the City Manager and City Attorney
- Authorizing the city’s participation in the national legal settlement over the opioid crisis
- Banning overnight parking on Armada Drive and amending city law to allow enforcement of the ban even during a state of emergency
- A permit for New Village Arts’ continuing use of the theater on State Street for performances
- A proposed four-story, mixed-use building on Jefferson Street in the Village
- Whether to continue holding virtual public meetings or resume in-person meetings in January
- Updating the city’s policy on installing wireless communication devices
- Extending the agreement with Republic Services to manage the Palomar Transfer Station (a trash transfer station)
- An implementation plan to meet new state requirements for trash and recycling, plus options for restrictions on single use plastics, plastic bags and other measures that go beyond state requirements
- Appointing one member to the Carlsbad Tourism Business Improvement District Board and four members to the Community Development Block Grant Citizens Advisory Committee
Other upcoming public meetings include:
- Dec. 13, 9 a.m., City Council strategic planning workshop*
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Dec. 9, 6 to 7 p.m., Parks & Recreation Master Plan workshop Register
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Dec. 11, 10 to 11 a.m., Parks & Recreation Master Plan workshop Register
- Dec. 16, 4 p.m., Independent Redistricting Commission (first look at draft district maps)
* This is the kickoff of a strategic planning process where the City Council will identify five-year goals and priorities. Community input will be an important part of the process and is expected to begin in January.
Remember, all city meetings are virtual this month. Find more information about how to participate on the city’s website.
Last weekend I had the honor of lighting the Christmas tree at our annual Holiday at the Rancho event. I want to commend our parks and recreation staff for adapting events like these for the latest COVID-19 precautions. Creating opportunities for our community to come together is so important, and it was great to see so many of you enjoying spending time with friends and family.
I’ll be back next week with more updates.
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Fun things to do
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