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News from the City of Carlsbad | Feb. 20, 2025

With a warmup on the way, this weekend should serve as a preview of summer in Carlsbad. I thought that would make for a solid segue into this week's update, which includes topics that are top of mind when the sun is out and the days are long, including:

• A project to bring more sand to beaches gets underway 
• Learn the history of Stagecoach Park, a TGIF Concert site 
• A trail volunteer event set for this weekend

This week, I'll also continue the theme of going behind the scenes, this time in honor of National Engineers Week. In a video I'm sharing, you'll see the wide range of work our engineers do, from our roads to our taps to our internet connections. Here's today's full lineup:

• Beaches to get more sand through lagoon dredging project
• History among us at Stagecoach Park
• TGIF sponsorship opportunity
• City engineers keep services running smoothly
• Join our trail volunteers Saturday at Robertson Ranch Trail East
• No rail service this weekend
• Heads up on construction noise in Batiquitos Lagoon
• Remember to check the city's construction map
• Community events and activities
• What's on the agenda for your next City Council meeting

Beaches to get more sand through lagoon dredging project

Carlsbad beaches will gain more sand over the coming months thanks to a project to dredge sand from the Agua Hedionda Lagoon and place it on nearby beaches.

Channelside Water Resources, which operates the Carlsbad desalination plant, is moving heavy equipment into the area to begin the work. The project takes place every one to four years to remove sand that naturally drifts into the lagoon and forms a large sandbar (the last dredging project was in 2021). This year, up to 400,000 cubic yards of sand will be placed on Carlsbad beaches.

Where the sand will go

Dredged sand from the lagoon will be placed on Carlsbad State Beaches, spanning from Pine Avenue to just north of Cannon Road. The exact amount and placement depend on current and historical beach sizes, how people use each beach and the need to protect nearby rocky ocean habitats.

Nuts and bolts of the project

The work typically takes place during winter to minimize disruption to beach visitors and wildlife. And a heads up – the Tamarack State Beach parking lot will be closed through Saturday morning as Channelside moves equipment into the area. 

Here is what else to expect during the project:

• Work will take place on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Crews will direct beachgoers around active work areas as the replenishment moves along the beach
• Work will last through late April 
• Sidewalks along the seawall will remain open during the project

While this is not a city project, the City of Carlsbad is one of the permitting agencies. You can read more details about the project in the city-issued environmental document. 

History among us at Stagecoach Park

These days, you can get from San Diego to Los Angeles by car, plane or train.

But back in the 1800s, it wasn't so convenient. You'd need to take a horse-drawn stagecoach up and down the rolling hills of North County in a journey that would take two days.

Along the way, you may have taken a break and picked up some supplies at the Manasse Stop, a spot that's now the aptly named Stagecoach Community Park in south Carlsbad. Today, you can see the adobe remnants of the Manasse Stop just north of the Community Center.

Stagecoach Community Center & Park

3420 Camino De Los Coches

442-339-2690

On our website, I've posted a deeper dive into the history of Stagecoach Park in an occasional series that shares the history of our city. Like the journey from San Diego to LA, I'm starting in the south and will work my way up.

And, if you'd like to go back in time a bit more – and because today is what many call Throwback Thursday – here are some clips from the 1987 State of the City video showing Stagecoach Park in its infancy. Keep an eye out for the adobe ruins as they stood all those years ago. 

Sponsorships available for TGIF concerts 

Stagecoach Park happens to be one of the venues for the TGIF Concerts in the Park summer series. With the first of nine concerts taking place on June 20, the City of Carlsbad is once again offering local businesses an opportunity to be a part of our most popular community event. 

In recent years, prices for vendors and supplies have increased significantly. Corporate sponsorships can help the city cover increasing costs while still offering a nine-concert lineup.   

Sponsorship opportunities 

Sponsors will be recognized all season through: 

• Event signage 
• Mentions on the city's website and social media channels 
• Shoutouts onstage by the event announcer 

Several sponsorship levels are available and we can work with organizations to come up with custom packages. 

City engineers keep services running smoothly

This is National Engineers Week so I want to acknowledge the dedicated city engineers who work hard to make sure the City of Carlsbad provides top notch services for our day-to-day lives. 

• In our Transportation Department, our engineers design Carlsbad roads and maintain a system of traffic signals to keep commutes smooth and safe no matter how you get around the city.
• In our Utilities Department, engineers design and maintain water, recycled water and wastewater infrastructure including pipelines, lift stations and reservoirs.
• Engineers in the city's Information Technology Department manage networks, software and protect the city and its data against cyberthreats to keep operations running efficiently. They also maintain high speed internet available to the public at our libraries and other city facilities.

Here's a look at some of our city engineers in action.

Join our trail volunteers Saturday at Robertson Ranch East Trail

On Saturday, the city is hosting a trail volunteer event at Robertson Ranch East Trail. Our trail volunteers work alongside city staff to help keep our trails in top shape while getting outdoors, making meaningful connections and giving back to our community. (You can see all of that happening in this trail volunteer event video.)

Trail volunteer event

Saturday, Feb. 22

8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Robertson Ranch East Trail

3459 Alander Court

Park along Four Peaks Street, Alander Court or Glen Avenue

How to participate

We've introduced a new registration system to streamline our volunteer process. This system is especially helpful for those who plan to participate in trail volunteer events more regularly. Here's how it works:

• Register through Better Impact: Volunteers are encouraged to create an account in Better Impact, which allows them to review necessary forms and join our network of volunteers. While registration is preferred, it's not required for one-time participation.
• RSVP in advance by emailing Ben.Goldstein@carlsbadca.gov.
• Single-day waiver: If you come without being pre-registered, you can still volunteer by completing a waiver form on site.

No rail service this weekend  

The North County Transit District asked us to let you know that there will be no coastal rail service this weekend between Oceanside and San Diego due to routine maintenance and rail infrastructure work. You can learn more and see the full schedule on the NCTD website by clicking on the COASTER tab at the top of the page.

Additional rail closures will take place March 8-9 and March 22-23.

Heads up on construction noise in Batiquitos Lagoon

During this weekend’s rail closure, Caltrans and SANDAG Build NCC crews will be doing pile-driving work as part of the project to replace the Batiquitos Lagoon rail bridge. This involves construction equipment driving steel beams or "piles" into the ground, so it is usually noisy. Work will take place between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The piles will support temporary work platforms that crews will need to start building a modern, double-track bridge. The Batiquitos Lagoon Double Track project is expected to be complete in 2028, with many construction activities pausing from April 15 to August each year during the peak California least tern nesting season.

Plan ahead to avoid traffic delays

While we're talking about construction projects, remember to check our construction map to see where some larger city projects are happening that might impact traffic. The map is updated every week to help you avoid or minimize traffic delays and detours that often come with construction.

Remember, the map only shows city projects. It doesn't include construction projects by local utilities, private companies or other agencies, like Build NCC's Batiquitos Lagoon work. 

Upcoming events

Here are some events and activities coming up at our libraries, community centers and the Carlsbad Senior Center.

• Cinema Club Film Friday, “King: In the Wilderness,” – Friday, Feb. 21, 4 to 6 p.m., Dove Library
• “Silent Storytellers” reception – Saturday, Feb. 22, 3 to 6 p.m., Cannon Art Gallery (in the Dove Library complex)
• Genealogy program meeting on tracking railroad records and railroad history – Tuesday, Feb. 25, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Faraday Center
• Digital Photo & Tech class, “Organizing Your Photos” (adults 50+) – Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2 to 3:15 p.m., Carlsbad Senior Center

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

What’s on the agenda for your next City Council meeting

The next City Council meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 25, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Topics include:

• An agreement to provide the meals for the Senior Center’s lunch program  
• The annual review of the city’s Investment Policy, as required by the City Council and state law  
• Two workers’ compensation settlements    
• Changes to the city's process for approving subcontractor substitution requests on public works contracts 
• A progress report on actions directed by the City Council to address concerns related to the Windsor Pointe affordable housing project 
• An update on Carlsbad’s economic and financial conditions in the second quarter of the current fiscal year, October through December 2024, and midyear budget requests that include proposed funding for fire mitigation, open library hours on Sundays and other operational needs
• A progress report on the implementation of the City Council’s 5-Year Strategic Plan and what is proposed for the fiscal year that starts July 1 

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

3 easy ways to participate

1. Sign up to get agendas and staff reports emailed to you directly
2. Provide feedback via email before the meeting 
3. Sign up to speak at the meeting

… and 3 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)

Board and commission meetings are also livestreamed on the city’s website and available to watch afterward. You can see the meeting schedule on our city calendar.

Again, enjoy the sunshine and the best of what Carlsbad has to offer. Have a great weekend and I’ll be back next week with more city news. 

Geoff Patnoe

City Manager