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I want to start today by welcoming some new subscribers.
- As background, this update started during the first days of the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to communicate critical public health and safety information on a daily basis to as many people as possible here in Carlsbad.
- The newsletter took off, far beyond our city borders, as everyone struggled to keep up with the changing environment and understand all the COVID information coming at them from the news, social media and more.
Because the format was email, it was easy for people to reply, ask questions and provide feedback. The two-way nature of this ongoing conversation was and continues to be so valuable.
- I knew right away if something was confusing or if people didn’t like how the city was handling something. But, frankly, this was the minority of comments.
- Mostly, I was heartened by the goodwill and appreciation expressed by our community.
- I even shared many of your inspirational stories, photos and videos showing how our residents and businesses were coping with the pandemic.
- And I did my best to pass along reliable public health information from official sources.
- Working together, we kept Carlsbad’s COVID-19 cases among the lowest in the county.
Over time, this newsletter began to feel like an extension of our community, one I could talk to directly, without the government jargon and bureaucracy that are often barriers to good, clear communication between government and those it serves. Eventually, we switched to a weekly format and began to introduce other topics of interest to the community, and now, thankfully, COVID news makes an appearance only occasionally.
I think we have all recognized some of the good things to come from an otherwise tragic and disruptive time in our lives.
- This online community is one of them, and one I intend to keep going.
- If you’re new to the email, now you know where it comes from.
- If you’re not, I hope you know how meaningful your regular readership and engagement have been.
Emergency ending Feb. 28
Okay that was a long intro, but I think it’s on my mind because we are coming up on another major milestone, perhaps the last, of the COVID pandemic.
Most of the state public health orders have already been rescinded, meaning most people won’t notice a change come March 1. The federal emergency is set to expire May 11. That will bring changes, which the Department of Health and Human Services summarizes on its website. I am sure we will learn more about the future of federal programs as we get closer to May.
Now, on to this week’s news, including:
- 3 ways you can stay safe during a storm
- Local businesses stand together for traffic safety
- New options for disposing of medicines and sharps
- Spend Saturday night at the Schulman
- Epic fun for tweens
- Get involved: Upcoming meetings
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How to stay safe on wet roads
With this latest storm, we are reminded of the importance of taking extra precautions on our roadways. Here are three things we can all do to support safer streets in the rain:
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During the major storms in early January, our Fire Department ended up performing what is known as “swift water rescues.” One of the things that makes our Fire Department one of the best is their dedication to training.
- Rescuing people who get caught in sudden rushing water requires unique skills, equipment and expertise.
- Our firefighters/paramedics practice swift-water rescues, even though we rarely get that much rain. When we do, they are ready.
Of course, it’s far better if community members know how to avoid getting stuck in the first place.
- It only takes 6 inches of water to stall a car
- 12 inches of flowing water can sweep a car off the road
- It’s easy to misjudge the strength of rushing water, resulting in people trying to pass through on foot getting knocked down and swept away
Our Fire Chief asked me to pass along these important tips:
- If you see a flooded street, turn around and go another way.
- Don't drive through fast-moving water or large puddles. It’s hard to tell how deep the water may be and the strength of the current.
- Even if your car doesn’t get swept away, water could splash up to your car’s electrical system.
This video shows what it can look like when roads and intersections become flooded.
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Businesses stand together for traffic safety
When talking about our response to the local traffic emergency, we emphasize that everyone plays a role in keeping our streets safe. That’s why our campaign is called “Safer Streets Together.”
This week I’d like to recognize all the Carlsbad businesses who have gotten on board, by taking the Safer Streets Together pledge and sharing information in their storefronts, with their employees and on social media. You can tell who has signed on to help promote traffic safety by looking for yard signs and window clings at local businesses.
| Some, like Pedego Electric Bikes in the Village, are distributing safety tip cards at their front counters too. In fact, Pedego was one of the first businesses to step up. You can hear directly from the owner, John, about how he helps e-bike riders understand and commit to the rules of the road. | I also want to thank Christine, Executive Director of the Carlsbad Village Association, who has helped us connect with Village businesses to spread the word. The video below shows her in action. | If you own a local business or know someone who does, please consider sharing this information. It’s as easy as taking the pledge and requesting materials to display or hand out at your place of business. | |
Preschools are helping too
I’ve shared the work we are doing with local schools to promote traffic safety, but I don’t want to leave out preschools. They’ve also gotten on board by sharing safety tips with parents and displaying “Slow Down Carlsbad” signs around their pickup and drop off areas. If your kids go to a local preschool and you don’t see signs of our Safer Streets campaign, please suggest they get involved. All the information is on our website, at www.carlsbadca.gov/saferstreets.
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Disposing of medicine and sharps
One of the five areas of focus in our City Council’s five-year strategic plan is environmental sustainability. Much like keeping our streets safe, caring for our local environment requires everyone’s active participation.
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I’ve been sharing tips recently about getting rid of bulky items, properly disposing of household hazardous waste and what to do with old electronics.
- Today I want to tell you about two services we offer, one existing and one new, to help properly dispose of prescription medications and “sharps,” such as needles and lancets.
Medications
- Prescription drugs should never be thrown in the trash or flushed down the drain. Remove any personal information from the containers before disposal.
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Controlled substances – any type of drug that is highly addictive – should be taken to a sheriff’s station, any participating take back program in the county or locally to the drop-off bin at the Carlsbad Police and Fire Headquarters. 2560 Orion Way.
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CleanEarth accepts prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications, either by drop off at the Vista facility (free for Carlsbad residents) or with their door-to-door program (fee-based).
Sharps
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You can now anonymously dispose of sharps 24/7 at new drop-off bins at Fire Station 1, 1275 Carlsbad Village Drive, and Fire Station 6, 7201 Rancho Santa Fe Road.
- Carlsbad residents can also dispose of sharps free of charge at the Palomar Transfer Station at 5960 El Camino Real.
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Republic Services offers door-to-door collection service for residents, tattoo and piercing shops, home care providers, nursing homes, small medical facilities, veterinary clinics and more. Please call 760-332-6464 to request a sharps container.
Here’s what the new sharps collection boxes look like at the fire stations:
|  | And here’s a map of the city-sponsored locations for medicine and sharps. | |
B.I.G. in concert
If you’re looking for something fun to do this Saturday night, the city’s Showtime @ The Schulman series is presenting a free concert featuring B.I.G. (Brothers Igniting A Groove) at the auditorium at Dove Library. The Orange County-based group performs a mix of R&B, smooth jazz and old school funk, including covers and original music.
Showtime @ The Schulman
Feb. 25, 7 p.m.
Schulman Auditorium
1775 Dove Lane
Doors open at 7 p.m. and seating is first come, first served.
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Something just for tweens
Tweens are, by definition, between two worlds, too old for “kids stuff,” but not quite ready to hang out with teen-agers. If you have tweens in your life, please consider taking them to our Epic Tween Night, also this Saturday.
Our special events staff are so creative, transforming the community center into a fun zone specially tailored to tweens.
- Parents can drop off kids in grades 5-8 for a fun-filled night of activities like video and virtual reality games, Gaga ball, inflatables, Games on Wheelz and more.
- City staff and U.S. Marine Corps volunteers will chaperone the event.
- Food and beverages will be available for purchase.
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Tickets are $10. Buy them at the door or online under our Tween-Special Events category.
Epic Tween Night
Grades 5 to 8
Saturday, Feb. 25, 6 to 9 p.m.
Calavera Hills Community Center
2997 Glasgow Drive
Cost: $10
Register now
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Get involved: Upcoming meetings
The next regular City Council meeting will be held March 7 at 5 p.m. in the City Council chamber. A link to the full agenda and staff reports will be available on the city’s website by the Friday before the meeting. There is a special meeting scheduled for Monday, Feb. 27, when City Council members and department directors undergo required sexual harassment prevention training, also in the Council Chamber. That’s the only agenda item.
Meanwhile, these city meetings are scheduled next week:
Fix it Clinic postponed
We have to postpone our Fix it Clinic scheduled for this weekend at Dove Library due to weather. The new date is March 4.
Checking in on our critters and the spaces they call home
You’re also invited to a virtual meeting next week where city staff will present our Habitat Management Plan annual report. This is an opportunity to hear all about the city’s nature preserves, including how city staff manages the biology of these sensitive areas. Read the report.
Habitat Management Plan annual meeting
Thursday, March 2
10 a.m. to noon
Join the meeting
Meeting ID: 259 450 338 740
Passcode: HecRqJ
The meeting is being held on Microsoft Teams, but you don’t have to download the Teams app to access it. You can join on your computer or mobile device by choosing the “continue on this browser” option. Don’t forget to enter the meeting ID and passcode listed above.
The meeting will also be recorded, so you can watch it later if you prefer, and I’ll also give a short recap in next week’s City Manager’s Update.
Before signing off, let me provide a few links:
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If you want to share this newsletter with your friends and family, they can sign up to get it directly. Select the City Manager's Update list.
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If you want to learn about specific issues going on in the city, you can also select from a long list to choose from. Just enter your email and check off the topics of interest.
- You can always unsubscribe from emails by clicking on a link at the bottom of the message.
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If you don’t already follow us on social media, that’s another way to stay connected.
Please stay safe, be kind on our roads and have a nice weekend.
Scott Chadwick
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