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News from the City of Carlsbad | Feb. 27, 2025

I want to begin this week’s update by getting right to a couple of actions the City Council took Tuesday on issues top of mind in our community: 

• In response to the recent Southern California fires and series of red flag warnings in our area, the City Council approved funding for a number of fire mitigation and preparedness efforts.  
• Sunday hours at the Carlsbad City Library on Dove Lane and the Cole Library will return in time for summer.  

The City Council made those decisions as part of a mid-year review of the city’s budget and economy, details of which I’ll also share in today’s update. Here is this week’s full lineup: 

• Economic, financial report presented 
• Funding for fire mitigation efforts 
• Library Sunday hours to return 
• Strategic Plan progress report marks halfway point 
• Alga Norte Aquatic Center reopens Monday 
• A milestone in Carlsbad’s habitat protection efforts 
• Help select Carlsbad’s next Citizen of the Year 
• Check city construction map to help avoid delays 
• Community events and activities 
• What’s on the agenda for your next City Council meeting 

Economic, financial report presented 

Halfway through the fiscal year, city revenues are up 3% over this time last year, and the latest numbers staff presented at Tuesday’s City Council meeting show Carlsbad’s gross regional product – or the total value of goods and services produced – remains the second highest in the region.  

Even so, the local economy continues to send mixed messages amid uncertainty. Specifically, some industries saw growth, such as hospitality and tourism, real estate and health care, while others saw declines, such as manufacturing, professional, scientific and technical services (commonly known as research and development), and office administrative services. 

• The city uses a variety of data and models to forecast economic activity, which has a direct effect on city finances used to pay for local government services.  
• By receiving quarterly updates, the City Council can closely track city spending and revenue trends to help inform its policy decisions. 

About 80% of city revenues that fund day-to-day services like the Police and Fire departments, parks, recreation and libraries comes from three sources: property tax, sales tax and the tax visitors pay when they stay in Carlsbad hotels and short-term vacation rentals. All three are influenced by the strength of the economy. 

Funding for fire mitigation efforts  

With recent fires in Southern California and red flag warnings, the City Council approved $850,000 in funding as part of the mid-year budget review for fire mitigation and preparedness efforts for the current fiscal year. Three departments will be undertaking these efforts: Fire, Environmental Sustainability and Parks & Recreation. Here’s the breakdown of how the funding will be used:  

• $300,000 for the Fire Department to contract with an environmental planning firm to create implementable fire protection plans, hazard reduction plans and fuel management plans that will help prevent wildfire damage by accounting for Carlsbad’s unique topography, vegetation and climate issues.  
• $250,000 for the Environmental Sustainability Department to assist with immediate brush management in the city’s preserves. The work must be performed by a qualified contractor with experience working in habitat areas on privately owned properties to avoid impacts to sensitive species and habitats. 
• $300,000 for the Parks & Recreation Department to assist with immediate brush management efforts in city-owned urban forests (this includes Hosp Grove, Woodbine Banks, Batiquitos Lane, Village H and other areas). This would involve: 
• Maintenance pruning of the canopies of inventoried trees within high public occupancy, such as those immediately adjacent to homes and major roadways 
• Selective removal of non-inventoried trees in the interior of the urban forests that are dying or significantly declining 
• Weed abatement throughout the urban forests to reduce ground level vegetation 

Library Sunday hours to return 

Also on Tuesday as part of the mid-year budget report, the City Council approved funding to reopen the Carlsbad City Library at Dove Lane and Cole Library on Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. We’re still confirming the exact date the Sunday hours will take effect, but we’re anticipating it will be in time for summer.  

• The City Council decided to reopen the libraries on Sundays for the first time since hours were reduced at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.  
• While libraries had not been open on Sundays, the library has progressively added hours back into the schedule since the full closure when the pandemic started. In recent years, the city has received requests from the community about reopening on Sundays. 
• During the next few months, the city will arrange staff and scheduling to prepare for the reopening.  

Once Sunday operations restart, Carlsbad will be in the top 5% of branches in the county in terms of number of hours open. More specifics will be shared soon about when Sunday hours will begin. Sign up to get emails with the latest information.  

Strategic Plan progress report marks halfway point 

The City of Carlsbad is now halfway through carrying out its first 5-Year Strategic Plan, a framework the City Council developed to guide major initiatives while maintaining high-quality city services.  

A new progress report presented to the City Council this week highlights steady progress on all five strategic goals and significant headway on 65 priority projects. This review will help ensure funding decisions align with the city’s long-term projects when it comes to developing the draft budget for next fiscal year.  

Adopted in October 2022 with inspiration from the Carlsbad Community Vision, the Strategic Plan outlines five key goals that continue to shape the city’s work: 

• Maintain Carlsbad’s unique community character 
• Prioritize the safety and well-being of the community 
• Protect the environment and natural resources 
• Foster a healthy economy 
• Be a model for effective and efficient local government 

By adopting the five-year strategic plan, the City Council shifted from setting annual goals to a longer-term plan that guides major projects and priorities. This approach helps maintain momentum on key initiatives while continuing to deliver the core services the community expects.  

The latest report provides a detailed look at the work completed so far and what’s ahead. To make it easier for the community to follow along, the city also launched a new online dashboard this week, providing an overview of progress toward the plan’s goals. 

Alga Norte Aquatic Center reopens Monday 

Alga Norte Aquatic Center will reopen on Monday, March 3, at 6 a.m. following renovations to the pools, spa, bathrooms and locker rooms. We appreciate your patience during these improvements and look forward to welcoming you back next week! 

Registration for spring aquatics programs, including swim lessons, lifeguard training and aquatic fitness, will open tomorrow morning, Friday, Feb. 28, at 8 a.m. View classes and register online. 

Looking ahead, the Monroe Street Pool is expected to close in about a month for an 18-month reconstruction project. The project team is finalizing the construction schedule and I will share the official closure date in the coming weeks. You can also sign up to receive project email updates. 

A milestone in Carlsbad’s habitat protection efforts 

World Wildlife Day is Monday, March 3, and this year the City of Carlsbad has extra reason to celebrate: It’s the 20th anniversary of our Habitat Management Plan, a comprehensive environmental program that helps preserve natural open space in our community and protect the sensitive wildlife living there. 

Since the plan was adopted, 6,224 acres of open space have been set aside to help threatened plants and animals thrive.  

City staff and the preserve managers will share more of the plan’s successes, along with an annual report on last year’s habitat protection efforts, at a community meeting Thursday, March 6.  

Habitat Management Plan annual meeting 

Thursday, March 6 

10 a.m. to noon 

1635 Faraday Avenue 

Conference Room 173B 

If you can’t attend the meeting, a recording will be available afterward on the city’s website and I’ll recap it and share the annual report in a City Manager’s Update later in March.  

Environmental sustainability is one of the top goals in the City Council’s 5-year Strategic Plan and it’s one of our core community values, so I am glad to see the Habitat Management Plan reach this milestone.    

Help select Carlsbad’s next Citizen of the Year 

Do you know someone who goes above and beyond to make Carlsbad a better place? The City of Carlsbad is still accepting nominations for Citizen of the Year, an award that honors community members who have given their time and energy toward the civic improvement, beautification and betterment of Carlsbad.  

Up to two honorees will be selected by a committee of Carlsbad residents appointed by the Mayor. Nomination forms are available on the city’s website and at City Hall (1200 Carlsbad Village Drive). Submit your nomination by April 4, 2025. 

Check city construction map to help avoid delays 

Speaking of traffic, remember to check our construction map to see where some larger city projects are happening that might impact your drive.  

The map also includes projects that happen annually, such as one to make sure our roads are in top shape without cracks and potholes. 

• This week, crews are doing night work on El Fuerte between Poinsettia Lane and Faraday Avenue and on El Camino Real between Marron Road and Chestnut Avenue to minimize traffic delays during the day.  
• The work will be noisy at times, so we appreciate your patience while we do the work to maintain our roadways.  
• See which roads are included in the overall project.  

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 City of Carlsbad events and activities coming up at our libraries, community centers and the Carlsbad Senior Center. 

• Cinema Club Film Friday, “The Last Black Man in San Francisco,” – Friday, Feb. 28, 4 p.m., Dove Library 
• “Silent Storytellers” exhibit – Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 5 p.m., Cannon Art Gallery (in the Dove Library complex) 
• Reel Wednesday – “Thelma” – Wednesday, March 5, showings at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library 
• Creative Crafting (Adults 50+) – Friday, March 7, 1 to 3 p.m., Carlsbad Senior Center 
• Concerts in the Courtyard – The Heart – Saturday, March 8, 5 p.m., Dove Library 

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, March 4, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Topics include: 

• A workers’ compensation settlement  
• Extending an agreement for construction management and inspection services for the city’s street resurfacing project, which was delayed by weather   
• A contract to maintain the electrical systems in city facilities, medians, parks and along trails   
• Authorizing bidding on the first phase of a project to build traffic circles and improved crosswalks at several intersections in the Barrio  
• Updating the city’s policy on e-signatures   
• A contract for repairing sidewalks throughout the city   
• A proposed ordinance to amend the unlawful camping section of the Municipal Code to address concerns about people living in vehicles as part of the city’s efforts to reduce homelessness 
• An update from the Police Department   
• City Council conference, training and professional development travel policy   

The agenda and staff reports will be available on the city’s website by Friday, Feb. 28. 

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)

Next week, we also have meetings scheduled for some of our city boards and commissions, including the Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission and Arts Commission. Commission meetings are a good opportunity to learn about upcoming city projects and in many cases, provide feedback before those projects come to the City Council.  

For example, next week’s Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission meeting will include a presentation on a project to make traffic safety improvements around Sage Creek High School as part of the city’s Safe Routes to School program. 

• Safe routes to school is one way the city is working with the community to enhance traffic safety throughout the city 
• While not every family may be close enough to their school to walk and bike, the more people who do, the better traffic will flow, and the less time will be spent waiting in school pick-up and drop-off lines.  

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.

Have a great weekend and I’ll be back next Thursday with more city news.

Geoff Patnoe

City Manager