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News from the City of Carlsbad | Feb. 5, 2026

A water main break on Saturday that shut down one of Carlsbad’s busiest intersections triggered a local emergency and required a highly coordinated rapid response. Today, I’ll share how city teams worked together to ensure public safety, make repairs, keep the community informed and reopen the roadway more quickly than many people thought possible.

I’ll also update you on next steps for a new city ordinance to strengthen e-bike rules in our community and highlight some recent street improvements near Kelly Elementary School that will support safer travel in the area.

Here’s the full lineup:

• City teams mobilize quickly to address water main break
• Update on federal activities in Carlsbad
• City Council to introduce e-bike safety ordinance
• More street improvements completed on Kelly Drive
• A winning game plan for Super Bowl waste
• Small Business Liaison Program expands hours and locations
• Sponsorships now available for 2026 TGIF season
• Spring classes and camps are coming soon
• Community events and activities
• What’s on the agenda for your next City Council meeting
• Weekend construction at Batiquitos Lagoon

City teams mobilize quickly to address water main break

Early Saturday morning a water main break at the intersection of Carlsbad Village Drive and El Camino Real caused significant roadway damage, including buckling pavement across six lanes in both directions and a large sinkhole.

Several of you have thanked us for getting the work done so quickly and minimizing disruptions at such a busy intersection. For those who might wonder how we did it, teamwork played a big role.

Within hours of the incident, staff from Carlsbad Municipal Water District, Public Works, Police, Fire, the City Attorney’s Office and Communication & Engagement jumped into action, assessing conditions, securing the area, alerting the community and coordinating next steps to protect public safety.

To speed up the work, the city and the Carlsbad Municipal Water District declared a local emergency Saturday afternoon.

Our city teams continued to work together throughout the day and into the night to manage traffic, carry out repairs and keep the community informed through social media updates, including on our Instagram channel.

By Sunday afternoon, several lanes were safely reopened — earlier than initially expected — and by Tuesday morning all lanes had reopened and the traffic signal was fully operational. There may be traffic delays as we finalize the last repairs to fully complete the project, which includes restriping the lanes. We will aim to complete this work during non-commute times to minimize impacts to our community. 

The water main break occurred because an old, abandoned underground pipe pressed against a newer water line, and over time, caused the pipe to crack. The old pipe has been removed to prevent this from happening again.

The CMWD team works in the community every day to test and maintain more than 457 miles of drinking water pipes across the city. As infrastructure ages, unforeseen repair needs could arise from time to time. However, our commitment to the community is that when unforeseen incidents occur, we will coordinate our resources to address repairs as quickly as possible.

We are also proactively addressing infrastructure maintenance by updating our master plan, which will inform future capital improvement projects related to infrastructure replacement and repair.

Thank you to the community for your patience and understanding as we worked to get traffic flowing again as quickly as possible. 

Update on federal activities in Carlsbad



In December our City Council requested an informational update by the Carlsbad Police Chief to share observations specific to recent federal activities in the City of Carlsbad and provide a clear explanation of what Carlsbad Police can and cannot do related to federal law enforcement activities. On Tuesday, the Police Chief and Senior Assistant City Attorney presented that update to the City Council.

I invite you to watch the full discussion on the item at this week’s City Council meeting. I also want to be clear, as stated several times by our Police Chief Christie Calderwood, the Carlsbad Police Department follows Senate Bill 54, which outlines a clear separation between local law enforcement responsibilities and federal immigration enforcement. Therefore, Carlsbad Police do not engage in federal immigration enforcement activities. Our Police remain committed to ensuring the safety and trust of our community.

We understand our community has questions and I want to thank all the community members who took time to write in or came in person to express their concerns. The update was designed to clear up confusion, address questions we’ve received over the last several weeks, as well as questions from community members that were asked during the meeting.

Watch a recording of the full discussion at this week’s City Council meeting.

Next steps for e-bike safety rules

At its meeting in December 2025, the City Council directed staff to develop an ordinance (city law) outlining several new e-bike safety rules. As the next step in the process, the Carlsbad City Council will consider the new ordinance at its meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 10.

Carlsbad City Council meeting

Tuesday, Feb. 10, 5 p.m.

City Council Chamber

1200 Carlsbad Village Drive

The agenda and staff report for the City Council meeting will be available on the city’s website by Friday, Feb. 6.

The new rules, combined with existing state law, could allow the city to:

• Set a minimum age of 12 to ride e-bikes
• Clarify unsafe riding behavior, equipment requirements and parent responsibility
• Impound e-motorcycles, which are not street legal, and e-bikes that are being ridden recklessly
• Prohibit e-bikes at Poinsettia and Pine Avenue community parks based on police service calls and community feedback

What happens next

Before the new rules go into effect, state law requires a few specific steps to be completed. Here’s how that timeline could look:

• Feb. 10: City Council introduces the ordinance
• Feb. 24: City Council considers adopting the ordinance
• Feb. 25: The city would launch a 30-day public information campaign to raise awareness before the new rules take effect
• March 26: New laws would take effect, beginning with a 60-day warning period
• May 25: 60-day warning period ends

The city will continue to share updates throughout this process. Sign up to receive emails with the latest information.

More street improvements completed on Kelly Drive

The City of Carlsbad recently completed additional street improvements to enhance safety and reduce traffic congestion near Kelly Elementary School:

• Creating a new pick-up/drop-off queue lane to improve access to the school and reduce traffic back-ups.
• Restriping the existing median on Kelly Drive in front of Kelly Elementary School to discourage left turns from the parking lot.

The City Council approved these changes during its meeting on Dec. 9, 2025, and staff got to work quickly to complete construction during the school’s winter break. Watch this video to see the new improvements.

More street improvements are in the works for this area. The city will begin work soon to develop a Safe Routes to School plan in collaboration with Kelly Elementary School and the neighboring community.

Safe Routes to School plans create opportunities for city staff to work closely with students, parents, school officials and residents to gain a better understanding of the needs and priorities of the surrounding community. We expect this work to begin this spring, and the plan will take about one year to develop.

Sign up to receive email updates on the project and to be notified when there are opportunities for input.

A winning game plan for Super Bowl waste

This Sunday is the Super Bowl, and for many households that means snacks, drinks and gathering around the TV. It can also mean a lot of waste. With a few simple choices, you can keep game-day trash to a minimum and make sure everything ends up in the right cart.

Compost food scraps and soiled paper

Use the green cart for food scraps, pizza crusts (and boxes), avocado peels, napkins and paper towels. Composting food waste helps reduce landfill methane and keeps organic material in use.

Recycle bottles, cans and clean paper

Put empty bottles and cans in the blue cart, along with clean paper and cardboard. Make sure containers are empty and free of food or liquids before tossing them in. Keeping recycling clean helps prevent contamination and ensures materials can be processed properly.

Keep food and liquids out of your blue recycling cart

Food and liquids are the biggest opponents of good recycling. If an item is dirty, greasy or you’re unsure, keep it out of the blue cart. When in doubt, it’s better to place something in the trash than contaminate an entire load of recycling.

Trash the items that don’t make the cut

Some items can’t be recycled or composted. Plastic wrap, chip bags and foam containers should go in the trash cart. Reducing these items when possible helps limit what ends up in the landfill.

Never pour fats, oils or grease down the sink or drain. Let them cool, collect them in a sealed container and place them in the trash to help protect sewer lines.

Extra tips for a more sustainable game day

A few small plays can make a difference:

• Use reusable plates, cups and utensils instead of disposables.
• Set up clearly labeled bins to make sorting easy for guests.
• Choose drinks in recyclable containers and skip single-use plastics when possible.
• Save leftovers to reduce food waste after the game.

Making the right calls at home helps keep waste programs working and supports a cleaner community long after the final whistle.

Small Business Liaison Program expands hours and locations

Following a strong community response since launching in July 2025, the city’s Small Business Liaison Program is expanding. The program offers one-on-one access to the city’s Economic Development team to help answer questions, navigate city processes and address business-related needs.

The Economic Development team has partnered with the Carlsbad Village Association to host monthly office hours with city staff, creating additional opportunities to connect with people who are starting a business or planning their next steps in Carlsbad.

Who can schedule a one-on-one appointment

• Anyone interested in starting a business in Carlsbad
• Existing businesses planning to expand or relocate
• Business owners with operational or regulatory questions

Expanded hours and locations


Dove Library

1775 Dove Lane

Every Tuesday

9 to 11 a.m.

30-minute appointments

Carlsbad Village Association

2695 State St.

First Wednesday of each month

9 to 11 a.m.

30-minute appointments

Visit the city’s website to make an appointment or learn more.

Sponsorships now available for 2026 TGIF season

The City of Carlsbad invites local businesses to take part in our most popular community event, the TGIF Concerts in the Parks summer series.

Our nationally recognized TGIF concerts are exciting, high-visibility events that attract thousands of community members from Carlsbad and neighboring cities, including families, young adults and active older adults.

Sponsorship opportunities

Several sponsorship levels are available to provide enhanced brand visibility and the chance to connect with the community through:

• Event signs and banners
• Mentions on the city’s website and social media channels
• Shoutouts onstage by the event announcer

Spring classes and camps coming soon 

Spring is right around the corner and we’ve got a wide variety of programs planned to help you enjoy it. Mark your calendars because registration for our spring classes and camps opens next week on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 8 a.m.

You can find the full schedule in our Spring Community Services Guide, but here are a few highlights:

• Dance: Teen and adult ballet, line dancing
• Martial arts: Karate
• Mind, body and wellness: Yoga, tai-chi, aerobics
• Special interest: Sewing, babysitting, painting
• Sports: Tennis, volleyball, basketball, pickleball
• Sports leagues: Kickball, basketball
• Spring break camps: Offered April 6 to 10

New this year

• 6v6 coed adult volleyball: Open to all skill levels. Fun, active and competitive
• Youth volleyball: Build volleyball fundamentals with skill-based instruction, team play and fun challenges
• Calavera men's hoops: Weekly, high-energy games, no full league commitment

View the full list

Community events and activities

Speaking of fun things to do, here are some of the community events and activities happening soon at our city libraries, community centers and the Carlsbad Senior Center:

• Cinema Club Friday: "Inspector Ike" – Friday, Feb. 6, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library
• Lunar New Year Celebration – Saturday, Feb. 7, 1 to 4 p.m., Carlsbad Library Learning Center
• Courtyard Concert: Ancora – Monday, Feb. 9, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Carlsbad Senior Center
• Reel Wednesday: "Something New" – Wednesday, Feb. 11, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library

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

The next City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, Feb. 10, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Topics include:

• Monthly update on how the city’s investments are performing
• The results of the city’s annual financial audit for the last fiscal year
• An agreement to provide financial services for potable water, recycled water and wastewater
• Confirming the emergency declared after a water main break at the intersection of Carlsbad Village Drive and El Camino Real
• Continuing the declaration of a storm-related local emergency to make repairs to a damaged storm drain in the coastal bluffs along Carlsbad Boulevard
• Approving the county’s request to use Carlsbad’s community centers as voting centers in the 2026 elections
• City Council requested change to the Community-Police Engagement Commission’s meeting schedule
• New e-bike regulations, including restrictions at Pine Avenue and Poinsettia community parks
• Annual work plans for the Environmental Sustainability Commission and the Investment Review Board

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 to clerk@carlsbadca.gov by 2 p.m. the day of 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) 

Several other city boards and commissions are scheduled to meet next week, including the Parks & Recreation Commission, Housing Commission and the City Council’s Legislative Subcommittee.

Board and commission meetings are livestreamed on the city’s website and available to watch afterward. See the full meeting schedule on our city calendar. 

Weekend construction at Batiquitos Lagoon

Before I close, just a note that Caltrans and SANDAG Build NCC crews will continue working at the Batiquitos Lagoon in Carlsbad on some weekends in February and March as construction continues on a project to replace the rail bridge. The project will also result in additional sand placed on nearby beaches.

The weekend work will take place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with activity in the Carlsbad right-of-way beginning after 8 a.m., on the following days:

• Saturday, February 7, 21, 28
• Saturday, March 7
• Sunday, March 8

If you’re in the area, you might hear construction noise and vehicle backup alarms, and see equipment stored along the railroad tracks. While not planned right now, the contractor may need to work additional Saturdays to keep the project on schedule. You can learn more on Build NCC’s project webpage.

Thanks and have a great weekend!



Geoff Patnoe

City Manager