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News from the City of Carlsbad | Jan. 8, 2026

Keeping our community safe is always our top priority. After recent storms caused damage to storm drain infrastructure within state-owned bluffs near Carlsbad Boulevard and Solamar Drive, yesterday the city proclaimed a local emergency to help accelerate repairs and reduce future risk of further erosion.



In today’s update, I’ll share more on repair plans and what to know if you’re traveling through the area.

Here’s the full lineup:

• City proclaims storm-related local state of emergency
• Work begins to install more lighting in the Barrio
• New turf coming soon to Poinsettia Community Park
• What to do with bulky items and e-waste
• Upcoming community events and activities
• Weekend rail closure
• What’s on the agenda for your next City Council meeting

City proclaims storm-related local state of emergency

Yesterday, we proclaimed a storm-related local state of emergency to accelerate repairs to storm drain infrastructure damaged by recent storms. Here’s a map of where the damaged storm drain is located in the coastal bluffs along Carlsbad Boulevard, north of Solamar Drive. You can also watch this video we shared on our social media channels for a closer look.

By proclaiming a local state of emergency, the city can move more quickly to address the issue by streamlining contracting and permitting processes and reduce potential risks.

• The bluff area land is owned and monitored by California State Parks, and portions of the site were previously restricted due to erosion concerns.
• More recently, city staff observed additional erosion near the same general area.
• Out of an abundance of caution, the city placed barriers and caution tape to prevent public access. 

After further investigation, the city determined recent rainstorm events have impacted the integrity of a city storm drain pipe and expedited repairs are needed to restore the pipe’s integrity.


Timeline for repairs

Repairs are anticipated to begin by next week and take several weeks to complete. In the meantime, members of the community are encouraged to take caution and avoid the area.

Once construction begins, an alternate walkway around the affected area will be widened for public use. Fencing and signs will be posted diverting the public to the coming alternate walking path.

The action follows the Governor’s Dec. 24, 2025, emergency proclamation related to severe storms impacting San Diego County and other areas across the state.

Next steps

The emergency proclamation went into effect immediately and will be in place until next Tuesday’s City Council meeting, when the City Council will consider whether or not to ratify it. If ratified, the emergency proclamation would then need to be reviewed by the City Council at subsequent City Council meetings until the City Council ends the local state of emergency.

We’ll continue to monitor conditions and provide updates as more information becomes available. Thank you for helping keep our community safe.

Storm impacts: Keeping Carlsbad safe

As with our storm-related local emergency, during any rain event – not just emergencies – city crews are always closely monitoring all conditions and areas throughout the city. Whether its streets, storm drains, downed trees or closed fields, in the last week alone our teams have been busy keeping our residents safe from the storm by:

• Keeping sandbags supplied at four locations throughout the city
• Quickly restoring traffic signal outages
• Removing downed trees from roadways and sidewalks
• Repairing nearly 30 potholes last week alone that surfaced due to weather to maintain road safety

These are just a few highlights of all of the work that takes place behind the scenes. We work as quickly as possible to minimize weather impacts for our residents and keep you informed of hazards. For all weather-related events, you can stay informed on our city website and social media channels, and of course report any storm impacts on our city app, Carlsbad Connects.

Work begins to install more lighting in the Barrio

Several infrastructure improvements are scheduled to start construction this year in the Barrio, including pedestrian lighting improvements, traffic safety measures and a project to replace water and sewer pipelines. 

First to start construction is a project to install more than 100 new lights next to sidewalks throughout the Barrio.

The city gathered input from the community in early 2022 to help determine where new pedestrian lights are needed in the Barrio. Community feedback, combined with technical analysis and availability of power connections helped determine where the lights will be located. 

If you’re in the area, here’s what you can expect: 

• Construction hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. (no work will occur on city holidays).
• Some sidewalks will be temporarily closed. We will set up pedestrian detours and clearly mark them with signs.
• Temporary parking restrictions will be in place near active construction areas. 
• Temporary lane closures may also be needed at some locations. Please drive carefully and give yourself extra time to get where you need to go.
• Temporary power outages may be needed at some locations. If power outages are needed, SDG&E will notify residents and businesses in advance. 
• This kind of construction can create noise and dust. 
• Access to homes and businesses will be maintained.

Door hanger notifications will be distributed to nearby homes and businesses a few days before work begins at each location. Construction on the lighting improvements is expected to be complete this fall.

Barrio traffic calming and utilities improvements

We also anticipate starting construction this spring to install traffic calming measures and replace aging water and sewer pipelines in the Barrio. The City Council approved the plans for the project in November 2025 and authorized staff to advertise for construction bids. The City Council is scheduled to consider awarding the construction contract at its meeting on Jan. 27.

Sign up for email updates to get the latest news on these projects and other projects planned in the Village and Barrio.



Thank you for your patience during construction. A lot of work is planned in the Barrio this year, and we know construction can cause inconveniences. We will notify residents and businesses about construction in advance and work as quickly as possible to limit impacts. 

New turf coming soon to Poinsettia Community Park

If you’ve spent time at Poinsettia Community Park, you know the large multi-purpose athletic field sees a lot of action. Starting Monday, Jan. 12, that field will be temporarily closed as the city begins a turf replacement project designed to keep it in good shape for years to come.

Construction is expected to take about two months, weather permitting, with work scheduled during the winter to help reduce conflicts with peak field use.

During construction, visitors can expect the following impacts:

• The large multi-purpose athletic field will be closed to all uses from Jan. 12 through mid-March
• Parking spaces on the west and north sides of the parking lot will be closed for equipment and material staging
• The pedestrian walking path on the north side of the field will be closed
• The arena soccer field will remain accessible via the south pedestrian path

Construction hours will be:

• Monday through Friday, except city holidays
• 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Poinsettia Community Park athletic field was originally converted from natural grass to synthetic turf in 2004 and last replaced in 2015. After years of heavy use, the existing turf is nearing the end of its useful life. This project includes removing and recycling the existing turf materials, preparing the subsurface and installing new synthetic turf.

The field will be replaced with new synthetic turf designed to reduce health and environmental concerns raised about certain synthetic turf products. It will not use crumb rubber pellets as infill between the turf blades and is made without added PFAs, a type of “forever chemical” often used in manufacturing.

The City Council approved the project plans in October and approved the construction contract in November, allowing the project to move forward. Rain or other weather conditions may result in temporary delays, and updates will be shared if the schedule changes.

What to do with bulky items and e-waste

As you continue cleaning up for the new year, you may find that some items won’t fit neatly into a recycling bin or your car. If you can’t donate, sell or repair an item, Republic Services provides options for both bulky household items and electronic waste as part of residents’ regular waste service bill.

Electronic waste collection

• Schedule through Republic Services by calling 760-332-6464
• Residents receive three e-waste pickups per year with up to five items collected each time
• Common items include TVs, monitors, computers and other electronics with a plug
• Electronics should not be placed in the trash or curbside recycling carts

Bulky item pickup

• Schedule by calling 760-332-6464
• Residents receive three bulky item pickups per year with up to five items collected per pickup
• Best for items that can’t be reused, donated or easily transported

Before you schedule a bulky item collection

Please ensure your item is eligible for pickup. Examples of bulky items are appliances (including refrigerators), furniture, carpet and mattresses. They are also:

• Too large to fit in a curbside cart
• Weigh less than 200 pounds

Together, these services make it easier to start the year with less clutter while handling unwanted items responsibly

Community events and activities

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: "The Double" – Friday, Jan. 9, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library
• Saturday Concert in the Courtyard: Ethan Kalberg – Saturday, Jan. 10, 5 to 6 p.m., Dove Library
• Courtyard Concert: Gunnar & Zo – Monday, Jan. 12, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Carlsbad Senior Center
• Reel Wednesday: "While You Were Sleeping" – Wednesday, Jan. 14, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library

No coastal rail service this weekend

The North County Transit District has announced there will be no rail service this Saturday and Sunday between the Oceanside Transit Center and Santa Fe Depot in San Diego due to routine maintenance and rail infrastructure work. Another closure is planned for the weekend of Jan. 24 and 25. 

You can learn more on the NCTD website. 

Upcoming city meetings

The next City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, Jan. 13, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Topics include: 

• Monthly update on how the city’s investments are performing
• The city’s agreements with the Carlsbad City Employees’ Association and the Carlsbad Firefighters Association 
• Award of contract for construction of the Elm and Skyline steel reservoir coating project
• A change to the project to repair or replace worn-out valves in the CMWD’s water distribution system to include two additional sites 
• Authorizing bids on a project to replace streetlight bulbs with LEDs across the city 
• Ratifying the proclamation of a storm-related local emergency to make swift repairs to a damaged storm drain in the coastal bluffs along Carlsbad Boulevard north of Solamar Drive
• The contract to supply pool chemicals for the Monroe Street Pool and the Alga Norte Aquatic Center
• A contract to temporarily provide building inspection services until the city selects a new city building official 
• Extending the agreements for state grants that fund the city’s efforts to move people living in encampments into stabler and more permanent housing 
• A donation from a longtime library user’s estate that will support services for homebound patrons, including book delivery and accessible materials
• Appointing one member to the Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee Citizens’ Advisory Committee, which recommends grants from development fees for projects that improve the environment and preserve agricultural uses in the coastal area
• Appointing one new member to the Housing Commission and one new member to the Senior Commission
• The annual review of elected officials’ compensation, which is required each January by the Carlsbad Municipal Code
• Adopting an ordinance to install stop signs in all directions at the intersection of State Street and Laguna Drive 
• City Council assignments to regional agencies and City Council subcommittees

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)

The City Council Legislative Subcommittee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, Jan. 13, at 9 a.m. See the full meeting schedule on our city calendar. Just like City Council meetings, board and commission meetings are also livestreamed on the city’s website and available to watch afterward. 

I hope your 2026 is off to a wonderful start. Thanks for reading!

Geoff Patnoe

City Manager