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News from the City of Carlsbad | June 11, 2026

This week, I’ll update you on the action the City Council took on Tuesday to advance our proactive Wildfire Mitigation Plan.

I’ll also preview the first TGIF concert of the year set for June 19 and share the new designs on light poles in the Village and some of our other popular areas commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence.

Here’s the full lineup:

• Carlsbad takes proactive steps to address potential fire risk
• TGIF Concerts in the Parks start next week
• Chestnut underpass art design approved
• Help shape veterans recognition at Veterans Memorial Park
• Proactive action on sewer repairs completed
• New signs to help protect habitat
• Carlsbad banner program expands with America’s 250th anniversary tribute
• Meet the artists of “alchemy + light”
• Community events and activities 
• What’s on the agenda for your next City Council meeting

Carlsbad takes proactive steps to address potential fire risk

On Tuesday, the Carlsbad City Council received the first phase of the city’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan and approved using that information to develop a comprehensive Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

• The City Council authorized the development of a Wildfire Mitigation Plan last year as part of a series of additional actions to proactively protect the community from wildfire.
• The Wildfire Mitigation Plan is designed to guide city efforts to better protect life and property and help ensure that the city’s wildfire safety efforts align with applicable state and federal requirements along with local environmental regulations.
• The plan identifies a range of mitigation options, including vegetation management strategies, and outlines the process necessary to meet applicable environmental compliance requirements as those measures are evaluated and implemented.

On top of the Wildfire Mitigation Plan, the city is also currently mitigating wildfire risk. In 2025, the City Council approved more than $1.4 million in one-time funding for wildfire mitigation efforts, including brush management and fuel reduction in our city’s preserves and in city-owned urban forests such as Hosp Grove, as well as vegetation management and invasive species removal. The funding last year also included the development of the Wildfire Mitigation Plan.

Wildfire Mitigation Plan Phase 1 findings

On Tuesday, city staff presented the findings from the initial phase of the Wildfire Mitigation Plan.

Staff reported that wildfire risk in Carlsbad is increasing due to a combination of factors, including expanded State of California Fire Hazard Severity Zones, vegetation growth in open space areas and the potential for wind-driven wildfire behavior. The assessment also confirmed that wildfire risk is not limited to homes located immediately adjacent to open space and, in some cases, can extend farther into the community through interconnected open space corridors.

The report identified three key findings:

1. Like much of California, Carlsbad faces wildfire risk and exposure
2. Additional vegetation management and defensible space improvements are needed
3. Environmental and regulatory considerations must be carefully balanced as future mitigation projects are evaluated.

Next step: The Community Wildfire Protection Plan

The city will now use the information from Phase 1 of the Wildfire Mitigation Plan to develop Phase 2, the Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Doing so will bring together fire professionals, environmental experts, planners, legal advisors, regulatory agencies, land managers, and community stakeholders to identify practical and achievable solutions.

The goal is to develop strategies that improve defensible space, reduce wildfire risk, and strengthen community resilience while maintaining compliance with environmental requirements and preserving the natural resources that are important to our community.

The Community Wildfire Protection Plan will provide a community-informed framework for prioritizing mitigation efforts, aligning stakeholders and developing an actionable implementation strategy that integrates technical analysis with public input. Developing the plan is expected to take 9 to 12 months.

While that work moves forward, the city will continue the wildfire risk reduction measures already underway, including annual hazard reduction activities, brush clearance on city-owned properties, courtesy defensible space inspections, Firewise USA support, community education and preparedness outreach, and the use of ALERTCalifornia wildfire cameras during emergencies.

TGIF Concerts in the Parks start next week



One of Carlsbad’s favorite traditions, the TGIF summer concert series, is back in action next Friday, June 19, featuring country music group, The Pistol Blonde.

It’s the first of nine summer concerts where you can get together with friends, family and neighbors to enjoy live music. Now is a great time to start planning which concerts you want to attend, so keep reading to see who’s playing, how to get there and what to expect.

Bands and dates 

The gates open at 4 p.m. with concerts from 6 to 8 p.m.  

Stagecoach Community Park 

• June 19, The Pistol Blonde (country)
• June 26, Chunky Hustle Brass Band (brass band)
• July 10, Dance Dance Evolution (dance band/top 40)
• July 17, Harbor Party (yacht rock)

Calavera Hills Community Park 

• July 24, Sabrosas Latin Orchestra (Latin/salsa)
• July 31, 90s Rockshow (90s alternative rock)
• Aug. 7, B.I.G. (R&B/funk)

Alga Norte Community Park 

• Aug. 14, FlashPants (80s)
• Aug. 21, Daring Greatly (rock and soul)

Pop-up art and activities

Family-friendly activities are back this year at every concert, including dance lessons, crafts and community artwork. Check each date on the TGIF concerts webpage to see what’s planned.

Security screening and what you can bring

Security screening stations will be set up at the concert venue entrances, similar to the setup in the last two years.

• There will be multiple entrances to reduce wait times. 
• Security personnel will check bags and use handheld wands to check for weapons and other items not allowed at the concerts, like drones and fireworks. 
• Bottle openers, utensils and other culinary items are allowed. (Packing a picnic is encouraged!)
• See more security details, including a list of items you can bring and what’s not allowed. This video shows how the process works.

Getting there

•  A free shuttle will be available for Alga Norte and Calavera Hills concerts.
• Stagecoach concertgoers can park across the street at La Costa Canyon High School.
• Bike valet service will return for all concerts, free of charge.
• Learn more about transportation options.

Our TGIF concerts webpage has all the details, including maps and some frequently asked questions.

Sign up to get email updates about TGIF Concerts in the Parks. 

Chestnut underpass art design approved

On Tuesday, the City Council approved the final design for public art at the Chestnut Avenue I-5 underpass, marking the next step in bringing permanent artwork to one of the main entrances to the Barrio.

The artwork will be installed on all four exterior corners of the underpass and feature layered, sculptural panels inspired by plants that reflect Carlsbad’s coastal setting, agricultural history and community identity.

The final design was shaped by community input, Arts Commission feedback and coordination with Caltrans on maintenance and safety. Based on the feedback received, the artist team made updates that include adding more color and variation, locally meaningful plants, coastal references and stronger connections to the Barrio’s history and culture.

The Harding Street side of the underpass will feature bird-of-paradise, Matilija poppy, white sage and opuntia plants. The Pio Pico Drive side will feature poinsettia, ranunculus, California poppy and freesia.

Next steps

• The city will submit the design to Caltrans through the Transportation Art Proposal process, which is required for artwork in the underpass area.
• If Caltrans approves the design, the city will develop a fabrication contract with the artist team, Greenmeme.
• The fabrication contract will return to the City Council for approval before fabrication begins.

Help shape veterans recognition at Veterans Memorial Park

Recognizing and honoring those who have served our country will be one of the most important aspects of the future Veterans Memorial Park.

Earlier this year, the City Council formed an ad hoc Veterans Memorial Park Veterans Recognition Subcommittee to gather input from veterans, nonprofit veteran organizations and community members on ways to recognize veterans at the park. After that input is received, the subcommittee will then return to the full City Council with its recommendations.

The subcommittee will hold three meetings this year:

• Tuesday, June 30, 10 a.m.
• Wednesday, July 29, 5 p.m.
• Wednesday, Sept. 30, 5 p.m.

All meetings will take place in the City Council Chamber, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive.

The subcommittee’s work will focus on additional ways to recognize veterans at the park, such as through commemorative pavers or similar memorial elements. Veterans Memorial Park already includes a Veterans Memorial Plaza designed to honor all six branches of the U.S. Military. The subcommittee will explore whether additional recognition elements should be incorporated into the park through a potential donation-based program or other approach.

How to participate

Community members can share input by:

• Attending a meeting and speaking during public comment
• Emailing written comments in advance to clerk@carlsbadca.gov

How to watch

Meetings will be livestreamed on the city’s website, and recordings will be available to watch after each meeting.

As a reminder, Veterans Memorial Park will be the largest park in Carlsbad and the city’s first dedicated place to recognize and honor the nation’s veterans. Located near Faraday Avenue and Cannon Road, the 93.7-acre park will include:

• Veterans Memorial Plaza
• Public art
• Trails and viewpoints
• Picnic areas
• Playgrounds
• Open recreational spaces
• A bike park
• Protected habitat preserve areas

Construction is expected to begin this summer and take about two years to complete.

Proactive action on sewer repairs completed

On Tuesday, the City Council officially terminated the local emergency that allowed us to expedite repairs – now completed – to a small section of sewer pipe in the Ponto area.

This project highlights why we invest in regular inspections and ongoing maintenance in the City of Carlsbad. The pipe, near Poinsettia Lane and Avenida Encinas, was identified during a routine sewer inspection earlier this spring. There was no leak or impact to service, but the pipe could have failed under heavy rain or other stress. That’s why we took proactive steps to prevent a larger issue.



As infrastructure ages, unforeseen repair needs can arise from time to time. Our commitment to the community is that when unforeseen incidents occur, we will coordinate our resources to make repairs as quickly as possible.

New signs to help protect habitat

While we’re talking about city maintenance projects, I want to share a good example of the kind of ongoing work that often happens quietly around the city but makes a difference in how we care for Carlsbad’s natural areas.

The city is updating signs at protected habitat areas around Carlsbad to make them easier to read, more visible and more consistent across city-managed preserves.

Staff have identified over a hundred regulatory “no trespassing” signs to replace at 16 preserves. The signs help remind people to stay on designated trails, avoid dumping trash and leave plants and other natural resources undisturbed.

A recent resident inquiry about a faded sign near Poinsettia Park Preserve helped call attention to this broader effort. Staff reviewed similar signs around the city and found opportunities to improve consistency, placement and visibility across the preserve system.

Carlsbad’s preserves are home to sensitive habitat areas that support native plants and wildlife. Keeping people out of protected areas is one way the city helps ensure these spaces while still providing opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy nearby trails.

The new signs use consistent language and clearer design. Staff are also reviewing where signs are placed, focusing on preserve perimeters, existing trail connections and areas where trespassing is more likely to occur.

In some cases, signs that had been placed at trailheads will be moved to nearby areas so the message is clear: Visitors are welcome to enjoy the city’s trail network, but protected habitat areas should remain undisturbed.

This work is underway and will continue around town in the coming weeks.

Carlsbad banner program expands with America’s 250th anniversary tribute 

As you stroll through the Village, or other high-traffic shopping and business areas throughout the city, you have likely noticed the seasonal banner program, which brings iconic images and the beauty of Carlsbad to thematic banners affixed to light poles across the city.

• This year-round program is managed by the Carlsbad Village Association, and this year, the banner program includes a special addition.
• This year, in partnership with the city, the Carlsbad Village Association has introduced commemorative banners honoring the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The flag banner program celebrates this historic milestone while enhancing the visual character of the city. In total, 85 banners displayed throughout the city feature the new designs specially created to recognize the nation’s semiquincentennial. 

This collaborative effort highlights Carlsbad’s commitment to honoring history while continuing to create a vibrant and welcoming community environment.

Meet the artists of “alchemy + light” 

Go behind the lens with the artists of “alchemy + light” during a free panel discussion on Wednesday, June 17, at the Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium.

Artists featured in the exhibition will discuss their creative processes, artistic influences and current projects. Guests are encouraged to arrive early to explore “alchemy + light” at the Cannon Art Gallery, which will remain open until 7 p.m.

The exhibition features more than 90 works by seven photographers from North County. All are women whose work explores a range of traditional and experimental photographic techniques.

Meet the Artists

Wednesday, June 17 

7 to 8 p.m.

Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium

1775 Dove Lane 

If you can’t make it to this event, don’t worry. The gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday, and more events to interact with the artists are in the works.

Community events and activities

Here are some more activities and events happening soon at our city libraries, community centers and the Carlsbad Senior Center:

• Community Friendship Builders, Friday, June 12, 11 a.m. to noon, Carlsbad Senior Center
• Cinema Club Friday: "Paper Marriage" – Friday, June 12, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library
• Fixit Clinic: From Kitchen to Garden – Saturday, June 13, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dove Library
• Front Row Saturday: San Diego Chamber Music Society – Saturday, June 13, 5 to 6 p.m., Dove Library
• Reel Wednesday: "How to Train Your Dragon" – Wednesday, June 17, 4 p.m., Dove Library 

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

The next City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, June 16, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Topics include: 

• Agreement with the County of San Diego for participation in the California Identification System Remote Access Network
• The annual report confirming the Fire Department has completed all of its state-mandated annual fire inspections for fiscal year 2024-25
• An agreement with the San Diego County Water Authority to use a site it controls for potential use during the groundbreaking event for Veterans Memorial Park
• Adjusting the special tax on properties in Community Facilities District No. 1, which helps pay for certain city projects and facilities. The tax is adjusted each year based on an index of inflation. 
• Adopting an ordinance to make updates to the city's regulations on local massage businesses
• Adopting the fiscal year 2026-27 city budget 

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) 

See the full meeting schedule on our city calendar.  

As you could see, this was one of my longer updates. We have a lot going on in Carlsbad and I didn't want to wait to get it out. Thanks for reading and have a great weekend! 



Geoff Patnoe 

City Manager