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News from the City of Carlsbad | June 19, 2025

Increasing investments in public safety, keeping libraries open on Sundays and funding construction of Veterans Memorial Park are all part of the balanced budget the City Council adopted Tuesday for the fiscal year beginning July 1. In today’s update, I’ll share more about what’s in the budget and preview this Friday’s TGIF Concert at Stagecoach Park, the first of the season!

Now, let’s get to today’s lineup:

• City Council adopts balanced budget
• Kick off summer at TGIF concert on Friday
• New Fire Hazard Severity Zone map approved
• Update on Kelly and Park street improvements
• Create a mini mural at Art in the Village
• Community events and activities
• What’s on the agenda for your next City Council meeting

City Council adopts balanced budget

The Carlsbad City Council on Tuesday approved next fiscal year’s budget, which invests in the community’s highest priorities, sets aside money for future infrastructure needs and grows the city’s cash reserves — all while projecting a balanced budget through fiscal year 2031.

While economic uncertainty remains due to factors like low consumer confidence, tariffs and the potential for rising inflation, the city remains financially healthy today with a AAA credit rating, strong reserves and among the lowest pension debts in the region.

The General Fund operating budget for the upcoming year is $242.8 million, representing a 1.8% increase from the previous year. That increase remains well below the current inflation rate of 3.8%. The proposed spending plan would also increase the city’s General Fund reserve level beyond the required 40% to 61%, or $147 million. Last year’s budget reserve level was 55%.

Key investments and actions

Recent fires and the start of summer have underscored the need for continued investment in public safety, libraries, parks, public works and other essential services. The City Council’s adopted plan is fiscally responsible, maintains strong reserves and continues the city’s long-standing practice of planning ahead.

The adopted budget covers day-to-day services and supports key projects aligned with the City Council’s 5-Year Strategic Plan goals.

Highlights include:

• Police and fire staffing needs and a new aerial ladder fire truck to enhance emergency response, plus continued funding for fire mitigation and preparedness efforts.
• Maintaining the return of Sunday hours at the city’s Georgina Cole Library and Carlsbad City Library on Dove Lane, which began May 18.
• Accelerating the pursuit of our sustainability goals by replacing the city’s internal combustion cars with 14 electric and 15 hybrid vehicles. This fiscal year, we’ll also switch to 100% renewable energy to power city government buildings, facilities and operations.
• Setting aside funds for construction of Veterans Memorial Park, which is anticipated to begin late in 2025. The City Council will review and consider approving the construction plans and putting the project out to bid at a future meeting. The 93.7-acre site will honor veterans for their service and celebrate the area’s natural beauty and views. It will also feature family-oriented amenities and minimize environmental impacts by maintaining over half of the land as protected habitat.

I encourage you to take a look at the budget to get more details.

Kick off summer at TGIF concert on Friday



I can’t think of a more perfect way to celebrate the start of summer than enjoying our first TGIF concert of the season on Friday, June 20, at Stagecoach Community Park. This week’s concert features the vintage country music stylings of The Highwayman Show. Get ready to sing along and stomp your boots.

Friday, June 20

Field opens at 4 p.m.

Concert starts at 6 p.m.

Stagecoach Community Park

3420 Camino De Los Coches

If you’re planning to attend, here are a few important details to keep in mind:

• There will be security checks at the entrances again this year. This video shows how they work.
• Pack a picnic (food and drink are not for sale this year), bring a low back chair or blanket, sunscreen and bug spray. Visit our website for more TGIF nuts and bolts.

Family friendly activities like pop-up art are back this year. Stop by our booth near the eastern security entrance for activities for all ages:

• Line dancing lessons before the concert begins (4:30 to 5:30 p.m.)
• Decorate your own die-cut record (4:30 to 7:30 p.m.)

Getting there

• Leave the bike parking to us.
• Consider carpooling or getting a ride from a friend or a ride share service.
• If you’re driving, free parking is available across the street at La Costa Canyon High School.

New Fire Hazard Severity Zone map approved

On Tuesday the Carlsbad City Council adopted Cal Fire’s updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone map, which classifies areas of the city that are most susceptible to wildfire. Areas are categorized as moderate, high or very high.

• In areas designated as high or very high severity, new construction must adhere to ignition-resistant building standards.
• Property sellers must disclose the zone designation in real estate sales, with inspections required.

According to Cal Fire, the map is not expected to impact insurance coverage, as insurance companies use their own risk models.

While more areas of Carlsbad are now included in higher-hazard severity zones, the map does not account for the city’s ongoing fire mitigation efforts, such as the city’s annual Hazard Reduction Program to require vegetation management on vacant parcels, brush management in the preserves and in city owned urban forests, and public outreach to help homeowners reduce fire risk.

A full-time wildfire mitigation specialist works with residents and homeowners associations to maintain defensible space. Communities are also encouraged to pursue Firewise USA recognition. This video explains how the program works:

Cal Fire’s map was last updated in 2007, and this new edition reflects updated fire hazard conditions such as vegetation, terrain and weather. Under state law, the city could not alter the map in a way that reduced the fire hazard severity zones. In cases where the map splits a building between classifications, the more severe hazard classification applies.

Update on Kelly and Park street improvements

This week the City Council also revisited options for street improvements along Kelly Drive, directing staff to explore future concepts that do not include roundabouts. Additionally, staff will move forward with near-term improvements that will:

• Remove the existing yellow ceramic domes on Kelly Drive at the intersections with Hillside Drive and Park Drive
• Enhance pedestrian crosswalks
• Repave and restripe the intersections
• Add all way stops on Kelly Drive at the intersections with Park Drive and Hillside Drive 

Next steps

• Construction is expected to occur during summer 2025 to minimize impacts to Kelly Elementary School.
• Staff will return to a future City Council meeting to present longer term options that do not include roundabouts, but still address resident concerns with speeding, safety and connectivity. 

Create a mini mural at Art in the Village

If you’re looking to combine art and outdoor fun this weekend, stop by the 27th annual Art in the Village festival on Sunday in downtown Carlsbad. Hosted by the Carlsbad Village Association, the event features more than 150 local and regional artists, along with demonstrations like glass blowing and printmaking.

City staff will be on hand at our Pop Up Art booth to help you create a colorful mini mural inspired by Clyde, the artist behind “Passengers,” a temporary mural on the west wall of New Village Arts Center at 2787 State Street. (Your mural will be on black cardstock, using liquid chalk pens.) All materials are provided.

Art in the Village

Sunday, June 22

10 a.m. to 6 p.m.



Pop Up Art: Corner of Grand Avenue and Roosevelt Street

Bike valet: Lily Field Realty parking lot, 2965 Roosevelt Street

The city is teaming up with the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition to offer a complimentary bike valet at the festival, so if you ride your bike, we’ll handle the parking. Whether you bike, walk or drive to the event, please remember to follow the rules of the road and give yourself plenty of time to get there.

Community events and activities

Here are some City of Carlsbad events and activities happening over the next several days at our libraries, community centers and the Carlsbad Senior Center.

• Cinema Club, “The Friend" – Friday, June 20, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library
• Saturday Chess Meet-Up – Saturday, June 21, 2 to 4 p.m., Library Learning Center
• Ping Pong Olympics – Wednesday, June 25, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Carlsbad Senior Center
• Reel Wednesday, “Nickel Boys" – Wednesday, June 25, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library

Find more activities and information in our city calendar, the Senior Center’s Seaside Insider newsletter and our Summer Community Services Guide.

And while you’re filling in your calendar, we have several special community events coming up later this summer, including:

• July 12: Classic Car Show at Leo Carrillo Ranch (free)
• July 19: Aloha Plunge ($15)
• Aug. 22, Aug. 29, Sept. 5: Leo Carrillo Ranch Film Festival (free, registration required starting July 1)

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

The next City Council meeting is Tuesday, June 24, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Topics on the agenda include:

• A donation from the Carlsbad Library & Arts Foundation to support a range of cultural and arts programs and activities.
• Terminating the easement that gave the city access to a small section of school property where a fire hydrant is located because the Carlsbad Unified School District will maintain the hydrant and the water lines moving forward
• An agreement to provide rental assistance and support services to people experiencing homelessness in Carlsbad, funded mostly by a federal grant
• Declaring the city-owned parking lots at The Shoppes at Carlsbad mall to be surplus property
• A legal document to ensure that a portion of the Veterans Memorial Park property will always be protected as a habitat preserve
• Agreements with pre-qualified consulting firms to support city projects on an as-needed basis over the next five years
• An agreement to mark the locations of the underground data and power lines that connect the city’s traffic signals, which is required to allow for safe excavation projects
• Awarding the contract for the first phase of a project to build traffic circles and improved crosswalks at several intersections in the Barrio
• Continuing the declaration of an emergency to make swift repairs to a damaged drainage channel west of the intersection of El Camino Real and Kelly Drive
• Appointing two members to the Beach Preservation Commission and two members to the Library Board of Trustees
• Adopting an ordinance to turn the Beach Preservation Commission into the city’s new Environmental Sustainability Commission
• Introducing an ordinance to install stop signs in all directions on Kelly Drive at the intersections with Park Drive and Hillside Drive
• An update on the city’s efforts to reduce homelessness in Carlsbad

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 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)

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.

Before I sign off, I want to take a moment to note that I’m now six months into my role as City Manager. Simply put, it’s the honor of my career. I’m so proud to work alongside such a dedicated staff and serve a community that cares so deeply about this city.

Thank you for the warm welcome and have a great first weekend of summer.



Geoff Patnoe

City Manager