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News from the City of Carlsbad | June 25, 2026

Summer is officially underway in Carlsbad, and that was especially apparent at the first TGIF summer concert of the season last Friday at Stagecoach Park. Thanks to everyone who kicked off the festivities! I’m sharing more details on this Friday’s concert in today’s update.  

Before I get to that, I want to make sure you see this video, highlighting three success stories from our grant-funded program to address homeless encampments along State Route 78, in partnership with the City of Oceanside. I’ll recap our semi-annual report on efforts to address homelessness below. Here's the full lineup: 



• Kick off the weekend with a brass band and swing lessons at TGIF 
• Semi-annual report on homelessness 
• New stop signs and traffic safety improvements coming soon 
• Carlsbad earns top marks for water quality 
• Summer Reading Adventure nears halfway point 
• Hear from best-selling author Lisa See 
• Make your own art at Art in the Village   
• Community events and activities 
• Upcoming city meetings 
• Recognizing Juneteenth in Carlsbad 

Kick off the weekend with a brass band and swing lessons at TGIF 

Thanks to everyone who helped us start the TGIF summer concert season off right last Friday! We’ll be back at Stagecoach Community Park tomorrow to showcase The Chunky Hustle Brass Band’s sweet sounds, ranging from ska to bombastic brass pop covers. 

Friday, June 26 

Field opens at 4 p.m. 

Concert starts at 6 p.m. 

Stagecoach Community Park 

3420 Camino de los Coches 

As part of this lively community concert experience, you can jump and jive with swing lessons from McCann Dance from 5 to 5:45 p.m., or create whimsical garden fairy doors at our pop-up art booth from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. 

Heading to the show? Here are a few helpful tips: 

• Stagecoach Community Park concerts have free parking across the street at La Costa Canyon High School. You can also check your bicycle for free with our bike valet. It works like a coat check for bicycles. 
• If you’d like to set up early, you’re welcome to bring blankets and low-back chairs (which sit lower than 8 inches from the ground) to set up for a group starting at 4 p.m. Please only take the space that you need. Seating is limited. 
• Please leave your pets at home (service animals are welcome) 

Semi-annual report on homelessness

The city is making steady progress in its efforts to reduce homelessness and its impacts on the community, according to data in the latest semi-annual report provided to the City Council on Tuesday.  

The semi-annual report reflects data from the first six months of the fiscal year, July through December 2025. During that time period:   

• 74 people experiencing homelessness moved into housing through city-funded programs 
• 150 at-risk individuals received homelessness prevention assistance, a 23% increase  
• Fire Department calls for service related to homelessness decreased 31%   
• Police Department community-initiated calls related to homelessness decreased 49% 
• 521 individuals were connected to services   

This data shows that we continue to have fewer community members calling Police and Fire for homelessness-related concerns. 

At the same time, we are continuing to see more people experiencing homelessness in Carlsbad for the first time. This trend indicates a shift in who is becoming homeless, not an overall increase in the total population. To address this challenge, the city continues to increase homelessness prevention and diversion services that help residents remain housed or quickly resolve housing crises before they lead to homelessness. 

The city’s grant-funded outreach program focused on the Village area around City Hall, Holiday Park and Pine Park has exceeded projected outcomes a year early. Since that grant started in 2023, we’ve served 465 people, helped 135 people into temporary shelters and transitioned 77 people into permanent housing. 

Addressing encampments along State Route 78 

Another grant-funded partnership with the City of Oceanside to address encampments along the State Route 78 corridor is also seeing impactful results. 

Since the program began in spring 2025, it has served 126 people and helped 75 people move into permanent housing. More than 90% of people contacted through the effort accepted assistance and transitioned into housing or supportive services. 

Watch this video to see how outreach teams are helping to connect people with housing and support services. 

View the full report

New stop signs and traffic safety improvements coming soon 

The Carlsbad City Council approved three new all-way stops and a neighborhood traffic calming project during its meeting on Tuesday.  

After analyzing speed data, along with traffic volumes and patterns, city staff recommended new all-way stops and speed cushions to help improve pedestrian access, make it easier for cars to turn onto busy streets and reduce speeding. 

New all-way stops will be installed this summer at the following intersections: 

• Batiquitos Drive and Aviara Drive 
• Camino de los Coches and La Costa Avenue 
• Tamarack Avenue and Sunnyhill Drive 

The neighborhood traffic calming project on Unicornio Street will include two speed cushions between El Fuerte Street and Rancho Cortes, which will be installed this fall. 

Carlsbad earns top marks for water quality 

Providing clean, safe and reliable drinking water is one of the core services identified in the Carlsbad City Council’s 5-Year Strategic Plan. While it might seem simple that water flows when you turn on the tap, a lot happens behind the scenes to make sure that water meets the highest standards every time. 

The Carlsbad Municipal Water District recently released its annual water quality report, which shows it’s continuing to meet or exceed all state and federal drinking water standards. Every summer, water districts are required to publish detailed reports on drinking water quality. 

This year's report covers 2025 and includes: 

• Detailed water quality test results 
• Information about where our drinking water comes from 
• Conservation tips to help residents use water wisely 
• Contact information for local, state and federal water agencies 

Staff continually test water quality for a variety of potential contaminants and monitor stored water to always keep it safe and reliable. 

The Carlsbad Municipal Water District operates as part of the City of Carlsbad, delivering water to about 85% of the city. The Olivenhain Municipal Water District serves the southern part of the city, and the Vallecitos Water District serves the southeastern area. Find your water district. 

View the 2025 Water Quality Report 

Summer Reading Adventure nears halfway point

The Summer Reading Adventure is already approaching the halfway point, but readers of all ages can still sign up. The adventure is a fun way to discover new books and take part in activities designed to spark curiosity all summer long. 

What’s happening so far? 

• Hundreds of participants have already started their reading journeys, tracking progress and earning prizes. 
• Family-friendly performances, hands-on activities and educational programs have kept everyone entertained and engaged. In this new video, you can see families enjoying our recent kickoff event at the Library Learning Center celebrating this year’s theme, “Plant a seed. Read.”  

How to participate 

• Register – It’s easy to sign up! Visit carlsbadlibrary.beanstack.org or use the Beanstack Tracker app for Android or iOS. Log into your account or create one if you’re new. Then, sign up for the Summer Reading Adventure challenge. 
• Record – Log your reading in Beanstack to earn rewards. 
• Report – Children in grade 6 and under can receive a free book by sharing their recent reads with a friendly volunteer in the children's area of each library location. 
• Rewards – Rewards are still available for pickup at library locations. Don’t miss your chance to join the fun! 

Hear from best-selling author Lisa See 

Speaking of reading, come to the Carlsbad City Library on Dove Lane next Wednesday to hear New York Times best-selling author Lisa See discuss her new novel, “Daughters of the Sun and Moon.” The novel tells the story of three Chinese women whose unexpected friendship helps them survive and, despite the odds, thrive, in the turmoil of post-Civil War Los Angeles 

Lisa See Author Talk 

Wednesday, July 1  

Noon to 1:30 p.m. 

Dove Library, Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium 

1775 Dove Lane 

The event is free. Tickets will be distributed starting at 11 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open 30 minutes before the program begins. 

Make your own art at Art in the Village

If you’re looking to combine art and outdoor fun this weekend, stop by the 28th annual Art in the Village Sunday in downtown Carlsbad. City staff will be at our pop-up art booth at Roosevelt and Grand. Visitors can draw on beach chair coloring pages or a community art poster. 

Hosted by the Carlsbad Village Association, Art in the Village features more than 160 local and regional artists, live music, chalk art, mural painting and hands-on art demonstrations. 

Art in the Village 

Sunday, June 28  

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Several roads will be closed from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday for the event: 

• State Street from Carlsbad Village Drive to Beech Avenue  
• Grand Avenue east of the Coaster Station to Madison Street 
• Roosevelt Street at Grand Avenue 
• Christiansen Way between State Street and the Carlsbad Coaster Station

Community events and activities

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

• Cinema Club Friday: "This Beautiful Fantastic" – Friday, June 26, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library 
• Open Studios – light – Saturday, June 27, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dove Library 
• Saturdays in the Courtyard – Jabe Amato – Saturday, June 27, 5 to 6 p.m., Dove Library 
• Morning Music with a Slice of History: From Delta to Detroit  – Monday, June 29, 10:30 to noon, Carlsbad Senior Center 
• Reel Wednesday: "The Secret Garden" – Wednesday, July 1, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library  

Upcoming city meetings

There is no City Council meeting next week, but the ad hoc Veterans Memorial Park Veterans Recognition Subcommittee will hold its first meeting on Tuesday at 10 a.m. in the City Council Chamber.  

The City Council formed this 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 return to the full City Council with its recommendations.  
• Veterans Memorial Park already includes a Veterans Memorial Plaza designed to honor all six branches of the U.S. Military.  
• The subcommittee’s work will focus on additional ways to recognize veterans at the park, such as through commemorative pavers or similar memorial elements that could be incorporated through a potential donation-based program or other approach. 

The Planning Commission is also scheduled to meet next week on Wednesday. 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.  

Recognizing Juneteenth in Carlsbad 

As we close out the month of June, I want to take a moment to recognize Juneteenth, a day that commemorates when Union General Gordon Granger announced the end of the Civil War in Galveston, Texas. On June 19, 1865, thousands of enslaved people became the last to learn of their liberation and engaged in the jubilee that spread to other cities across the nation. 

The City Council recognized Juneteenth through a proclamation at their meeting last week, which highlighted Carlsbad’s commitment to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome, valued and respected. 

Thank you for helping to make Carlsbad that kind of place. Have a great weekend. 

Geoff Patnoe 

City Manager