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This week, we’re going behind the scenes of our recent DUI checkpoint and sharing a reminder to look out for each other during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday this weekend. Plus, with spring approaching, I’ll share some timely information, including:



• A fresh start: Sustainable spring cleaning tips 
• How to protect your home when you travel
• Smooth streets ahead for Avenida Encinas 
• A more intense trail volunteer event 
• Exploring the history of Leo Carrillo Ranch 
• What’s on the agenda for the next City Council meeting 

Carlsbad behind the scenes: DUI and driver’s license checkpoints 

Keeping our community safe is one of the most important things we do as a city. That’s why protecting quality of life and safety is one of the pillars of the City Council’s 5-Year Strategic Plan. Today, I’m giving you a behind-the-scenes look at just one of the tools the Carlsbad Police Department uses to help keep our community safe – DUI and driver’s license checkpoints.  

• Carlsbad’s latest checkpoint was on Saturday night, Feb. 17, at Palomar Airport Road and Gateway Road in Bressi Ranch.  
• More than 1,700 vehicles passed through, with officers arresting two people on suspicion of driving under the influence and citing 18 for driving without a license.  
• Thank you to the roughly 20 officers who staffed the checkpoint, including some from the California Highway Patrol and Chula Vista Police Department.  

Alcohol-and drug-impaired driving cause one-third of all traffic fatalities in California, according to the state Office of Traffic Safety. The agency recently awarded the city a grant to help pay for enforcement tools like checkpoints.  

How a checkpoint works 

Checkpoints may appear to have an easy setup, with cones and electronic signs, but they actually take weeks of planning with multiple city departments. That includes the Public Works streets team to make sure there’s a traffic control plan in place. 

• Officers choose the location based on a few different factors, including whether there have been previous DUIs in that area and whether there’s already a plan in place to control traffic.  
• Not surprisingly, most checkpoints are held near areas where there is a high concentration of bars and restaurants. 

Once the location is determined, the Carlsbad Police Department notifies the public of the date and time as required by state law. (Police aren’t required to announce the location.)  

• The announcements used to be in the newspaper, now they’re on social media.  
• Getting the word out helps deter impaired driving, while educating the community about the dangers of driving under the influence.  

Most checkpoints begin around 7 p.m. Here’s how it works: 

• As drivers approach the checkpoint, they’ll see cones in the road putting them into a single-file line along with electronic signs explaining a checkpoint is ahead.  
• Officers will allow about 10 vehicles through, then stop the next seven. 
• When a driver rolls down their window, officers will ask to see their driver’s license and look for any signs of impairment.  
• If alcohol or drugs are suspected – or a person doesn’t have a license – they’ll be asked to step out of the car for further investigation while another officer pulls their vehicle off to the side.  

What happens if someone makes a U-turn? 

As traffic begins to slow and the checkpoint signs pop up, some drivers may be tempted to turn around. Police have already thought ahead, with chase vehicles stationed along the road to pull over anyone who tries to avoid the checkpoint. 

What if someone refuses to show their license? Or refuses an alcohol screening? 

Simply put, state vehicle code says a licensed driver who takes a car onto a public road must show their license at the request of a police officer. 

While drivers can refuse a breathalyzer test, officers can look for signs of impairment and administer sobriety tests like asking the driver to walk in a straight line or to tilt their head and touch their nose. Only people who have been arrested are required to give a blood or breath sample.  

Driving under the influence carries significant penalties. Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.  

Extra enforcement this weekend  

With St. Patrick’s Day this weekend, Carlsbad Police will have extra officers on patrol looking for signs of impaired driving. We’re also asking our community to follow the “see something, say something” rule. If you see someone you suspect is driving under the influence, report it by calling 911. 

A fresh start: Sustainable spring cleaning 

The first day of spring is this Tuesday and if you’re ready to dust off the cobwebs and start decluttering, we have tips and resources to make your spring cleaning easy and safer for the environment.  

Sustainability and protecting Carlsbad’s natural environment is also one of the top goals in the City Council’s 5-Year Strategic Plan.   

Here are three ways to make your spring cleaning more sustainable: 

Schedule a bulky item pickup. 

• Carlsbad residents with bulky items that can’t be donated or repaired can schedule three pickups a year through our waste disposal company, Republic Services.  
• Up to five large items like mattresses, furniture and appliances can be picked up at a time. When possible, the items will be reused, donated or recycled.  
• To schedule a bulky pickup, call Republic Services at 760-332-6464. Learn more and watch this video. 

Dispose of household hazardous waste properly.  

• Items like light bulbs, household cleaners and paint can be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility, 1145 East Taylor Street in Vista.  
• You can also arrange for a pickup service. (It’s free for people over age 65.) Learn more and watch this video for an easy way to recycle household batteries. 

Swap your cleaning products for greener options. 

• Instead of disposable products like paper towels, wipes and single-use mop pads, choose reusable alternatives like microfiber cloths, washable mop heads and sponges that can be washed and reused multiple times. 
• DIY cleaning solutions with simple ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and lemon can be just as effective as store-bought cleaners without the harmful chemicals. Plus, they’re often more budget-friendly and reduce the need for single-use plastic bottles. 

If you like tips like this and want to do more to help care for Carlsbad, sign up for the city’s new environmental sustainability newsletter. We’ll share news throughout the year about the city’s environmental sustainability programs and how you can help. 

Planning a spring vacation? Secure your home before you head out 

Spring break season is around the corner for ​local schools and that’s always a popular time for family vacations. If you’re planning a getaway, take steps now to safeguard your home while you’re gone.  

• Set timers for your indoor lights to turn on and off at different times. This creates the illusion that someone is home. 
• Tell trusted neighbors or friends about your vacation plans, so they can keep an eye on your property, collect your mail and alert you if anything seems amiss. 
• Avoid posting key details about your vacation on social media like the dates you’ll be gone. If you plan to share photos while you’re away, make sure only your trusted friends can see them.   
• Consider installing a home security system with cameras, motion sensors and alarms. Many systems allow you to keep an eye on things via an app on your smartphone.  
• Install outdoor surveillance cameras with multiple angles, including back-door coverage (not just a doorbell camera). 
• Install motion-activated lights around the perimeter of your home to deter burglars and increase visibility at night. 

If you are out of town and your surveillance camera catches suspicious activity, don’t call 911 where you’re vacationing, which would be routed to the nearest dispatch center, not Carlsbad’s. Instead, call the Carlsbad Police non-emergency line at 442-339-2197 to be connected to someone here in Carlsbad.  

Smooth streets ahead for Avenida Encinas 

As part of an overall goal of improving traffic safety in the city, Avenida Encinas is being repaved between Carlsbad Boulevard and the Poinsettia COASTER Station during the next several weeks, pending weather.  

Repaving and restriping require several steps, so please watch for construction workers and give yourself plenty of time to get where you need to go.  

• Repaving work requires a combination of grinding, striping removal and crack sealing. 
• When areas are ready to be resurfaced we try to resurface one side at a time to maintain at least one lane of traffic and access to businesses.  
• The new surface needs a little time to dry before it’s ready for new striping, but there will be temporary traffic markings. 
• Completing all the striping and markings usually takes between two to four weeks after the road is resurfaced.  

The project is listed on our latest map of major city construction projects, including ones that could impact traffic around town. The map only shows major city construction projects. It doesn’t include work being done by utility companies or private developers.   

 Help a trail and work out at the same time this Wednesday 

Our next trail volunteer event is Wednesday, March 20, at the Village H North trail. Community members will work alongside city staff to revegetate a portion of the trail and install a new fence.  

• The work will be a little more challenging because the trail is in a steep area. Expect to get a workout. 
• Because the project is so labor intensive, we’re asking volunteers not to bring young children. 

Trail volunteer event 

Wednesday, March 20 

8:30 to 10:30 a.m. 

Village H North Trailhead 

Carlsbad Village Drive at Victoria Avenue 

• The city provides all the tools you need, plus training. 
• Wear closed-toe shoes and long pants to protect against bugs and branches. 
• Bring water, sunscreen and gloves. (If you don’t have gloves, we can provide them.) 

Public parking is available along the street on Victoria Avenue across from Carlsbad Village Drive. You can also park along Tamarack Avenue near Hope Elementary (but not in the school parking lot). If you park on Tamarack, you’ll have to walk the trail to get to the meeting location.  

Please RSVP to Sarah at [email protected] by Friday if you plan to attend. 

Introducing students to Carlsbad (and California) history 

Every year we invite all 4th grade classes from public schools in Carlsbad to take a field trip to Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park as part of the free California History & Art Program.

More than a thousand students from the four school districts that serve our community get an up-close look at California history with a visit to the historic ranch of the late actor Leo Carrillo. 

On Tuesday, the City Council accepted a donation from the Friends of Carrillo Ranch, Inc. to help fund the field trips in the coming year. 

During the field trips, students learn about Carrillo and the history of the ranch. Carrillo starred in plays and acted in over 90 films but may be most famous for his role as “Pancho” on the Cisco Kid television series that was popular in the 1950s.  

In 1937, Carrillo purchased land in Carlsbad and began to build a ranch inspired by the historic ranchos of the early Californio era, before the region became part of the United States in 1850. The result was a rambling adobe hacienda, rustic outbuildings and beautiful grounds. The Carrillo family used the ranch as a vacation retreat and gathering place.  

Today, the buildings and 27 acres surrounding the ranch are a city park open to the public for touring as well as a location for educational classes and camps. 

Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park  

6200 Flying Leo Carrillo Lane  

Open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

The ranch is the only place in Carlsbad that is listed as a California Historic Landmark, on the National Registry of Historic Places, and on the city’s historic resource register.  

Learn more about the field trip program and all the educational resources available to teachers and students at Leo Carrillo Ranch.  

What's on the agenda for the next City Council meeting

The next City Council meeting will take place Tuesday, March 19, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Topics will include: 

• An agreement that will enable the city to have official documents recorded through a new digital system instead of by paper and mail
• A state-required report on the city’s progress in implementing its General Plan, with the focus on how the city has met its share of regional housing goals and implementing its housing programs
• Results of the annual program to eliminate the fire hazards of dry weeds and rubbish on vacant lots around the city
• An agreement that enables the Carlsbad Municipal Water District to receive federal grant money for its recycled water projects
• Continuing local storm-related emergencies to remove debris from the Buena Vista Creek channel and repair a slope between El Camino Real and Trieste Drive. Local emergencies must be renewed at each regular City Council meeting until the emergency is declared over.
• A presentation from Caltrans and the San Diego Association of Governments on the project to improve the Chestnut Avenue underpass beneath Interstate 5
• An update on the planning for the 2024 TGIF Concerts in the Parks series, including the recommended schedule and locations, safety measures and a pilot program to solicit event sponsorships

A link to the full agenda and staff reports is now available on the city’s website.

The City Council encourages your participation. You can get agendas and staff reports emailed to you directly, and if you want to provide input, you can email [email protected] before the meeting or come in person and fill out a request to speak. 

If you want to watch from home, we have three options:

1. Watch the meeting live on the website
2. Watch a recording of the meeting afterwards
3. Watch live or a replay throughout the week on the city’s cable TV channel, Spectrum channel 24 and AT&T U-verse channel 99

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.

If you have a trip coming up this spring, please travel safely. And while it’s always nice to get away, I can’t think of a better place to return home to than Carlsbad.  

Have a great weekend and I’ll be back next week with more updates. 

Scott Chadwick

City Manager