This week we had two City Council meetings, one to take care of current business and another special meeting to work on a strategic plan for the next five years. More on that plus these updates today:
- What we heard: 5-year strategic plan
- Carlsbad recognized as a top 10 city to start a business
- $5 million in federal funding secured for Carlsbad
- Carlsbad’s budget gets statewide recognition
- Fix a leak week
- Are you prepared for 3G service to end?
- Trails with the best views to enjoy this spring
- COVID-19 updates
- Upcoming meetings
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What would you like Carlsbad to be like in 5 years?
Nearly 2,000 of you answered this question and others like it earlier this year as part of our community engagement process for the City Council’s 5-year strategic plan. On Wednesday we presented that feedback to the City Council during the second in a series of special meetings to focus on bigger picture goals.
Some of the themes that came up from the input were the importance of caring for our natural environment, maintaining Carlsbad’s small town beach community character, and expanding options for walking and biking. You can read the full report on the city’s website.
Staff will return to the City Council this summer with the draft plan, which will focus on:
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Community Character: Maintain Carlsbad’s unique community character
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Economic Vitality: Foster a healthy economy
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Quality of Life and Safety: Prioritize the safety and well-being of the community
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Sustainability & Natural Environment: Protect the environment and natural resources
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Organizational Excellence & Fiscal Health: Be a model for effective and efficient local government
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Carlsbad recognized as a top 10 city to start a business
Speaking of economic vitality, Carlsbad was just named one of the top U.S. cities for start-ups by Crowdfund Capital Advisors. A new study found that Carlsbad businesses are exceptionally well-positioned for success, earning us the ninth spot on a list of the best U.S. cities to start a business.
To rank each city, the company reviewed investment data from 5,000 businesses that raised funding online and mainly from local investors.
“When our businesses thrive, our city thrives,” said Carlsbad’s Chief Innovation Officer David Graham. “We know that Carlsbad is an incredible home base for startups, and it’s nice to have these numbers to quantify the success that we see every day.”
The study authors noted that the cities that placed highly shared similar traits, including a startup culture that rewards innovation, a strong community of supporters that provide capital and communication, infrastructure, workforce and work/life balance.
Contact the City of Carlsbad Innovation & Economic Development Department at business@carlsbadca.gov for more information about starting or growing a business in Carlsbad.
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Federal funds secured for safety and traffic improvements
The City of Carlsbad found out this week we will receive about $5 million in federal funding for road and lighting improvements in the Barrio. We recently worked with Congressman Mike Levin to identify local projects that could be funded by the latest federal spending plan, with a focus on safety and infrastructure.
- The Barrio Street Lighting and Traffic Circles Project will enhance safety, walkability and aesthetics within Carlsbad’s oldest neighborhood.
- The lighting portion of the project will improve nighttime visibility for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists.
- Six new traffic circles will be located throughout the Barrio to improve traffic safety and beautify the area.
Some new lighting has already been completed, and the city just wrapped up a community input process to prioritize where the next phase of lighting will be installed.
Many thanks to Congressman Levin for his advocacy on behalf of our city.
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City budget receives award of excellence
The City of Carlsbad has once again received the Operating Budget Excellence Award from the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers for our Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Operating Budget. This may sound like a nerdy thing to be excited about, but our city budget is more than just numbers – it spells out our work plan for the year and includes data on city revenues and the economy.
- Making this document easy to read and accessible helps the community better understand how their taxpayer money is being used.
- In recent years we have added more infographics, charts and graphs to make city spending, progress on major projects and priorities for the year even more transparent.
I’d like to thank our Finance Department and all city departments for their excellent work on this important document.
More information
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New partnership addresses mental health
The Carlsbad Police Department is partnering with San Diego County, Exodus Recovery Inc., and other local law enforcement agencies on a program that sends specially trained crisis response teams, instead of police officers, to help people experiencing common types of mental health or substance abuse emergencies.
The City Council received a presentation on this new program on Tuesday. The goal is to respond to non-violent mental health incidents in a way that ensures the most appropriate level of care is administered. In turn, law enforcement resources are freed up to address other needs in the community.
- In 2021, the Carlsbad Police Department detained 658 people experiencing serious behavioral health issues – a 22% increase over the previous year.
- But Carlsbad Police also respond to thousands of less-serious behavioral health incidents each year that don’t require law enforcement intervention.
- Mental health professionals can often be more effective in those situations, freeing officers to respond to other problems in the city.
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Fix a leak week
This is Fix a Leak Week, a national event focused on helping people recognize and address water leaks around their homes. According to the EPA, household leaks can waste nearly 1 trillion gallons of water annually nationwide.
- Here in California, water is especially precious.
- The San Diego region has invested heavily in locally controlled water sources to help protect our economy and quality of life during severe droughts.
- Water conservation is an important part of the regional strategy.
How to find leaks
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If you live in the Carlsbad Municipal Water District service area (which covers most of the city), you can sign up to get notified by email of potential leaks.
- Check your water bills regularly for any unusual increases in use.
- Turn off all the water in your house, and check your water meter. Then wait 15 minutes and check it again. If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak.
- Identify toilet leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If any color shows up in the bowl after 10 minutes, you have a leak (be sure to flush immediately after to avoid staining the tank).
- Examine faucets and shower heads for any water on the outside of the pipe to check for surface leaks. Don’t forget garden hose spigots.
More information
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3G networks going away
Starting this year, cellular companies are retiring 3G service to make way for newer technologies. This means older devices that rely on cellular data could stop working. These include:
- Phones
- Modems
- Medical equipment
- Smart watches
- Tablets
- Alarm systems
- Vehicle systems like OnStar
You can contact your service provider or check their websites to see if you will be affected and what to do. In some cases you might need to get a new device. In others, could you download an update to the device software.
Each carrier has a slightly different schedule for phasing out 3G service, and some have already started.
The Federal Communications Commission created some guidelines that can help you prepare for the transition. The agency is also offering some assistance programs for low-income residents who need help getting connected to phone and internet services.
More information
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Spring is the perfect time to enjoy city trails
With the first day of spring right around the corner and longer days ahead, now is the perfect time to explore the city’s trails system (67 miles in all). I asked our Parks & Recreation staff for some recommendations for trails with the best scenic views, which I’ll be sharing in the coming weeks. Here’s the first one (starting off easy, and they’ll get more challenging as the weeks go on):
Batiquitos Lagoon North Bluff
Length: 0.70 miles Difficulty: Easy
Parking: On-street on Windrose Circle
The trail can be accessed from the trailhead at Windrose Circle where a small public parking is located. It runs along the bluff of the Batiquitos Lagoon, wraps around the residential community and ascends to a street level at Avenida Encinas through a set of concrete stairs. The trail is flat, made of decomposed granite and offers the most breathtaking views to the lagoon and the coastline.
Visit our GoHike Carlsbad portal to find out about all our trail locations, points of interest, trail length, parking and more.
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Pirate Plunge taking place March 26
The city is hosting our annual Pirate Plunge family event next Saturday, March 26, at Alga Norte Aquatic Center. Registration is required for this popular event. Tickets are $10, with those 3 and under free. Find out more and sign up through the link below.
Our recent survey showed that community events are one the things people love most about Carlsbad. Not only do city staff go all out to make a memorable experience, but it’s always fun to catch up with neighbors and friends.
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COVID-19 update
The County of San Diego announced yesterday that it is updating its COVID-19 data reporting pages to provide users with a more interactive experience. Graphics can help users better visualize COVID data trends over time, and the new tools allow you to choose options based on your interest.
The county has “retired” its triggers dashboard, but is still preparing the weekly COVID-19 watch.
I am happy to report that things are still looking good in terms of cases and the overall preparedness of our health care system. You are probably reading the same news reports that I am about new variants and surges in other parts of the world. Please rest assured that the city’s emergency preparedness team is still keeping a very close eye on COVID-19 trends, and I will let you know if anything significant changes that could affect our daily lives.
March 24, 2022, will be my last regular COVID-19 update as part of this e-newsletter. We’ve been through a lot together and I so appreciate all of your efforts during this historic period in all of our lives.
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Get involved: Upcoming meetings
The next City Council meeting will take place Tuesday, March 22, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council chamber. Topics scheduled to be discussed include:
- Awarding a contract to build the second phase of improvements to storm drains on Magnolia Avenue
- Updating the city’s municipal code to regulate e-bikes and other similar vehicles
- Possible changes to the fee developers of residential projects with six units or less can pay in lieu of building affording housing
- An update from Republic Services on its plans to take over the city’s trash and recycling services starting July 1
- A request for funds to set up a temporary fire station west of Interstate 5 while a permanent station is developed
- An internal audit into the city’s code enforcement policies and procedures
- The results of the ban on overnight parking on Avenida Encinas
The full agenda and staff reports are available on the city’s website. You can watch the meeting live on the city’s website or cable TV channel.
These city boards and commissions are also meeting next week:
- March 21, 5:30 p.m. – Parks & Recreation Commission
- March 23, 4 p.m. – Library Board of Trustees
- March 24, 1 p.m. – Tourism Business Improvement District
Some of you have asked me to share a link where friends and family could sign up to get these emails directly. Please do share! The more the merrier.
Have a great weekend.
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Fun things to do
Quick Links
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CarlsbadConnects app is an easy way to report things that need repair or attention around town, like potholes, sidewalk cracks, traffic light outages, graffiti and code enforcement issues. Submit service requests anonymously or create a free account where you can track progress and see what other people have reported.
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