This week’s highlights focus on safety, managing growth and protecting the environment, along with other recent news and events:
- Carlsbad-specific laws approved to address reckless e-bike riders
- Citizens committee’s first meeting to address managing future growth and quality of life
- A new fire station on the coast is moving ahead
- Wondering about your new trash service? Here’s what’s next
- Creation of Veterans Memorial Park passes key milestone
- End water waste: do these 6 things
- Programs right in your (south Carlsbad) backyard
- Know any would-be explorers?
- Upcoming meetings
|
|
New e-bike rules to address concerns
The Carlsbad City Council voted this week to update our local laws to make it easier to enforce the safe and considerate use of e-bikes, scooters and other similar ways of getting around town. The changes allow police to issue citations, but also allow first time violators to avoid penalty if they agree to take a safety course put on by the Police Department.
Who is affected?
- The updated ordinance covers a variety of motorized mobility devices including e-bikes, electrically motorized boards, low-speed vehicles, motorized scooters, shared electric scooters and other similar vehicles.
- It doesn’t apply to the type of mobility devices that people with disabilities use to get around.
What are the rules?
Specifically, the ordinance says riders
- Have a duty to always ride with care and to reduce speed when needed for safety
- Can’t have passengers on handlebars or back bike racks that aren’t specifically made for additional riders
- Can’t operate or ride an e-bike or similar motorized device on sidewalks, public drainage facilities, culverts, ditches, channels, or any public athletic or sports court or gymnasium in the city
- Must get off their e-bike on trails less than 5 feet wide when they’re within 50 feet of a pedestrian
Why the change?
- As the use of e-bikes has increased in Carlsbad over the past few years, so has the number of accidents.
- There were 186 traffic collisions involving bicycles or e-bikes between January 2019 and December 2021. In 163 of those accidents, one or more people were injured.
- The updated ordinance gives the city more latitude to prohibit a broad range of careless behavior on e-bikes.
- It also allows the city to be in charge of enforcement rather than referring all cases for prosecution in court.
More e-bike safety efforts
The City of Carlsbad and Carlsbad Police have implemented several other initiatives in the past few years to enhance e-bike safety, including several that are ongoing.
|
|
Growth and quality of life discussions kick off next week
A new citizens committee will work with the city to develop a new plan for managing future growth and maintaining our excellent quality of life. Its first meeting is Wednesday, March 30, starting at 5 p.m., at our Faraday Administration Center.
- For the past 36 years, the city has managed growth, requiring developers to pay for the infrastructure, parks and libraries needed to support new growth.
- In recent years the state has passed several new laws that make it difficult for cities to deny new housing.
- And, courts have ruled that cities may not impose limits on residential growth like the ones Carlsbad voters approved in the 1980s.
So, all this means we need to come up with new tools to make sure we are able to maintain our excellent quality of life and economic health while managing future growth in the city. The citizens committee is expected to meet for about a year to look at different options and ideas. Their final recommendations about what a new plan should consider will be presented to the City Council next year.
All meetings will be open to the public and livestreamed on the city’s website. You are welcome to add your voice to the conversation during a public comment section of each meeting.
|
|
Coastal fire station moves forward
The City of Carlsbad is making progress on plans for a temporary Fire Station 7 along the coast, part of an overall City Council goal to ensure fire and emergency medical services are ready to meet the community’s changing needs as the city’s demographics and population changes.
- The long-term plan is to build a permanent station west of I-5 and the railroad tracks, but the Fire Department is able to stand up a temporary station in the meantime, so an additional fire crew can be deployed sooner.
- Fire Station 2 in La Costa is currently being rebuilt, which required the city to create temporary structures to house the fire crew for that station in the parking lot of nearby Dove Library. When Fire Station 2 is complete later this year, the city can relocate the structures to serve as a temporary Fire Station 7.
Project details
- The city is finalizing a license agreement with NRG to use the old power plant site on Carlsbad Boulevard near Cannon Road. A warehouse and administration building were previously located at this site, but the warehouse has already been demolished and the administration building is coming down soon.
- Two other nearby properties were initially considered but were ruled out for a variety of reasons, including environmental concerns and the additional time it would take to get them ready.
- This week the City Council approved additional funding for the project, which was needed to bring the right infrastructure to the NRG site and cover the lease payments, assuming the agreement is finalized as planned.
Why are we doing this?
- In May 2021, the Fire Department completed a “Standards of Cover” evaluation, looking at current and future emergency response needs based on Carlsbad’s size, demographics and other factors.
- The evaluation found that to meet industry standards, the Fire Department needed a seventh fire station, ideally west of I-5 and the railroad tracks, as well as more ambulances and personnel.
Next steps
- City staff are currently working with NRG’s staff on a license agreement that would allow the city to use the site. Various items related to the project will come back before the City Council over the next several months.
- Construction of the station, including moving the temporary structures to the property, would take place between October 2022 and January 2023.
- A permanent Fire Station 7 could be completed by around the 2026-2028 timeframe, depending on a number of factors, including securing a permanent site.
|
|
Wondering about your new trash service? Here’s what’s next
As the City of Carlsbad prepares to transition its trash and recycling services from Waste Management to Republic Services July 1, residents will soon get new carts for trash, recycling and “organic waste,” which includes yard clippings and food scraps.
Republic Services provided an update to the City Council March 22 and laid out the following process for the cart exchange:
-
Starting March 28, Republic will start exchanging customers’ Waste Management single-family residential trash carts with new City of Carlsbad carts. It will take about 13 weeks to switch out all the carts in the city.
-
Some homes have already started receiving postcards, emails, phone calls and texts with the exact date and details of their cart swap, which will happen on each customer’s regular trash day. The notifications happen about one-to-two weeks before that customer’s carts will be exchanged.
- Waste Management and Republic have been working together to make the switch as smooth as possible, so Republic should have all the information about how many carts, and what type, each customer is currently using.
How the cart exchange will work
- On the day of the exchange, customers need to put all their trash carts out – not just the full ones – so they can be picked up when the new carts are delivered. If you forget or can’t set out all your carts, Republic will return the day after your regular trash day and the following Saturday to complete the exchange.
- Commercial trash container exchanges – at businesses, apartment complexes, etc. – will begin in May.
- The old Waste Management carts will be reused, repaired or recycled. The new carts are owned by the city, so residents will keep using them from here on out, even if our trash provider changes again in the future.
- Even though customers will have new carts, Waste Management will continue to provide trash collection services in Carlsbad through June 30. If you have any service requests until then, you should continue to call Waste Management at 760-929-9400.
Organics recycling
Also starting July 1, Carlsbad residents and businesses will start recycling food scraps, yard clippings and other “organic” materials in one bin as part of a new state law that went into effect this year.
- Organic waste includes food, yard trimmings, weeds, wood, cardboard and paper products.
- Residents will be able recycle their food scraps by including them in their new yard waste carts.
- Republic Services will also provide a free kitchen food pails so customers can conveniently separate food scraps in their kitchen before placing them outside with their yard waste.
- Businesses will need to set up organic recycling services. Republic Services has been meeting and reaching out to Carlsbad businesses since December to assess their needs and help them comply with the new regulations.
New ways to reach Republic Services
Republic Services has a new webpage, customer service phone number and email address specifically for Carlsbad customers, offering an easy way for residents to get more information or reach out for help.
- The new customer service phone number is 760-332-6464.
-
The new email address is CarlsbadService@RepublicServices.com
- Remember, if Carlsbad residents help with trash service before June 30, they should still call Waste Management at 760-929-9400.
More information
|
|
Progress on new Veterans Memorial Park
- Major construction projects like Veterans Memorial Park must undergo studies to determine how they could affect the environment and what steps could be taken to mitigate those effects.
- The study will be available for community input through April 11, 2022.
- The design for Veterans Memorial Park, which was created through a collaborative process with the community, will feature sweeping views of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon and ocean, a bike track, trails, a nature-themed playground and memorials that honor those who have served.
|
|
Once the environmental review is complete, city staff will develop a more detailed design so that construction specifications can be finalized and the project put out to bid. Big projects like this require a number of approvals, including from the state and other non-city agencies. We are anticipating the new park could be open around 2026.
|
|
End water waste: do these 6 things
Tuesday was World Water Day, and the city took this opportunity to share resources for increasing conservation of this precious resource. Keep up with the latest drought situation, on the state’s website. It shows that San Diego is in better shape than most (this is due to billions of dollars of investments in shoring up local supplies), but conservation is a big part of our strategy, so every drop really does count. Here are a few ways you can do your part to save water.
- Replace turf with drought tolerant plants
-
Fix leaks quickly (we can help!)
- Wash full loads of laundry + dishes
- Take short showers
- Turn off irrigation for 48 hours after rain
- Check your irrigation often for leaks and runoff
Find more water-conservation tips on our website.
|
|
Author to speak at Dove Library
The Carlsbad City Library will host an in-person discussion with award-winning author Reyna Grande on Saturday focusing on her latest book, “A Ballad of Love & Glory.”
Saturday, March 26, 2 p.m.
Dove Library
Schulman Auditorium
Free admission
- The book is a historical romance about a Mexican woman and an Irish American soldier who fall in love during the Mexican-American War.
- Grande is also the author of the bestselling memoir, “The Distance Between Us,” where she writes about her life before and after she arrived in the United States from Mexico as an undocumented child immigrant.
- She has received an American Book Award, the El Premio Aztlán Literary Award and the International Latino Book Award.
- In 2012, she was a finalist for the prestigious National Book Critics Circle Awards.
If you live in south Carlsbad, the Schulman Auditorium is right in your own backyard. I encourage you to sign up to be notified of other events and programs held at this first-class venue. Our library staff does an excellent job attracting interesting, entertaining and thought-provoking programs. (Of course, if you live in northern Carlsbad, the short drive is most-definitely worth your time as well!).
|
|
Police explorers program application period now open
Whether considering a career in law enforcement or just looking to serve the Carlsbad community, young people will benefit tremendously from our very popular Carlsbad Police Explorers Program. We’ll be accepting new applications for a limited time from those 14 to 21:
- The program offers young people an opportunity to become involved in community service activities, make new friends and gain valuable knowledge.
- Explorers attend bi-weekly meetings where they learn about law enforcement and support the Police Department at community engagement and special events.
|
|
The program also
- Provides experience to help young people mature and prepare them to become responsible and caring adults
- Gives young people practical experience in law enforcement
- Engages young people in activities centered on career opportunities, life skills, citizenship, character, education, and leadership that help develop the whole person
Please help us spread the word about this extremely worthwhile program.
|
|
Weekend rail closure
The North County Transit District asked the city to help get the word out about a planned closure of coastal rail service:
-
All rail service will be suspended between the Oceanside Transit Center and Santa Fe Depot in San Diego this weekend for routine maintenance and rail infrastructure work.
- The North County Transit District schedules these closures periodically so crews can work safely while making improvements and doing maintenance along the rail line.
- Regular service will resume on Monday, March 28.
- Because the weekend rail work could require speed restrictions afterward, COASTER passengers may experience delays of up to 10-15 minutes on Monday.
|
|
Get involved: Upcoming meetings
The next Carlsbad City Council meeting Tuesday, April 5, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council chamber. The full agenda and staff reports will be available on the city’s website the Friday before the meeting.
You can attend the meeting in person or watch it live on the city’s website or cable TV channel.
As we wrap up the month of March, we have just one other meeting planned:
Growth management committee (the one I mentioned earlier)
Wednesday, March 30, 5 p.m.
Faraday Administration Center
1635 Faraday Ave.
Next week I’ll be back with the city’s Earth Month celebration activities (mark your calendars for a kickoff event April 2 at Pine Park), Carlsbad Reads Together (like a citywide book club, we host it every April), an update on the much anticipated Poinsettia Dog Park, plus resources to help you tackle spring cleaning while helping the environment.
Until then, have a great rest of the week!
|
|
Fun things to do
Quick Links
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
