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News from the City of Carlsbad | March 26, 2026

New e-bike safety laws are now in effect in Carlsbad, and education will continue to be our focus over the next 60 days. I’ll explain the specifics below.

Before I get to that, I thought I'd share this video where you'll hear from community members talking about what it meant to play on the newly resurfaced and reopened multipurpose field at Poinsettia Community Park.

Here’s the full lineup:

• New Carlsbad e-bike laws now in effect
• Spring break safety reminder
• New COPPS team to launch
• Join Carlsbad Police for Coffee with a Cop
• New city law to curb illegal fireworks
• A look back at quick action on two emergencies
• Poinsettia Community Park multipurpose field reopens
• Arts Commission to review latest design for Chestnut underpass public art
• Carlsbad Reads Together kicks off next week
• More community events and activities
• One week left to nominate a Citizen of the Year
• Upcoming city meetings
• Pirate Plunge makes a big splash

New Carlsbad e-bike laws now in effect

Stronger e-bike safety laws went into effect today (Thursday, March 26) in Carlsbad, following a 30-day public information campaign. The new laws authorize the city to impound an e-bike when a minor breaks the rules and creates an immediate or substantial public safety risk.

• The minor must complete an in-person safety course to retrieve the e-bike, and a parent or guardian must be present when the e-bike is released.
• The Police Department can also impound e-motorcycles, which are not street legal.
• The operation of e-bikes is prohibited at Poinsettia and Pine Avenue community parks.
• Anyone operating an e-bike must be at least 12 years old, as allowed by Assembly Bill 2234.

Also, the city's previously existing laws have been updated to provide additional clarity on safe riding behavior, including:

• Riders must go at a safe speed for the conditions, factoring in weather, whether pedestrians are present and how quickly other traffic is moving.
• Riders under 18 years old on any bike or e-bike, and riders of all ages on a Class 3 e-bike must wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet.
• Only e-bikes designed for passengers can carry more than one rider.
• Parents are responsible for knowingly allowing their children to commit violations.

A 60-day warning period begins Thursday, March 26, with officers focusing primarily on education and increasing awareness of the new laws, including the minimum age requirement. During the warning period, officers may still issue citations if riders violate previously existing e-bike laws, which require riders to follow the same rules of the road as drivers.

The warning period will end May 25, which happens to be Memorial Day.

Spring break safety reminder

Some Carlsbad schools started spring break this week, with more to follow next week and the week after. While students are on spring break, you may see more people out walking and biking.



Whether you’re driving, biking or walking, please look out for each other on the road, put away distractions and give yourself extra time to get where you need to go. 

New COPPS team to launch

On Tuesday, the City Council approved the creation of a dedicated Community-Oriented Policing and Problem-Solving (COPPS) team, expanding the Police Department’s community-focused efforts.

Carlsbad joins the majority of cities in San Diego County that have established similar teams, ensuring residents will benefit from dedicated resources focused on proactive crime prevention, quality-of-life issues and stronger community partnerships.



• The new team will focus on identifying criminal trends and quality-of-life concerns through proactive policing, data analysis and collaboration with residents, businesses and community organizations.
• By assigning officers specifically to this work, the Police Department will be able to more consistently address recurring issues, develop long-term solutions and expand outreach with community members.
• The change will also help patrol officers focus on responding to calls for service, supporting the department’s efforts to improve response times.

The COPPS team will work with schools, businesses, nonprofits and other community stakeholders, analyze crime data and coordinate targeted strategies to address issues ranging from neighborhood concerns to business challenges and seasonal public safety needs.

The city will immediately recruit for six new full-time positions to staff the COPPS team, which will provide community policing coverage seven days a week. Each City Council district will have a dedicated officer to focus on local quality-of-life issues and community engagement. 

Join Carlsbad Police for Coffee with a Cop

Speaking of our Police Department, you can join officers for Coffee with a Cop on Tuesday, March 31, at Baba Coffee in the Village.

We hold these informal meetups at different locations throughout Carlsbad so you can get to know local officers, ask questions and share your thoughts. Come learn more about the Carlsbad Police Department or simply enjoy a conversation in a relaxed, friendly setting.

Coffee with a Cop

Tuesday, March 31

9 to 10 a.m.

Baba Coffee

2727 State St. #100

New city law to curb illegal fireworks

Also at this week’s meeting, the City Council took a significant step toward addressing illegal fireworks by introducing a new ordinance (city law) aimed at strengthening enforcement and improving public safety. 

Over the past two years, the city has received approximately 130 fireworks-related calls, many tied to residential areas and largely during peak holiday periods such as Fourth of July. These incidents increase the risk of fires and injuries and place added demand on police and fire resources. 

Under the ordinance, the Carlsbad Police, Fire and Code Enforcement departments would work together to respond to complaints. Key elements include: 

• Holding property owners and renters responsible for illegal fireworks used on or near their property, even if the fireworks are set off by guests or others at a gathering. 
• Anyone in control of the property or organizing a gathering where illegal fireworks are used could be cited and face fines.
• Establishing fines of up to $1,000 per violation, up to $10,000 per day, for those cited. 

Although fireworks are illegal in San Diego County, they continue to impact neighborhoods across Carlsbad. The proposed changes are intended to improve public safety, reduce repeat violations and provide clearer, more effective enforcement tools.

The ordinance will come back to the City Council for a required second vote at its April 14 meeting. It would take effect 30 days after adoption.

Before enforcement begins, the city will conduct community outreach and education to increase awareness of the new rules.

Learn more about the ordinance in the staff report.

Emergency repairs complete; new video tells the story

As you may recall, in January the city declared two local emergencies to expedite repair work to issues that arose near our coastline and at one of our busiest intersections. I'm pleased to share all emergency repairs are complete and the City Council ended both declarations earlier this month.

You can see how our city staff pivoted quickly to get these repairs done swiftly in this video recap, and here's the backstory:

The first emergency came Jan. 7, to repair storm drain infrastructure in our coastal bluffs damaged during the rainstorms around that time.

Then, on Jan. 31, a water main break caused a large sinkhole and buckled pavement across six lanes of traffic, resulting in roadway closures at the intersection of Carlsbad Village Drive and El Camino Real. Within 66 hours of the break, the city reopened all lanes of traffic at the intersection.

All the work is complete and normal operations have resumed at both locations. Thank you to our community for staying safe during the emergency, and a big shout out to our city staff for rising to the occasion and showing how we get things done in Carlsbad.

Poinsettia Community Park multipurpose field reopens

The multipurpose field at Poinsettia Community Park recently reopened after the city completed a project to replace the synthetic turf. As you’ll see in this video, sports groups were quick to return, making the most of a beautiful spring weekend on the new field.

The City Council approved this project to maintain a safe and high-quality playing field. The previous surface had reached the end of its useful life, so this replacement, which took about two months, helps keep the field in service for practices, games and community use.

The new synthetic turf system is designed to reduce health and environmental concerns raised about certain synthetic turf products. The replacement turf:

• Does not use crumb rubber pellets as infill between the turf blades 
• Is made without added PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a type of “forever chemical” often used in manufacturing 
• Was installed with a mineral base in the turf that helps the surface stay cooler than a sand base 
• Comes with longer warranties than other turf systems: 12 years for the turf itself and 25 years for the padding underneath the turf 
• Included a recycling program to keep the old turf and infill out of landfills 

Projects like this help us keep fields open and playable, even with high demand. 

Arts Commission to review latest design for Chestnut underpass public art

The latest design for public art at the Chestnut Avenue I-5 underpass, shaped by community input, is heading to the Arts Commission next week. The updated design is being finalized and will be shared ahead of the meeting (you can sign up for email updates to be notified when the design is available, along with other project news).

In February, the city invited the public to review the proposed concept and share feedback through an online survey. We received more than 300 responses, which the city and artist team used to help refine the design.

Here’s what we heard from the community:

• Many respondents liked the idea of adding color and visual variety to the underpass
• Several people called for stronger connections to Carlsbad
• Some asked how the design reflects the ocean
• Others emphasized the need to better represent Barrio history and culture
• Respondents also suggested specific plants and design refinements

The themes are covered in more detail in the full public input summary, which includes complete survey results and verbatim responses.

At its meeting on Thursday, April 2, the Arts Commission will review the updated design concept and hear how community input influenced the latest version. The commission will then consider whether to recommend it to the City Council for approval.

Arts Commission meeting

Thursday, April 2, 5:30 p.m.

City Council Chamber

1200 Carlsbad Village Drive

You can attend the meeting in person or watch it livestreamed on the city’s website. The agenda will be posted by Monday, March 30, with instructions for how to provide comments.

Carlsbad Reads Together kicks off next week

Remember that Wednesday, April 1, is the start of Carlsbad Reads Together, a monthlong citywide book club where everyone reads the same book and can connect with each other at related special events and activities.

This year’s adult selection is “Stay True,” by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Hua Hsu. Readers can reserve a copy through Carlsbad City Library in print or as an e-book or audiobook.


To encourage the whole family to participate, we’ve also selected books for teens and children. The children’s selection is “The Dot,” by Peter H. Reynolds and the teen selection is “Love Letters to the Dead,” by Ava Dellaira.

Throughout April, the city will be hosting unique events and activities, including an evening with Hua Hsu on April 23 at 6 p.m. at the Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium. The library will also livestream the event.

More community events and activities

Speaking of bringing our community together, here are some great activities and events happening soon at our city libraries, community centers and the Carlsbad Senior Center:

• Cinema Club Friday: "Merkel" – Friday, March 27, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library
• Student Piano Showcase – Saturday, March 28, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Carlsbad Senior Center
• Saturdays in the Courtyard concert: John Carbone & The Formula – Saturday, March 28, 5 to 6 p.m., Dove Library
• Reel Wednesday: "Sleepless in Seattle" – Wednesday, April 1, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library

One week left to nominate a Citizen of the Year

Do you know a local volunteer who has given their time, energy and talents for the betterment of Carlsbad? If so, you have until Friday, April 3, to nominate them for Carlsbad Citizen of the Year.



This annual award recognizes residents who have provided outstanding service to our community.

Nomination forms are available on the city’s website and at City Hall, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive. Email council@carlsbadca.gov or call 442-339-2830 with questions.

Upcoming meetings

There’s no City Council meeting next week, but a few of our city boards and commissions are scheduled to meet, including the Environmental Sustainability Commission and the Arts Commission. Board and commission meetings are also livestreamed on the city’s website and available to watch afterward. See the full meeting schedule on our city calendar. 

Pirate Plunge makes a big splash

The city’s Pirate Plunge at Alga Norte Aquatic Center was a big hit last Saturday, with a sold-out crowd of more than 500 people.

It means so much to see so many community members enjoying the event. We captured even more of the fun in this video.

A big thank you to our staff and the volunteers who made the event possible, as well as the city’s Leadership in Training and Education after-school teen program for helping serve food.

Lastly, happy Opening Day to all the Padres fans in our community. I have a good feeling about this season!



Geoff Patnoe

City Manager