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News from the City of Carlsbad | March 6, 2025

Just before sunrise Monday, a group of community members waited outside the Alga Norte Aquatic Center, counting down the seconds until the facility reopened with renovations to the pools, spa, bathrooms and locker rooms.

We caught that very moment on video, so of course I wanted to kick off this week’s update by sharing the footage. After all, it shows that the Alga Norte Aquatic Center is so much more to our community than a place to swim, and that’s what makes it special.

Today, I’ll also explain the action City Council took to address quality of life concerns related to people living in vehicles, share opportunities to get involved in city programs and another to weigh in on an upcoming public art project in a unique spot.

Here’s the full rundown:

• Updated city law addresses living in vehicles
• Meet the artists for the Chestnut underpass public art project
• Summer camp schedule announced 
• Go behind the scenes with Carlsbad police
• Spring forward and stay safe
• Check our construction map to avoid traffic delays
• No Coaster rail service this weekend
• Community events and activities
• Upcoming city meetings

Updated city law addresses living in vehicles 

On Tuesday, the City Council took action to address quality of life concerns related to people living in vehicles. Specifically, they introduced an ordinance to prohibit camping in vehicles in public spaces such as parks, beaches, and city-owned property and parking lots.

The goal is to have a balanced approach to helping people experiencing homelessness secure housing while continuing to reduce the impacts of homelessness on the community. Here’s how the law will work:

• The city will continue its approach of first offering shelter and services prior to citing a person.
• If services are refused, the city’s Homeless Outreach Team officers will then issue warnings.
• If the unlawful behavior continues, citations will be an available tool for officers to use.

Rising concerns and community feedback

• Concern about people living in their vehicles has been growing throughout the region. 
• According to the 2024 annual Point-in-Time Count, the number of people living in cars and RVs in Carlsbad has nearly doubled from the year before, with most in the downtown Carlsbad area. Regionwide there was an increase of 44% over the previous year.
• Feedback gathered from the community and members of the city’s Housing and Traffic Safety & Mobility commissions in recent months generally indicated a desire for a citywide approach to addressing people living in vehicles, along with additional enforcement and case-by-case outreach tools to help get people experiencing homelessness into housing.

The City Council is scheduled to adopt the ordinance at its next meeting, March 18, and the changes would go into effect 30 days after that. 

Meet the artists for the Chestnut underpass public art project 

Chestnut Avenue beneath I-5 will soon be home to the city’s first permanent public art at a freeway underpass. The public art project aligns with improvements Caltrans and SANDAG are making to the Chestnut Avenue underpass, including a new bike lane and enhanced sidewalks, through the Build NCC project.

The selected artist team, Greenmeme, is a collaboration between artists Freyja Bardell and Brian Howe. They have created several public art projects throughout California and beyond, each unique to the values and history of the communities in which they’re located. 

To help develop the concept for the Chestnut underpass public art project, Greenmeme is hosting pop-up meet and greet events next week, on Tuesday, March 11. Stop by to learn more about the artists’ work and share your thoughts on what makes Carlsbad special. 

There are two opportunities to connect on Tuesday, March 11:

Holiday Park

1055 Chestnut Ave.

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Pine Avenue Community Park

755 Chestnut Ave.

5:30 to 7 p.m.  

If you can’t make it but have ideas to share, you can email arts@carlsbadca.gov. We will pass along any input we receive to the artist team.

In the next couple of months, Greenmeme will continue to develop the concept for the artwork. We anticipate providing an update to the Arts Commission this summer.

Summer camp schedule announced 

It may seem hard to believe with this week’s rain, but summer is around the corner. To help you start planning, the City of Carlsbad just released its full schedule of summer camps and classes.

This year, we’re offering a variety of programs, including creative arts, science, sports, special interest and traditional day camps. Camps are one week long and available from June through August for kids ages 3 to 16.

Registration opens Wednesday, March 12, at 8 a.m. These camps and classes always fill up fast, so I recommend signing up as soon as registration begins to make sure you get your top choices.

You can find more details in our Summer Community Services Guide on our website and sign up for Parks & Recreation emails to stay updated on all our City of Carlsbad recreation programs.

Go behind the scenes with Carlsbad police

The Carlsbad Police Department is inviting community members to go behind the scenes with the team that works to keep Carlsbad safe by participating in the Citizens Police Academy.

The seven-week program begins March 26 and will be held Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. Topics include:

• How officers are hired and trained
• Crime trends and crime prevention strategies
• Patrol operations and dispatch communications
• Crisis management, de-escalation and use of force
• Investigative techniques and crime suppression efforts

This program helps build stronger police-community partnerships and gives community members a deeper understanding of how law enforcement works in Carlsbad. Participants must be Carlsbad residents 18 or older, and space is limited to 25 people.

The application deadline is March 19, so apply online soon if you're interested.

Spring forward and stay safe

Don’t forget, daylight saving time begins Sunday, March 9. That means you should set your clock an hour forward before going to bed Saturday night. This time of year, city public safety officials suggest making these other quick changes to help keep you and your home safe.

On the road

• Slow down and stay alert. Even if you’re not tired, others on the road could be.
• Pay extra attention during the dark morning hours when it can be harder to see other people on the road.
• If you’re walking or biking, wear reflective strips, bright colors and carry a light (make sure your bike has front and back lights if you’re riding in the dark). This video demonstrates how you can be visible when cycling during twilight hours.
• You can always use your phone as a flashlight if you’re walking – just stay focused on your surroundings and not your apps.
• A lighted or reflective collar and leash help improve visibility if you’re walking with a furry friend.

Around your home

• Adjust the automatic timers controlling lights inside and outside your home. This will also help save energy as the days get longer.
• Trim landscaping to improve visibility in the darker mornings.
• Check your automatic sprinklers to make sure you’re watering during times when the water is least likely to evaporate (usually dusk to dawn). Be mindful of rain in the forecast and be ready to turn sprinklers off as needed.

Check our construction map to avoid traffic delays 

Speaking of staying safe on the road, before you head out for work or errands next week, don’t forget to check our construction map to see where larger city projects are happening that might impact your drive. The map is updated every week to help you avoid or minimize traffic delays and detours that often come with construction.

Remember, the map only shows city projects. It doesn’t include construction projects by local utilities, private companies or other agencies, like Build NCC’s Batiquitos Lagoon work. 

No Coaster rail service this weekend

A quick reminder from the North County Transit District that there will be no rail service this weekend between the Oceanside Transit Center and the Santa Fe Depot in San Diego due to routine maintenance and rail infrastructure work. Another closure is planned for the weekend of March 22-23.

Learn more on the NCTD website by clicking on the COASTER tab at the top of the page. 

Upcoming events

Here are some City of Carlsbad events and activities coming up at our libraries, community centers and the Carlsbad Senior Center.

Cinema Club Film Friday, “Emily,” – Friday, March 7, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library

Concerts in the Courtyard – The Heart – Saturday, March 8, 5 p.m., Dove Library

Downsizers Club (Adults 50+) – Wednesday, March 12, 1 to 2 p.m., Carlsbad Senior Center

Reel Wednesday – “Temple Grandin” – Wednesday, March 12, showings at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library

Find more activities and information in our city calendar, the Senior Center’s Seaside Insider newsletter and our Spring Community Services Guide.

Upcoming city meetings

The next City Council meeting is Tuesday, March 18, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Next week, we have meetings scheduled for some of our city boards and commissions, including the Historic Preservation Commission and the Housing Commission.

Commission meetings are a good opportunity to learn about upcoming city projects and in many cases, provide feedback before those projects come to the City Council. The public is always invited to attend.

Board and commission meetings are also livestreamed on the city’s website and available to watch afterward. See the meeting schedule on our city calendar.

Employee Appreciation Day

As a loyal reader of this newsletter, you probably know that most of the updates I share here are either about, or are a result of, the tremendous work of our Carlsbad city employees.

I bring that up because tomorrow happens to be Employee Appreciation Day, and I wanted to close with a shout out to all of our staff.

Our city employees design and maintain our infrastructure, keep our neighborhoods safe, support local businesses, provide essential services to residents, protect our environment and providing meaningful programs for everyone from toddlers to adults 50+. On top of that, we have staff on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week who respond to issues or challenges no matter when they arise.

Words can only do so much – the pictures are the proof. So, I wanted to end with this video that shows even more of the wide range of services we provide.

Day in and out, please know that we are here for you and strive to set the standard for local government services.

So, thank you to our city employees, and thank you to our community for supporting them.

Geoff Patnoe

City Manager