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As we prepare to set our clocks forward an hour this weekend, I am providing some important information about traffic safety and the time change, plus these stories:

• Annual habitat report shows Carlsbad’s commitment
• Spring forward and stay safe
• An interesting couple who helped Carlsbad bloom
• Mark your calendars – summer camp registration opens soon
• Enjoy some Irish folk music this weekend
• Still time to nominate a deserving resident for Citizen of the Year
• New CDC guidelines on respiratory viruses
• What’s on the agenda for next week’s City Council meeting

Protecting Carlsbad’s natural resources

Protecting and maintaining Carlsbad’s 6,200 acres of habitat preserves is a big job – more than 4,700 football fields big.

City staff presented an annual report on our Habitat Management Plan earlier this week (watch the meeting recording) highlighting all the work the city, land management organizations and nonprofit conservancy groups have done over the past year to protect sensitive habitat in Carlsbad. Protecting our natural environment is one of the top goals in the City Council’s 5-Year Strategic Plan.

One of the main takeaways from this year’s report was the importance of removing invasive plants:

• The past year has focused on removing non-native plants that sprouted after last year’s above average rainy season.
• Invasive non-native species might look pretty – including the two below – but they disrupt sensitive ecosystems, choke out endangered plants and animals, and increase wildfire risks. 

• New projects at two local preserves focused on fennel and artichoke thistle, which threatened native plant species thread-level brodiaea and San Diego thornmint.

You can learn more about habitat protection on our website and sign up for a new environmental sustainability e-newsletter we are about to launch, just in time for Earth Month in April.

Spring forward and stay safe

Missing an hour of sleep might sound like nothing, but what about millions of people losing that hour, all on the same day? Research shows that traffic fatalities nationwide increase 6% the week following the “spring forward” time change. Most occur in the morning hours. 

The 2020 University of Colorado study also found the effects to be worse the farther west you live, making it even more important that Carlsbad residents do what they can to manage this transition safely.

Here is what is recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine on how to minimize the impact of the time change on your body clock:

• Go to bed and get up a little earlier in the days leading up to the change (If you start tonight, you can change your sleep schedule for a couple of days, and every little bit helps).
• Set your clocks ahead one hour on Saturday evening, March 9, so when you start your day Sunday, you will already be on the new schedule.
• Head outside for some early morning sunlight on Sunday. While it will get bright a little later, exposure to sunlight will help regulate your morning routine.
• Get plenty of sleep on Sunday night to ensure you’re rested and ready for the week.

Let’s (still) be safer together

Since proclaiming a traffic emergency in August 2022, we have seen positive changes and fewer injury collisions. Please help this trend keep heading in the right direction by following these five tips:

1. Slow down and stay alert. Even if you’re not tired, others on the road could be.
2. Pay extra attention during the dark morning hours when it can be harder to see other people on the road.
3. 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 shows some equipment you can wear or put on your bike.
4. You can always use your phone as a flashlight if you’re walking – just stay focused on your surroundings and not your apps.
5. A lighted or reflective collar and leash are great ways to be seen if you’re walking with a furry friend.

Thank you for doing your part to keep our streets safe!

Author to share history of The Flower Fields

When Jo Ellen Guthrie bought a Carlsbad vacation home with her husband in 2011, she was not expecting to become a local history expert. But fascinated by an old home still standing on the Lincoln Street property, she began to explore its origins. In doing so, she discovered the history of the world-famous Flower Fields and the emergence of Carlsbad as a center for the floriculture industry.

With the help of history staff at the Georgina Cole Library, her initial curiosity turned into a passion project, researching the origin story of our famous ranunculus fields. Today, she is the proud author of a book detailing how this specific flower ended up in Carlsbad, the people behind it and how this tradition has continued up until present day.

You can get the details tomorrow when we host Jo Ellen Guthrie for an author talk and book signing at Cole Library:

Author event with Jo Ellen Guthrie

Friday, March 8, 10:30 a.m.

Georgina Cole Library

1250 Carlsbad Village Drive

Our summer camp lineup is out – get ready to register

Summer will be here before you know it, and the City of Carlsbad’s annual Summer Community Services Guide is now online with details about all our camps and classes. 

This year’s lineup includes creative and performing arts camps, science and exploration camps, special interest camps, sports camps and traditional day camps.

Camps last one week each and are offered from June through August for kids ages 3 to 16.

You can register beginning Wednesday, March 13. I recommend getting your plan together so you can sign up right after registration opens to be sure you get all your first choices. They always fill up fast!

Sign up for Parks & Recreation emails to stay updated on all our City of Carlsbad recreation programs.

Finnegan Blue in concert Saturday at the Schulman

St. Patrick’s Day is still 10 days away, but it’s not too early to enjoy some Irish folk music. We’ve got you covered with the San Diego-based band Finnegan Blue performing this Saturday at our latest Showtime at the Schulman concert.

Finnegan Blue

Saturday, March 9, 7:30 p.m.

Schulman Auditorium

1775 Dove Lane

Finnegan Blue is rooted in traditional Irish Folk music, but has fused that Celtic pride with rock, jazz, reggae and gospel. Siblings Anna Lee and Willie Fleming founded the group in 2015. While they’re based in North Park, they’ve since traveled all over the world and across the western states.

Seating for the concert is first come, first served.

Still time to nominate a deserving resident for Citizen of the Year



If you know a local volunteer who has given time, energy and talents for the betterment of Carlsbad, you have one more month to nominate them for Carlsbad's Citizen of the Year. This annual award, now in its 57th year, recognizes residents who have provided outstanding service to our community.

Nomination forms are available on the city’s website and at City Hall, at 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive and are due by April 5.

Email council@carlsbadca.gov or call 442-339-2830 with questions.

CDC streamlines recommendations for preventing respiratory viruses

Cold and flu season is still in full swing, so I’m passing along some updated recommendations from the CDC about how to protect yourself from respiratory viruses, including COVID-19.

The federal agency released the new guidance this week. It essentially streamlines things into one set of prevention strategies that can apply to all common respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, the flu and RSV. The one getting most of the attention is a change to the isolation guidance – you no longer need to automatically stay away from others for five days if you meet certain criteria.

Learn more on the CDC website.

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

The next City Council meeting will take place Tuesday, March 12, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Topics will include:

• The monthly update on the city’s investments
• The annual review of the city’s investment policy with some minor City Council and state-required updates
• Expanding an agreement with a consultant to provide temporary staffing for reviewing building plans, conducting building inspections and other building services so that the city can continue to provide timely service despite unanticipated staff vacancies
• Shifting city grant funds from a Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation project to create a lagoon resiliency plan to another foundation project to fill trail gaps along the lagoon’s north shore
• Accepting a donation from the Friends of Carrillo Ranch that will support the California History & Art Field Trip Program at Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park
• Purchasing lockers for the Police and Fire headquarters project
• 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. These local emergencies must be reviewed by the City Council at every meeting to determine whether they need to be continued or should end.
• An appeal of the city’s decision to approve a notice of completed work and release the cash security and bond required to guarantee grading and erosion control work being done for the construction of a home on Skyline Road
• Update on Affirmed Housing’s Windsor Pointe Affordable Housing Project and potential actions to address concerns

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 council@carlsbadca.gov 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.

That’s all for this week. Please stay well, stay rested and don’t forget to set your clocks forward. I’ll be back next week with more updates.

Scott Chadwick

City Manager