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News from the City of Carlsbad | May 8, 2025

At the City of Carlsbad, we’re always looking for ways to increase efficiency, improve safety and use resources wisely. This week, I’m featuring a water system upgrade that checks all those boxes, including a behind the scenes video. I’ll also preview an upcoming workshop where you can learn about and weigh in on next fiscal year’s budget.

Here’s this week’s full lineup:

• Behind the scenes: Smarter water system saves time and resources
• Community budget workshop set for May 22
• Step outside and give back on the Coastal Rail Trail
• World Migratory Bird Day species spotlight: Western tanager
• Apply for our 2025 CERT Academy
• Armada Drive sidewalk replacement starts Monday
• NCAA Golf Championship comes back to Carlsbad
• Community events and activities
• What’s on the agenda for your next City Council meeting

Behind the scenes: Smarter water system saves time and resources

You turn on the tap and water flows out. Seems simple, right? Behind the scenes, there’s a whole system of pipes, pumps, reservoirs and valves working around the clock, and a team that ensures the system is in top shape so it can deliver water safely and reliably.

Right now, a construction project is underway at the Maerkle Reservoir to make that system more efficient by installing motorized valves— pieces of equipment that control how water moves through our pipes.

• In the past, crews had to drive to the site and hike up a 20-foot embankment, rain or shine, to manually open or close the valves, whether it was to redirect water to where it was needed, perform maintenance or respond to an emergency.
• When these improvements are complete, staff will be able to adjust the valves remotely using a secure system.
• That means improved worker safety, faster response times, fewer trips in the field and less fuel use—and ultimately lower operating costs.

Watch this video for a closer look.

Community budget workshop set for May 22

While we’re upgrading infrastructure behind the scenes, we’re also planning ahead for the city’s future through our annual city budget.

If you'd like to learn more about the city’s proposed budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1, you can come to a community budget workshop on Thursday, May 22. City staff will provide a presentation on the proposed spending plan and projected revenues and be available to answer your questions and hear your feedback.

The workshop will offer a more relaxed format than a City Council meeting, and include a Q&A session with city staff. All input gathered will be passed along to the City Council to consider before approving the final budget, currently scheduled for the June 17 meeting.

Community budget workshop

Thursday, May 22

5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

City of Carlsbad Faraday Center

1635 Faraday Ave.

You can review the draft budget before the workshop by:

• Reading the budget document on the city’s website starting May 16 
• Watching the May 20 City Council meeting where the draft budget will be presented

I’ll share more about the draft budget in next week’s update.

Learn more about the budget process. 

Step outside and give back on the Coastal Rail Trail

This weekend’s forecast looks sunny—a welcome break from May Gray and a perfect excuse to get outside and enjoy one of Carlsbad’s most scenic urban trails.

The Coastal Rail Trail is a paved, multi-use path between Tamarack and Oak avenues that runs alongside the railroad tracks. It’s fully separated by a safety fence, making it a great spot for walking with kids, biking or simply enjoying the outdoors. Events like this weekend’s trail volunteer effort help keep the trail clean, safe and enjoyable for all users.

This segment is part of the city’s 67-mile trail system, which includes everything from quiet nature paths to convenient routes that connect neighborhoods, parks and schools. The Coastal Rail Trail is also part of a larger regional trail planned to eventually connect Oceanside to downtown San Diego.

If you’re looking for a way to give back this weekend, you can join the city for the trail maintenance event Saturday morning:

Coastal Rail Trail volunteer event

Saturday, May 10

8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Coastal Rail Trail

Chestnut Avenue entrance (west of Tyler Street)

Park along Chestnut Avenue and Roosevelt Street.

More details if you’re planning to attend.

World Migratory Bird Day species spotlight: Western tanager

While we’re talking about enjoying nature, Saturday is World Migratory Bird Day, a time to celebrate the birds that travel thousands of miles each year in search of food and nesting grounds. One of the most colorful migratory birds passing through Carlsbad this spring is the western tanager (Piranga ludoviciana).

From April through early June, these birds migrate along the Pacific Flyway and sometimes stop in Carlsbad, gathering in flowering trees like eucalyptus and silk oak. Keep an eye out in local parks and open spaces for flashes of yellow and red and listen for their sharp, distinctive calls high in the trees.

Western tanager fast facts

• Males are bright yellow with black wings and red heads
• Females are a duller yellow without red coloring
• Diet includes insects, fruit and jelly at feeders
• Often seen in riparian areas and flowering trees
• Known for a sharp “pit-a-tik” call

The city’s more than 6,000 acres of protected open space, managed through our Habitat Management Plan, provide a welcome stopover for western tanagers and other migratory birds. Preserving Carlsbad’s natural open spaces is one of the top goals in the City Council’s 5-Year Strategic Plan.

Apply for our 2025 CERT Academy

The Carlsbad Fire Department is now accepting applications for the 2025 CERT Academy, taking place June 10 through July 12. This program trains volunteers for the Community Emergency Response Team, teaching them how to prepare for emergencies and respond effectively when disaster strikes.

Space is limited, so apply early to secure your spot. Applications are due by May 30.

The academy covers key skills like team organization, disaster preparedness, disaster medical operations, fire safety, terrorism awareness, radio communications and light search and rescue. 

How to apply

• Complete this application and email it to Kim.Young@carlsbadca.gov by May 30.
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old
• Selected applicants will be contacted by Carlsbad Fire Department staff and must complete a Live Scan background check.

Armada Drive sidewalk replacement starts Monday

A project to replace the northern stretch of the Armada Drive sidewalk begins Monday, the day after The Flower Fields season officially ends.

• The sidewalk will be closed from the Gemological Institute of America on the north end to an area a little bit beyond the first lookout point.
• Pedestrians will be rerouted to the east side of the street at the northern intersection of Armada Drive and Fleet Street and can cross back to the west side at the next crosswalk, which is where Armada meets the south end of Fleet Street.
• Work will take place only on weekdays and is expected to last three weeks, and there may be some impacts on vehicle traffic.

For more projects, check the city’s construction map, which is updated weekly to help you avoid or minimize traffic delays and detours that often come with construction. The map only shows city projects. It doesn’t include construction projects by local utilities, private companies or other agencies.  

NCAA Golf Championship returns to Carlsbad

Some of the nation’s best college golfers will be in Carlsbad later this month for the 2025 NCAA Golf Championship at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa. This is the second consecutive year the resort has hosted the competition, which is expected to draw up to 1,000 spectators a day. 

To help things run smoothly and safely, there will be some temporary lane closures near the resort. Specifically, the bike lane and the outermost eastbound lane on Poinsettia Lane—between Estrella De Mar Road and Alicante Road—will be closed during the following dates and times:

• Thursday, May 15 and 22: 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Friday through Sunday, May 16-18 and May 23- 25: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Monday, May 19 and 26: 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 20 and 27: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 21 and 28: noon to 8 p.m.

Community events and activities

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

• Cinema Club, “Mountain Patrol" – Friday, May 9, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library
• Hot Rods & Cool Treats – Saturday, May 10, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Pine Avenue Community Center and Park
• Saturdays in the Courtyard – Jessica Fichot – Saturday, May 10, 5 p.m., Dove Library
• Seaside Singers Spring Concert (adults 50+) – Wednesday, May 14, 1:30 to 3 p.m., Carlsbad Senior Center
• Reel Wednesday, “Blue Bayou" – Wednesday, May 14, 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.

What’s on the agenda for your next City Council meeting

The next City Council meeting is Tuesday, May 13, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Topics include:

• Monthly update on how the city’s investments are performing
• A new job classification for a Police Department digital forensic specialist to handle the growing amount of digital evidence 
• An agreement with the county that will allow the Police Department to be reimbursed for costs related to its use of the regional fingerprint identification system 
• Renewal of a permit with State Parks that allows the city to maintain the upper picnic facilities at Tamarack State Beach and the nearby coastal bluff
• Continuing the declaration of an emergency to make swift repairs to a damaged drainage channel west of the intersection of El Camino Real and Kelly Drive
• Adopting an ordinance to restructure the committee that reviews the city’s investments and another to streamline the process of adjusting sewer fees to cover the cost of providing the service 
• Approving the California Coastal Commission’s suggested modifications to the city’s objective design standards for future multi-family and mixed-use projects so that they can be applied in the Coastal Zone 
• A report on the city’s financial health and the health of Carlsbad’s economy for the third quarter of fiscal year 2024-25 
• The process of selecting topics and recipients of City Council proclamations, certificates of recognition and congratulatory letters

The agenda and staff reports are available on the city’s website.

3 easy ways to participate

1. Sign up to get agendas and staff reports emailed to you directly
2. Provide feedback via email before the meeting 
3. Sign up to speak at the meeting

… and 3 ways to watch

1. Follow the meeting live on the city's website 
2. Watch the meeting live on the city’s cable channel: Spectrum channel 24 or AT&T U-verse channel 99
3. Watch a recording of the meeting afterward (online or on our channel)

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.

Before I wrap up, I want to wish all our Carlsbad moms a very Happy Mother’s Day. Thank you for all you do!

And to our entire community, thank you for making Carlsbad the wonderful place it is. Have a fantastic weekend.

Geoff Patnoe

City Manager