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It was nice to finally get some rain this week, and more is in the forecast. Wet weather and this weekend’s time change mean we will all need to use extra caution as we get around Carlsbad. In addition to traffic safety tips, today I am sharing the following city news:
- Traffic delays explained (and what’s to come)
- Getting into the holiday spirit
- Help show how Carlsbad Conserves
- Election Day reminders
- Latest news on city trails
- Weekend events (including the street faire)
- Get involved: Upcoming meetings
- Thank you to our military families
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Time change and traffic safety
Last week I presented our Safer Streets Together plan to the city’s Planning Commission and Traffic & Mobility Commission during two special meetings. As I reported a few weeks ago, the City Council approved moving forward with additional traffic safety efforts identified in this plan, focusing on the ones where funding had already been secured. The City Council then asked staff to get input from these two commissions on the options where new funding would be needed.
- We will be sharing the feedback with the City Council on Dec. 6.
- I would like to personally thank our commissioners for their thoughtful comments.
- City commissioners are volunteers who give their time to study city issues and advise the City Council, helping to ensure plans, projects and initiatives are vetted by a cross section of residents from different parts of town and with different backgrounds.
- They play a valuable role in local government, also providing additional opportunities for community members to learn about the work of their city and provide updates to commissions directly.
If you’d like to watch these meetings, they were recorded and are available on the city’s website:
Special Planning Commission meeting video
Special Traffic & Mobility Commission meeting video
Be prepared for wet roads, earlier sunsets
It’s time to set our clocks back an hour this weekend, with daylight saving time ending on Sunday, Nov. 6. Days will be getting shorter, and it will be dark during when many of us are heading home from work.
On the road
- Slow down and stay alert, especially after dark when it can be harder to see other road users.
- If you’re walking or biking, wear reflective strips, bright colors and carry a light (or make sure your bike has a light).
- You can always use your phone as a flashlight if you’re walking.
- A lighted or reflective collar and leash are great ways to be seen if you’re walking with a furry friend.
- If you’re walking, choose routes with sidewalks, and cross where crosswalks are available.
- Always carry your phone, stay in well-lit areas and wear reflective clothing so drivers can see you.
Around your home
- Don’t return home to a dark house. Put exterior and interior lights on timers.
- This is a great time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Test smoke detectors monthly to make sure they work.
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Make sure your home emergency kit is up to date.
- Reset your automatic sprinklers to reduce your water usage during the fall and winter months. (Remember to adjust your sprinkler schedule after our rain this week, too.)
See more time-change safety tips.
Traveling safely in the rain
In addition to being the first commute day after the time change, more rain is in the forecast for Monday. Please take time this weekend to make sure you’re ready:
- Swap out old wiper blades if needed, make sure your tires are inflated properly, and check that your headlights and taillights are working.
- Leave plenty of space between you and the car in front of you. A good rule is to double the space you would normally leave.
- Never drive through standing or moving water. It can cause you to hydroplane or sweep your car off the road.
- If you’re biking or walking, it’s especially important to be visible. Make sure you have reflective or bright gear and use front and rear lights on your bike, even during the day.
Plan ahead for street resurfacing
Carlsbad is very proud of the condition of our roads … and keeping them that way comes with some inconveniences. We have recently been working on some major streets, as you may know if you’ve gotten stuck in traffic.
Every year, the city evaluates the condition of our 350 miles of streets based on pavement management software and feedback from the community. This year, more than 200 street segments are being repaved through this annual effort.
This work will continue through the end of the year, and I wish I could say there was a way to get it done more quickly or without causing traffic backups. The best way to avoid getting stuck in a construction zone is to avoid the areas when work is expected if possible or leave a little extra time.
Here is a map of the streets planned for the coming weeks:
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- Work hours are generally 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- In some cases, we are doing night work, usually when the work involves busy intersections where daytime work would cause significant traffic delays.
- Night work is more expensive, so we carefully weigh the pros and cons of each project to make the most efficient use of taxpayer money.
Sign up for text alerts
If you want to stay up to date on the latest work schedule for El Camino Real, you can text “ECR” to 760-302-5500, and we’ll add you to our list.
Thank you for your patience
- Keeping up with street maintenance has a lot of benefits, including saving taxpayer money from costly emergency repairs later.
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We also take advantage of the fresh surface to change lane striping where it makes sense to better balance the different modes of travel and reduce speeding.
- I want to thank you for your patience while we work to make sure our roads stay in the best condition possible.
- Please use caution when you’re driving through the work areas and if you can, choose an alternate route.
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Getting into the holiday spirit
Keep an eye out starting this week for signs of the holiday season, Carlsbad-style:
- Crews are out this week installing holiday light pole banners throughout the city – over 180 in all.
- Thanks to a collaborative effort including a donation by Visit Carlsbad and a San Diego County Neighborhood Reinvestment Grant, the Carlsbad Village Association is able to install festive decor, including lighted garlands and colorful bows to 20 city light poles on Carlsbad Village Drive.
- Bows and poinsettias in hanging flower baskets will be added to State Street between Carlsbad Village Drive and Grand Avenue in the coming weeks.
The banner program is focused around our major commercial areas. Creating a festive, welcoming environment encourages more people to visit local businesses, which helps support our local economy.
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Help show how Carlsbad conserves water
Even though we’re seeing some rain, it won’t be enough to overcome the ongoing drought and general climate here in the San Diego region. We all need to be doing our part to conserve.
- The City of Carlsbad is re-launching our Carlsbad Conserves campaign to encourage residents to show off their water-wise landscaping.
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If you have a drought tolerant front yard, please stop by any of our three Carlsbad City Library locations to pick up a Carlsbad Conserves yard sign to highlight your efforts with neighbors and others who pass by.
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You can also email us at [email protected] if you’d like to show off your water-wise yard, and we could feature you in an upcoming video.
If you’re looking to save more water or switch to water-wise landscaping, these resources can help:
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Turf replacement rebates are available starting at $2 per square foot, along with additional water-saver rebate programs while they last.
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Discounted rain barrels are available for Carlsbad residents through Nov. 30, 2022. With rain in the forecast, it’s a perfect time to pick up a rain barrel.
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A free home WaterSmart checkup can provide personalized recommendations for saving water.
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Follow the current water rules and the watering days schedule. Remember, turn off your sprinklers during rain and for 48 hours after it rains.
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The City of Carlsbad is served by three water districts. To determine if your property is located in the Carlsbad Municipal Water District or another district, view our water district map.
Carlsbad desal plant celebrates a billion gallons served
One of the reasons our region is faring better than most is the significant investments we have made in new water sources.
- One of those is right here in Carlsbad.
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The Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant reached an impressive milestone this week – it has now served more than 100 billion gallons of high-quality, locally controlled water since starting operations seven years ago.
- The plant is a public-private partnership with the Water Authority that came online in 2015.
- It produces an average of more than 50 million gallons of water a day.
- It passed the 100 billion milestone in late October, as our state entered a fourth consecutive year of severe drought.
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Election Day is almost here
There are still a few days until Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 8, but voting is well underway. Mail-in voting began in mid-October, and in-person voting starts Saturday. If you haven’t voted yet, there are still several ways to do so in Carlsbad.
Oct. 11 - Nov. 8
You can drop off your signed and sealed mail ballot at all three city library locations:
- 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday - Thursday
- 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday - Saturday
- 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 8
Nov. 5 - 7, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Starting on Saturday, Nov. 5, nine vote centers will open in Carlsbad, although you can cast your ballot at any vote center in the county. See the full list.
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All vote centers have Ballot Marking Devices that allow you to mark your ballot on a screen and then print it out.
- The printed paper ballot is what goes inside the ballot box to be counted by the Registrar of Voters.
- When you check in at the vote center, your voter registration is verified using an electronic roster. Poll workers are available to assist you.
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Voters who would rather vote in person by marking their pre-printed ballot with a pen can do so by bringing in the official ballot they received in the mail.
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Additional steps are in place to ensure your vote is safe, secure and private.
Nov. 8, 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.
All vote center locations will be open longer hours on Election Day.
What’s on the ballot
For the City of Carlsbad, the following will be on the ballot:
- Mayor
- City Council Member, District 1
- City Council Member, District 3
- City Treasurer
- City Clerk
- Measure J (Monroe Street Pool)
Find more information, including candidate statements, ballot language and more on the city’s website.
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Keeping up with city trails
Our fall edition of the Happy Trails newsletter highlights some of our lesser known trails, upcoming volunteer and cleanup events, plus sharing open space with wildlife and preventing wildfires.
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Before you head out for your hike, don’t forget to download the GoHike app. It’s a convenient and handy resource that has detailed information about each trail, including difficulty level, where to park, what you’ll see along the way and how to connect with other nearby trails. | |
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Festival of Lanterns on Nov. 5
This Saturday the city will host our third annual Festival of Lanterns at the Alga Norte Aquatic Center. This unusual event, which has won awards for creativity, started during COVID and features hundreds of floating lanterns decorated with inspirational messages.
Festival of Lanterns – A Night of Light & Reflection
Saturday, Nov. 5
Alga Norte Aquatic Center
6565 Alicante Road
Admission is free
You can purchase a lantern ahead of time or at the event for $5 and design it with pictures, inspirational messages, poems or anything that’s meaningful to you. At dusk, we’ll launch the lanterns into the pool while enjoying entertainment including music, performances and readings.
Lanterns are at Alga Norte Aquatics Center if you want to pick one up early and start decorating.
Here’s a video of last year’s event.
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Carlsbad Street Faire is Sunday
If you’re planning to come downtown this weekend, be aware that the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce’s Carlsbad Village Faire is happening Sunday, Nov. 6. Several streets in the Village will be closed to make way for this popular community event, which features more than 700 vendors, international foods and children’s rides.
- Downtown streets that will be closed from approximately 4 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday include:
- Grand Avenue from Carlsbad Boulevard to Jefferson Street
- Washington Street from Carlsbad Village Drive to Beech Street
- Roosevelt Street from Carlsbad Village Drive to Beech Street
- Madison Street from Carlsbad Village Drive to south of Arbuckle Street
- Christiansen Way between State Street and the east side of the Carlsbad Coaster Station entrance
- All the alleys in between the above streets
Parking and shuttle information
Parking is limited. General and disabled parking spaces will be available in the area surrounding the event.
Shuttle service is provided at southwest corner of The Shoppes at Carlsbad, 2525 El Camino Real, and at the Poinsettia Coaster Station, 6511 Avenida Encinas. Shuttles run every 20-30 minutes between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Of course, please remember to slow down and be alert for people driving, walking or biking to and from downtown.
If you go on Sunday, please stop by two City of Carlsbad events: a booth where you can get information on how to help make our streets safer for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians; and an interactive Pop Up Art activity to help get you in the Thanksgiving spirit.
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Get involved: Upcoming meetings
The next City Council meeting will take place Tuesday, Nov. 8, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council chamber. Topics scheduled to be discussed include:
- Settling two workers’ compensation claims for a retired police sergeant
- Establishing a fee developers would pay for the technical analyses of the impact their projects would have on the wastewater system
- Advertising for bids to build a fourth reservoir at the Carlsbad Municipal Water District’s water storage facility on Poinsettia Lane
- Revising agreements with two consultants that conduct analyses of the city’s water and wastewater systems
- Appropriating $411,000 for a credit owed to the contractor who built a recycled water pipeline along Tamarack Avenue
- Adopting an ordinance that will allow the owners of historic properties to get a property tax break in exchange for their restoration efforts
- Amending Carlsbad’s municipal code to adopt the state’s updated building and fire codes, with amendments tailored for Carlsbad
- Zoning changes to allow for a four-unit condominium building and an office building on Jefferson Street south of Laguna Drive
A link to the full agenda and staff reports will be available on the city’s website no later than Friday. You can watch the meeting live on the city’s website or cable TV channel.
In addition to the City Council meeting, these city meetings are also planned next week. You can find more information about each of them by clicking on the links below:
Before signing off today, I want to mention that November is Military Family Appreciation Month. I am a proud Army veteran, and I know that many in our community also have close ties to the military. For all the families in our community with loved ones serving in our armed forces, thank you.
Scott Chadwick
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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.
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