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News from the City of Carlsbad | Nov. 7, 2024

Next week, the city will hold three public meetings about issues important to our community: environmental sustainability, reducing homelessness and bringing people together through art. I’ll give you all the details plus the updates below in today’s edition:

• How to track Carlsbad election results
• Draft climate plan emphasizes measurable results
• We’d like your input on city efforts to reduce homelessness
• Help choose an artist for a project in our oldest neighborhood
• Veterans continue spirit of service in Carlsbad
• Alga Norte pool gets some love
• City construction projects planned next week
• Holiday city service hours
• What’s on the agenda for your next City Council meeting

How to find Carlsbad election results

The San Diego County Registrar of Voters is responsible for releasing election results for Carlsbad’s races (and all races in our region). If you go to the website, you can filter the results to see just Carlsbad results (or any other races you’re interested in).

Just keep in mind, some offices span more than one county. The San Diego County Registrar of Voters site only includes votes cast in our county, not Orange County.

All results are unofficial until certified, and the certification deadline is Dec. 5. You can see at the top of the website the date the results were posted and how many ballots are left to count.

The registrar put out an explanation of the process and schedule for when updates will be posted:

• Thursday (today) through Saturday, they’ll be updated by 6 p.m.
• Next week, they’ll be updated Monday, Wednesday and Friday by 6 p.m.
• After that there is no fixed schedule.

On Tuesday, Dec. 10, the city will hold a swearing in ceremony for the City Council Members representing districts two and four and the City Treasurer. See district map.

In 2026, City Council seats for districts one and three will be on the ballot, along with the Mayor, City Treasurer and City Clerk (this year’s election for Treasurer was to fill the remainder of the current term due to a vacancy).

Everyone is invited to the swearing in, which will take place at the beginning of the regular City Council meeting. It will also be livestreamed on our cable channel and website.

Draft climate plan focuses on measurable results

Nearly 10 years ago, the City of Carlsbad was one of the first cities in the county to adopt a Climate Action Plan that outlined strategies and policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a measurable way. We surpassed the 2020 goal in that plan, and on Tuesday the City Council will consider approving an update that takes into account the latest data and state requirements.

City Council meeting

Tuesday, Nov. 12, 5 p.m.

Council Chamber

1200 Carlsbad Village Drive

Understanding greenhouse gases

Greenhouse gases are not new, and naturally occurring GHGs are not inherently bad.

• In fact, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, without some amount of greenhouse gases, the Earth’s temperature would drop to -2 degrees Fahrenheit.
• That’s because GHGs absorb heat and trap it in the atmosphere, acting like a blanket around the Earth.
• When too many GHGs are being released, that blanket gets too thick.

Some gases occur naturally and as a result of human activities. Other GHGs, such as industrial gases, are synthetic (chemical based), made by people.

What’s a Climate Action Plan?

Climate Action Plans are comprehensive roadmaps that outline how a government agency will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These plans typically include:

• Specific city-sponsored initiatives and actions that the city controls directly, such as operations at city buildings and the types of cars in the city’s fleet.
• Policies to direct, guide or influence actions of third parties, such as working with large employers to create incentives for employees who carpool or use mass transit.

Updating our Climate Action Plan is a priority project supporting the “Environmental Sustainability and the Natural Environment” goal in the City Council’s 5-Year Strategic Plan.

What’s required

State legislation requires that Climate Action Plans meet reduction thresholds within specific timeframes. For example, by 2035, the amount of Carlsbad’s GHGs must be half of what they were in 2016.

At Tuesday’s meeting, city staff will present the final Draft Climate Action Plan Update to the City Council for approval, following over two years of technical work. We gathered input from residents, business owners, advocacy organizations and others at three different stages of the process:

1. Before it began, to understand general priorities and concerns and gather ideas.
2. When we were developing specific actions (called “measures”) to be considered in the update.
3. When a draft of the plan was ready for review.

The staff report will be available Friday and outlines several options for the final plan that have different combinations of measures and different levels of GHG reductions.

You can provide comments at the meeting in person or email them to clerk@carlsbadca.gov. Emails received by 2 p.m. the day of the meeting will be provided to the City Council before the start of the meeting.

Next week I’ll report out on Tuesday’s meeting and explain how we get the data about GHGs and how we measure the results of our efforts.

Opportunity to give feedback on city’s efforts to reduce homelessness

The City Council would like the community’s feedback on several new options to reduce homelessness in Carlsbad and its effects on the community. The Housing Commission will hold a public meeting on the topic next Thursday:

Housing Commission meeting

Thursday, Nov. 14, 4 p.m.

Council Chamber

1200 Carlsbad Village Drive

You can provide comments in person or email them in advance to christian.gutierrez@carlsbadca.gov

Background

Following a recent Supreme Court decision and executive order from the California Governor, in August, city staff made a presentation to the City Council explaining what these two actions mean to Carlsbad. At that meeting, the City Council also discussed potential changes to the city’s Homelessness Action Plan. Before making any decisions, the City Council asked staff to gather input from the city’s Housing Commission and the public on several options.

You can read more in the Housing Commission staff report and watch the August City Council meeting video for details. We also have a quick summary in this recap prepared after the meeting (it’s about half-way down the page).

Carlsbad’s approach

The city’s approach focuses on creating lasting solutions for those experiencing homelessness in Carlsbad and addressing the impact homelessness has on the community. This includes helping people access permanent housing, providing job training and linking people with the services and support they need to become self-sufficient. A Homeless Outreach Team in the Police Department addresses concerns from residents and businesses, including reports of encampments, unsanitary conditions, nuisance behaviors and other issues.

Next steps

• Staff will return to the City Council early next year with the input received and seek further direction.
• If you’d like to be notified once that meeting is scheduled, sign up for our email list about issues related to homelessness in Carlsbad.

Also at Thursday’s meeting, the city’s homeless response team is scheduled to provide updates on the city’s Homelessness Action Plan: 

1. The annual report detailing the city’s progress for the past fiscal year 
2. The proposed funding strategy for next fiscal year’s implementation of the plan

You are also welcome to provide input on these topics.

Help select an artist for new public art in the Barrio 

Next Wednesday, a Public Art Advisory Subcommittee, made up of community members, Arts Commissioners and an arts professional, will hold a public meeting to review proposals from artists who want to be considered for a new project at the intersection of Harding and Pine. Read the call for artists.

Public Art Advisory Subcommittee meeting

Wednesday, Nov. 13, 5 p.m.

Council Chamber

1200 Carlsbad Village Drive

If you’d like to weigh in on this decision, you can provide comments in person or email them in advance to arts@carlsbadca.gov. You can also sign up for email updates about the public art projects.

Next steps

• The subcommittee will review nine applications.  
• Finalists will be invited to make a presentation at the next subcommittee meeting, scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 19. The public is also welcome to provide input at this meeting.
• Ultimately the subcommittee members will vote to select the final artist.

The selected artist will gather more public input to help shape the public art design concept in early 2025.

Honoring Team Carlsbad veterans

Strapped into a helicopter high enough to make aircraft carriers look tiny, Navy Petty Officer 2^nd Class Erin Peak hung out the side door snapping photos for the world to see.

Meanwhile, Marine Sgt. Esther Lan oversaw a team tasked with maintaining electrical systems on helicopters.

And more than 800 feet below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean, Electronics Technician 1^st Class Doug Kappel spent months on a submarine patrol.

All that happened years ago.

Today, I’m proud to say these military veterans are right here in Carlsbad, serving our community as part of the city’s staff.

With Veterans Day Monday, I thought I’d introduce you to some of the veterans on our city workforce and how we encourage veterans to continue their public service at the local government level.

Many ways to serve

Across departments, you’ll find members of Team Carlsbad who have served in the military.

As Esther says, “My advice for anyone transitioning to the civilian workforce is to recognize the unique strengths gained during military service—such as discipline, resilience and teamwork.”

Before joining the City of Carlsbad, Erin used her military benefits to go to college and graduate school. She says all her experiences in the Navy helped her be a stronger contributor to Team Carlsbad.

“Being reliable, responsible, getting work done, those are huge assets for organizations,” she says. “We’re all working together toward our larger mission.”

Now a commander in the Navy Reserve, Doug says working for the city has allowed him to continue fulfilling his passion for working in public service.

Some veterans end up applying to work at the city on their own, but we also actively promote job openings to the veteran community. However they get here, I am grateful for their service to our country and to Carlsbad. 

3-month pool closure starts Nov. 12, 2024

Here in Carlsbad, you can swim year-round, but we do see a drop off when the days get shorter, and temperatures start to dip. That’s why we have planned maintenance at the Alga Norte Aquatic Center for this time of year, starting Nov. 12 and lasting about three months.

Alga Norte Aquatic Center opened over 10 years ago, if you can believe it. That’s why we need to take it offline for a few months to replaster the pools and spa and upgrade the restrooms and locker rooms. Doing all of this work at the same time will reduce downtime at the pool overall.

• Alga Norte pool passes will continue to be honored at the Monroe Street Pool during the temporary closure.
• If you have an Alga Norte membership, you can request a pause or prorated refund until the aquatic center reopens by calling the center’s front office at 442-339-5777 or emailing parksandrec@carlsbadca.gov.

Thank you for your understanding as we make these improvements to Alga Norte. 

City construction projects near you

You won’t see projects like the one at the pool on our weekly map of city construction projects. That’s because it’s not expected to affect traffic around town. Checking the map can help you plan alternate routes, avoid detours and help keep traffic flowing smoothly through construction zones. Remember, the map only shows city projects, not work by utilities like electric and cable companies that could also affect traffic.

Construction on these projects will not take place on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

Veterans Day city service hours

City offices in Carlsbad will be closed on Monday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veterans Day. There will be no delay in trash service. A full holiday schedule for city services is listed below:

Trash pickup: No delay

City offices: Closed

Emergency services: Regular service

City libraries: Closed

Cannon Art Gallery: Closed

City sculpture garden: Closed

City pools: Closed

Community centers: Closed

Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park: Closed

Senior Center: Closed

No street sweeping on city holidays

Transit: For the holiday transit schedule, please visit gonctd.com or call 5-1-1

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

The next City Council meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 12, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Topics include:

• Monthly update on how the city’s investments are performing. (The city sets money aside for future operating and capital costs as well as for unforeseen items like emergencies. This money is invested based on the City Council’s investment policy.) 
• Agreements with pre-qualified consulting firms to provide engineering, construction and similar public works services on an as needed basis over the next five years
• Asking for permission for staff to request that the San Diego Association of Governments change what expenses are eligible for reimbursement from a grant for improvements around the intersection of Carlsbad Boulevard and Tamarack Avenue
• A request from the Carlsbad High School Lancer Dancers for a “winning teams” grant to cover travel expenses to a national competition 
• Amending the Municipal Code to conform to state law regarding residence requirements for a City Manager
• Adopting an ordinance updating the rules and regulations that govern the Carlsbad Municipal Water District to make them consistent with current policies and practices 
• Approving a developer’s use of state bonds to build 19 affordable apartments at La Costa Avenue and Camino de las Coches. (The city is not issuing the bonds. Federal law requires the City Council’s approval for the bonds to be tax exempt.)
• An update of the city’s Climate Action Plan to meet the latest state requirements for the reduction of greenhouse gases generated in the City of Carlsbad
• An informational update from the San Diego Association of Governments on the latest population, jobs and housing forecasts for Carlsbad and the San Diego region
• A quarterly report on the city’s financial health and the health of Carlsbad’s economy
• Options to change a City Council policy to require more public notification and increase opportunities for community feedback for certain development projects 

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

City Council meetings: 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.

As Veterans Day approaches, I want to take a moment to honor the dedication and sacrifices of our veterans and their families. We owe so much to those who have served and continue to support our community through their courage and commitment. Thank you for all you've done for our country and for the example you set. We are grateful on Veterans Day and every day.

With deepest respect and appreciation,   

Scott Chadwick 

City Manager