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News from the City of Carlsbad | Oct. 1, 2026

We’ve reached a major milestone in the project to replace and expand the Monroe Street Pool: the new larger pool is now plastered and filled with water. You can watch that process take place in this behind-the-scenes video, and in today’s update, I’ll explain the key next steps before the pool will (soon) reopen.

I’ll also bring you up to speed on additional elements the City Council will consider to honor veterans at the future Veterans Memorial Park, and some positive news about our city finances.

Here’s the full lineup:

• Monroe Street Pool nearing completion
• Parks & Recreation earns national recognition
• Veteran recognition at Veterans Memorial Park
• Investing in the city’s future
• Experience the arts in Carlsbad during National Arts & Humanities Month
• Halloween season, Carlsbad style, plus more events and activities
• What’s on the agenda for your next City Council meeting

Monroe Street Pool nearing completion

We’re nearing the finish line on the replacement and expansion of the Monroe Street Pool.

Last week, the construction crew completed the pool plastering and filled the pool with water. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at that process.

And this timelapse video speeds things up to show this milestone taking shape over several days.

While the pool may look ready for a swim, our contractor is working to complete these important final parts of the project before we can welcome the community back:

• Testing the water quality and associated equipment to make sure everything is meeting requirements and working correctly
• Installing solar thermal panels for the pool’s heating system
• Installing fixtures within the restrooms
• Forming, paving and striping the new larger parking lot

Some parts of the project depend on the schedules of other agencies and utility providers. This includes gas work to be coordinated with SDG&E and final inspections and approvals from the County Public Health Department. We’re doing everything we can to safely reopen the pool as soon as possible.

When finished, the renovated facility will feature a larger pool with 50% more lanes and upgrades to nearly every part of the complex, including restrooms, showers, locker rooms, lighting and mechanical systems. New shade structures, deck space and bleacher seating will make the facility more comfortable for swimmers, instructors and spectators alike.

We expect to have an official reopening date within the next few weeks. While some remaining work may continue in limited areas of the site after reopening, it is not expected to impact public use of the re-opened facility.

We appreciate everyone’s patience as we make these improvements and will continue to share updates as we near the reopening.

Parks & Recreation earns national recognition

I’m proud to share that our Parks & Recreation Department has earned national accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies.

Only one other city in California earned the achievement this year, bringing the total number of accredited agencies in the state to just eight. The recognition reflects the high standards our Parks & Recreation team brings to our parks, facilities, programs, resources, safety and services.

From community events and recreation programs to the parks and gathering places where neighbors connect, these services are an important part of what brings our community together and makes Carlsbad special.

This national recognition reflects the quality and care that go into creating those experiences for our community. Carlsbad joins the ranks of a select group of 232 elite park and recreation agencies nationwide

The Parks & Recreation Department oversees:

• Approximately 434 acres of developed parkland and approximately 612 acres of habitat preserves
• 42 parks
• Four community centers, two aquatic centers, a senior center, athletic fields, tennis and pickleball courts, basketball courts, community gardens, beach accesses and more
• Approximately 51 miles of trails within open space
• Recreation classes, camps, programs and special events
• Future parks planning and development

Learn more about the city’s programs, events and classes and why this accreditation is so important.

Veteran recognition at Veterans Memorial Park



On Wednesday, the City Council’s Ad Hoc Veterans Memorial Park Veterans Recognition Subcommittee held its final of three meetings to gather input from veterans and other community members on additional ways to recognize veterans at the future Veterans Memorial Park.

The park will include a Veterans Memorial Plaza that will honor all six branches of the U.S. Military, along with a separate public art area that provides opportunities to incorporate features that honor veterans.

After reviewing concepts developed by staff based on feedback from the subcommittee, veterans and other community members during its first two meetings, the subcommittee’s final recommendations for City Council consideration will include:

• A historical walk with interpretive panels of U.S. conflicts
• An interpretive panel of the contributions of regional military bases
• Adding flags of each branch of the U.S. Armed forces at the public art area
• Increasing the size of the American Flag planned at the public art area
• A U.S. Merchant Marine plaque affixed to a large boulder in the Veterans Memorial Plaza area
• An inscribed Peace Pole as a universal symbol of peace prevailing

Additionally, the following donation-supported elements that people could order to honor specific veterans or groups of veterans will be considered, building on offerings in the city’s existing memorial program:

• Plaques or tiles mounted on two stationary walls, along with bricks or pavers in the ground
• Two walls with plaques or tiles resembling military dog tags that gently sway in the wind

You can read more about the elements proposed and view conceptual renderings of each in the staff report or watch the meeting recording.

The full City Council is expected to consider the subcommittee’s recommendations on Nov. 10, the day before Veterans Day.

Thank you to those who provided input on this important effort to recognize and honor those who have served our country.

Investing in the city's future

 

If you have money left over after paying all your bills, that’s usually a good thing for your household budget. The same is true for the City of Carlsbad. 

At the end of each fiscal year, on June 30, the city often has funds that were budgeted but not spent. This can happen for many reasons, including changing needs, project timelines, cost savings, or revenues coming in higher than expected. 

The city has policies for reviewing these remaining funds and determining how they can best be used. This helps ensure the money is handled responsibly and aligned with the city’s priorities, rather than automatically being added to the next year’s budget. 

On Tuesday, the City Council approved how this year’s remaining funds, known as “carry forwards,” may be used. 

Here’s how it works: 

Priority 1 – Ensure we have enough money in our rainy day fund 

The City Council’s policy is to keep an amount equal to at least 40% of the annual General Fund operating expenditures in a reserve account. This year, the city's General Fund reserve is healthy at $148.8 million, which is 60% of the adopted budget.

Priority 2 – Manage pension costs 

The City Council next focuses on contributing funds to the pension trust to meet the City Council policy of keeping the city’s pension plan no less than 80% funded.

On Tuesday, the City Council approved contributing $7.5 million from last year’s savings to the pension trust. This is the fourth $7.5 million contribution the city has made to the trust, bringing it to 83.5% funded, above the city’s policy goal and among the best funded pensions in the region.

Priority 3: One-time expenses for other needs 

After meeting the first two priorities, remaining funds go toward one-time expenses aligned with the City Council’s Five-Year Strategic Plan. The City Council decided to invest in additional: 

• Brush mitigation and tree removal - $300,000
  The City Council allocated $300,000 to assist with additional brush management efforts in city-owned urban forests, such as Hosp Grove, Woodbine Banks and Village H. This is the third phase of money allocated for tree removal and brush mitigation. The City Council has appropriated $1.7 million for additional fire and brush mitigation efforts since February 2025.

Additional investments include: 

• Completing outstanding vehicle purchases, including a fire apparatus brush truck 
• Traffic safety projects
• Accessibility upgrades for the city’s website 
• Improvements to IT services 
• Agricultural land preservation 
• Improved payment processing reliability and security      

The City Council also approved carrying forward the $5.2 million it had budgeted in fiscal year 2023-24 to use as matching funds for a grant to study and design putting the railroad tracks below street level through the Village and Barrio, roughly between the Agua Hedionda Lagoon and Buena Vista Lagoon. The city is partnering with SANDAG and NCTD to pursue the grant funding and project. (Next week’s City Council meeting agenda includes an item related to studying this potential project.) 

See the full list of funding approved Tuesday and read the fiscal year 2026-27 budget on our website.  

Experience the arts in Carlsbad during National Arts & Humanities Month



October is National Arts & Humanities Month, the perfect time to highlight the city’s long-standing commitment to the arts and the many ways you can experience the arts in Carlsbad.

Forty years ago, the City of Carlsbad became the first city in the region to establish a Cultural Arts Division. Creating opportunities for local artists to connect with Carlsbad residents remains a city priority and supports the City Council’s 5-Year Strategic Plan goal of strengthening community character and connectedness.

The city offers many ways to connect with the arts, including:

• Live performances most Saturdays at the Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium or Ann Kulchin Courtyard
• Twice-weekly Cinema Club screenings
• Thirty-five public art pieces throughout the city
• Cultural festivities featuring live performances and hands-on art activities

The Cannon Art Gallery is a focal point for arts and culture in Carlsbad, and our team is preparing the gallery for the return of the city’s popular Biennial Exhibition. The work of approximately 90 regional artists will fill the gallery from Oct. 23 through Jan. 3.

This video gives you a snapshot of the many ways arts and culture come to life in Carlsbad.

Sign up to receive emails from the Cultural Arts team to make sure you get the latest news and updates. 

Halloween season, Carlsbad style, plus more events and activities

Spooky season is almost here, and the City of Carlsbad is getting into the spirit with a variety of Halloween events for families, tweens, adults and active adults 50+: 

• Super Hero Obstacle Race – Sunday, Oct. 4, 8 to 10 a.m., Alga Norte Community Park
• Pumpkin Plunge – Saturday, Oct. 17, 5 to 8 p.m., Alga Norte Aquatic Center
• Fixit Clinic: Fall back edition – Saturday, Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dove Library
• Halloween Homecoming – Wednesday, Oct. 28, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Carlsbad Senior Center
• Haunted Halloween Bash – Friday, Oct. 30, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Pine Avenue Community Center

You can see the full Halloween event roundup on our website.

As always, we've got more City of Carlsbad events and activities coming up soon at our libraries, community centers and the Carlsbad Senior Center, including:

• Cinema Club Friday: “Waiting for Guffman” – Friday, Oct. 2, 4 and 7 p.m., Dove Library
• Author event: John Thill – Saturday, Oct. 3, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Cole Library
• Public Safety Open House – Saturday, Oct. 3, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Carlsbad Safety Training Center
• Reel Wednesday: “Goosebumps” – Wednesday, Oct. 7, 4 and 7 p.m., Dove Library
• Elder Fraud Prevention – Friday, Oct. 9, 1 to 2 p.m., Carlsbad Senior Center
• Cybersecurity Tips and Tricks – Saturday, Oct. 10, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Carlsbad Senior Center

There is an extreme heat warning in effect starting Friday morning through Wednesday, Oct. 7. We’re closely monitoring temperatures and making adjustments where possible for this weekend’s Public Safety Open House and Super Hero Obstacle Race events. We’ll have a cool zone area at the Public Safety Open House and water stations available at both events.

If you need to cool off, you can visit the air-conditioned Carlsbad City Library on Dove Lane. Our website has more tips to help you stay safe in the heat.

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

The next City Council meeting will be Tuesday, Oct. 6, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Topics include:

• A monthly report on how the city’s investments are performing
• Renewing the Carlsbad Tourism Business Improvement District
• The 2027 schedule for regular City Council meetings
• Awarding a contract for the second phase of replacing turf fields, which includes Aviara and Alga Norte community parks
• Awarding a contract for the city’s annual street resurfacing work
• Continuing the declaration of a local emergency to address bluff erosion north of Encinas Creek on the west side of Carlsbad Boulevard
• Considering an ordinance for traffic calming improvements for Anillo Way, La Gran Via and Madrilena Way
• A memorandum of understanding between the city, the San Diego Association of Governments and the North County Transit District for the Carlsbad Village Railroad Trench Project

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

Three easy ways to participate

1. Sign up to get agendas and staff reports emailed to you directly
2. Provide feedback via email to clerk@carlsbadca.gov by 2 p.m. the day of the meeting 
3. Sign up to speak at the meeting or comment virtually

… and three 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)

Some of the city’s boards and commissions are also scheduled to meet next week, including the Planning Commission and the Housing Commission. Board and commission meetings are livestreamed on the city’s website and available to watch afterward. See the full meeting schedule on our city calendar.

Carlsbad representation at state level

This past week staff from the City of Carlsbad attended the League of California Cities (Cal Cities) Annual Conference and were on hand to congratulate Council Member Teresa Acosta, as she begins her duties as President of Cal Cities, a statewide municipal organization that advocates on behalf of all of California’s 483 cities.

 

It is the first time a Carlsbad City Council Member has served as President, and the first in over 20 years from San Diego County.

The city will benefit from having a seat at the table in Sacramento when it comes to issues impacting Carlsbad with Council Member Acosta serving in this role over the next year.

Try to stay cool this weekend, and go Padres!!

Geoff Patnoe

City Manager