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News from the City of Carlsbad | Oct. 16, 2025

If you’ve driven on El Camino Real near Rancho Carlsbad lately, you’ve probably seen crews working on a project to widen the northbound side of the road. What you likely couldn’t see was the ongoing work below street level building a retaining wall to support the larger road. That’s why I’m beginning today's update with a behind-the-scenes video of crews carrying out that significant work.

In this week's edition, I'll update you on the progress of the El Camino Real widening project.

Here’s the full lineup:

• El Camino Real widening update
• Preventing lithium-ion battery fires
• Trail volunteers gear up for Oct. 25 event
• Bike MS road closures this Sunday
• Pumpkin Plunge and other community events
• Apply to serve on the city’s agricultural mitigation fee committee
• What’s on the agenda for your next City Council meeting
• Stay informed all week long

El Camino Real widening update

El Camino Real is one of the city’s arterial streets, meaning its purpose is to move a large number of vehicles through Carlsbad with coordinated traffic signals.

To help improve traffic flow and safety on El Camino Real between College Avenue and Jackspar/Rancho Carlsbad drives, improvements are underway which include:

• Adding a third northbound car lane and a buffered bike lane, which includes extra space separating bikes from cars
• Building new sidewalks, curbs and gutters
• Adding new streetlights

Currently, city crews are pouring concrete to build a retaining wall to support the wider road. You can see part of it in this behind-the-scenes video. That phase of the project will continue over the next few weeks, weather permitting. 

If you’re in the area, you can expect to see crews out from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. We expect to finish widening the road in mid-2026. Thank you for your patience during construction.

Preventing lithium-ion battery fires

Lithium-ion batteries are found in everyday items such as e-bikes, scooters, laptops and cellphones. When not used or stored properly, they can overheat, catch fire or explode.

Recently, the City of Carlsbad joined with the National Fire Protection Association to spread the word on preventing fires as part of Fire Prevention Month this October. The organization has focused on the growing risk of lithium-ion battery fires.

Across the country, fire departments are seeing a rise in deadly fires linked to these batteries and Carlsbad has already experienced several in the past few years. Here are some tips to help prevent fires from lithium-ion batteries:



• Use only batteries and chargers that are tested and listed by a recognized laboratory such as UL or Intertek.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions closely.
• Charge on hard surfaces, not on beds or couches.
• Unplug once fully charged and avoid overcharging.
• Store e-bikes, e-scooters and batteries outside living areas and away from exits.
• Stop using batteries that show signs of damage such as odor, leaking, swelling, heat or unusual noises.
• Never leave charging devices unattended.

Fire Marshal Darcy Davidson offers more tips on safe storage and disposal of lithium-ion batteries in this video.

View more resources. 

Trail volunteers gear up for Oct. 25 event

Volunteering for our trail maintenance events not only helps protect our natural environment, but also leads to new community connections over a common goal.

If you’d like to get involved, the city is hosting another trail volunteer event on Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Carlsbad Oaks North Business Park Trail. 

Trail volunteer event

Saturday, Oct. 25

8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Carlsbad Oaks North Business Park Trail

3115 S Melrose Drive

• The city provides shovels, rakes and other tools, along with a short training for new volunteers.
• Bring water to stay hydrated and make sure to wear closed-toe shoes, long pants, gloves and sunscreen. Gloves will be provided, but please bring your own if you have them.
• Check in at the business parking lot just behind the trail.

And that brings me to the most recent trail volunteer event…

Trail volunteers spruce up Lake Calavera trail system

The Lake Calavera trail system now has fewer weeds, trimmed back vegetation and smoother pathways.

That’s thanks in large part to the work of our staff and volunteers, who came together on Sept. 27 to spruce up the trail in honor of National Public Lands Day. 

The team took on trails maintenance projects on the Lake Loop Trail, the Solar Walk Trail and the Peninsula Trail. Staff provided the necessary hand tools and rock materials for the work and led the volunteers to the locations throughout the preserve. Here are some pictures from the event last month: 

Thank you again to our staff and trail volunteers for your contribution to our community!

Road closures on Sunday for Bike MS event

This weekend, the Bike MS ride is taking place along the coast in Carlsbad. If you’re planning to be in the areas of Carlsbad Boulevard, Cannon Road or Avenida Encinas, please give yourself extra time and drive carefully. I also want to give you a heads up that there are a few related road closures planned on Sunday morning, from 6 to 9:30 a.m.:

• I-5 northbound and southbound off-ramps at Cannon Road
• I-5 southbound on-ramp at Cannon Road
• Lane closures on westbound Cannon Road between Carlsbad Boulevard and Grand Pacific Drive

Pumpkin Plunge and other upcoming events

Alga Norte Aquatic Center will transform into a Halloween playground with games, prizes, a floating obstacle course, a bounce house and even a floating pumpkin patch as part of the annual Pumpkin Plunge, set for this Saturday, Oct. 18.

• Online presales close at 5 p.m. Friday, but wristbands can be purchased at the event if it’s not sold out.
• To skip the lines, wristbands can be picked up in advance at Alga Norte Aquatic Center during regular business hours Friday.
• Food will be available for purchase.
• The Splash Pad will also be open for younger children.

For safety, only pool noodles and U.S. Coast Guard-approved flotation devices are permitted in the pool.

Here are some more events and activities coming up soon at our city libraries, community centers and the Carlsbad Senior Center:

• Cinema Club Friday, "Art and Craft" – Friday, Oct. 17, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library
• Open Studios: "Printed & Stitched" – Saturday, Oct. 18, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dove Library
• Courtyard Concerts: Adrienne Nims (Adults 50+) – Monday, Oct. 20, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Senior Center
• Reel Wednesday, “The Unbreakable Boy" – Wednesday, Oct. 22, 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 Fall Community Services Guide.

Apply to serve on the city’s agricultural mitigation fee committee

If you love Carlsbad’s lagoons and agricultural roots and want to help make a difference in our community, apply to serve on the city’s Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee Citizens Advisory Committee. This committee helps review and award grant funds from developer fees to agricultural, coastal or wetland restoration projects that enhance quality of life for Carlsbad.

Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee Citizens Advisory Committee

One vacancy

Deadline to apply Wednesday, Oct. 22, at noon

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

The next City Council meeting is on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Topics anticipated to be on the agenda include:

• Monthly update on how the city’s investments are performing
• The City Attorney’s employment agreement 
• A contract for custodial services for city buildings 
• A loan to Casa de Amparo, a non-profit organization that serves abused and neglected children in North County 
• Authorizing bidding on the construction of Veterans Memorial Park and related improvements to Faraday Avenue 
• An update from the Clean Energy Alliance, which provides green electricity for Carlsbad residents and businesses
• An update on the city’s internal audit program

The agenda and staff reports will be available on the city’s website by Friday, Oct. 17.

3 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

… 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)

The city’s Library Board of Trustees and Senior Commission are also scheduled to meet next week. Board and commission meetings are also livestreamed on the city’s website and available to watch afterward. You can see the full meeting schedule on our city calendar.

Stay informed all week long

Thanks as always for reading these weekly updates and being part of our community. If you want to get city news all week long, I highly recommend you follow our city on social media, if you don’t already. It’s an easy way to stay connected, see what’s happening around town and get real-time information when you need it. You can also visit the newsroom on our website.

Enjoy your weekend!

Geoff Patnoe

City Manager