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News from the City of Carlsbad | Oct. 24, 2024

Now that summer is over, we’ve started a major infrastructure replacement project along the coast that you’ll want to know about. I’ll give you the details plus the following updates in this week’s edition: 

• Major construction around Terramar area 
• More sand coming to Carlsbad beaches 
• Service profile: Code enforcement 
• Retaining wall rules 
• Safer Streets Together, Halloween edition 
• Flashing yellow arrow: what it means and why it’s used 
• Farmers' market parking reminder  
• What’s on the agenda for your next City Council meeting 

Watch for construction in Terramar area

A year-long project to replace water and sewer pipes in the Terramar area (Carlsbad Boulevard and Cannon Road) has just begun. It’s a relatively small area, but one frequently traveled.  

The city has planned construction to minimize inconveniences as much as possible (major work will stop during the busy summer months), and we are asking community members to use extra caution in the construction area.  

Construction hours  

7 a.m. to 4 p.m.   

Monday through Friday  

Bike lanes will be reopened on evenings, weekends and holidays  

For drivers  

Take alternate routes when possible 

Share the road with bicyclists (absolutely no passing in the construction zone) 

Leave extra time and watch your speed 

Keep an eye out for crews directing traffic 

Watch for pedestrians 

For bicyclists  

Take alternate routes when possible 

If you have to ride through the construction area, follow all signs and work crew instructions 

Take the lane (ride in the middle) when no bike lanes are available 

Ride single file 

Watch for cars and pedestrians 

For walkers and joggers  

This area has no sidewalks, so choose another route if possible 

If you must go through the construction zone, stay as far to the west (as close to the coast) as possible and out of the bike lane 

Watch and listen for cyclists and cars (take out earbuds) 

Parking  

Parking in this area will be more limited than usual 

Avoid the area if possible 

Do not park in areas with “No Parking” signs, including for scheduled deliveries 

If you must park in the area, look for street parking away from the construction zone 

Get construction updates 

Text “TERRAMAR” to 760-302-5500 

Sign up for email updates.  

Construction planned next week 

Remember, before you head out, check our construction map to see other city projects that could affect traffic. Remember, the map only shows city projects and doesn’t include construction projects by local utilities, private companies or other agencies. 

Projects to bring more sand to Carlsbad beaches

Nearly 1 million cubic yards of sand is scheduled to land on Carlsbad beaches over the next four-plus years, thanks to five separate projects.  

Why is more sand needed? 

Sand on our beaches comes and goes throughout the year. But, major storms and human-made structures along the beach and upstream can affect this cycle, resulting in less sand on our beaches overall. Learn how this works.

How does “new” sand get to the beach? 

Sand can be dredged from lagoons and the ocean and put back on the beach using dredging equipment. Think of a giant vacuum that sucks up some sand from the ocean or lagoon floor. The recovered sand is delivered to its new home by truck or through a large pipe. Then, it is spread out to dry. 

See footage of past projects 

Who’s in charge? 

The city doesn’t own or have jurisdiction over how most of Carlsbad’s coastline is managed, but beaches are a huge part of our local quality of life and economy. That’s why we work as closely as possible with the various entities in charge of projects to put sand back on the beaches. Each of these projects has its own purpose and timetable. Here’s the latest estimated schedule: 

In addition to these projects, next spring, the City of Oceanside is expected to complete its annual harbor dredging. That sand is deposited onto Oceanside beaches, but some of it makes its way down to Carlsbad through the process of littoral drift within the Oceanside littoral cell. 

* One major caveat about the timing: any work along the coast is subject to numerous state and federal laws, regulations and restrictions. This makes sense because the coast is such an important natural resource. Plans are scrutinized and sometimes sent back for changes. Or, if one agency takes a little longer to finish its review, and nesting season starts for a particular bird, the project can get delayed for several months to a whole year. 

If you’d like to follow these sand projects and other issues related to beach preservation in Carlsbad, you can sign up to be notified of upcoming meetings of our Beach Preservation Commission. Staff periodically updates this City Council appointed commission on these projects and other issues related to protecting our shoreline. 

You can watch a recording of the commission’s last meeting, where these sand projects were reviewed. 

Citizens Academy ride along series: Planning, housing and more

The second-to-the-last Citizens Academy session of 2024 focused on our Community Development and Housing & Homeless Services departments. Much of the discussion was about planning, development, affordable housing and homelessness. Those are also frequent topics in this newsletter. So, today, I thought I’d tell you about a lesser-known city service highlighted last Thursday. 

Code enforcement 

Continuing our series where I introduce you to some of the city staff who work to bring you services, events and programs, today I would like you to meet Carlsbad Code Enforcement Manager Robbie Hickerson.  

Robbie has been with the city for almost a decade and says one of the best parts of his job is helping to make sure Carlsbad neighborhoods remain safe and clean. 

What’s a code? 

When we talk about codes, we are usually referring to the Carlsbad Municipal Code, which is a collection of city-specific laws enacted by the City Council. Code enforcement officers focus mostly on violations affecting health and safety, like illegal construction, unsafe living conditions and abandoned vehicles. 

Recently, city staff caught up with Robbie to learn more about what he and his team do in their day-to-day jobs. 

Q: What are the most common complaints? 

A: They vary by season. For the past several years we have been working hard to make sure short-term vacation rentals follow our Carlsbad-specific restrictions, which specify things like where they are allowed and quiet hours. These properties tend to be busier during the summer months. Other violations get reported throughout the year, like unpermitted construction or overgrown landscaping that could be a fire hazard or is encroaching on public property. 

Q: What can’t the city issue citations for? 

A:  We can’t enforce HOA rules or resolve disputes between neighbors that relate to things like who pays for a shared fence (but we can refer neighbors to a mediation service).  

Q: What are some of the strangest complaints you’ve received? 

A: We’ve heard it all. One time someone wanted to know if we could do something about noisy crows flying in neighborhoods in northern Carlsbad. (We couldn’t.)  

Q: What happens if someone violates a city code? 

A: We like to use an education-first approach. Our goal is to resolve the violation, and sometimes people aren’t familiar with all of the codes. In most cases, once the resident or business owner is made aware, they take care of the problem. If someone is not responsive to the first notice, we can issue fines, which get progressively more expensive. Even if we are at that point, we still offer to problem solve and come up with solutions so the person can come into compliance. 

Many thanks to Robbie and all our code enforcement staff for their work in maintaining our community’s high quality of life.  

Retaining wall rules 

While we’re on the topic of code violations, please be aware that building a retaining wall often requires a permit. Please check with the city before you have any work done.  

• Retaining walls need to be structurally sound, and the specifications can vary based on the slope of your house, the type of soil and other factors. 
• If a retaining wall fails, someone could get hurt, you could damage your property or you could damage neighboring properties, leading to lawsuits. 

Because there are so many variables, it’s best to talk to a member of our Building Department about your specific project. You can do this in person, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the city’s Faraday Center, email the staff with questions, make an appointment online or just give them a call at 442-339-2719.

Safer Streets Together on Halloween

Halloween is a week from today, but Halloween celebrations could be planned sooner, so please be extra cautious when you’re on our roads. 

If you’ll be driving Halloween night: 

• More people will be out walking. Slow down and watch for trick-or-treaters. Anticipate what you would do if a kid dashed out from behind a parked car mid-block, wearing a dark costume.  
• Put your phone away and avoid other distractions while driving, like admiring neighborhood Halloween décor. It’s more fun to stop and get a closer look anyway. 
• Be extra careful when you’re backing out of driveways. 

Other tips 

• Make sure costumes are visible to drivers. Reflective tape or glow sticks attached to costumes or bags can help. 
• Bring enough adults to supervise kids trick or treating. 
• If you’re walking at night, consider bringing a flashlight, or use the light on your phone (make sure your battery is charged). Cross streets at corners and watch for cars backing out of driveways. 
• If you’re biking, remember that lights are required on the front and back of your bike when it’s dark outside. 

As always, the Carlsbad Police Department will be out to help keep everyone safe. If you notice suspicious activity, report it to the 24-hour non-emergency line at 442-339-2197, and for emergencies, call 9-1-1. 

Thanks to your extra attention, we have made Carlsbad’s streets safer. By working together, we can make sure the only thing scary about Halloween is the costumes. View year-round traffic safety tips. 

Bike and e-bike safety classes

So far, the Carlsbad Police Department has provided bike and e-bike training to nearly 2,000 students in Carlsbad. The next two trainings are scheduled for November: 

• During the class students learn about the rules of the road and Carlsbad specific e-bike rules. 
• More and more schools are requiring this training before allowing students to bring their bikes and e-bikes on campus. 

Classes fill up quickly, so register today if you have a student who is interested. 

Bike and e-bike safety class 

Saturday, Nov. 2 

9 to 10 a.m. or 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. 

Georgina Cole Library 

1250 Carlsbad Village Drive 

New traffic signal features flashing yellow arrow  

If you work or drive along Avenida Encinas, south of Palomar Airport Road, or like to eat there, you might have noticed new crosswalks and a new traffic signal at the northern entrance to the restaurant area. 

Construction is done and it is scheduled to be activated next week.  

Given the popularity of the area, with office buildings on the west and restaurants on the east, our traffic engineers needed a solution that would help people use the road safely while minimizing traffic congestion and delays.  Enter the flashing yellow arrow. 

A safer, more efficient left turn signal 

The flashing yellow arrow signal has been around for several years, but this will be the first one in Carlsbad. People like this type of signal for a few reasons: 

Safer – Studies have shown that traffic signals equipped with flashing yellow left turn arrows reduce collisions involving left turns. 

Less delay – Drivers have more opportunities to make a left turn with the flashing yellow left turn; they can turn with a green arrow AND they can turn with a flashing yellow arrow as long as no one is coming the other direction.  

More flexible – This type of signal can be customized to minimize traffic delays. 

If you happen to pass by, let us know what you think. 

Farmers' market parking reminder

If you’re visiting the Village on a Wednesday afternoon, please remember that all cars must be off State Street between Grand Avenue and Carlsbad Village Drive by 1 p.m. Getting your car towed is not only an inconvenience, it can be costly. Signs are posted along the street to remind drivers, but I wanted to also remind you here.  

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

The next City Council meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 29, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Topics include: 

• Returning unused funds to residents in southeast Carlsbad who paid fees to fund improvements to Rancho Santa Fe Road now that the projects are done 
• The update of the city’s Conflict of Interest Code required every two years by state law 
• An agreement to install new equipment in the city’s police vehicles 
• Correcting a discrepancy in the construction contract bidding documents for a project to widen El Camino Real between Sunny Creek Road and Jackspar Drive 
• Designating a subcontractor to collect and recycle electronic waste for Carlsbad residents and businesses 
• An agreement to replace furniture in the city’s Emergency Operations Center, which is being renovated along with the Police and Fire Headquarters 
• A state grant that will pay for six new electric vehicle charging stations at the State Street parking lot in the Village 
• A contract to repair or replace worn-out valves in the Carlsbad Municipal Water District water distribution system 
• Updating rules and regulations that govern the Carlsbad Municipal Water District to make them consistent with current policies and practices 
• Adopting an ordinance that will update the city’s Building Code to reflect state requirements for electric vehicle charging stations 
• An appeal from the San Diego Association of Governments of the city’s decision not to allow construction activities outside of approved hours for a project to add a second set of train tracks over the Batiquitos Lagoon 

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.

That’s it for this week. Remember, you can get city news as it happens by following the city on social media or sign up for more information about specific topics on our website.   

Have a great weekend. 

Scott Chadwick 

City Manager