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News from the City of Carlsbad | Oct. 29, 2026

This morning, the City Council cut the ribbon on the major renovation and expansion of Monroe Street Pool during a preview event ahead of Tuesday’s opening. You can see highlights and get a sneak peak of the revamped pool in this recap video.

Also, a friendly reminder to turn your clocks back an hour before you go to sleep Saturday night. I’ve got time change-related safety tips in today’s update, plus:



• Monroe Street Pool 
• Halloween and other seasonal safety tips
• Where to vote in the general election
• City helps make more shelter beds available at La Posada
• Weigh in on draft Safe Routes to School plan for Kelly Elementary
• Congrats to our 2026 Citizens Academy Graduates
• Carlsbad Village Street Faire road closures this Sunday, Nov. 1
• Upcoming community events and activities
• Upcoming meetings

Monroe Street Pool reopens to the public Tuesday, Nov. 3!



This morning, the Carlsbad City Council held a preview and ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the major renovation and expansion of the Monroe Street Pool. I’m thrilled to share that the newly renovated pool will reopen to the public on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, at 6 a.m.!

The community and especially our pool users have waited a long time for this project to be completed, and my commitment from the start has been that we would open the pool and facility the earliest and safest day possible. Over the next few days, our contractors, lifeguards and administrative staff will complete staff training, finalize preparations and put the finishing touches on the facility to ensure a safe and successful reopening. You might also see some remaining work occurring in limited areas of the facility after reopening, but it is not expected to impact use of the reopened facility.

This video will take you through the facility’s transformation over the course of construction and give you a look at the newly renovated facility before it opens.

Shaped by community input, the renovated facility includes:



• A larger pool with 50% more lanes
• An expanded pool deck with lockers and outdoor showers
• Additional shade and bleacher seating
• A larger parking lot
• Updated locker rooms and new family restrooms
• Improved access and upgraded pool equipment
• Solar energy improvements
• Fully enclosed frontage along Monroe Street designed to reduce noise for the surrounding neighborhood

We appreciate everyone’s patience during construction as we worked to make these improvements.

For background, Carlsbad voters authorized the city to spend up to $24 million for the facility’s reconstruction and expansion in November 2022. With annual inflation adjustments, that amount could have reached nearly $27 million.

I’m pleased to share the project was completed under budget at approximately $21 million.

After four decades of serving the Carlsbad community, this major renovation and expansion of Monroe Street Pool represents an investment in the future of our community, ensuring the facility can continue to be a place for people of all ages to swim, learn and stay active for years to come.

How to renew or sign up for a pool pass

With the reopening of Monroe Street Pool, the city will be updating its aquatic passes. Instead of purchasing separate passes for Monroe Street Pool and the Alga Norte Aquatic Center, one overall membership will now allow swimmers to access both pool facilities.

• Monroe Street Pool passholders: If you previously had a monthly or quarterly Monroe Street Pool pass and would like to renew it, you can purchase the new pass that includes both pools online starting Tuesday, or stop in to purchase a new pass in person.
• Drop-in day passes: These can only be purchased in person.
• Alga Norte Aquatic Center passholders: If you have a monthly or quarterly membership, no action is needed and you can now enjoy both pools.

Learn more about the updated aquatic passes.

Halloween, setting your clocks back and more seasonal safety tips

With Halloween on Saturday and Daylight Saving Time ending Sunday, more people will be out walking and driving after dark – not just this weekend, but as the days grow shorter in the months ahead.

We want everyone to stay safe at home and on the road, so here are some seasonal safety tips, plus a reminder to compost your pumpkin when you’re done celebrating.

Halloween safety

With a chance of rain on Saturday night, it’s especially important to stay alert and follow these Halloween safety tips, including:

• If you’re driving, slow down and watch for trick-or-treaters. Anticipate what you would do if a child dashed out from behind a parked car wearing a dark costume.
• If your kids are trick-or-treating, choose costumes that are easy to see and remind them to look both ways and cross the street at corners. 
• If you are hosting a party with minors, be aware that the City of Carlsbad has something called a social host ordinance. This means that parents will be held accountable if kids get access to alcohol or other controlled substances.

Fall back safely

With the shorter days ahead and clocks changing this weekend, it’s also a good time to review these fall safety tips, including:

• Evening commutes will be darker, so slow down and stay alert while driving, especially around people walking and biking.
• Change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Test smoke detectors monthly to make sure they work.
• Make sure your home emergency kit is up to date.

Give your pumpkin a second life

Once Halloween is over, keep your pumpkin out of the landfill by composting it in your green organics cart.



• If your pumpkin is carved, remove candles and decorations first.
• If it’s painted, wash off water-based, non-toxic paint with water or vegetable oil. If the paint is thick or not biodegradable, put the pumpkin in the trash.
• If your pumpkin is still in good shape, roast the seeds, make pumpkin puree or keep it as fall décor a little longer. 

Where to vote in the general election

California’s Gubernatorial General Election is next Tuesday, Nov. 3. All registered voters should have received a mail-in ballot from the San Diego County Registrar of Voters. If you want to vote in person, you can go to a vote center to cast your ballot.

Through Nov. 3, you can drop off your signed and sealed mail ballot at any of our three city library locations during regular hours. On Election Day, Nov. 3, libraries will accept ballots from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Ballot drop boxes are also located at Poinsettia Community Park, Buena Vista Reservoir Park and Pine Avenue Community Park and are open 24 hours a day until 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.

See a list of key dates and voter information on our website.

City helps make more shelter beds available at La Posada


More beds will be available at La Posada de Guadalupe, Carlsbad’s only homeless shelter, thanks to a new agreement the city facilitated with the state in partnership with nonprofit Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego.

Catholic Charities operates La Posada, which provides emergency and transitional shelter services for men, including farmworkers. Last year, the City Council directed staff to pursue a legislative proposal to allow underused beds that were previously reserved for only farmworkers to also serve men experiencing homelessness.

City staff and Catholic Charities then worked with the state Department of Housing and Community Development to amend the agreement governing the shelter’s use. The change allows additional beds previously reserved for farmworkers to serve other men experiencing homelessness when there is no verifiable farmworker need.

The City of Carlsbad played a key role in securing the agreement. Providing additional beds is only part of the solution. La Posada also provides meals, case management and other essential services to help men experiencing homelessness rebuild their lives.

To help initially expand these shelter services, the city has contributed $180,000. Approximately 15 additional beds are available now, and Catholic Charities is working to raise the remaining funding needed to support the expansion, with the goal of eventually bringing a total of 45 new beds into use.

The city has partnered with Catholic Charities since the shelter was established in the early 1990s. 

Reducing homelessness and its impacts on the community has been a top City Council goal since 2021. In 2023, the City Council approved a Homelessness Action Plan, continuing the city's strategy of focusing on programs and services that will make the biggest difference for Carlsbad.

The city is continuing to explore solutions to provide more shelter options for women and families experiencing homelessness in Carlsbad.

Weigh in on draft Safe Routes to School plan for Kelly Elementary 

The City of Carlsbad has been working with Kelly Elementary School and the surrounding community to identify street improvements that could make it easier and safer for students to walk and bike to school.

• This spring, we gathered input from students, parents, school officials and neighbors through two listening sessions and an online survey.
• That feedback helped shape our draft Safe Routes to School plan, which identifies potential short- and long-term street improvements in the area.

The draft will be discussed at the next Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission meeting on Monday, Nov. 2. You can attend in person to share your thoughts or email comments to traffic@carlsbadca.gov by 1 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission meeting

Monday, Nov. 2, at 4 p.m.

City Council Chamber

1200 Carlsbad Village Drive

After the meeting, city staff will review the feedback and consider updates to the plan. The updated plan is expected to go to the City Council for consideration in early 2027.

Congratulations to our 2026 Citizens Academy graduates

Last week, participants in this year’s Citizens Academy celebrated the end of the seven-week program that gives residents an inside look at how city government works. Each session focused on a different part of city operations, with presentations, facility tours and opportunities to meet the staff who help keep Carlsbad running smoothly.

Congratulations to this year’s graduates for their commitment to learning more about our community and how our local government serves all who live, work and play here every day. If you’re interested in joining a future academy, you can submit an online application to be added to the waitlist for the 2027 program.

Carlsbad Village Street Faire road closures this Sunday, Nov. 1

If you’re planning to come downtown this weekend, be aware that the Carlsbad Village Street Faire is happening Sunday, Nov. 1.

Several streets in the Village will be closed to make way for this popular community event, which features more than 900 vendors, international foods, entertainment and children’s rides. You can find the full list of road closures on our website.

The biannual street faire takes place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is hosted by the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. It typically draws tens of thousands of people, so remember to slow down and be alert for people driving, walking or biking to and from downtown.

While you are at the faire, stop by the Carlsbad Police Department booth and get information on how you can help keep our streets safe, whether you drive, bike or walk. You can also visit our Fire & Life Safety team to learn about wildfire preparedness, smoke alarm safety and other fire prevention resources, plus enjoy some fun giveaways and a community game.

Upcoming community events and activities

Join us for upcoming events and activities at our libraries, community centers and the Carlsbad Senior Center:

• Cinema Club Friday: “Pina” – Friday, Oct. 30, 4 and 7 p.m., Dove Library
• Día de los Muertos at Leo Carrillo Ranch – Saturday, Oct. 31, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park
• American Mahjong – Wednesdays, noon to 3 p.m. and Thursdays, 1 to 4 p.m., Carlsbad Senior Center
• Reel Wednesday: “Planes, Trains & Automobiles” – Wednesday, Nov. 4, 4 and 7 p.m., Dove Library
• Author Event: Heather Morris – Thursday, Nov. 5, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Dove Library
• Medication & Sharps Collection and Shred & Recycle It! Events — Saturday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., location provided when you register

Upcoming meetings

In addition to the Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission meeting I mentioned earlier, the city’s Planning Commission and Arts Commission are scheduled to meet next week. See the full meeting schedule on our city calendar. All City Council meetings and board and commission meetings are livestreamed on the city’s website and available to watch afterward.

Have a happy Halloween and don’t forget to set those clocks back!

Geoff Patnoe

City Manager