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News from the City of Carlsbad | Oct. 3, 2024

In this week’s update, I’ll tell you about two city-sponsored pieces of legislation that were just signed into law. One will address the number one complaint we get from residents about e-bike safety. The other will improve cybersecurity for cities throughout California. Here’s today’s full list of stories:   

• Two city-sponsored bills signed into law 
• Tighten your cybersecurity seatbelt 
• Citizens Academy ride-along: Public safety  
• Heads up on major water pipeline work affecting Carlsbad Boulevard 
• Peek into the past: Carlsbad’s first water pipes 
• Library program helps students apply to college 
• CHS homecoming Friday: what to know 
• Topics for your next City Council meeting 

Two city-sponsored bills signed into law

Over the last few weeks, I’ve explained how new state housing laws are affecting our city and the steps our City Council is taking to advocate for Carlsbad’s interests in Sacramento. While housing laws are a big focus of our legislative efforts, they’re not the only focus.  

In fact, two city-sponsored bills were just signed into state law, one focused on e-bike safety and one on cybersecurity.  

E-bike safety law 

Assembly Bill 2234 establishes a four-year pilot program that allows cities in our region to pass a law prohibiting anyone younger than 12 from riding an e-bike.  

• When we asked for your input before launching the city’s Safer Streets Together program, the number one request was to require licenses or establish a minimum age for riding e-bikes.  
• We had already passed local laws to curtail reckless riding and address other unsafe use of e-bikes, but licensing and minimum ages can only be enacted at the state level. 
• The city’s legislative team worked with our local State Assemblymember Tasha Boerner to sponsor an e-bike safety bill. 
• Through the committee review process, the bill was narrowed to be a San Diego region pilot program rather than a statewide requirement. But it’s a step in the right direction. 
• The San Diego Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program will allow cities in our region, starting next year, to establish a minimum age of 12 for riding e-bikes.  
• In January 2028, participating cities would share the results of the new laws with the legislature, which would then decide next steps. That could include new legislation to expand the pilot program, change it or roll it out statewide. 

Technically, this new law applies only to “class 1” and “class 2” e-bikes. Class 3 e-bikes already have a minimum age of 16. (Check our e-bike rules at a glance for how to tell the “class.” We also recently added e-motorcycles, which are not e-bikes and have a whole other set of rules.) 

Cybersecurity law 

We also worked with Assemblymember Boerner to address an emerging need having to do with cybersecurity. Assembly Bill 2715, signed into law just in time for Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October, adds cybersecurity to the topics that an elected body may discuss in closed session.  

• In California, the Brown Act requires the public’s business to be conducted in public with just a few exceptions, like litigation, real estate negotiations and plans for handling security threats. 
• As is often the case, technology tends to move more quickly than the law. As a result, cities and other government agencies did not have a way to get policy direction on certain cybersecurity matters outside of the public’s view.  
• If the City Council were to discuss these topics in an open meeting, anyone, including potential hackers, could access those details and potentially use them against us.  
• With technology touching nearly every aspect of city operations and infrastructure, cybersecurity is just as important as physical security, which is why we sought this change. 

We would like to thank Assemblymember Boerner for advancing these two important issues, both of which will improve the safety and peace of mind of Carlsbad residents (and beyond). 

In a future issue, I’ll explain more about the legislative process, including how our City Council chooses what to support, what to oppose and what to sponsor when it comes to legislation. 

In the meantime, if you’re interested in learning more about the process, sign up to be notified about upcoming meetings of the City Council’s Legislative Subcommittee.

Keep your data safe

While we’re on the topic of cybersecurity, I want to provide you with a resource you can use to make sure your data stays safe.  

The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency has launched a Secure Your World campaign with solid advice and practical steps you can take to protect your identity, bank account, credit score and more.  

According to CISA*, the top four things you can do are: 

• Recognize and report phishing
• Use strong passwords
• Turn on multifactor authentication 
• Update software

Get a downloadable/printable flyer

The goal is to make these things feel as natural as buckling your seat belt. Please share this information with your friends and family. 

* The agency is commonly called CISA (“see-suh”) in case you hear that term in the news or other places. 

Citizens Academy ride along: Public safety night  

I have probably told you before that the night when we talk about city finances is always the most popular with our Citizens Academy participants. Public safety, however, is a close second.  

Of the 18 cities in San Diego County, Carlsbad is one of just seven that have their own police and fire departments. Many cities contract with the County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement. Cities without their own fire departments get fire and emergency medical services from independent fire districts and agencies.  

Having our own dedicated police and fire departments is one way our City Council makes sure the city is meeting the unique needs of our community. For example, we have police rangers and off-road vehicles to reach our open space areas. City lifeguards protect the northern beach area that is not guarded by California State Parks. The City Council continually invests in new technology, equipment and staffing. You can see some of the recent and planned investments in the City Council’s 5-Year Strategic Plan. 

We hold public safety night at the city’s Safety Training Center, a state-of-the-art training facility with live burn props, a simulated city street and a tower. Inside, there are two shooting ranges, simulators and classrooms.  

As much as the public loves our human first responders, the police dog demonstration tends to steal the show. The Police Department has four K-9 officers: Pyro, Heavy, Nash and Will.  

• Most people think of police dogs as German Shepherds, but ours are Belgian Malinois (pronounced mal-in-wah).  
• This breed, slightly smaller than a German Shepherd, is known for its intelligence, athleticism and loyalty.  

The Safety Training Center is not normally open to the public, but if you want to get a peek, here are two ways to do that: 

• On Saturday, the Police, Fire and Public Works departments will host the Public Safety Open House at the Safety Training Center. 
• You can also sign up for Citizens Police Academy offered in the spring. You can find more information on the city’s website or email Denise Ramirez to get on the interest list. 

Heads up: Construction project affecting Carlsbad Boulevard

A project along Carlsbad Boulevard and Cannon Road to replace aging water and sewer pipelines will cause some temporary lane closures and traffic delays starting this week and continue for about a year (minus the busy summer months, when we will stop work affecting traffic).  

Why so long? We have more than 6,500 feet of water and sewer pipes in the Terramar neighborhood that are reaching their end of life and need to be replaced or repaired.  

Here’s what you can expect during construction if you’re in the area: 

• Construction hours are weekdays, between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. 
• Parking will be more limited than usual. Look for temporary no parking signs to avoid getting a ticket. 
• Bike lanes near work areas will be closed during construction. If you’re driving, please share the road. If you’re planning to bike in the area, consider an alternate route.  

Remember to check our construction map to see where other construction is planned next week throughout the city. Remember, the map only shows city projects and doesn’t include construction projects by local utilities, private companies or other agencies that may impact traffic.   

Peek into the past: Carlsbad's first water pipes



Some of you let me know last week that you enjoyed the fun facts I’d shared from the Citizens Academy bus tour. Well, we’ve got more where that came from… 

October marks the 110th anniversary of the first water system in Carlsbad. How can that be, when the city itself is only a sprightly 72 years old? Let me explain: 

• In 1914, the South Coast Land Company established the first drinking water system in Carlsbad, bringing water into the area through wells dug along the San Luis Rey River, traveling in six-inch redwood pipes over the Buena Vista Lagoon, to what we know today as downtown Carlsbad.  
• In 1927, this system became known as the Carlsbad Mutual Water Company, which went on to build the Calavera Dam in 1941.  
• Over the years, a few more water companies were created before they eventually merged to create the Carlsbad Municipal Water District in 1954. 
• Today, the Carlsbad Municipal Water District is still the water provider for about 85% of Carlsbad. The southern part of the city is served by the Olivenhain Municipal Water District and the southeastern area is served by Vallecitos Water District. (Find your water district.)
• Today, Carlsbad Municipal Water District is a subsidiary district of the city, with the City Council serving as the district’s board of directors. 

Getting back to the pipeline project around Carlsbad Boulevard and Cannon Road, when the Carlsbad Municipal Water District was formed, the water system in this area was one of the first to be outfitted with new water mains, installed between 1958 and 1971 (hence the need for an upgrade now).  

P.S. If you’ve heard about the Carlsbad water with special healing powers, that discovery precedes the first water system and will have to be a story for another day. Or, if you can’t wait, the Carlsbad Historical Society has a wealth of information about local history on its website, and our library’s history collection is also full of interesting stories from our past. 

Library program helps students apply to college

The library is hosting a series of workshops over the next several weeks to help high school juniors and seniors navigate the road to college. 

The sessions are intended for students and will feature tips and information on applying to college, financial aid and the admissions process, led by experts from MiraCosta College, Palomar College and Sage Creek High School. 

College Prep Advice series 

Monday, Oct. 7, 21 and 28, and Nov. 4 

5:30 to 7 p.m. 

Georgina Cole Library 

1250 Carlsbad Village Drive 

Topics include: 

• Oct. 7: College Admissions Session 
• Oct. 21: Navigating the College Application 
• Oct. 28: Hands-On Financial Aid Workshop 
• Nov. 4: Expert Tips on College Applications 

No registration is needed, and students can come to any or all sessions. Pizza and refreshments will be provided. 

CHS Homecoming weekend

Homecoming weekend for Carlsbad High School kicks off Friday at 2 p.m. with the annual Lancer Day Parade. The parade route is new this year, so if you’re planning to be in the area, be aware that these roads will be closed from 1:15 to 3:30 p.m. on Friday: 

• Pine Avenue between Madison and Harding Street 
• Harding Street, between Pine and Palm Avenue 
• Palm Avenue, between Harding and Madison Street 
• Madison Street, between Palm Avenue and Pine Avenue 

On Friday evening Carlsbad High’s football team will take on Mission Hills. Go Lancers!  

If you have pets sensitive to fireworks, please be aware that fireworks are planned after the game, so keep them indoors if needed. 

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

The next City Council meeting is Tuesday, Oct 8., starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Topics include: 

• Monthly update on the city’s investments 
• A workers’ compensation settlement 
• City Council meeting dates for 2025
• Amending an agreement for the use of GIS software needed to track the performance of water, wastewater and stormwater pipes
• Contracts for a project to resurface the pools and spa and renovate the restrooms and locker rooms at the Alga Norte Aquatic Center 
• Authorizing bidding for the replacement of a main water pipe near Poinsettia Lane and Avenida Encinas 
• Changing the term of an agreement with the company that provides meals for the Senior Center’s lunch program so that it aligns with a related agreement with the County of San Diego 
• An agreement among North County fire agencies that allows the closest available crew from any agency to respond to an incident 
• Introducing an ordinance to update the city’s building code to reflect recent state requirements for electric vehicle charging stations at new multifamily residential projects (apartments and condos) 
• An update from the Clean Energy Alliance, which provides green electricity for local residents and businesses 
• A Safe Routes for School plan that includes infrastructure improvements, safety education and incentives for walking and biking to Hope Elementary School in northeast Carlsbad 
• The plan to carry forward certain unspent funds from the fiscal year 2023-24 city budget to the current city budget and how those funds will be used 

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.

Things are getting even more exciting for us Padres fans. Let’s hope they can keep the dream alive as they take on the Dodgers in the upcoming Division Series.  

Stay safe and have a great weekend. 

Scott Chadwick 

City Manager