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October is public safety month here in Carlsbad, and to kick things off I’ll be sharing some very simple things you can do to make your home, car and belongings more safe and secure, based on what we are seeing here in our city. Other topics today include:

• First responders invite you behind the scenes
• Helping small businesses succeed
• Rebates to save you money on water
• Trick or treat, Carlsbad style
• Monroe Street Pool temporary closure
• City service schedule for Monday’s holiday
• Get involved: Upcoming meetings

Reduce "crimes of opportunity"

October is Crime Prevention Month, which is a perfect time to check in with our Police Department crime analyst to see how we’re doing. Here’s what she had to say:

Even though Carlsbad’s overall crime rate is lower than the regional average, property crime is still a concern. Here are some interesting stats:

• 70% of thefts from vehicles in our city are from unlocked cars. The police calls these “crimes of opportunity.”
• Most thefts from cars happen at night in residential neighborhoods.
• The most common items stolen are garage door openers, purses, backpacks, wallets, gym bags and laptops. 
• When it comes to home burglaries, open garages and garages with unlocked doors are a top target.
• Finally, bikes are another common target, especially when they are left unlocked in front of houses or in an open garage. The same goes for leaving them unlocked in front of storefronts.

So, the good news is that we live in a community known for its safety. The bad news is that this can lead to a false sense of security.

• Please, always lock your car, even if it’s in your driveway and even if you’re just leaving it for a few minutes.
• Don’t leave valuables in your car.
• Close your garage door if you’re not right there to watch it.
• Always lock your bike.
• Consider installing security cameras and an alarm at your home.

Finally, be the eyes and ears of your neighborhood. If you notice something suspicious, please call us. The non-emergency number is 442-339-2197. If you think a crime is in progress, call 9-1-1.

We often say public safety is a team sport. The city is very proud to have a highly trained, well equipped Police Department. They are here to protect you. And, if you can do your part to reduce opportunities for crime, our community will be an even safer place. Thank you.

If you want to know more about crime in your neighborhood, here is a tool available from the city’s website that lets you enter your address and see recent crimes on a map.

And here is a link to the latest regional report so you can see how Carlsbad compares. 

Go behind-the-scenes with our first responders

Our popular Public Safety Open House is back next Saturday, Oct. 14, giving residents a behind the scenes look at how our first responders do their work. Some of the highlights include:

• Going inside our state-of-the-art public safety training center.
• Watching firefighters enter a “burning house,” which is really a specially designed prop that provides realistic training opportunities.
• See our K-9 officers in action.
• Take a look inside police and fire vehicles and public works equipment.
• Learn important safety skills, like how to use a fire extinguisher and “sidewalk” CPR.

We’ll also have traffic safety information and e-bike safety tips.

Public Safety Open House

Saturday, Oct. 14

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Carlsbad Safety Training Center

5750 Orion St.

Fire Station 2 Open House

While you’re in the neighborhood, head south to visit our newly rebuilt Fire Station 2 in La Costa, which is offering public tours and an art activity courtesy of our arts education team.

You’ll learn all about the public art at the station – colorful glass panes integrated into the building’s architecture – and get a chance to create your own artwork. All supplies are provided.

Fire Station 2 Pop Up Art

Saturday, Oct. 14

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Fire Station 2

1906 Arenal Road

Helping small businesses succeed

If you’re interested in starting your own business, we’re hosting free classes this month to help you hit the ground running. Topics include writing a value proposition, creating a strategic plan and how to test your plan in a small group of fellow entrepreneurs.

Small Business Support Series

Oct. 12, 19 and 26

8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Cole Library

1250 Carlsbad Village Drive

Learn more

Government contracting workshop

If you have a business or are considering starting one that might want to contract with government agencies, come to a special workshop where you’ll connect with more than 24 government agencies and organizations, find out what’s required of vendors, get marketing ideas and more.

Connecting with Contracts

Oct. 24

8:30 a.m. to noon

Carlsbad City Library

1775 Dove Lane

Learn more

More business resources

The city also offers these helpful tools to support small businesses:

• Programs and resources to help with workforce development, recruiting, job readiness and more.
• An interactive map that illustrates how to do business in Carlsbad, including tips on innovating and growing your business.
• Our 2022 Business Report, an annual snapshot that identifies workforce challenges, profiles business growth and investment opportunities and examines Carlsbad’s business climate.
• Books and eResources from the Carlsbad Library to help grow your business.  

Rebates available to save money on water

State water officials just reported one of the wettest years in California’s history. The Golden State got enough rain and snow to fill its reservoirs to 128% above average. (California water resources officials measure annual precipitation from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 to coincide with the rainy season.)

On top of this, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association is predicting El Niño conditions the first three months of 2024, meaning heavier than average rainfall again.

So, while this is good news for the short term, conserving water is still the right thing to do for the long haul in an arid climate like ours.

• Now is a great time to take advantage of rebates and other programs designed to help reduce water use on an ongoing basis.
• Saving water also means saving on your water bill.

What could be eligible for a rebate?

• Replacing your grass lawn with drought tolerant, native plants
• Switching to high efficiency washing machines or toilets
• Installing rain barrels to collect water from gutters
• Upgrading your sprinkler system

Enter your address on the socalwatersmart.com website to confirm what’s available where you live.

This video shows how a Carlsbad family took advantage of rebates to transform their grass yard into a waterwise paradise.

If you’re not sure where to start, you can sign up for a free WaterSmart checkup to receive personalized recommendations specific to your home or business.

For more information about how to conserve water, visit our water conservation webpage.

Trick or Treat! Carlsbad style

The City of Carlsbad is getting into the Halloween spirit with family-friendly Halloween events all month long. Mark your calendars and join in on the fun.

Pumpkin Plunge

Oct. 14, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Alga Norte Aquatic Center

Pool activities and games with prizes and floating obstacles

Splash pad open for little ones

6565 Alicante Road

Register online

Admission is $10 per person; children ages 3 and younger are free.

Halloween fix-it clinic and costume repair

Oct. 21, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Carlsbad City Library

Booths and workshops on re-use, repair and recycling with a Halloween theme. DIY craft table, costume repairs and a swap section.

1775 Dove Lane

Register online

Haunted Halloween Bash (middle and high school)

Oct. 27, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Pine Avenue Community Center 

Eerie decorations, thrilling activities, spooky treats and a haunted house.

3209 Harding St.

Register online

$5 entry and must show middle or high school ID

Celebrate Dia de los Muertos two ways

Open house, dinner and a movie

Oct. 28

Open house: 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Dinner and a movie: 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Leo Carrillo Historic Ranch Historic Park

6200 Flying Leo Carrillo Lane

Tickets are available by pre-sale only for dinner and a movie. No registration required for the open house.

Admission: $25 per person

Children 3 years and younger are free but still need to register.

Open house

Oct. 29, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Leo Carrillo Historic Ranch Historic Park

No registration required

6200 Flying Leo Carrillo Lane

Halloween dance party

Oct. 28, 3 p.m.

Cole Library

A family friendly Halloween dance party at Cole Library. Event includes an easy dance lesson, taught by ballroom dance instructors followed by an hour of Halloween-themed music and dancing, treats and family fun.

1250 Carlsbad Village Drive

No registration required

Monroe Street Pool temporary closure

Earlier this week we had a major piece of equipment fail at the Monroe Street Pool, which means we need to keep it closed until a replacement can be installed. Right now, that is looking like mid to late November.

What happened?

• Several weeks ago, pool staff noticed signs that the pool pump would not likely last until a planned renovation project could be completed.
• To be prepared, staff ordered a new pump to have on hand.
• Because this particular pump must fit the existing filtration system, it is only provided by a small number of suppliers, and the soonest it could be delivered was mid-November.
• Unfortunately, on Oct. 2, the pool pump stopped working.

As you may know, voters last November approved a massive renovation of the pool, which is 41 years old and requires costly maintenance to stay operational and in compliance with current health and building codes. Staff are completing the design for the renovation and expect to present the final construction plans and an updated cost estimate to the City Council in spring 2024.

A second opinion

We know closing the pool until mid-to-late November is a major inconvenience for those who use it on a regular basis.

• Our staff consulted with pool maintenance contractors to get a second opinion, but all agreed that replacing the pump was the only option.
• The pool pump is responsible for moving the pool water through the system that cleans and disinfects the water.

Interim solution

• The city will honor Monroe Street Pool passes at Alga Norte Aquatic Center during the Monroe closure.
• We have also temporarily expanded the hours at Alga Norte:

Alga Norte Aquatic Center hours

Weekdays 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• If you have a pass for Monroe Street Pool and would like to pause your membership until the pool reopens, we are happy to do that too. Just call the Alga Norte Aquatics Center at 442-339-5777 or email parksandrec@carlsbadca.gov.

I recognize this is an inconvenience, and we will do everything we can to reopen the Monroe Street Pool just as soon as we can safely do so.

Indigenous Peoples' Day city service schedule

Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a federal holiday observed by the city. It is not a state holiday meaning county and state offices will be open. Here’s the city’s schedule for Monday:

●      Normal trash pick-up schedule

●      City offices: Closed

●      Emergency services: Regular service

●      Alga Norte Aquatic Center: Close at 2 p.m.

●      Monroe Street Pool (closed for maintenance through mid-to-late November)

●      City libraries: Closed

●      City art gallery and sculpture garden: Closed

●      Community centers: Closed

●      Senior Center: Closed

●      Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park: Closed

●      No street sweeping on Monday

Get involved: upcoming meetings

The next City Council meeting will take place Tuesday, Oct. 10, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. A link to the full agenda and staff reports is available on the city’s website. Topics to be discussed include:

• City Manager and City Attorney employment agreements.
• Considering three projects to be put out to bid: reconfiguring the city’s Emergency Operations Center, replacing the roof of the Carlsbad Water Recycling Facility and refurbishing the Calavera Hills Community Center.
• A request to use Carlsbad Municipal Water District funds that were not spent in the last fiscal year to upgrade two trucks and update a drinking water master plan.  
• Purchase a data storage device for IT infrastructure needs.
• Dates for next year’s regular City Council meetings and whether to begin City Council meetings at 4 p.m. or 5 p.m. starting in 2024.
• Updating the City Council’s policy on proclamations to clarify how proclamations can be requested, how they are approved and how they are selected to be presented at City Council meetings.

The City Council encourages your participation. You can get agendas and staff reports emailed to you directly, and if you want to provide input, you can email council@carlsbadca.gov before the meeting or come in person and fill out a request to speak.

If you want to watch from home, we have three options:

1. Watch the meeting live on the website
2. Watch a recording of the meeting afterwards
3. Watch live or a replay throughout the week on the city’s cable TV channel, Spectrum channel 24 and AT&T U-verse channel 99

One other public meeting is scheduled next week. Boards and commission meetings are also livestreamed on the city’s website and available to watch afterward:

●      Oct. 12, 6 p.m. – Housing Commission

I see we are expecting a beautiful and warm weekend, typical of Octobers in Carlsbad. I hope you have a chance to get outdoors and enjoy the weather, along with all the other wonderful things our great city has to offer.

Scott Chadwick

City Manager