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News from the City of Carlsbad | Sept. 18, 2025

First off, a big thank you to the community for your overwhelming response ahead of Tuesday’s special Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission meeting about a potential minimum age for riding an e-bike in the city. In today’s update, I’ll share a recap of the commission’s recommendations, which will next head to the City Council for future consideration. 



Here’s this week’s full lineup: 

• Commission recommends minimum age for e-bike riders 
• More parking spots added in the Village and Barrio 
• Fall species spotlight: Coastal prickly pear cactus 
• Discover all you can do with a city library card 
• Make your own mini puppet at ArtWalk Carlsbad 
• City events and activities 
• No coastal rail service this weekend 
• Apply to serve on a city commission 
• What’s on the agenda for your next City Council meeting 

Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission recommends prohibiting e-bike use for children under 12

During a special meeting on Tuesday, the City of Carlsbad’s Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission voted to recommend the City Council adopt a minimum age of 12 for riding e-bikes and consider additional actions.  

Recent state legislation, Assembly Bill 2234, allows cities in San Diego County, as well as the county itself, to establish a minimum age of 12 for riding e-bikes as part of a pilot program. After the state legislation was passed, the Carlsbad City Council requested that the commission hold this meeting to gather community input on the potential minimum age.  

The city received more than 550 emailed comments leading up to the commission meeting.  

• Most comments expressed support for a minimum age of at least 12 years old  
• Many requested the city consider additional rules and restrictions beyond what AB 2234 includes 
• Some were opposed to the minimum age, requesting the city focus on education instead 

While AB 2234 opens the door for consideration of a minimum age, state law still restricts the city’s ability to adopt broader rules, including requiring e-bike riders to obtain licenses.  

In addition to recommending the City Council adopt an ordinance prohibiting children under age 12 from riding e-bikes, the commission also voted to recommend the City Council lobby for state legislation that would give cities more flexibility to adopt stricter rules, including:  

• Licensing, registration and insurance requirements for e-bikes 
• Expanding the age restriction above 12 

The commission also requested that staff research the feasibility of two additional options, which would be presented to the City Council for consideration:  

• Prohibiting riders under age 16 from riding with passengers 
• Including Carlsbad in Assembly Bill 1778, which established a different e-bike pilot program in Marin County. The law allows local agencies in Marin County to prohibit anyone under age 16 from riding Class 2 e-bikes and require helmet use for anyone, regardless of age, riding a Class 2 e-bike. 

You can read more about the city’s ongoing efforts to address e-bike safety on our website.  

Next steps 

The City Council will review the community input gathered before and during this week’s Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission meeting and discuss whether to adopt the commission’s recommendations. I’ll let you know when that discussion is scheduled. 

Again, thank you to the hundreds of community members (many who I hope are reading this newsletter), for taking the time to provide input on this important issue. And thanks to our Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission for taking the request seriously from the City Council to receive public feedback and provide these recommendations for their consideration.

More parking spots added in Village and Barrio

City staff have added 16 more parking spots in the Barrio over the last few weeks, bringing the total new spots added in the Village and Barrio to 44 since January.  

Parking in the Village and Barrio is a high priority, so last year, city staff began studying areas where new spaces could go.  

• Some ways to add parking include restriping, sign removal or repainting red curbs that no longer need to be red (such as a red curb near a driveway that is no longer being used). 
• As always, traffic safety is top of mind, so staff did not add any additional parking that created visibility concerns.  

More parking on the way 

• In December, staff will return to the City Council to present options for a project that will add on-street parking on Chestnut Avenue and Madison Street near Pine Avenue Park.  
• Then, we’ll focus on changing parallel parking to diagonal parking spaces on a couple of the wider streets in the Barrio, including portions of Pine Avenue and Palm Street. Changing parallel spaces to diagonal ones allows more room for parking spaces. Staff will prepare preliminary layouts for the identified streets and seek feedback from the community on the proposed changes.  

City staff will continue reviewing areas where parking could be added. In case you missed it, here’s a behind-the-scenes video I shared earlier this year of crews adding parking in the Village. 

Fall species spotlight: Coastal prickly pear cactus

Fall officially begins Monday, and one way to see the season’s arrival in Carlsbad is by spotting the distinctive coastal prickly pear cactus (Opuntia littoralis).  

Native to Southern California, it produces bright red fruit called tunas that ripen in fall and provide food for birds, insects and small mammals. Its yellow blooms in spring give way to these colorful fruits, making it a plant that supports wildlife year-round.  

In Carlsbad, prickly pear cactus grows naturally in coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitats, especially along the bluffs and south-facing slopes near Batiquitos Lagoon. It is also a hardy option for home landscapes. Once established, the prickly pear cactus needs little water, helps prevent erosion and creates habitat for pollinators.  

If you visit the lagoon this fall, keep an eye out for the deep red fruit. Just remember to admire, not touch, because the spines and tiny hairs can cause irritation.  

Carlsbad has more than 6,200 acres of protected open space, managed through the Habitat Management Plan, which provides important habitat for a variety of native plants and animals. Preserving Carlsbad’s natural open spaces is also one of the top goals in the City Council’s 5-Year Strategic Plan. 

If you enjoyed this story, explore more in our recent fall Sustainable Carlsbad newsletter and sign up to receive future issues. 

Discover all you can do with a Carlsbad library card

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month, a great opportunity to take advantage of all that is packed into one little card from the Carlsbad City Library. Signing up is quick and free — you can apply online in just a few minutes or stop by any of our three library locations to get started. 



Here’s what a Carlsbad City Library card allows you to do: 

• Stream or download entertainment through Hoopla and the Libby app. 
• Explore genealogy at the Georgina Cole Library. 
• Check out a California State Library Parks Pass for free parking at over 200 state parks. Guides and supplies are also available.  
• Digitize your films and photos at the Memory Lab at Dove Library.

Make your own mini puppet at ArtWalk Carlsbad

This weekend is ArtWalk Carlsbad, a free, outdoor fine arts festival organized by ArtWalk San Diego that highlights the work of all kinds of artists from the U.S. and Mexico. Thousands of people attend this annual event, which also includes live music, food vendors and activities for kids and families. 

If you’re planning to attend, stop by the city’s Pop Up Art booth where you can make a mini puppet character using cardstock and clothespins. All materials are provided. 

Pop Up Art 

ArtWalk Carlsbad 

Saturday, Sept. 20, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Sunday, Sept. 21, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Armada Drive at Fleet Street, above the Flower Fields 

Keep in mind that Armada Drive will be closed starting Friday, Sept. 19 at 6 a.m. until Monday, Sept. 22 at 8 a.m. Fleet Street will be open as a detour for northbound and southbound traffic. 

Community events and activities

Here are some City of Carlsbad events and activities coming up soon at our libraries, community centers and the Carlsbad Senior Center.  



• Cinema Club Friday, "The Twilight Samurai" – Friday, Sept. 19, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library 
• Genealogy Open House – Saturday, Sept. 20., 10:30 a.m. to noon, Georgina Cole Library 
• "Understanding AI" (Adults 50+) – Monday, Sept. 22, 1 to 2 p.m., Carlsbad Senior Center 
• Reel Wednesday, “When Harry Met Sally" – Wednesday, Sept. 24, 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. 

No coastal rail service this weekend

A quick reminder from the North County Transit District that there will be no rail service this Saturday and Sunday between the Oceanside Transit Center and Santa Fe Depot in San Diego due to routine maintenance and rail infrastructure work. Another closure is planned for the weekend of Oct. 25 and 26.  

You can learn more on the NCTD website by clicking on the COASTER tab at the top of the page. 

Check our construction map

Remember to check the city’s weekly construction map to help avoid or minimize traffic delays and detours that often come with larger projects. The map only shows city projects and doesn’t include construction work by local utilities, private companies or other agencies. 

I also want to thank you for being patient, slowing down and moving over if you can in construction zones. When you see crews working in our community, know they are completing projects that keep our streets and infrastructure running smoothly. A little kindness goes a long way in keeping everyone safe.

Apply to serve on a city commission

If you’re interested in getting involved and making a difference in our community, we currently have vacancies on two of our city commissions and committees. 

Applicants must be Carlsbad residents who are registered to vote in the city. You can apply online or pick up an application in the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive.  

Buena Vista Joint Powers Committee 

One vacancy 

Deadline to apply Monday, Oct. 6, at noon. 

Parks & Recreation Commission 

One vacancy 

Deadline to apply Thursday, Oct. 16, at noon. 

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

The next City Council meeting is on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Topics on the agenda include: 

• The monthly and annual updates on how the city’s investments are performing 
• Giving up unneeded easements that gave the Carlsbad Municipal Water District access to part of the Aviara Oaks Middle School campus for a water pipeline 
• A contract to replace the control panels for the water and wastewater systems 
• A contract to improve street lighting in the Barrio 
• A contract to repair the air conditioning and heating plant at the Police & Fire Headquarters 
• Accepting a donation to the Carlsbad Senior Center from the estate of a former patron 
• An agreement with State Parks that allows the city to maintain the upper picnic facilities at Tamarack State Beach and the nearby coastal bluff, which are owned by the state 
• Designating a voting delegate and alternate for the League of California Cities Annual Conference
• The plan to carry forward certain unspent funds from the fiscal year 2024-25 city budget to the current city budget 
• An agreement for property management services for Chestnut Apartments affordable housing project and approving federal funds to be used for immediate repairs on the project 

The agenda and staff reports are available on the city’s website. 

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)  

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. 

Have a great weekend! 

Geoff Patnoe 

City Manager