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News from the City of Carlsbad | Sept. 19, 2024

This week, I’m launching a new series to bring you inside our annual Citizens Academy, which recently got underway. And with the first day of fall on Sunday, I’ve got some seasonal tips to help you grow your garden, along with several ways you can experience the arts in Carlsbad this weekend. Here’s this week’s full rundown:

• Follow along with this year’s Carlsbad Citizens Academy
• Tips from master gardeners
• Growing the arts in Carlsbad through education
• Learn embroidery and sewing techniques at the Cannon Art Gallery
• Make your own wind chime at ArtWalk Carlsbad
• Where construction is planned next week
• Serve your community on the city’s Senior Commission
• What’s on the agenda for your next City Council meeting

Follow along with this year’s Carlsbad Citizens Academy

Last week, we kicked off our 2024 Carlsbad Citizens Academy, a seven-week program that gives Carlsbad residents an inside look at how their city government operates. Over the next several weeks, I’ll share some highlights and lessons from the academy so you can follow along and learn more about how the city runs.

This year’s academy started with a session called Inside City Hall, where participants learned about the structure of Carlsbad’s government and how city leaders help guide the decisions that keep the city running smoothly.

How Carlsbad’s government works

Carlsbad follows a “council-manager” form of government. This means that our elected City Council sets policies and priorities that guide the overall direction for our city government, and a City Council-appointed City Manager (me) oversees the day-to-day operations to ensure efficient and effective execution of that direction.

Residents are at the top of our organizational structure because they elect the City Council, City Treasurer and City Clerk, who serve as their representatives. You can see this reflected in our city organizational chart:

Our Citizens Academy participants also took part in a fast-facts trivia game about the city during the first session. Here are some of the stats we shared:

Participants also got to meet and hear from our Mayor and City Council members and learn about things including:

• The City Attorney’s role in helping protect the city from legal risks.
• How our staff advocates for Carlsbad and works with regional, state and federal agencies to represent our community’s interests.
• How to find out which City Council district you live in. Many academy participants were surprised to learn they could easily find this information by entering their home address in our online, searchable map.

Next week, our ride along will truly be a ride along, as we will have video of the popular Citizens Academy bus tour to show you all the key sites around our city.

A popular program 

The Carlsbad Citizens Academy has been a hit ever since it launched in 2001. That first class had 29 participants, but over 135 people applied. Since then, more than 1,750 residents have graduated from the academy and demand remains strong.

I want to thank all our current and past academy participants for investing the time to learn more about the city. This year’s class is full, but we’re already starting a waitlist for our 2025 program. If you’re interested, you can apply online. Spots fill up quickly, so I encourage you to apply early!

Tips from master gardeners

Last weekend, the city hosted a Grow Your Garden event where three master gardeners answered questions and provided tips for fall planting (and garden maintenance throughout the year).

Master gardeners undergo a training program through the University of California Cooperative Extension, part of the University of California’s Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

In case you missed it, some of our staff caught up with Master Gardener Dana Withall, a Carlsbad resident, to get a rundown of the top questions and tips her team provided at the event.

Q: What’s one thing I can do right now to improve my garden’s health?

A: Mulch is key. It helps with moisture retention, keeps weeds down and improves the soil. You can also start planting cover crops like barley or alfalfa, which will naturally enrich your soil for next season. (Carlsbad residents can pick up free mulch at Palomar Transfer Station, 5960 El Camino Real, Monday through Saturday between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.)

Q: How can I control pests without using harmful chemicals?

A: For aphids, a high-pressure water spray works wonders. You can also use neem oil or insecticidal soap, both of which are safe and effective. For ants, try diatomaceous earth, which is non-toxic but effective.

Q: My tomato plants didn’t do well this summer. What went wrong, and what can I do next season?

A: Tomatoes need heat and sunshine to grow well, and we didn’t get as much of that with May gray and June gloom this year. Next season, try rotating where you plant them to avoid soil diseases and be sure to use mulch to help retain moisture.

The Master Gardener Association of San Diego offers a free hotline service. Call 858-822-6910 or submit your questions online. You can even include pictures for more personalized advice.

Thank you to Dana and her fellow Master Gardeners Kathy Pyle and Donn Reese for leading the event.

What to plant this time of year

Carlsbad’s Mediterranean climate provides nearly year-round opportunities for planting, but fall is one of the best times to refresh your garden. Here are some plants that gardeners typically grow in the fall:

• Leafy greens like lettuce and spinach
• Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and beets
• Pumpkin, butternut squash and other rare squash varieties
• Herbs like parsley and thyme



More gardening resources

The library will host more Grow Your Garden events next year. In the meantime, the Carlsbad Library offers a collection of gardening books covering everything from basics to more advanced techniques. Dana, who has read much of the collection, recommends gardeners of all levels take advantage of this resource.

The library also has a seed library where you can pick up seeds to grow in your garden.

Growing the arts in Carlsbad through education 

The City of Carlsbad is committed to growing the arts, including through arts education programs and experiences that connect our community. Supporting the arts helps maintain Carlsbad’s unique community character and excellent quality of life, two of the top goals in the City Council’s 5-Year Strategic Plan.

Some of our arts education programs include:

• As many as 1,500 Carlsbad elementary school students participate in an annual city program at the Cannon Art Gallery where they tour an exhibit and create their own art project.
• Last year, 389 Carlsbad first graders participated in the city’s Batiquitos ArtVentures program, exploring Carlsbad’s wildlife, creating art and connecting art and science.
• The city provided about $117,000 in grants during the last fiscal year to community-based organizations to inspire artmaking here in Carlsbad.
• The city hosts open studio events at the Cannon Gallery that encourage creativity and connections to the art on display.

This weekend, you can join our arts education team at two events in Carlsbad to learn more about art in the city and exercise your creativity at the same time. Keep reading for details.

Learn embroidery and sewing techniques at the Cannon Art Gallery

The city’s open studios event this Saturday at the Cannon Art Gallery is a chance to learn about the artistic process and try it yourself. No experience is necessary, just bring your curiosity.

You’ll join guest artist Sheena Dowling and learn embroidery and sewing techniques to create fiber art pieces inspired by the beauty of the universe. The techniques echo some of those on display in "Fiber in 3D,” our latest exhibit at the gallery.

Open Studios: Crafting Constellations

Saturday, Sept. 21

3:15 to 4:45 p.m.

Cannon Art Gallery

1775 Dove Lane

This is the first of five open studios events offered through October. 

Make your own wind chime at ArtWalk Carlsbad



This weekend is also ArtWalk Carlsbad, a free, outdoor fine arts festival organized by the nonprofit ArtReach San Diego that highlights the work of all kinds of artists from the U.S. and Mexico.

If you’re planning to attend, stop by the city’s Pop Up Art booth where you can make a whimsical wind chime using colorful fibers, beads and bells – another tie-in to our "Fiber in 3D” exhibit. All materials are provided.

Pop Up Art

ArtWalk Carlsbad

Saturday, Sept. 21, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 22, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Armada Drive 

Check our construction map to avoid delays

If you’re going to be out on the road in Carlsbad next week, don’t forget to check our construction map to see where some larger city projects are happening that might impact traffic. Checking the map every week allows you to plan ahead and avoid or minimize traffic delays and detours that often come with construction.



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.  

Apply to serve on the city’s Senior Commission

If you’re looking for a way to get involved and make a difference in our community, consider serving on a city commission. We’re currently seeking a Carlsbad resident to fill a vacancy on the city’s Senior Commission.

The commission meets once a month and advises the City Council on programs and policies to make life better for people 50+ in Carlsbad. The vacancy is for a four-year term that expires in September 2028.

The application process is easy; just fill out and submit the application on the city’s website. 

Applications are due by noon Sept. 26. 

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

The next City Council meeting will take place Tuesday, Sept. 24, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Topics include: 

• The annual review of the city’s pension funding policy 
• Buying a housing unit originally sold by a developer as affordable housing so it remains designated as affordable housing. It can then be resold to an eligible lower-income buyer as part of the city’s efforts to increase the amount of affordable housing in Carlsbad. 
• Expanding a project to clear out debris from the Buena Vista Creek Channel to include an area further east to help prevent flooding during heavy rains 
• Agreements for the construction work needed to upgrade the fuel station at the city’s Fleet Operations Center  
• An agreement for office furniture for the city’s Emergency Operations Center, as part of the Police and Fire Headquarters renovation project  
• Giving up an unneeded easement that gave the city access to part of the county’s McClellan-Palomar Airport for water lines that have been relocated   
• A mixed-used apartment and commercial development proposed at the Smart & Final shopping center on Carlsbad Village Drive just west of Interstate 5 
• Carrying unspent funds for specific projects from the fiscal year 2023-24 budget to the budget for the current fiscal year

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 all for this week. Take care, stay safe and I’ll be back next week with more updates.

Scott Chadwick

City Manager