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News from the City of Carlsbad | Sept. 4, 2025

September is National Preparedness Month, a good reminder that being ready for an emergency is something we all play a part in. In today’s update, I’ll share simple but vital steps you and your loved ones can take at home, plus what the city is doing to stay prepared right alongside you.

Here’s the full lineup:

• Be prepared for emergencies
• Police and Fire explorer programs accepting applications
• City Council to consider traffic calming options in the Barrio
• Help protect our creeks, lagoons and ocean on Coastal Cleanup Day
• Summer Reading Adventure by the numbers
• Construction map helps you plan ahead
• Upcoming community events
• State of the City and Tuesday’s City Council meeting
• Special meeting to consider e-bike rider minimum age

Be prepared for emergencies

As I just mentioned, both the city and community play important roles in emergency preparedness. Before I get to what you can do, rest assured that the City of Carlsbad’s first responders continually train, plan and drill—locally and with regional partners—to ensure a rapid, effective response to any emergency. 

Additionally, our city’s Emergency Operations Center, which is used to help coordinate and support citywide emergency response, recently got upgraded technology and emergency response capabilities.  

In February, in the aftermath of the Los Angeles fires, the City Council approved new funding for fire mitigation and preparedness efforts that are continuing to this day. These include: 

• Creating wildfire mitigation plans that focus on clearing vegetation, managing brush and using approaches designed for Carlsbad’s unique landscape and climate to reduce fire damage. 
• Carrying out brush management in Carlsbad preserves, with the help of a qualified contractor experienced in working in sensitive habitat areas.  
• Similar work is happening in the city’s urban forests, with crews pruning tree canopies, removing dead, dying or declining trees and weeds on the ground. 

Over the summer, the City Council approved the purchase of an aerial ladder fire truck that will help our Fire Department respond more effectively to fires in larger or multi-story structures. The City Council also approved a plan to explore the installation of wildfire monitoring cameras on city-owned properties, a partnership between the Carlsbad Fire Department, Carlsbad Municipal Water District and the University of California, San Diego’s ALERTCalifornia program. 

How you can prepare  

Preparedness starts with these three steps: 

1. Build an emergency kit that includes a three-day supply of water, non-perishable food, clothes and other essentials. 
2. Have a family disaster plan that designates an out-of-town friend or relative as a family contact and includes maps of alternate routes out of your neighborhood. 
3. Sign up for emergency alerts for the two systems used across our county. Add your mobile devices and email addresses with Alert San Diego (landlines already get reverse 911 calls). Visit the Genasys Protect website or download the Genasys Protect app to find your zone and subscribe to location-specific guidance during emergencies like wildfire, flooding or public safety emergencies. 

Visit the city’s website to learn more tips for creating your emergency plan, stocking your kit and staying ready all year long. 

Carlsbad Police and Fire programs accepting applications

While we’re talking about keeping our community safe, the City of Carlsbad is now accepting applications for two programs that give young people interested in a career in public safety a glimpse of what it’s like to work for the Police and Fire departments.

Carlsbad Fire Explorers program

• The Carlsbad Fire Department Explorer Program is for 15 to 20 year olds who want to go behind the scenes to learn about daily life and career opportunities in Fire and Emergency Medical Services roles.
• This volunteer program emphasizes character building, leadership, community service and physical fitness.
• Explorers will learn about Fire Department equipment, policies and procedures, and will participate in firefighting training scenarios and fire station ride-alongs.
• Applications are being accepted online through Sept. 15.
• The academy will take place in February 2026.

Fire Explorer Braden shared how much being in the program meant to him in this video on Instagram.

Carlsbad Police Explorer program

• The Carlsbad Police Department Explorer Program is open to students 14 to 21 interested in a career in law enforcement.
• Activities center on building career opportunities, life skills, citizenship, character, education and leadership in a supportive environment.
• Participants gain practical experience in non-critical duties of police officers, participate in ride-alongs and are mentored by Police Department officers and members of the Police Department.
• Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Find more information on the city’s website and email carlsbadpoliceexplorers@gmail.com for details on how to apply.

City Council to consider traffic calming options in the Barrio

Next Tuesday, Sept. 9, the Carlsbad City Council will consider two options for reducing speeds in the Barrio. The options include a City Council-approved traffic circle and:

• Option 1: New all-way stop signs and high-visibility crosswalks, plus raised crosswalks and rectangular rapid flashing signs that light up to alert drivers when people are crossing the street.
• Option 2: New all-way stop signs and high-visibility crosswalks.

View maps of where the proposed traffic calming measures would be located under each option.

In July, the City Council voted to move forward with one new traffic circle at the intersection of Pine Avenue and Harding Street. Originally, the plan included five traffic circles, but the City Council also asked staff to explore different options to help reduce speeds and improve safety at other intersections in the Barrio.

City Council meeting

Tuesday, Sept. 9, 5 p.m.

City Council Chamber

1200 Carlsbad Village Drive

There are two ways to provide input:

• Email comments to clerk@carlsbadca.gov by 2 p.m. the day of the meeting
• Attend the City Council meeting and provide comments in person 

You can also watch the meeting live on the city’s website.

Sign up to receive email updates on projects in the Village and Barrio.

Help protect our creeks, lagoons and ocean on Coastal Cleanup Day

You can help keep our waterways clean by signing up to join the annual Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, Sept. 20, organized by I Love A Clean San Diego. This year, there are six cleanup locations in Carlsbad.

• Teams work together to pick up trash and collect data on what type of litter they’re finding.
• Some locations fill up quickly, so if you’re interested, don’t wait to sign up.

Coastal Cleanup Day

Saturday, Sept. 20

9 a.m. to noon

Summer Reading Adventure by the numbers

The Carlsbad City Library recently wrapped up another successful Summer Reading Adventure, which helps connect our community through the joy of reading.

In this year’s Summer Reading Adventure:

• 3,124 readers challenged themselves by tracking minutes and completing activities.
• 64 performances and interactive programs brought the community together.
• Nearly 2 million minutes of reading were logged (1,941,848 total).

Thanks to everyone who participated and encouraged family and friends to join in.  

City construction map helps you plan ahead

Before you head out for work or errands next week, don’t forget to check our weekly construction map to see where city projects are happening that might impact your commute. Remember, the map only shows city projects. It doesn’t include construction projects by local utilities, private companies or other agencies.

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.

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, "Autumn Tale" – Friday, Sept. 5, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library
• Pinechella (teens) – Saturday, Sept 6., 6:30 to 10 p.m., Pine Avenue Community Center Gym
• Courtyard Concerts: Mocha Tones (Adults 50+) – Monday, Sept. 8, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Carlsbad Senior Center
• Reel Wednesday, “Can You Ever Forgive Me" – Wednesday, Sept. 10, 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.

State of the City at our next City Council meeting

The City of Carlsbad’s annual State of the City presentation will kick off the next City Council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber (1200 Carlsbad Village Drive).

After the State of the City presentation, the City Council will address the following topics:

• Monthly update on how the city’s investments are performing
• An agreement with a company that will look for potential savings and refunds in the city’s gas and electricity bills 
• Approval of a power purchase agreement with Clean Energy Alliance for the Maerkle Reservoir hydrogenerator
• Awarding the contract for the city’s annual concrete repair program, which will repair sidewalks, curbs and gutters on streets throughout Carlsbad
• Authorizing bidding on a construction contract for a project to widen El Camino Real between Camino Vida Roble and Poinsettia Lane with a third northbound lane and new sidewalks 
• An overview of the TGIF Concerts in the Parks 2025 season and an agreement with a music producer for the next two seasons 
• An agreement for property management at the city-owned Tyler Court Senior Apartments, which provide affordable housing for very low-income senior households
• An agreement to provide wellness assessments for Carlsbad’s firefighters 
• Approving the county’s request to use Carlsbad’s community center buildings as voting centers in the 2025 special election  
• Appointing one member to the Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee Citizens Advisory Committee, which recommends grants from development fees for projects that improve the environment and preserve agricultural uses in the coastal area
• Appointing one member to the Planning Commission and four members to the Investment Review Board 
• Options for traffic calming in the Barrio 

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) 

Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission meeting reminder

I also want to give you a heads up that the city’s Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission is holding a special meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 16, to gather input on a potential minimum age to ride e-bikes in Carlsbad.

Special Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission meeting

Tuesday, Sept. 16, 5 p.m.

City Council Chamber

1200 Carlsbad Village Drive

If you can’t attend the meeting but want to share your thoughts, you can email traffic@carlsbadca.gov by 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 16.

Read more about the background and what’s being considered.

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.

Lastly, what a thrill to watch former Carlsbad High School quarterback Julian Sayin guide The Ohio State University Buckeyes to victory last Saturday against the nation's top ranked Texas Longhorns. Julian threw a 40-yard touchdown pass in front of 100,000 fans and a national TV audience that included many people here in Carlsbad. That moment had to be something of a dream come true. Congratulations to Julian and his family, and best of luck to him the rest of the season!

Geoff Patnoe

City Manager