June 15, 2020
Reported COVID-19 cases in Carlsbad have gone up by four since my Friday report to a new total of 90. Of these, we estimate 14 are active. The countywide 14-day rolling average percentage of positive tests is 2.9%.

There are four new community outbreaks. If this reaches seven in a seven-day period, county health officials could scale back recent openings, which I know we would all hate to see. Not only would it be an inconvenience for residents, think of everything our local businesses have gone through to get ready to reopen. Two other measures – percentage of hospitals that have at least a 15-day supply of personal protective equipment (masks, gowns, etc.) and percentage of available ICU capacity – could also trigger more health restrictions.

I am most concerned about community outbreaks because we have often seen two or three new ones crop up in a single day, and we are already at four. Community outbreaks aren’t just nursing homes, they are any gathering where cases can be traced back to a single event, like a birthday party or people eating in a restaurant. We can reduce the chance of new outbreaks by avoiding crowds, keeping our distance from others, washing hands often and wearing face coverings.
Here is a link to the page on the city’s website with more detailed case data . The triggers dashboard ( mobile friendly version) is also available online.

New testing appointment website
On Friday county health officials announced a new website where you can enter your address and find a county testing location. Right now, the closest to Carlsbad are Oceanside and Escondido. If you have health insurance, it’s still best to contact your own health care provider first. They’re required to give you a test if you want one, at no cost, even if you don’t have symptoms. Another option is to call 2-1-1 and speak to a nurse.

If you’ve been around crowds of people, the county health officer said you should get a test just to make sure you haven’t contracted COVID-19. One of the main reasons testing has been such a focus is that identifying and isolating patients is one of the key ways we can reduce the spread.

Personal services can open Friday
This Friday, businesses that provide personal services like massage, facials and manicures may reopen under new state guidelines . We are still waiting for guidance for amusement parks, which is expected soon. Several, including LEGOLAND, are working on plans to reopen, pending state and county approval. Here is a link to LEGOLAND’s COVID-19 update page , which has an option to sign up for updates via email.

We have updated our two dashboards so you can easily see what’s open currently and what’s coming:


Parking update
As you head out to enjoy some of the reopened activities, please be aware of some new parking enforcement taking place around transit centers. Starting in June, only transit users may park in North County Transit District lots, and this will be actively enforced. In the Village on north State Street many people had gotten used to parking in the train station lot. We have several city lots in the Village, you might just need to plan ahead for a short walk to your final destination. Here’s a map of where those lots are located.

City Council meeting tomorrow
Tuesday’s City Council meeting agenda is now available. Don’t forget there is now a live phone option for making comments. Here’s how that works . You can also still email comments to clerk@carlsbadca.gov , but they won’t be read out loud now that we have the live option. Here’s what on the docket:
  • Resolution to support California Assembly Joint Resolution Nos. 30 and 33 regarding the use of nuclear weapons
  • Approval of an agreement to do a study on climate adaption strategies along Carlsbad Boulevard
  • Approval of an agreement with Urban Corps for graffiti removal and other maintenance services
  • Extension of building permits and permit applications for one year due to COVID-19 impacts
  • Authorization to request proposals for the city’s trash and recycling services
  • Update to grant funding plan to support low-income residents with improved living environments, economic opportunity and decent housing
  • Approval of a new way of measuring transportation impacts to be consistent with state guidelines
  • Update on state legislative issues and approval of a new legislative platform for the city
  • Approval of a business and tourism marketing campaign to support local businesses impacted by COVID-19

Prioritizing communication
As you have probably guessed by now, I have a little help putting these updates together for you. The City of Carlsbad places a high priority on communication, with the idea that an informed and engaged community makes for a more responsive and effective local government. It’s one of the things that makes me very proud to serve this city, and now these efforts are getting statewide recognition.

Back in April our communication and engagement team was set to attend a statewide conference on best practices in government communication. Part of this annual event is an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding achievements among local public agencies. Well, that was canceled along with the conference due to COVID-19.

The California Association of Public Information Officials instead had to notify winners by email, and I am happy to report that the City of Carlsbad took home four awards recognizing outstanding achievements in government communication (or, more accurately, four awards will be mailed to us once CAPIO is back up and running!):

  • Public engagement program for the 2019-20 city budget
  • 2019 State of the City video presentation
  • Launch of the Carlsbad Connector transit shuttle
  • City Matters column (runs in Carlsbad magazine)

Please join me in congratulating the City of Carlsbad team. Communication has become a 24/7 job in recent years, and they’re as committed as ever to helping our community stay informed and engaged.

I will be back on Wednesday. In the meantime, please be safe and continue to Care4Carlsbad.

Scott Chadwick
City Manager

City of Carlsbad | Website