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News from the City of Carlsbad | Aug. 7, 2025

The city wants to hear from community members about whether we should establish a minimum age of 12 to ride an e-bike in Carlsbad. Today, I’ll share how you can provide your input.

Sticking to the theme of traffic safety, the city recently completed street improvements near Kelly Elementary school, right in time for the first day. I’ve got a behind-the-scenes video that shows the before and after, with project details in today’s update. 

Here’s the full lineup:

• Provide input on a potential minimum age for e-bike riders
• Carlsbad Police Department hosting classes to help kids ride safely
• Kelly and Park street improvements complete in time for school
• Enhancing fire detection in Carlsbad
• Doo-wop on tap at Friday’s TGIF concert
• City earns award for financial reporting
• Community events and activities
• Upcoming city meetings
• Carlsbad celebrates National Night Out 

Provide input on a potential minimum age for e-bike riders

The City of Carlsbad’s Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission will hold a special meeting Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 5 p.m. to gather community input on whether Carlsbad should prohibit e-bike use by children under age 12.

• The City Council requested that the commission hold this meeting to receive resident feedback and make a recommendation for City Council consideration.
• When we asked for community input before launching the city’s Safer Streets Together program in 2022, one of the top requests was to require licenses or establish a minimum age for riding e-bikes. 
• Carlsbad was the first city in the region to pass local laws to curtail reckless riding and address other unsafe use of e-bikes, but state law limits the city’s ability to adopt licensing and minimum age requirements.

The city’s legislative team worked with State Assemblymember Tasha Boerner to sponsor legislation that addressed this issue - Assembly Bill 2234. Here are a few important notes about how the legislation works:

• It allows cities in San Diego County, as well as the county itself, to establish a minimum age of 12 for riding e-bikes.
• Technically, this new law applies only to “class 1” and “class 2” e-bikes. Class 3 e-bikes, which have a higher maximum speed, already have a minimum age of 16. Learn more about different types of e-bikes.
• State law still prevents cities from adopting licensing requirements. However, some school districts operating in Carlsbad have worked with the city to develop bike safety or permit programs for students.

How to provide input

The City Council is seeking community input before considering whether to establish the e-bike minimum age here in Carlsbad. There are two ways to provide input:

• Email traffic@carlsbadca.gov by 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 16
• Attend the meeting and provide a comment in person

Special Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission meeting

Tuesday, Sept. 16, 5 p.m.

City Council Chamber

1200 Carlsbad Village Drive

All feedback will be shared with the City Council.

Carlsbad Police Department hosting classes to help kids ride safely

To help get Carlsbad students ready to head back to school, the Carlsbad Police Department is hosting three bike and e-bike safety classes this month, which cover:

• The rules of the road for bike and e-bike riders
• Carlsbad specific e-bike laws
• Traffic signs and signals and what they mean
• Where to ride in specific situations, including on neighborhood roads or busy streets

Registration is already full for the first two classes, but there are a few spaces left in the third class:

Saturday, Aug. 23

Georgina Cole Library

1 to 2 p.m.

The class is free, but registration is required. If you have school-aged kids, register today before this class fills up. I also encourage you to check with your principal for any special requirements for parking a bike or e-bike on campus.

Kelly and Park street improvements complete in time for school

Speaking of back-to-school season, construction is now complete on street improvements along Kelly Drive and Park Drive, just in time for the new school year at Kelly Elementary.

In June, the City Council directed staff to remove the yellow ceramic domes that had formed interim traffic circles along Kelly Drive and move forward with other options for street improvements, including:

• Enhancing pedestrian crosswalks
• Repaving and restriping intersections to meet current city standards
• Installing all-way stops on Kelly Drive at Park Drive and Hillside Drive

Crews got to work right away, starting construction the following week. We worked quickly over the summer break to minimize impacts on school traffic, completing the work before students return later this month.

This video shows the before and after, plus highlights of the construction work in action. 

In addition to these near-term improvements, the City Council asked staff to explore concepts that do not include roundabouts, as were previously planned. Staff will return to a future City Council meeting to present those longer-term options and address resident concerns with speeding, safety and connectivity.

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Remember, the city’s construction map shows where city road projects are happening that might impact your commute. The map is updated weekly to help you avoid or minimize traffic delays and detours that often come with construction.

The map only shows city projects. It doesn’t include construction projects by local utilities, private companies or other agencies.

Caltrans and SANDAG asked us to remind you that Build NCC crews are continuing a series of nighttime closures along Pio Pico Drive between Tamarack and Magnolia avenues. That stretch of road will close from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly through Saturday, Aug. 9.

Enhancing fire detection in Carlsbad

The City of Carlsbad will explore installing wildfire monitoring cameras on city-owned properties, under a plan the City Council approved July 29. This initiative is part of a partnership between the Carlsbad Fire Department, Carlsbad Municipal Water District and the University of California, San Diego’s ALERTCalifornia program.

ALERTCalifornia is a statewide network of more than 1,100 high-definition wildfire cameras that provide real-time visibility of wildland areas. The cameras allow emergency responders to detect and monitor fires early, improve response times and enhance coordination during emergencies.

• Following City Council direction, the Carlsbad Fire Department will evaluate potential installation sites across the city.
• One location currently under review is the La Costa High Reservoir site on Corintia Street in the La Costa Ridge neighborhood.
• Public outreach will be conducted before moving forward with any specific location.

This project reflects the city’s commitment to public safety and wildfire preparedness, with transparency and community involvement guiding every step of the process. 

Doo-wop on tap at Friday’s TGIF concert  

Catch the last TGIF concert at Calavera Hills Community Park this Friday before the concerts move to Alga Norte Community Park next week. Tomorrow, you can dance along to the style and rhythm of The Honeydrops, a vibrant, female-fronted, five-piece band that brings vintage R&B, Rockabilly, Jump Blues, Soul and Doo-Wop to life.

Friday, Aug. 8

Field opens at 4 p.m.

Concert starts at 6 p.m.

Calavera Hills Community Park

2997 Glasgow Drive

Sing-a-long jam session and guitar art

Stop by the pop-up art booth near the east security entrance to join in a sing-a-long jam session before the concert begins (4:30 to 5:30 p.m.) and create colorful guitar art from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Free shuttle and bike valet

• Parking is available at Sage Creek High School, 3900 Cannon Road. Free shuttles will run continuously from 4:15 to 9:15 p.m. to pick up concertgoers from the school to transport you to and from the concert.
• Parking is limited, so take advantage of our complimentary bike valet service at the concert location.

Helpful tips

• Low-back chairs (which sit lower than 8 inches from the ground) are welcome.
• Seating is limited, so please only take the space that you need when setting up for your group.
• Service animals are allowed, but please leave pets at home.
• Here’s a list of the items that are allowed and what to avoid.
• Remember, all concertgoers will go through a quick screening process. This video shows what you can expect.

TGIF sponsor shoutout

In recent years, prices for vendors and supplies for our TGIF Concerts in the Parks have increased significantly. Sponsors help the city cover those costs and maintain our nine-concert lineup. Thank you to these generous TGIF sponsors:

Opener sponsors

• Carlsbad Charitable Foundation
• Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
• The Op Games

Pop up art sponsor

• Carlsbad Library & Arts Foundation

Raffle fundraiser sponsor

• Carlsbad Friends of the Arts

City earns award for financial reporting  

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada recently notified the City of Carlsbad that our fiscal year 2023-24 annual financial report earned the Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 35^th time, and the 28^th year in a row.



• The award is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting.
• You can think of it sort of like a corporate financial report.
• Preparing this report includes an independent audit, the results of which are also included in the report.

Learn more about city finances

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, "La Famille Bélier" – Friday, Aug. 8, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library
• Concerts in the Courtyard: Dylan's Steel Drum Band – Saturday, Aug. 9, 5 to 6 p.m., Dove Library
• Courtyard Concert: Daniel Newheiser (adults 50+) – Monday, Aug. 11, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Carlsbad Senior Center
• “Printed & Stitched” exhibit – Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday, noon to 5 p.m.; Friday, noon to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m., William D. Cannon Art Gallery
• Reel Wednesday, “The Hate You Give" – Wednesday, Aug. 13, 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 Summer Community Services Guide.

Upcoming city meetings

There are no city meetings next week, but several of our boards and commissions will be meeting later this month. You can see the full meeting schedule on our city calendar.

You’re welcome to attend city meetings in person and they’re livestreamed on the city’s website and available to watch afterward.

Carlsbad celebrates National Night Out

I thought I’d conclude by sharing some pictures from Tuesday’s National Night Out, when public safety personnel visited block parties throughout the city.



Each August, we tailor this national event to encourage neighbors to get to know each other and meet members of the city’s Police and Fire departments. After all, strong community connections help keep Carlsbad safe. 

Thank you to all who participated and to our entire community, have a great weekend!



Geoff Patnoe

City Manager