With the first day of summer this Sunday, temperatures rising and most COVID-19 health rules relaxed, there's much to look forward to this week in Carlsbad! Below are a few summer safety tips to keep top of mind, whether you (or your kids) are going for a ride on an ebike or heading to the beach.

In other news ....

  • Next steps for new lagoon trail
  • Celebrate Great Outdoors Month
  • New exhibit at Cannon Art Gallery
  • Starting your Summer Reading Adventure
  • Openings on Boards & Commissions
  • Topics for next week's City Council meetings
  • I-5 ramp closure this weekend
  • Caltrans transportation survey
7 ways your child could be breaking the law on an ebike
Summer officially starts this Sunday, and that means more free time for Carlsbad kids and more traffic on our streets, including ebikes. Ebikes are shaping up to be one of this summer’s hottest modes of transportation, and we need riders to share the road safely and legally. Riders who don’t follow the rules are subject to ticketing and fines.

Here are seven ways your child – or you! – could be breaking the law:

  1. Failing to stop at red lights and stop signs. Ebike riders must follow the same rules of the road as motorists and obey all traffic lights, signs and signals.
  2. Weaving in and out of traffic.
  3. Riding against the flow of traffic. Riders must travel with the flow of traffic and keep to the right edge of the road as practical.
  4. Riding on the sidewalk. Sidewalks and crosswalks are meant for pedestrians. Ebike riders should dismount and walk their ebikes in these areas.
  5. Failing to stop for pedestrians at intersections and crosswalks.
  6. Riding without a helmet. Helmets are required for kids 17 and under. They’re also required for all ages on Class 3 ebikes.
  7. Carrying passengers without a designated spot or while riding a Class 3 bike. Most ebikes are not equipped to carry passengers.

Parents, please help keep kids safe and out of trouble! Remember, you're on the hook for potential fines and tickets if your child breaks the rules. Review this flyer with them before letting them ride.

 You can learn more by visiting our ebike webpage.
Next steps for new lagoon trail
On Tuesday, City Council directed staff to move forward with design, public engagement and development of a shortened alignment for the future South Shore Agua Hedionda Trail (also known as Hub Park Trail), between Cannon Road and the Agua Hedionda Lagoon.

The proposed trail alignment had to be reduced from 2.4 miles to 1.4 miles as a result of SDG&E informing the city it will not allow the trail to be developed on adjacent land it owns to the west and south of the Hub Park Lease property. 

City staff will also get answers to questions asked by the City Council about potential parking accommodations at the nearby Agua Hedionda Lagoon Nature Center and environmental impacts to habitat on the Hub Park lease property (including associated cost estimates) in the coming months.

The revised trail will allow pedestrian access to the trail at Cannon Road, where the existing SDG&E access road and gate are located.

The trail could potentially include amenities such as picnic tables and outlook points, in addition to basic trail amenities, such as trail signs, dog stations and recycling/trash bins.

The design and permitting process may take up to three years before the project is ready for construction.
Tips to avoid being stung by stingray
The first day of summer is Sunday and we have some beach safety tips to help keep you and your family safe while enjoying our beautiful beaches. Before you hit the beach, remember that stingrays are out and about and pack a serious punch if stepped on. Here are some great tips on how to avoid getting stung.

Celebrate Great Outdoors Month
It’s Great Outdoors Month, an entire month dedicated to the outdoors! Spending time outdoors helps with mental clarity, pain and stress relief. June gloom is starting to clear so plan some time outdoors at one of our Carlsbad parks, trails or beaches and enjoy!
Juried Biennial exhibition at Cannon Art Gallery now open
The City of Carlsbad’s Cultural Arts Office presents the 2021 Juried Biennial Exhibition. Over the past 21 years, the William D. Cannon Art Gallery’s juried exhibitions have become an important showcase for the work of both emerging and mid-career artists in San Diego County. Juried exhibitions are open to
San Diego County artists age 18 and over and are guest judged by arts professionals from the region. This year’s jurors were Sonya Sparks, owner of Sparks Gallery in San Diego, and Andrew Utt, executive director of Lux Art Institute in Encinitas.

  • Exhibit runs now through Aug. 7
  • William D. Cannon Art Gallery is located at 1775 Dove Lane in the City Library Complex
  • Opening hours are: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m - 5 p.m.
  • For more information or to make a reservation, visit our website or call us at 760-602-2021
  • Admission is free
Start your Summer Reading Adventure
The 2021 virtual Summer Reading Adventure has begun and offers free summer reading fun for everyone. This year's theme is Tails and Tales. People of all ages can earn incentives as they read, explore and discover. From now until Aug. 8 enjoy family-friendly virtual interactive animal performances and adventures, pre-recorded and live.

Get involved in city matters
Interested in matters involving traffic safety, pedestrian safety and parking? The city is seeking residents interested in filling two vacancies on the City of Carlsbad Traffic & Mobility Commission for a term through December 2024. Applications must be submitted by June 30, 2021.
 
Want to be involved in how Community Development Block Grants should be allocated? The City of Carlsbad is seeking residents to fill four vacancies on the Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee for terms ending in May 2023. Applications must be submitted by June 24, 2021.

Topics for next week's City Council meetings
The agenda for the next City Council meeting is now available. Topics will include:

  • A $35,000 donation for cultural arts program from the Carlsbad Friends of the Arts
  • Agreement for maintaining and operating traffic signals throughout the city
  • Paying the city’s share of the cost of repairing a sewer pipe damaged by a sinkhole in a storm
  • A contract for installing valves that can be operated remotely on water lines
  • Another contract for repairing and upgrading concrete curbs and gutters along parts of Levante Street and El Camino Real
  • Public hearings on the fees hotels and resorts pay to support and promote tourism and the golf resort business in Carlsbad
  • An update on city’s COVID-19 response and its costs
  • A resident’s request to have the stump of a dead heritage tree on Grand Avenue carved into a bench
  • Appointment of one member to the Buena Vista Lagoon Joint Powers Committee

Meeting starts at 3 p.m. Sign up by 2 p.m. if you want to provide live comments by phone. Otherwise, you can send your comment via email. Here’s a link to full agenda and staff reports.

Special City Council Meeting on 5G
The City Council will hear a presentation on the federal, state and city laws and regulations governing the installation of 5G cellular technology and other wireless communication facilities Wednesday, June 23.

The city’s outside legal counsel for wireless infrastructure issues will cover recent and pending changes in the law and the technology. Members of the public are invited to comment.

The workshop starts at 4 p.m. Agenda, staff report and public comment sign up will be posted on the city website later today or early next week.
I-5 Encinitas Boulevard ramp closure
Here's an update about a project to the south of Carlsbad -- not a city project, but something that could affect your upcoming travels.
 
From Friday, June 18, at 9 p.m., to Monday, June 21, at 5 a.m. the southbound I-5 on-ramp from Encinitas Boulevard will be closed. Closing the onramp will allow crews to realign interchange ramps to accommodate two new Carpool/HOV Lanes, one in each direction of I-5. The closure is part of the $870 million Build NCC project and includes $195 million in funding from Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
 
Please drive extra carefully in the construction area.
 
Caltrans active transportation plan survey
Caltrans is developing its first Active Transportation Plan for San Diego and Imperial Counties. With your help, the plan will identify bicycle and pedestrian improvements on, across, or near the State Highway System. 
 
Take Caltrans’ survey to indicate areas where you feel there are opportunities for improvement. 
 
Your input will help Caltrans prioritize active transportation improvements to make travel more comfortable and convenient for pedestrians, bicyclists and transit users. Watch this video and visit the Caltrans website for more information.
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