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Weeks like this one are a good reminder of how lucky we are to be in Carlsbad. It’s been hot, but a good 10 to 15 degrees cooler than our neighboring cities to the east. Heat brings an increased risk of wildfires, and we saw a few in our region just this week. That’s why I’ll start today’s update with one simple thing you can do now to make sure you and your loved ones are more prepared for a fire affecting Carlsbad, or any emergency that could require evacuation or sheltering in place. 

Other topics this week include:

• New school e-bike permit program underway
• New grant will fund efforts to address homeless encampments in the Village
• TGIF continues with rhythm and soul at Stagecoach Community Park
• Get ready to help plan Carlsbad’s next park
• Sign up for National Night Out Aug. 1
• Carlsbad Citizens of the Year to be honored
• Get involved: Upcoming meetings
• Recognizing our many friends

This 1 thing will make you more prepared

I know it’s hard to make time for things like this, but I encourage you to make a commitment to do just one thing this weekend that will help you and our loved ones be more prepared in case of an emergency like a wildfire:

1. Register your cell phone numbers and email addresses with AlertSanDiego, an emergency mass notification system that will alert you if a fire or other disaster is threatening your home.

In fact, why don’t you click on the link right now – it only takes a few minutes and could save your life. You can enter your home address or your business address if you work in Carlsbad. It uses this location data to target alerts.

I’ll share more tips in the coming weeks, but if you want to work ahead, please read our Emergency Preparedness Guide, which has checklists to help you make a simple emergency plan and put together an emergency supply kit.

The city invests a lot in emergency preparedness and public safety. But for our community to be the safest it can be, we need residents and businesses to get prepared too. Thank you!

New e-bike permit program rolls out

When we first declared the traffic safety emergency, we asked the community about their top ideas and concerns. By far, the top request was to require e-bike riders to go through some kind of permitting program so they know the rules of the road. 

Vehicle licensing requirements come from the state (and yes, bikes are considered vehicles, even pedal bikes), but we found two creative ways to meet this goal while we lobby our state legislators for a statewide requirement.

Safety class option for citations: The first was to create our own local law that allows us to issue a city citation for e-bike violations (otherwise they would be cited under state law).

• Our local law allows first time offenders to take a traffic safety course in lieu of paying the citation.
• Our Police Department had several officers become certified in bike and e-bike safety so they could teach the classes.

New school permit requirement: This week, we officially kicked off training for a new program starting this fall at Carlsbad Unified School District.

• When school starts, students will need a permit to park a bike or e-bike on campus. 
• To get the permit, they must first complete our safety course.

The first four trainings were held Monday, with a total of nearly 300 students and parents in attendance. We worked with all four school districts with schools in Carlsbad to explore permitting options.

• All are interested but a few are still finalizing the details.
• In the meantime, students from all four districts are participating in the safety training.

Registration is not required, and the classes are free and open to anyone wanting more information about e-bike safety – students, parents, friends and neighbors. If you have a student who attends school in Carlsbad Unified School District, they’ll get the added bonus of receiving credit toward the district’s new bike permit program.

City Council extends traffic safety emergency

Given that traffic tends to be heavier during the summer and back to school time, the City Council decided to extend the local traffic safety emergency another 60 days, until early September. If it is not renewed again, it will end automatically on Sept. 8.

City secures grant to address homeless encampments in the Village

Also on Tuesday, the City Council accepted a $2.3 million state grant that will help address homeless encampments in the downtown Village area. One of the City Council's top goals is to prevent and reduce homelessness and its effects on our community.

• The funding was secured through the state’s Encampment Resolution Grant Program, which provides funding to help local jurisdictions get people out of encampments specifically.
• This initiative is part of our comprehensive approach to addressing homelessness in Carlsbad.
• The city is focusing on addressing gaps in service rather than duplicating what the state, county and nonprofit organizations are already doing.

TGIF continues with rhythm and soul at Stagecoach Community Park

Thanks to everyone who came out for our first concert last weekend. We’re back at Stagecoach Community Park on Friday for this week’s TGIF Concerts in the Parks, featuring B.I.G., bringing a blend of R&B, soul and funk.

3 tips to have a great night

1. Walk or use our new bike valet service, if you live close enough.
2. Carpool to reduce traffic (or arrange to be dropped off)
3. Utilize free parking at La Costa Canyon High School and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Camino de los Coches. (There is no shuttle service for concerts at Stagecoach because we have parking close by.)

Help the city plan a new park

Seems fitting to announce during Parks & Recreation Month that we are kicking off the planning process for Carlsbad’s next park. 

You have three ways to give input at this very early stage of planning:

1. Come to a meeting at the park site Aug. 8
2. Participate in a virtual meeting Aug. 9
3. Take an online survey later this month

Robertson Ranch Park will be at the corner of El Camino Real and Cannon. The site is relatively flat, and some of the potential uses mentioned in the Robertson Ranch Master Plan include ball fields, a playground and picnic areas. Please let us know your ideas and priorities.

Sign up for project emails to stay up to date as the park takes shape.

Celebrate National Night Out with a block party

National Night Out is Tuesday, Aug. 1, and there’s still time to make plans if your neighborhood wants to participate. This annual event is a fun way to promote police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie, both of which make us a safer community.

How to participate

• Plan to hold an outside gathering like a block party, barbecue or potluck
• Invite your friends and neighbors
• Register your gathering with the Carlsbad Police Department by July 28 by emailing denise.ramirez@carlsbadca.gov with your name, address of the gathering, what kind of gathering it will be (barbecue, potluck, block party, etc.) and number of adults and children expected to attend
• The Police Department (and in some cases the Fire Department too) will confirm if they are able to add you to the list of visits

Help us honor our Citizens of the Year

Help us celebrate Carlsbad’s Citizens of the Year during a special ceremony on July 18 in the Council Chamber followed by a reception in the courtyard. Everyone is invited to attend.

Tuesday, July 18

3 p.m.

City Council Chamber

1200 Carlsbad Village Drive

During the ceremony, the Mayor will recognize Brad and Beth Thorp and Jill Uhley Rogul, who exemplify the spirit of community service that makes Carlsbad so special. You can read about them, or, better yet, come to the ceremony to meet them in person.

Carlsbad has recognized Citizen of the Year honorees for more than 50 years, celebrating community members who have given their time and energy toward the civic improvement, beautification and betterment of the City of Carlsbad.

Get involved: Upcoming meetings

The next City Council meeting will take place Tuesday, July 18, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. The topics to be discussed include:

• An update on the city’s investments
• Renewing two technology agreements, one that allows city staff to access a data visualization tool and one for software that enables city staff to securely sign in to city systems
• Approving an updated agreement for the joint powers authority that operates the countywide law enforcement data system used by the Police Department
• An agreement for the Police Department to continue participating in a grant-funded program to conduct compliance checks on probationers
• Approving the county’s request to use city community center buildings as voting centers in the primary and general elections
• Accepting a $100,000 donation from longtime library patrons to provide additional seating for reading at Dove Library and to buy more large-type books for people with vision impairment
• Updating the city’s municipal code to reflect that Carlsbad’s animal control services are now handled by the San Diego Humane Society instead of the county, and related changes
• A report with recommendations from a resident-led committee on key elements that should be addressed in a new plan to manage growth in a way that maintains an excellent quality of life while complying with state housing laws
• Proposed improvements to safety and mobility at the intersection of Tamarack and Carlsbad Boulevard
• A report on the city’s recent What Works Cities certification, recognizing Carlsbad’s use of data to inform decisions and an overview of a new data dashboard measuring progress on the City Council’s 5-Year Strategic Plan
• Considering a possible resolution that would call for greater city control over local zoning and housing issues overseen by the state.

A link to the full agenda and staff reports is available on the city’s website. You can watch the meeting live on the city’s website or cable TV channel.

There’s one other city meeting taking place next week:

• July 19, 5 p.m. – Planning Commission

Recognizing generous donations

Before I close, I want to highlight two local organizations that support our library and arts programs and services. I mentioned one last week – Friends of the Carlsbad Library, which presented a $65,000 donation to the city at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

When I listed the items for this week’s agenda in my last update, I inadvertently attributed two donations to the Friends of the Carlsbad Library, when one should have been attributed to the Carlsbad Friends of the Arts. The Friends of the Arts presented a check for $35,000, which specifically supports our wonderful cultural arts programs and events.

Pictured, L to R Carlsbad Friends of the Arts Board Members Brenda Beckett, Amanda Ecoff, Joanne Hackett, Aaron Alter, Liz Lichtenberger

Not pictured, Board Members Donna Beyer and Roslyn Simmons

So, thanks again to all of our friends for your wonderful support. If you would like to get involved in these groups, here are links to their websites.

Carlsbad Friends of the Arts

Friends of the Carlsbad Library

Take care, everyone! Try to stay cool this weekend as we ride out this heat wave. And, as always, be safe on our roads.

Scott Chadwick

City Manager