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For my last update of 2023, I will continue with an emphasis on keeping our community safe, on the road and off, plus share some backstory about a walk along the beach many of you have taken a thousand times.

• Ring in the New Year safely
• A trail by any other name …
• E-bike and lithium battery safety tips
• Recycle or donate your old electronics
• Free COVID tests at Dove Library and the Senior Center
• Cinema Club season lineup announced
• Important election deadline approaching
• Holiday city service schedule

Countdown to a safe new year

When the local traffic safety emergency ended, it was with the understanding that programs and projects that support safer streets would continue to be a top priority. The City Council approved a comprehensive Safer Streets Together plan last September, and we have made significant progress on its implementation.

One of our strategies is to target extra enforcement around times when traffic safety is a bigger concern, like the holidays. As I mentioned last week, the Carlsbad Police Department will have extra patrols out through New Year’s Day helping to keep everyone safe on our local roads (the CHP, which patrols our freeways and highways, is also planning extra enforcement).

In addition to traffic safety, our Police Department will be on the lookout for other safety concerns, including violations of the city’s “social host ordinance.” This Carlsbad-specific law allows us to hold adults accountable for hosting parties where kids have access to alcohol and drugs.

Here’s a New Year’s Eve countdown with safety reminders:

10…

If drinking alcohol will be part of your New Year’s Eve celebration, create a plan to arrive home safely. Designate a driver or consider leaving your car at home altogether and use a rideshare service.

9…

If you’re planning to host a party, let your neighbors know and give them a way to contact you if the party gets too loud.

8…

If you’re going to serve alcohol at your party, develop a plan to get your guests home safely and make sure they’re on board.

7…

Supervise anyone under 21 at your gathering. The social host ordinance applies whether you provide the alcohol or people bring their own and consume it at your gathering.

6…

If you’re going out to celebrate, secure your house. Check out these home security tips that can help keep your home and valuables safe.

5…

If you’re driving, stay alert. Watch for pedestrians, bicyclists and other cars around you.

4…

When you reach your destination, park in a legal spot in a well-lit area. Be aware of what is going on around you.

3…

Don’t leave items unattended in your car and take other steps to prevent theft.

2…

Don’t set off fireworks – they’re dangerous and prohibited. (BTW, those in the northern part of Carlsbad have likely noticed that LEGOLAND is hosting nightly fireworks displays over the holidays. This is scheduled to end after New Year’s Eve.)

1…

Finally, if you see or hear suspicious activity, report it immediately. Our Police Department is here for you 24/7. You can always call the non-emergency number at 442-339-2197 (I would save this number in your phone, so you always have it handy). Always report an emergency or crime in progress by calling 9-1-1.

We have a saying, “Public safety is a team sport.” That means to keep our community as safe as possible, we rely on residents like you to do your part. Together, we can ensure everyone in Carlsbad wakes up on New Year’s Day knowing friends and family are safe. 

A trail by any other name …

Being close to the beach is one of the main reasons people love living in Carlsbad, and since the late 1980s, thousands come every day to walk on the Carlsbad Sea Wall. By “Sea Wall,” I mean what most people refer to as the “lower sea wall,” the serpentine path along the sand between Pine and Tamarack.

• This half mile walkway is part of the city’s trail system and a perfect place to take out of town guests.
• It is a good trail for winter months when rain makes other trails muddy.
• It’s flat and paved, making it one of our most accessible trails (the north end has a steep slope, but the southern end at Tamarack has access off the State Parks parking lot).
• There are restrooms at both ends.

The Sea Wall’s original name was the Carlsbad Seawall Bluff Stabilization Project. The walkway features a short wall on either side (along with a significant substructure underground) that helps protect the bluff from erosion. You can get down to the sand at a few places along the wall that have stairs. (The terms “Sea Wall” and “Seawall” both appear in city documents, but the former seems to have won out as the official way to write it.)

Here are some of the original drawings I pulled from the archives:

Upper sea wall

The official name for what most people call the upper sea wall is the Carlsbad Boulevard Blufftop Walkway. This wide sidewalk is cantilevered over the bluff running parallel to the lower sea wall. It has stairs down to the Sea Wall Trail at several spots along the way.

Different rules

• The Sea Wall Trail (the lower sea wall) is for pedestrians only and does not allow dogs.
• Dogs on a leash are welcome on the upper sea wall, where you can also use roller skates and rollerblades, as long as you avoid any reckless behavior.
• Scooters, skateboards and other similar forms of “wheeled transportation” are not allowed on either.

Meet some feathered friends

While you’re walking along the beach, you can impress your friends and families by correctly identifying some of the shorebirds that hang out this time of year. See the photos and names below:

Next week I’ll tell you about yet another “sea wall” to the south of Tamarack, including its actual name and why it was built, along with a little-known side trip you can take along the shore of the lagoon.

5 ways to stay safe on your new e-bike

If you have a new electric bike or e-scooter in your family, here are five tips to stay safe while enjoying your new ride.

1. Follow the rules of the road. E-bikes must follow the same rules as pedal-powered bikes, including Carlsbad-specific rules designed to improve safety.
2. Wear a helmet and make sure it fits properly.
3. Stop for pedestrians.
4. Use the bike lane if one is available unless turning or passing.
5. Always use lights at night. Make sure you have a white front light and a red rear reflector, at minimum.

This video recaps everything you need to know. We will be scheduling additional safety trainings in 2024. Sign up to be notified of class times and other safety information.

Safely charge and store your lithium-ion batteries

Please be aware that the lithium-ion batteries that power e-bikes and e-scooters can spark fires and explode if used improperly. Stay safe with these 10 tips:

1. Store e-bikes, e-scooters and batteries outside of your living space, away from exit doors and anything that can get hot or catch fire.
2. Purchase and use devices that are listed by a qualified testing laboratory (such as UL or Intertek).
3. Avoid buying after-market batteries and charging devices that are not listed or made for the device.
4. Take the manufacturer’s instructions seriously.
5. Don’t exceed the recommended charging time, and don’t continue charging the battery after it is fully charged.
6. Stop using the lithium-ion battery if you notice an odor, change in color, too much heat, change in shape, leaking or odd noises.
7. Only use the battery and the charger that was designed for and came with the device.
8. Only charge devices on hard surfaces, not soft surfaces.
9. Do not leave batteries and devices unattended while charging.
10. Make sure to correctly place batteries in the device.

Recycle or donate your old electronics

If you got a new phone, TV or other electronic device over the holidays, you may be wondering what to do with your old one. Before you toss any old batteries or electronics, remember that you should never put e-waste in your trash cart.

The City of Carlsbad offers convenient ways to recycle your e-waste, which helps protect the environment and keeps your data safe. More than 300,000 pounds of e-waste have been recycled in Carlsbad this year.

• Take e-waste, including broken holiday lights, to the recycling center at the Palomar Transfer Station at 5960 El Camino Real (access via Orion Road), Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Schedule an e-waste collection through Republic Services. Carlsbad residents may request this service three times a year, with up to five items collected at each pickup. To schedule, call 760-332-6464.
• Recycle alkaline batteries (the common household batteries) by placing them in a clear plastic bag on top of your blue recycle cart on your trash collection day. (Remember, trash service in Carlsbad is delayed by one day through Jan. 6 due to the New Year’s holiday.)
• Outdated electronics in working condition can also be donated to a charitable organization or thrift store.
• Lithium-ion batteries are considered hazardous household waste. They can be dropped off at:

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility:

1145 E. Taylor St.

Vista, CA 92084

Saturdays only

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

800-714-1195

You can also schedule a door-to-door pickup for $10 (free for residents over age 65). Available by appointment only; call 800-714-1195 to schedule.

COVID-19 tests available at no charge

Cases of COVID-19 and other contagious illnesses tend to increase over the holidays, so it’s not surprising that San Diego County has seen an uptick in COVID cases over the past few weeks. (Thankfully, the increase is nowhere near as significant as last year.) If you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 or you start feeling symptoms, it’s a good idea to test so you can get the right care and avoid spreading the illness to others.

• At-home COVID-19 test kits from the County of San Diego are available now at Dove Library and the Senior Center
• You can still order free tests from the federal government. Order online at COVIDTests.gov or call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) and they’ll be mailed to you

Cinema Club just started its new season

The new season of our Cinema Club kicked off this week at Dove Library’s Schulman Auditorium. Twice a week through the end of June, we’ll be showing a selection of international, independent and award-winning films in the Schulman Auditorium.

Popular films (Academy Award-winners, dramas, comedies) 

Wednesdays, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Next up: Jan. 3

Super 8 (Action, Mystery, Sci-fi)

2011, PG-13, 1h 52m

During the summer of 1979, a group of friends witness a train crash and investigate subsequent unexplained events in their small town.

Independent and international films

Fridays, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Next up: Dec. 29

102 Not Out (India, Comedy, Drama)

2018, PG, 1h 42m

102-year-old Dattatraya wants to beat the world record for oldest man alive, but he wants more enthusiastic company than his irritable 75-year-old son Babulal and tries to put him in a retirement home.

Seating is first come, first served. All films are free, and the lineup is subject to change. Get the full schedule on our website.

Jan. 5 deadline to request crossover primary ballot

The San Diego County Registrar of Voters, which is gearing up for the 2024 election year, sends the city announcements from time to time to share with our residents.

Here’s the latest:

• Voters registered as nonpartisan who want to participate in the March 5 presidential primary must request a crossover ballot from the Registrar’s office by Jan. 5.
• Otherwise, you’ll receive a nonpartisan ballot that doesn’t include the presidential primary.
• The county recently mailed all nonpartisan voters a pre-paid return postcard to request a crossover ballot. If you didn’t receive one, you can print one out and return it by mail, fax or email, or visit the Registrar’s office in Kearny Mesa.

The Registrar of Voters also needs poll workers for the March 5 primary, especially those who are bilingual. Learn more at sdvote.com.

City holiday hours

Just a reminder that city offices are open normal hours through the holidays with the exception of Dec. 31 and  Jan. 1, for the New Year’s Day holiday.

• Trash service will be delayed by one day through Jan. 6.
• The Carlsbad Unified School District needed to close some of the fields we manage for them so they could complete improvements over the winter break.
• Republic Services will accept Christmas trees for recycling through Jan. 14

See the full holiday schedule on our website.

Wrapping up, I want to sincerely thank you for your continued interest in following what’s happening with your local government.

We will be hitting the ground running in the new year, with our first City Council meeting scheduled for Jan. 9. I will give you a preview of the topics along with other news of the week, our first of 2024!

Scott Chadwick

City Manager