City Manager's Update, 10-7-21

Oct. 7, 2021

According to the County of San Diego’s latest data, most COVID-19 metrics are still headed in the right direction, although health officials are proceeding cautiously given what we saw this time last year. As you likely remember all too well, last November was the beginning of a holiday surge that lasted until early 2021.

Here is the latest information...

COVID-19 update

Active COVID-19 cases in Carlsbad are looking better, but still much higher than earlier in the summer when things reopened:

Of course, there is a big difference this year, and that is the availability of effective vaccines. San Diego County’s vaccination rate is higher than the state and national average. Carlsbad’s vaccination rate is higher than the county average in three of our four ZIP codes, but lower in 92008.

Vaccine approval for kids

Earlier today, Pfizer announced it has submitted its official request to the FDA to grant emergency use authorization for its vaccine to be administered to kids ages 5 through 11. A FDA vaccine advisory group is scheduled to meet Oct. 26 to review Pfizer’s data. Approval could come by the end of November, according to news reports. Pfizer submitted the results of its trials for this age group a couple of weeks ago.

County addressing health misinformation

Yesterday the County of San Diego released the first of a new series of videos that seek to correct misinformation about COVID-19. A new webpage is also part of the county’s increased focus on making sure people know where to get accurate information. If you have questions about something you have heard from a friend or seen on social media, I encourage you to check these resources and share them within your own networks.

Orange County oil spill

We have received some questions from the public about whether Carlsbad has been affected by the oil spill that started last weekend off the coast of Orange County. We are closely monitoring developments and in communication with the multi-agency team managing the clean-up. The city will share updates as we have them on our website and social media.

In the meantime, if you happen to see any signs of oil along our coast, please report that to this number: 1-877-823-6926. You can also check for updates and get more information on the website that has been set up for this incident: Southern California Spill Response.

The San Diego County Water Authority and Poseidon Water put out a joint statement reassuring the public that plans are in place to ensure the desalination plant’s water will remain safe in the event that oil makes its way to our area.

Improving economy, careful spending net $15+ million surplus

Thanks to a stronger than anticipated economic rebound and careful spending, the City of Carlsbad ended the 2020-21 fiscal year with a more than $15 million surplus. The City Council has allocated these funds to several immediate projects addressing community priorities, saving for major projects coming up in the next few years, and managing the city’s long term pension costs. You can get all the details here.

Carlsbad recognized for digital transformation

I was honored this week to have the City of Carlsbad featured at an international conference for city and county managers for our leadership in transforming local government for the digital age.

For the past few years, the city has had an increased focus on ways to harness the power of technology and innovation to provide a superior level of service, improve efficiency and enhance community engagement. When COVID-19 hit, we accelerated these efforts, resulting in the rapid adoption of new service models and novel applications of technology.

Even though we are still very much at the beginning of this transformation, there are already so many success stories:

Providing new ways for the public to get involved in city issues and projects
Increasing transparency through online records and open data
Using data to solve crimes more quickly than ever before
Mapping major city projects so the public can see what is happening, where and when
Getting rid of paper processes

Here is a link to the conference video highlighting these efforts.

Decreasing traffic, increasing mobility

Transportation planning has been steadily shifting from a focus on moving cars to a focus on moving people – however they choose to get around town. Not only is that better for the environment and public health, it also helps improve our quality of life (traffic congestion is always one of the top concerns among our residents).

If you’d like to find out how you might be able to get around Carlsbad in something other than your own car, sign up for these upcoming virtual webinars hosted by the city’s Transportation Department and Circulate San Diego.

Rideshare 101: Oct. 12,2021, 10 a.m.
Public Transit 101: Oct. 19, 2021, 10 a.m.
Walking and Biking 101: Oct. 26, 2021, 10 a.m.
Getting around Carlsbad: What’s Next? Nov. 2, 2021, 10 a.m.

RSVP here to receive your Zoom link: www.carlsbadca.gov/workshops

E-bike safety campaign continues

Speaking of alternate forms of transportation, e-bikes continue to be a hot topic in Carlsbad, and beyond. As part of our ongoing public information campaign about e-bike rules and safety, we’ve just completed three new videos, each focused on one of the key areas of concern we have heard from our community. Please take a look and share with your friends, especially those with teenagers

Celebrating the arts in Carlsbad

October is National Arts & Humanities Month, which recognizes the power of the arts to enrich our lives. Here in Carlsbad, we have made arts and culture a high priority, including a Cultural Arts Office with staff who plan regular events, exhibits and experiences designed to connect our community with arts and culture.

Here is a link to see what’s happening in October, including a beautiful exhibit at the city’s Sculpture Garden, live concerts (virtual and in person) and art projects you can do with your families at home.

Get involved: Upcoming meetings

The City Council’s next meeting is Oct. 12 at 3 p.m. Meetings in October will be virtual, and information about how to watch and participate are included on the agenda. Here are some of the topics scheduled to be discussed:

An update on the city’s investments
The purchase of an affordable housing unit in the Mulberry condominiums in Bressi Ranch
A developer buying affordable housing credits; the city can then use the funds for housing.
An agreement with the Carlsbad Unified School District for use of the Monroe Street Pool
Ordinances needed for the city’s new full-time emergency medical technician positions and to address quality of life concerns regarding homelessness and public spaces
A public hearing to approve the city’s updated Local Coastal Program, which governs development in the Coastal Zone
A city loan and an agreement for affordable housing at two projects in the Marja Acres development
A proposal to create a creative sector and cultural arts district in the Village and Barrio

Here’s a link to the full agenda and staff reports.

Upcoming meetings

These city meetings will also be held next week:

Oct. 12, 9 a.m. – Legislative Subcommittee
Oct. 13, 1 p.m. – Tourism Business Improvement District
Oct. 13, 1 p.m. – Golf Lodging Business Improvement District

A full schedule of city meetings can also be found on our website calendar.

Why I love public service: Reason 42

I wanted to end today with a story of service that someone shared with me this week. One of our employees at Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park recently led a visiting couple on a guided tour of the beautiful grounds. The couple made an impression on this employee, Mary Lee, because they were so curious to learn everything they could about this historic property, eager to check out every last bit of the 27-acre park.

Later that day, around 5:15 p.m., the phone at the main office of the park rang. Normally that call would go to voicemail because the park closes at 5 p.m. But Mary Lee was there and picked up.

It’s a good thing, because on the other end was the woman who had visited earlier, distraught because she lost a very special ring – somewhere – while touring the ranch. The procedure for such an event would be to enter a description into the lost and found journal so someone could follow up in the morning. Instead, Mary Lee told the woman she was going to head out to see if she could locate it. About 20 minutes later, she returned, ring in hand.

After relaying the news, Mary Lee learned that the woman’s husband had the ring custom made for her when they were both in the jewelry business. Even though it had gotten a little big, she just loved wearing it because the pink citron stone went so well with her love of pink nail polish and pink outfits (you can see both in the photo above).

I love sharing stories like this – and in my role I hear so many of them – because they really show what it means to work in public service. I am so proud of our city staff and the care with which they carry out their duties.