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From streetlights above to water pipes underground, Carlsbad is continuing to take action to make sustainability a part of daily life. As Earth Month continues, I’ll share how the city is involving the community, plus:

• Fixit Clinic and e-waste recycling event Saturday
• Easy ways to prevent food waste
• Safe seaside strolling along Carlsbad Boulevard
• Honoring our Police leadership
• Behind the scenes with our emergency dispatchers
• Meet the author of “The Maid”
• Comedy night at The Schulman
• Help preserve a historic Carlsbad gem
• Explaining the new vegetation at The Flower Fields
• Northbound I-5 to be closed overnight Monday
• What’s on the agenda for the next City Council meeting
• Solar eclipse captivates Carlsbad

Sustaining the environment together

In the City of Carlsbad, our commitment to environmental sustainability is woven into every corner of our community. From smart lighting systems that cut energy use to water system upgrades aimed at conservation, environmentally sustainable features are quietly protecting our most precious resources. I’ll share more specific ways we’re advancing our environmental goals in next week’s update.

For now, I want to focus on how we can keep waste out of the landfills – whether it’s old appliances, electronics or food.

Reducing waste is one of the best ways we pursue environmental sustainability, one of Carlsbad’s core community values and an important part of the City Council’s 5-Year Strategic Plan. 

• Each year, millions of tons of items worldwide are discarded and end up in landfills.
• Plastics, electronics and textiles are among the many types of materials found in landfills, where they leach toxic chemicals into the soil and water.
• Many of these items still have usable parts and just need some simple fixes.
• Repairing items instead of throwing them away and replacing them saves money and conserves resources. It also reduces pollution and greenhouse gas emissions since fewer new products would need to be manufactured.

If you have an item at home you’re considering throwing out instead of repairing, consider stopping by our free Fixit Clinic and e-waste recycling event this Saturday first.

• Get help fixing small appliances, electronics, bikes, clothing and more.
• Craft do-it-yourself coasters and cake stands from used tiles.
• Learn how to upcycle old wood pallets into a beautiful new planter.
• You can drop off old electronics, lightbulbs and household batteries for recycling during the Fixit Clinic on Saturday. (More than 300,000 pounds of e-waste were recycled in Carlsbad last year.)

Fixit Clinic & e-waste recycling event

Saturday, April 13

10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Dove Library

1775 Dove Lane

Register online

These videos show success stories from one of our recent Fixit Clinics.

Fan-tastic success at Fixit Clinic

Old bike gets new life at Fixit Clinic

If you can’t make the event Saturday, you have other options to recycle e-waste:

• Drop off at the Palomar Transfer Station Recycling Buyback Center:



Monday – Saturday

8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

5960 El Camino Real

• Schedule an e-waste collection through Republic Services. Carlsbad residents may request this service three times per year, with up to five items collected at each pickup. To schedule, call 760-332-6464.

Reducing food waste

When food breaks down in landfills, it creates methane, a greenhouse gas that’s 25 times stronger than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. (That’s not good for the environment.)

Here are some easy ways you can reduce waste and prevent that excess methane: 

• Buy only what you intend to use. Make a grocery list before you head to the store and stick to it.
• Know how to store fresh fruits and vegetables. This handy guide helps you determine what goes where.
• Instead of tossing leftovers, get creative and make a stir-fry, soup or sandwich.

It also can help to have a better understanding of the dates you see on food packaging. In short, if the date passes, it doesn’t necessarily mean the food has gone bad. Here’s how the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service explains it:

• "Best if used by/before" date – When a product will be at its peak for taste and quality. Not a purchase or safety date.
• "Sell-by date – A guideline for stores on how long to display a product. It's not a safety date.
• "Use-by" date – The last date a product is at its best. It is not a safety date, except for infant formula.

To determine if a food has spoiled, trust your eyes, nose and taste buds.

What to do with food you can’t use

• Donate non-perishable items or unopened packaged food to food banks or shelters.
• If you have too many fruits or vegetables, consider preserving them by canning, pickling or freezing them.
• If you can’t donate or preserve food, make sure you place it in your green bin so it can be turned into compost. (Here’s a reminder of what can go in your green bin.)

Safe seaside strolling along Carlsbad Boulevard



If I asked you to name somewhere in Carlsbad where people love to walk, the sidewalk or “upper seawall” along Carlsbad Boulevard would probably top the list. Every day, thousands stroll and jog along that stretch of coastal road. One city count put the number at 5,700 pedestrian trips in a single day.

Because it’s such a busy area, the city recently upgraded five crosswalks on Carlsbad Boulevard between Carlsbad Village Drive and Tamarack Avenue. (The city upgraded a sixth crosswalk near the Army and Navy Academy last year.)

The improvements build on safety features already in place to support safe walking, biking and driving along our coastline. The recent changes include:

• Curb extensions that shorten the distance to cross and give drivers a visual cue to slow down
• Green paint that calls attention to potential conflict zones with bikes
• Additional flashing lights to alert drivers when someone wants to cross

Watch this before and after video for a closer look at the upgrades and see them in person the next time you visit the beach. 

City construction map

While we’re talking about city projects, don’t forget to check our weekly construction map to stay updated on ongoing construction projects and plan ahead for areas where road work could cause traffic delays. Remember, the map only shows city projects, not work being done by private companies or local utilities.

Honoring our Police leadership

I want to take a moment to congratulate Police Chief Mickey Williams on his retirement this week after an impressive 29-year career. 

Chief Williams has led the Carlsbad Police Department into the era of modern law enforcement, prioritizing trust, transparency and the responsible use of technology, while creating a culture focused on continuous improvement and community engagement. He also set up a solid succession plan to ensure there was a well-prepared team in place once he retired.

Incoming Chief Christie Calderwood was sworn in at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. She joined the City of Carlsbad Police Department 17 years ago, gaining hands-on experience in every aspect of law enforcement. Calderwood, a longtime Carlsbad resident and graduate of La Costa Canyon High School, says becoming chief provides the ultimate opportunity to give back to the community.

You can read more about Chief Williams’ many contributions to the City of Carlsbad over the past 29 years and learn about the equally impressive track record of incoming Chief Christie Calderwood in the announcement posted on our website.

Behind the scenes with our emergency dispatchers

In any emergency, 911 dispatchers are the calm voice on the other end of the line, the first critical link between people who call for help and the police officers, firefighters or paramedics who respond.

Sunday is the start of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, so I want to take a minute to honor the service and sacrifice of these hardworking professionals who help keep our community safe.

• In Carlsbad, all emergency calls go through our in-house dispatchers in the Carlsbad Police Department, who quickly determine what kind of help is needed so the right resources can be deployed.
• If a caller needs fire or medical support, the call is immediately routed to the North County Dispatch Joint Powers Authority’s communications center under a partnership with the Carlsbad Fire Department.
• Each year, Carlsbad dispatchers answer more than 110,000 calls. Nearly 36,000 of those calls are to 911, while the others are to the non-emergency line.
• Nearly 99% of 911 calls are picked up within 15 seconds, beating the state average of 95%.

You can help dispatchers get emergency crews deployed quickly:

• Only call 911 in a true emergency.
• Make sure your house number is visible so it’s easy to find you if an emergency happens
• If you need to call 911, give precise details about what’s happening, along with any medical history
• Stay on the phone and follow the dispatcher’s directions

Meet the author of “The Maid” 

Before becoming a best-selling author, Nita Prose taught high school students with special needs and worked as a book editor. Both experiences helped shape her blockbuster novel, “The Maid,” a quirky murder mystery about a hotel maid turned amateur sleuth who has a hard time reading social cues. 

“The Maid” is this year’s selection for Carlsbad Reads Together, a citywide book club with events throughout April to connect the community through a love of reading. You can meet Prose and hear her talk about her work during a special event Thursday at the Dove Library.

An Evening with Nita Prose

Thursday, April 18, at 6 p.m.

Schulman Auditorium

Dove Library

1775 Dove Lane

We expect a big crowd for this event, so plan to arrive early. We’ll be passing out numbers for admission starting at 5 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.) and creating a standby line if needed.

Visit the library website for more details.

Comedy night at the Schulman

If you’re in need of a good laugh, some of the region’s hardest-working comics – many of whom have appeared on “The Tonight Show,” “Late Show” and countless other programs – will share their wit, wisdom and comedic talents Saturday evening for our Stand Up Comedy Night.

Stand Up Comedy Night

Saturday, April 13, 7:30 p.m.

Schulman Auditorium

1775 Dove Lane

Help preserve a historic Carlsbad gem

There is a little over a week left to get early bird discount tickets to Fiesta at the Rancho, an annual fundraiser to help preserve Leo Carrillo Historic Ranch.

The Friends of Carrillo Ranch host the event, which raises money to help with the restoration, preservation and promotion of this slice of old California history. Proceeds from the dinner and silent auction also allow over 1,200 local fourth grade students in Carlsbad to participate in the award-winning California History and Art Program each year.

Fiesta at the Rancho

Saturday, May 11

5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park

6200 Flying Leo Carrillo Lane

Tickets: $125 before April 19

Explaining the new vegetation near The Flower Fields



Community members reached out to us with questions about vegetation growing on the edge of The Flower Fields along the Armada Drive walkway.

I wanted to let you know that these are silver-leaf eucalyptus plants used as filler in bouquets. The Flower Fields grows them every spring. Once the plants reach about four or five feet in height, they’ll be harvested back down to one foot. In fact, The Flower Fields has already started pruning some of them, also a spring tradition.

Thanks to everyone for writing in with your questions, and I hope you’ll get a chance to enjoy the area as the days get longer. 

Northbound I-5 to be closed overnight Monday

Caltrans and the San Diego Association of Governments asked us to let you know that northbound I-5 between Carlsbad Village Drive and State Route 78 will be closed overnight Monday, April 15, for more construction related to the Build NCC project. The lanes will be closed from 11:30 p.m. Monday to 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 16.

For ongoing construction updates on this stretch of I-5, sign up for project emails from SANDAG.

What’s on the agenda for the next City Council meeting

The next City Council meeting will take place Tuesday, April 16, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Topics include:

• The monthly update on the city’s investments
• A report on the positive results of the city’s financial audit for fiscal year 2023-24
• A memorandum of understanding that would formalize the city’s relationship with the Carlsbad Friends of the Arts, which raises money for city arts programs
• An agreement with a youth sports company to manage the city’s basketball program
• Updating an agreement with SDGE to move overhead utility lines on parts of Valley Street, Magnolia Avenue and Brady Way underground to make way for new sidewalks and adding funding to the project because of a higher cost estimate
• Advertising for bids for a project to widen El Camino Real between Sunny Creek Road and Jackspar Drive and add new sidewalks, a buffered bike lane and better access for people with disabilities
• Continuing local storm-related emergency proclamations to remove debris from the Buena Vista Creek channel and repair a slope between El Camino Real and Trieste Drive. These proclamations must be renewed at each regular City Council meeting until the emergency is declared over.
• Adopting an ordinance to comply with a state law requiring cities to approve the funding, acquisition and use of what the state defines as military equipment used by the Police Department
• Adopting another ordinance to make modifications to the city’s zoning regulations requested by the California Coastal Commission
• The annual plan for the city’s Housing Agency, which works to make more housing available to people with lower incomes
• Authorizing the city to remove dry weeds and trash on private property to reduce fire risk
• An appeal of the Planning Commission’s approval of a cell tower in Poinsettia Community Park
• The annual Climate Action Plan report, highlighting the city’s progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• An update on a potential project to build a solar power generating and storage facility on vacant land next to the Carlsbad Municipal Water District’s Maerkle Reservoir, near the city’s border with Oceanside and Vista 
• An updated plan to build a centralized public works operations facility on Orion Way

See the agenda and staff reports.

The City Council encourages your participation. You can get agendas and staff reports emailed to you directly, and if you want to provide input, you can email council@carlsbadca.gov before the meeting or come in person and fill out a request to speak.

If you want to watch from home, we have three options:

1. Watch the meeting live on the website
2. Watch a recording of the meeting afterwards
3. Watch live or a replay throughout the week on the city’s cable TV channel, Spectrum channel 24 and AT&T U-verse channel 99

Solar eclipse captivates Carlsbad



 Did you see it? Carlsbad community members donned their eclipse glasses and joined in the international excitement for Monday’s solar eclipse.  

The next solar eclipse visible from Carlsbad will come around in 2045. There will certainly be a lot of City Manager’s Updates between now and then, including next week, when I’ll be back with more news on what’s happening in Carlsbad.

Until then, take care, stay safe and enjoy all that is here for us under the sun.



Scott Chadwick

City Manager