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News from the City of Carlsbad | August 15, 2024

This week our 2024 TGIF Concerts in the Parks season comes to a close. I’ll tell you who’s set to perform, along with these updates for the week:

• Final TGIF concert of the season 
• 2024 State of the City is 8/27
• Construction on La Costa Avenue at I-5
• The heat is on…city trails
• Saturday reception highlights new Cannon Gallery exhibition
• Celebrating Carlsbad’s older residents…
• ...and a younger one
• What’s on the agenda for your next City Council meeting

Final TGIF concert of the season

This Friday, we’re wrapping up another year of TGIF Concerts in the Parks with our last show of the summer, featuring North County favorite Anthony Cullins, also known as “the Fallbrook Kid.”

Anthony is a musical prodigy who got his first guitar at age 3 and hasn’t put it down since. As he grew up Anthony formed his own band, won competitions around the country and played alongside top-notch studio musicians. Now 21, he entertains audiences with his improvisational mix of R&B, funk, rock, blues and soul.

TGIF Concerts in the Parks

Anthony Cullins

Friday, Aug. 16

Alga Norte Community Park

6565 Alicante Road

Field opens at 4 p.m.

Concert 6 to 8 p.m.

Field closes at 9 p.m.

Please note: Alga Norte Dog Park will close at 3 p.m. Friday and the park’s Aquatic Center will close at 4 p.m.

If you’re planning to attend, here are a few tips to make it a great night.

• If you’re planning to drive, take our shuttle from Dove Library, 1775 Dove Lane.
• If you live nearby, consider riding your bike and letting our bike valet handle the parking.
• Pack a picnic (food and drink are not for sale this year).
• Bring sunscreen and a low back chair or blanket.
• Leave your furry friends at home please. (Does not apply to service animals.)
• Be familiar with what you can and can’t bring so you can breeze through our security screening stations.

State of the City planned for Aug. 27

We are gearing up for our annual State of the City presentation, which will be a little different this year because our usual location, the Schulman Auditorium at Dove Library, is undergoing a renovation.

This year’s presentation will be held at the start of the Aug. 27 City Council meeting.

State of the City

Tuesday, Aug. 27

City Council Chamber

1200 Carlsbad Village Drive

5 p.m. City Council remarks

5:15 p.m. Video presentation

5:30 p.m. Regular City Council agenda

If you can’t make the meeting, you can watch the State of the City video live on the city’s website and the city’s cable TV channel, Spectrum channel 24 and AT&T U-verse channel 99. 

Construction at La Costa Avenue at I-5

As part of the freeway widening project being led by SANDAG and Caltrans, you may notice construction work on La Costa Avenue over I-5 over the next several weeks.

The sidewalk and bike lane on the north side of La Costa Avenue will be closed from Piraeus Street over the freeway until Sept. 20.

If you are in the area, please slow down and use extra caution.  

The work is part of the Build NCC project, a Caltrans and SANDAG project that includes widening I-5, plus other transportation and environmental improvements.

You can get construction updates from SANDAG by signing up for Build NCC project emails.

Learn more

Remember to check our construction map

The City of Carlsbad also has several construction projects underway in different parts of the city that you can find on our weekly construction map. Checking the map allows you to plan ahead and avoid potential traffic delays by taking alternative routes.

Remember, the map only shows city projects. It doesn’t include construction projects by local utilities, private companies or other agencies.

The heat is on…city trails

Many of our city trails are in the hills at the eastern part of Carlsbad, which is often several degrees warmer than the coast. That’s why we want to remind everyone to plan ahead if you’re taking a hike during this warmest time of the year.

• Bring more water than you think you’ll need.
• Go in the morning or evening, not during the hottest part of the day.
• Learn the signs of heat exhaustion, including dizziness and nausea.
• Take breaks in the shade to cool down.
• Go with a friend or let someone know your plans and when you are returning.
• Take your cell phone and make sure it’s charged. Call 911 in an emergency.

You can find detailed information about each trail – including where to park, level of difficulty and what wildlife you might see along the route – at GoHike Carlsbad.

Find more safety tips on our website.

Saturday reception highlights new Cannon Gallery exhibition

Take in the latest exhibition at the Cannon Art Gallery while enjoying live music and refreshments at Saturday’s opening reception.

“Fiber in 3D” features the work of more than 25 nationally renowned artists who work with materials like yarn, string and felt.  

“Fiber in 3D” reception

Saturday, Aug. 17

3 to 5 p.m.

Cannon Art Gallery

1775 Dove Lane

If you can’t attend the reception, don’t worry. The exhibition is open through Nov. 20.

Exhibition hours

Tuesday through Saturday

Noon to 5 p.m.

Carlsbad industry spotlight

Carlsbad has long been known for attracting innovative companies and entrepreneurs, and this trend continues in the design and manufacturing sector. Design and manufacturing processes have changed over time to meet the needs of consumers and businesses who expect newer and more efficient products. These factors can make-or-break the success of a product, which is why this industry requires companies that specialize in innovation, design and production.

For example, Carlsbad is one of just six locations Mercedes-Benz operates an advanced design and engineering center. The team at the Carlsbad location develops concepts for vehicle exteriors, interiors and user interfaces, using everything from clay modeling to virtual reality. Recent designs that emerged from the Carlsbad design center include the Vision EQXX, AMG Vision Gran Turismo, Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet and the Vision EQ Silver Arrow.

The City of Carlsbad represents a robust and diverse advanced engineering and manufacturing sector, which significantly contributes to our local economy. Take a look at the companies that contribute to the exceptional work being done in this field in our latest Life in Action blog.   

P.S. Our economic development team is looking for small businesses to include in its regular “Small Business Spotlight” feature. If you know someone with an interesting small-business success story, please pass along this link and encourage them to share it with our team.

Celebrating Carlsbad’s older residents

Next Wednesday is National Senior Citizens Day, which started as a presidential proclamation in 1988 to raise awareness about issues that affect older Americans and their quality of life.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, between 2010 and 2020, the U.S. saw the largest increase in the older population since the late 1800s. This rapid growth has been largely driven by aging baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) who began turning 65 in 2011. Here is what that trend looks like in San Diego County:

Here in Carlsbad, we have always made it a priority to provide programs and services specifically tailored to older adults. Here’s a list of just some of the regular programs and activities open to anyone 50 and older at our senior center:

• Book Club, 4th Fridays, 1 - 2:30 p.m.
• Ceramics Club, Wednesdays, 1 to 4 p.m.
• Community Garden Club, Tuesdays, 10 to 11 a.m.
• Community Friendship Builders, 2nd and 4th Fridays, 11 a.m. to noon
• Creative Crafting, 1st & 3rd Fridays, 1 to 3 p.m.
• Creative Cuisine, 3rd Mondays, 2 to 4 p.m., $10
• Digital photo and tech classes (rotating topics), 3rd and 4th Wednesdays, 2 to 3:15 p.m.
• Movie screenings, 2nd and 3rd Thursdays, 1 p.m.
• Needlecraft, Tuesdays, 9 to 11 a.m.
• Rock painting, 2nd Fridays, 1 to 3 p.m., $5
• Seaside Singers, Wednesdays, 1:30 to 3 p.m.
• Sewing & Quilting Group, Wednesdays, 1 to 4 p.m.

Our monthly Seaside Insider newsletter has all the details, or you can sign up for emails to be notified about activities at the Senior Center. If you’re not yet an “older adult,” please help us spread the word to older friends, family members and neighbors, so they can enjoy these programs and activities.

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

We recently recognized the first youngster at Cole Library to finish the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program.

Kai’s dad reads him three books before bed each night (he’s partial to funny ones). They track the titles online through the library’s Beanstack system and recently got to the big 1,000.

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is a nationwide program that encourages parents to instill the enjoyment of reading to their kids. Children from birth to 5 years old are eligible, earning milestone rewards for each 250 books they finish and track.

Way to go, Kai!  

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

The next City Council meeting will take place Tuesday, Aug. 20, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Topics include:

• Monthly update on the city's investments
• An agreement with an auditing firm that verifies the accuracy of sales tax payments to the city
• The City Council’s yearly review of its Code of Ethics & Public Service Values
• A request to relocate the driveway of an industrial property on Whiptail Loop
• Terminating an unneeded easement that gave the city access to a small section of a residential property for utility lines and other infrastructure
• A cost-sharing agreement with the Carlsbad Unified School District to provide Police Department school resource officers on the district’s campuses.
• Adopting an ordinance that would ban smoking in and around multi-unit buildings, including apartment and condominium buildings and senior and care facilities  
• Adopting an ordinance updating the city’s zoning regulations, which are reviewed periodically to keep them in compliance with state law and make them consistent with other regulations
• A report on how the Fire Department has improved the survival rates of patients experiencing cardiac arrest
• A progress report on actions directed by the City Council to address concerns related to the Windsor Pointe Affordable housing project

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 clerk@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 afterward
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

Board and commission meetings are also livestreamed on the city’s website and available to watch afterward. You can see the meeting schedule on our city calendar.

We’ve got more schools returning to class next week, so please use extra caution on our roads, especially during drop off and pick up times. 

Take care, stay safe and I’ll be back next week with more updates.

Scott Chadwick

City Manager