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News from the City of Carlsbad | August 22, 2024

This week’s update focuses on how City Council’s recent investments in public safety and the environment are paying off, plus where to catch a glimpse of a little bird that’s sending us a big message about the health of our natural resources. Here’s this week’s rundown:

• Increased survival rate for cardiac arrest
• How we’re protecting the endangered California least tern
• A legacy of restoration at the Batiquitos Lagoon
• Help protect our lagoons and ocean with this new resource
• Back to school with the Carlsbad Police
• State of the City and Tuesday’s City Council meeting

Increased survival rate for cardiac arrest 

If your heart suddenly stops in Carlsbad, new Fire Department data shows your chances of a full recovery are about three times higher than the county average. On Tuesday, the Fire Department presented the latest information about cardiac arrest survival rates to the City Council. Watch the presentation.

Cardiac arrest is a medical emergency where the heart suddenly stops beating, preventing blood from flowing to the brain and other vital organs. A heart attack, on the other hand, is when blood flow to the heart is blocked. In both cases, seconds count.

The City Council’s 5-Year Strategic Plan prioritizes public safety, and the recent investments have allowed critical care to reach patients more quickly.

• A new coastal fire station opened in January 2023 at a temporary location on the site of the former Encina Power Station (the city is currently looking for a permanent location to serve the city’s coastal area). The station, the city’s seventh, has helped improve response times.
• Added two new ambulances bringing the total from three to five, to enhance coverage.
• Hired nine new paramedic firefighters, three new full-time emergency medical technicians and additional part-time EMTs.
• Automatic defibrillators have been installed in all police vehicles. This way, if a police car can get to someone experiencing cardiac arrest sooner than paramedics, the patient gets care more quickly.
• AEDs have also been installed at city libraries and major city sports fields. When someone calls 911, while paramedics are enroute, the dispatcher can walk a bystander through using the AED, if needed.
• New mechanical CPR devices can maintain chest compression even as emergency personnel move patients down stairs and in and out of ambulances.
• A new community health nurse position advises the department on response strategies with a focus on improving patient outcomes.
• More training for city staff, especially those often in the field, so additional people are ready to step in to provide aid in an emergency.
• Expanded a program to provide training at schools and community groups on how to perform hands-only CPR. Over 400 people have been trained as part of this program. 

Survival rate data comparison

On Tuesday, Fire Department personnel provided the latest data showing in 2023, nearly 22% of cardiac arrest patients treated by Carlsbad emergency responders recovered, going home with little or no neurological damage. That is roughly triple the rates of the county (7.4%), state (6.5%) and nation (8.1%). 

A measure that evaluates the quality of area health services, bystander training and the initial condition of the patient also showed patients in Carlsbad have a higher survival rate, double the national average. The Utstein Survival Rate was 64.8% in Carlsbad. The countywide average was 43%, while the state and national averages were about 32%.

Recognizing cardiac arrest

Cardiac arrest can strike without warning. Here are two signs:

• Sudden loss of responsiveness – The person doesn’t respond, even if you tap them hard on the shoulders or ask loudly if they're OK. The person doesn’t move, speak, blink or otherwise react.
• No normal breathing – The person isn’t breathing or is only gasping for air.

If you are with someone you think is having a cardiac arrest, the Fire Department says the most important thing to do is call 911. Dispatchers can walk you through the steps of CPR and, if an AED is nearby, help you or someone else use it while emergency responders are on the way.

Learn CPR at Cannon Park

The Fire Department recommends everyone learn CPR. They’ll host an event in September to teach CPR and other life-saving skills, including how to:

• Recognize cardiac arrest
• Take steps to increase the chance of survival
• Perform hands-only CPR
• Use an AED

Learn CPR at the Park

Saturday, Sept. 14

8 to 11 a.m. (stop by anytime)

Cannon Park

100 Cannon Road

No registration required

If you can’t make it to the event, here are some other options to learn CPR, including:

• Our Fire Department will provide free hands-only CPR training throughout the day at the Oct. 5 Public Safety Open House.
• The American Red Cross offers classes starting at $39 for online and about $70 for in person.
• The County of San Diego offers free classes about once a month down by the San Diego Zoo.
• MiraCosta College also provides training at the Oceanside campus. Its next class is Sept. 25, and the enrollment cost is $69.

Finally, you can learn about the basics in this city video.

How we’re protecting the endangered California least tern

When you spend time near Carlsbad’s lagoons or the beach, you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of one of our more delicate local residents—the California least tern (Sternula antillarum browni). 

Even though it’s the smallest of the terns (hence the name, “least”) this little bird plays a big role in our local environment.

• The California least tern is an endangered species and was one of the first to receive federal protections after the Endangered Species Act passed in 1973.
• These seabirds are seasonal visitors to Carlsbad, typically nesting along our coast from mid-April to September. 
• They have black “caps” on the tops of their heads, white foreheads and sharp, pointed bills.
• Their call is a high-pitched, rapid “kit-kit-kit” that often alerts you to their presence before you see them. (Hear their call.)
• The California least tern prefers the sandy, open spaces near our lagoons and beaches, so if you’re walking by these areas, keep an eye out for their quick, darting flights or listen for their characteristic call. 

What the California least tern is telling us

The California least tern’s presence in Carlsbad is a good sign. They rely on a healthy coastal and lagoon system to survive, including sandy nesting sites, clean water, and abundant food sources like small fish and invertebrates (bugs, spiders, worms, etc.).

The city’s Habitat Management Plan, developed in partnership with federal and state wildlife agencies and experts, is designed to preserve and protect sensitive plant and animal species like the endangered California least tern. 

Caring for our lagoons

While other cities have coastal wetlands, we’re technically the only city in California with three distinct lagoons. Many different agencies and organizations work together to keep these lagoons healthy and thriving, and we need the public’s help too (more on that later).

Recently, a young California least tern was spotted testing its wings at the Batiquitos Lagoon, a sign that conservation efforts there over the past 30 years have made a difference.

Although there are signs of life around the lagoon dating back thousands of years, in the 1980s, Batiquitos Lagoon was on the decline. The I-5 freeway and coastal railroad tracks interfered with the natural tidal ebbs and flows, and water quality suffered.

In 1987, a unique opportunity to restore the lagoon came from L.A. of all places. As part of a major project in Los Angeles Harbor, the Port of Los Angeles was required to provide funding for other environmental restoration work. Long story short, the port contributed $57 million (which in today’s dollars is almost three times that amount) toward the Batiquitos Lagoon Enhancement Project.

The project reestablished natural tidal flows that had been blocked for decades by infrastructure development. This breathed new life into the lagoon, transforming it into a thriving habitat for wildlife once again.

Over the next few years, you may notice more work going on at the lagoon. SANDAG and Caltrans are set to replace the 1940s wooden trestle railroad bridge over the lagoon with one that has a wider channel that allows more tidal flow.

• This work is being done as part of a larger double tracking project up and down the rail corridor.
• The new bridge will accommodate two parallel sets of train tracks.
• Sand dredged during construction will be used to replenish South Ponto Beach and enhance existing nesting habitats for the California least tern.

If you’re interested in getting involved in the conservation of Batiquitos Lagoon or just want know more about it, the Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation is a great place to start. 

I’ll tell you more about our other lagoons in future editions, and in the meantime you can learn more our lagoons on the city’s website.

How you can help our lagoons (and ocean)

While we’re on the topic of lagoon health, one way you can help protect our lagoons and ocean is by properly disposing of household hazardous waste.

• Household hazardous waste is the term used to describe things we may have around our homes that could be dangerous if not disposed of properly.
• This includes old paint, some cleaning products, pesticides and fertilizers, batteries, prescription medications, pool chemicals and even nail polish remover.
• When those items end up in the trash, toxic chemicals can leak into the soil. Excess water from rain or irrigation carries those chemicals into our storm drains, eventually reaching our creeks, lagoons and the ocean.

The city provides convenient ways to help you dispose of common types of hazardous waste. Because different items need different handling, we’ve put it all in a chart for you. Please download it, share it with your neighbors and keep it handy for reference. 

A few things to note:

• Incandescent light bulbs don’t contain toxic chemicals, so you can dispose of them with your regular trash.
• To schedule a pickup of other types of hazardous waste, call 800-714-1195 to schedule a pickup right from your home. It costs $10 but there is no charge for people 65 and over.
• You can find information on how to dispose of other types of hazardous waste on the city’s website.

Taking these small steps at home can have a big impact on the health of our local environment. By disposing of hazardous waste properly, you’re not just keeping your own home safe — you’re also helping to protect Carlsbad’s lagoons, beaches and the wildlife that depend on them.

Environmental sustainability is a shared goal by the city and our community and a priority outlined in the City Council’s 5-Year Strategic Plan. Together, we can make a difference by protecting our natural resources for future generations.

Back to school with the Carlsbad Police

As students across Carlsbad have headed back to school this month, I wanted to thank our Police Department for its extra efforts to help everyone be safe on our roads.

Here’s a compilation reel of some of our officers in action along with the tips they shared below:

Construction map includes projects across the city

We often focus on construction around schools during the summer break, and now have moved on to other locations. Please remember to take a look at our construction map to see where some of the larger projects are planned next week so you can plan ahead and avoid potential traffic delays.

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

You’re invited to the State of the City



As you may know, the Schulman Auditorium at Dove Library is under construction. So, we’ve moved this year’s State of the City presentation to the beginning of our next City Council meeting. This way, you have the option of watching the livestream or coming in person:

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. Proceed with regular City Council agenda

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

Following the State of the City presentation, the City Council will address the following topics:

• A federal grant that will pay for specialized emergency rescue training for Carlsbad’s Fire Department
• Renewal of a licensing agreement for the city’s human resources software 
• An overview of a legal ruling on how cities can address homelessness and an update on the city’s efforts
• A new state grant, shared with the City of Oceanside, to clean up encampments along State Route 78 and help people living there move out of homelessness

The agenda and staff reports are available on the city's website.

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.

Before I sign off, I wanted to recognize all the city staff who worked on our TGIF Concerts in the Parks series, which wrapped up last week. Believe it or not, almost every city department plays a part, from contracting with the bands, doing set up at the parks, managing shuttles, creating traffic control plans, hiring the ground crew, and keeping everyone safe, it’s a total #TeamCarlsbad effort.

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

Scott Chadwick

City Manager