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News from the City of Carlsbad | August 29, 2024

As we head into Labor Day weekend, the Carlsbad Police Department is asking for your help. I’ll explain why and bring you up to speed on these other topics in today’s edition:

• New grant means fewer encampments
• Climate Action Plan Update in the final stretch
• Let’s work together to have a safe Labor Day
• Checking in on the state of our city
• Behind the scenes: Police and Fire explorer programs
• Labor Day city service schedule
• City meetings next week
• Carlsbad native competing in Paralympics

More state funding secured to address people living in encampments

On Tuesday, City Council accepted $5.3 million in grant funding as part of a $11.4 million joint project with the City of Oceanside to address encampments along State Route 78. The funding comes from the state’s Encampment Resolution Funding Program.

The goal of the grant is not just to clean up encampments; it’s to transition people living in encampments into stable housing. Over the next three years, the cities will use the majority of the funds to work with groups and organizations that provide services to people experiencing homelessness. Here’s how the funding will be allocated (with the remainder used for city costs):

The city previously received a $2.3 million three-year grant from the same program focused on other parts of Carlsbad. During the first six months of that grant, 13 individuals and families have been transitioned into temporary housing and 15 have been transitioned into permanent housing.

Camping bans and other laws

A recent Supreme Court ruling and Executive Order issued by the Governor have raised questions about how Carlsbad approaches clearing encampments and other issues related to homelessness. On Tuesday, city staff provided the City Council with an overview of these recent changes and what they mean for Carlsbad.

•  Long story short, our approach is already in line with the Governor’s Executive Order.
• The Supreme Court ruling allows us to remove the requirement to offer shelter before issuing a citation for camping on public property.

If you’d like more details, read on …

Carlsbad-specific bans

In 2021, as part of our homeless response plan, the City Council made several changes to the Carlsbad Municipal Code (a collection of city-specific laws):

Prohibited in Carlsbad

• Unlawful camping on public and private property
• Fires and cooking on public property
• Storage of personal property in public places
• Solicitation
• Trespassing
• Obstruction of property
• Disorderly conduct
• Possessing or consuming open containers of alcohol in certain public places

These restrictions, coupled with the services we have in place to help move people out of homelessness, are designed to focus on long-term solutions while addressing community impacts. Here is a video that explains our approach.

Given the complexity of the issues related to homelessness, it’s difficult to summarize, so I encourage you to read the staff report or watch the meeting video for more information.

Next steps

• The Housing Commission will hold a meeting to discuss the Supreme Court decision, the Governor’s Executive Order and several options the City Council could consider if it wanted to add or change anything in the city’s five-year plan to address homelessness.
• This will also be an opportunity for the public to weigh in.
• Staff will then return to the City Council with the Housing Commission’s feedback and public input received.
• No dates have been set for these meetings, but if you’d like to be notified, sign up for our email list about issues related to homelessness in Carlsbad.

Climate Action Plan Update in the final stretch

At next week’s Planning Commission meeting, city staff will go over the proposed Climate Action Plan Update, which outlines how Carlsbad will reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet the state’s requirements while fulfilling our own environmental sustainability goals.

Read our draft Climate Action Plan Update at a glance

Planning Commission meeting

Wednesday, Sept. 4, 5 p.m.

City Council Chamber

1200 Carlsbad Village Drive (and livestreamed)

View the agenda

The Planning Commission is not being asked to take action at this meeting. Instead, it is an opportunity for the commissioners to learn about what is being proposed and ask questions. This also makes it an excellent opportunity for community members to learn all about it and weigh in before it is finalized.

Background

• The City Council adopted the city’s first Climate Action Plan in 2015, making Carlsbad one of the first cities in the county to have this tool in place.
• Not only that, but the city achieved (actually surpassed) the state’s goal two years ahead of schedule.
• The goal was to reduce the amount of GHGs generated in Carlsbad to 4% lower than they were in 2012.
• We reduced GHGs to 4.8% below the 2012 levels.

Why the update?

Statewide targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions have changed. The Climate Action Plan Update currently underway will reflect those changes as well as the latest data showing the amount of GHGs generated in Carlsbad.

Read the draft Climate Action Plan Update released in July.

If you would like to send the Planning Commission your comments before next week’s meeting, email them to planning@carlsbadca.gov.

What’s next?

• City staff will return to the Planning Commission later this fall, when the commission will consider recommending approval to the City Council, among other actions.
• It is scheduled to go to the City Council for final approval before the end of the year.

Let’s work together to have a safe Labor Day 

The Carlsbad Police Department is asking for your help this Labor Day weekend to keep dangerous drivers off the road.

1. First, of course, make sure that you drive safely and have a plan to get home if you are going to be drinking.
2. If you see someone driving dangerously, call 911 as soon as it’s safe to do so.

Last Friday marked the two-year anniversary of Carlsbad’s local emergency on traffic safety. And even though the emergency proclamation is no longer in place, we are as committed as ever to helping everyone be safe when they use our roads.

And when it comes to catching drunk drivers, seconds count.

During the first six months of the year, one in five arrests for DUI in Carlsbad was the result of someone calling 911, and about 75% of all arrests were made before a collision could occur. Active enforcement and an engaged community can really make a difference in preventing serious injuries and even deaths. (Driving under the influence also includes being under the influence of drugs, not just alcohol.)

The many costs of DUIs

While the human consequences of drunk driving can be fatal, a DUI arrest comes with other significant repercussions, including a suspended license, increased insurance rates and fines, just to name a few.

We’ll have extra patrols out over the busy Labor Day weekend, but please do your part by driving safely and looking out for each other as you enjoy the holiday.

Our Safer Streets Together webpage includes traffic safety tips in case you or someone in your family could benefit from a refresher.

Plan your route to avoid traffic delays

If you’re going to be out on the road in Carlsbad next week, don’t forget to check our weekly construction map to see where city projects are happening around town that may impact traffic. (No work is scheduled on Labor Day.)

2024 State of the City

This year we held our annual State of the City presentation at the beginning of Tuesday’s City Council meeting instead of at the Schulman Auditorium, which is undergoing renovations. 

In case you missed it, you can watch the video online, and it will be playing on the city’s cable channel throughout the coming year. 

This year’s video features updates on city parks, public safety, new state housing laws, environmental sustainability and our local business community, among other topics. 

Carlsbad Police and Fire programs accepting applications



If you know a young person who is thinking about a career as a first responder, the City of Carlsbad is accepting applications for two programs that offer a glimpse of what it’s like to work for the Police and Fire departments.

Carlsbad Fire Explorers program

• The Carlsbad Fire Department Explorer Program is for Carlsbad residents 15 to 20 who want to go behind the scenes to learn about daily life and career opportunities in fire and Emergency Medical Services roles.
• This volunteer program emphasizes character building, leadership, community service and physical fitness.
• Explorers will learn about Fire Department equipment, policies and procedures, and will participate in firefighting training scenarios and fire station ride-alongs.
• Applications are due by Sept. 20. Details on how to apply are online. 

Carlsbad Police Explorer program

• The Carlsbad Police Department Explorer Program is open to students 14 to 21 interested in a career in law enforcement.
• Activities center on building career opportunities, life skills, citizenship, character, education and leadership in a supportive environment.
• Participants gain practical experience in non-critical duties of police officers, participate in ride-alongs, and are mentored by Police Department officers and members of the Police Department.
• Applications are due by Sept. 30. More information is on the city’s website along with an email address if you’d like information about how to apply.

What's open and what's closed on Labor Day

City offices in Carlsbad will be closed on Monday, Sept. 2, in observance of Labor Day. A full holiday schedule for city services is listed below:

• Trash pickup: No delay
• City offices: Closed
• Emergency services: Regular service
• City libraries: Closed
• Cannon Art Gallery: Closed
• City sculpture garden: Closed
• City pools: Close at 2 p.m.
• Community centers: Closed
•  Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park: Closed
• Senior Center: Closed
• No street sweeping on city holidays
• Transit: For the holiday transit schedule, please visit gonctd.com or call 5-1-1

City meetings next week

There is no City Council meeting next week, but some of our city boards and commissions are scheduled to meet. You can see our full meeting schedule on our city calendar. Meetings are open to the public and livestreamed on the city’s website.

Carlsbad native competing in Paralympics

Before I sign off, I wanted to share some fun news submitted by one of our regular readers. She let us know Noah Jaffe, a Carlsbad native, is representing the U.S. as a swimmer in the Paralympic Games currently underway in Paris.

Noah was born with spastic, quadriplegic cerebral palsy, which primarily affects his legs and right arm, according to his Team USA bio. Last year, he set the American record for his classification in the 100-meter freestyle.

Noah grew up competing at the city’s Alga Norte Aquatic Center and credits this experience in making him the competitor he is today.

And the regular reader who supplied this tip? His very proud mother, Kathy.

The Paralympics swimming competitions begin today and wrap up Sept. 7. Good luck, Noah, your hometown is rooting for you!

Please take a little extra care this holiday weekend, and I’ll be back next Thursday with more updates.

Scott Chadwick

City Manager