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While today may be the first day of summer, here at the city we’re also gearing up to celebrate the first day of our new fiscal year on July 1. On Tuesday, the City Council passed a balanced budget as our roadmap for the next 12 months. I’ll share details in this week’s update, plus:

• Elected positions, Prop H amendment on November ballot
• TGIF kicks off at Stagecoach Park
• Make your own art at Art in the Village
• Leave the bike parking to us this weekend
• Bike and e-bike safety class for Carlsbad students
• Stay safe during rattlesnake season
• What’s on our construction map
• What’s on the agenda for Tuesday’s City Council meeting

City Council adopts a balanced budget

The Carlsbad City Council approved a balanced budget Tuesday and will begin the new fiscal year July 1 with healthy revenues, increased cash reserves and among the lowest pension debts in the region. The fiscal year 2024-25 city budget also sets aside money for future infrastructure investments, including maintaining city roads, water, sewer and drainage (something I call being brilliant at the basics, meaning we focus on the core services and functions of municipal government).

Progress on 5 goals

The budget prioritizes the goals in the City Council’s 5-Year Strategic Plan, which was created to prioritize programs, projects and services based on community input.

The city budget also serves as the annual work plan for the city. The adopted budget includes several projects and services that support the five goals of the strategic plan, from advancing parks projects and continuing traffic safety improvements to streamlining operations with new IT initiatives. 

Economic forecast

Economic uncertainty will likely remain as the city transitions from a time focused on building and development to a stage of life focused on maintaining what has been created. This shift coincides with new economic pressures and state regulations greatly reducing local control over future development. That’s why over the past two years, the city has reduced ongoing annual spending by $5 million and eliminated 24 positions from the budget, while doing our best to maintain the high level of service you have come to expect from your local government.

Budget at a glance

I encourage you to take a look at the budget to get more details (I promise it’s more interesting than it sounds). For now, here are some highlights.

• General Fund Operating Budget: $238.5 million
• Projected General Fund revenues: $239.1 million
• Changes in total full-time equivalent staffing: -12.05
• Projected General Fund reserve as of June 30, 2025: $131.5 million
• Projected General Fund reserve % as of June 30, 2025 (goal is 40%): 55%
• Reduction in General Fund ongoing base budget: $1.1 million

Elected positions, Proposition H on November ballot

Carlsbad voters will decide during this November’s election who will serve two district seats on the City Council, who will fill the vacancy for City Treasurer, and whether to amend a Carlsbad-specific law that requires voter approval on certain projects and real-property purchases that cost $1 million or more.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the City Council called for the following:

• Election of City Council Members for Districts 2 and 4 for terms ending November 2028
• Election of a City Treasurer to fill the current vacancy for a term ending November 2026
• Whether to amend Proposition H, which voters passed in 1982

Those interested in running for a city elected office can contact the City Clerk’s Office to schedule an appointment during the nomination period beginning July 15.

About Proposition H

Proposition H, adopted by the voters in 1982, prohibits the city from spending more than $1 million in city funds to acquire or improve real property unless the acquisition or improvements are first approved by the voters.

•  “City funds” include sales tax, property tax and the tax visitors pay on stays in hotels and vacation rentals. 
• Some projects are funded with grants, developer fees, assessments or similar sources of funding. These sources of funding not considered “city funds” and their use does not require voter approval under Proposition H.
• The expenditure limit does not include an inflation index. Adjusting for inflation using the regional Construction Cost Index, $1 million in 1982 would be $3.09 million as of December 2023.

On Tuesday, the City Council voted to place a measure on the November ballot that, if approved by the voters, would update the Proposition H expenditure limit to $3.09 million, adjust the limit annually on Jan. 1 by the percentage increase in the regional Construction Cost Index and exempt public safety facilities from the limit.

The ballot measure was prompted by a recommendation from the Carlsbad Tomorrow: Growth Management Citizens Committee:

During committee deliberation it was discussed that the Proposition H limit of $1 million on general fund expenditures, as implemented by Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter 1.24, has not been updated since it was passed by voters in 1982. The committee recommended the City Council consider a ballot measure increasing the expenditure limit due to increased project costs, and indexing it to something like the Consumer Price Index so it can increase over time.

Additionally, the committee recommended the city set aside funding for public safety capital improvement projects, such as fire stations, and specify in a future ballot measure that certain types of projects don’t require voter approval to exceed the spending limit ($1 million).

Learn more about the upcoming election, including the Proposition H ballot language, a timeline of important dates and how to run for office.

TGIF kicks off at Stagecoach Park

Our TGIF Concerts in the Parks summer concert series begins Friday at Stagecoach Community Park with Pine Mountain Logs performing Top 40 dance hits from yesterday and today.

Here’s what you need to know if you’re planning to attend:

• The field opens at 4 p.m. and the concert starts at 6 p.m.
• There will be new security checks at the entrances this year. We don’t anticipate delays, but I encourage you to get there a little early just in case. Thank you in advance for your patience as we all adjust.
• Pack a picnic (food and drinks are not for sale this year) and bring a low back chair or blanket, sunscreen and bug spray. 

Getting to TGIF

• If you’re driving, free parking is available at nearby La Costa Canyon High School. There isn’t shuttle service for concerts at Stagecoach because the high school is across the street.
• These concerts are very popular, so please carpool if possible to reduce traffic (or arrange to be dropped off).
• A bike valet will be offered at all concerts again this year if you’re planning to ride your bike (keep reading for more details).
• ADA accessible parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis at Stagecoach Park. 

Make your own art at Art in the Village

Cultural Arts staff will be at Art in the Village this Sunday for a hands-on art activity where kids and adults can make their own spiral paper sculptures. Stop by the city’s Cultural Arts booth to learn how to use paper circles, scissors and a variety of embellishments for a fun, take-home art project. We’ll provide all the supplies, including the paper, colorful pencils, metallic markers, child-friendly scissors, twine and beads.

The Carlsbad Village Association is hosting the 26^th annual Art in the Village festival in downtown Carlsbad. The free, one-day, open-air art show features fine artists from all over the region, including Mexico. 

Art in the Village

Sunday, June 23

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Grand Avenue and State Street

Leave the bike parking to us this weekend

If you’re heading to TGIF or Art in the Village this weekend, consider riding your bike if you can and letting the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition handle the parking for you.

A bike valet is like a coat check for bikes.

• Ride your bike or e-bike to the valet check-in station (d­­­­­­on’t forget your helmet!)
• An attendant with the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition will attach a claim tag to your bike and give you a matching claim wristband
• Enjoy the festivities knowing your bike and accessories are kept safe and monitored in the valet area
• Check back in to the bike valet station to pick up your bike.

Watch how it works 

At TGIF, look for the bike valet on the basketball courts near the park entrance at Maverick Way.

At the Art in the Village Festival, the bike valet station will be at the Engel & Volkers parking lot at 2965 Roosevelt Street.

If you bike to either event, please wear your helmet (it’s required for riders under 18), use front and rear lights and wear bright, high-visibility clothing to make sure drivers can see you.

Not everyone may be close enough to bike, but the more people who do, the better traffic will flow and the less time will be spent finding parking for these popular events. Whether you bike, walk or drive to events, please follow the rules of the road and bring your patience. 

Bike and e-bike safety class for Carlsbad students 

The Carlsbad Police Department is hosting a free, one-hour class for Carlsbad students to make sure they’re ready to ride safely. Carlsbad police officers, who are certified bike instructors, will cover the basics to help students stay safe on two wheels:

• The rules of the road for bike and e-bike riders
• Carlsbad specific e-bike laws
• Signs and signals and what they mean
• Where to ride in specific situations, including on neighborhood streets or busy corridors

Saturday, June 29

10 to 11 a.m.

Georgina Cole Library

1250 Carlsbad Village Dr.

Space is limited. At this time, the training is only open to students at schools in Carlsbad. Register here.

Staying safe during rattlesnake season



With summer officially here, be mindful that as the weather warms, rattlesnakes come out. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, most rattlesnake bites occur between April and October, when snakes and humans are most active outdoors. 

And remember, snakes aren’t just found in undeveloped areas. They may show up in parks, golf courses and backyards, especially those near open spaces. If you need help safely removing a rattlesnake from a home, yard, park or playground, call the San Diego Humane Society’s Humane Law Enforcement at 619-299-7012 and press 1 for Dispatch.

How to avoid rattlesnakes

• Don’t leave trash or wood piles around your home where snakes might hide.
• Wear sturdy boots or shoes while working, hiking or playing outdoors.
• Keep your dog on a leash under six feet long and don’t let them stray from the trail.
• Make sure you can always see the path ahead of you and look for snakes that might blend into the ground.
• Avoid picking up rocks or sticks.
• If you encounter a rattlesnake on a trail, calmly back away and leave it alone.

What to do if you get bitten

Rattlesnakes typically avoid people and pets, but a snake will bite if it feels threatened. If your dog is bitten, get to a veterinarian immediately. If you’re bitten by a rattlesnake:

• Call 9-1-1 and seek medical help immediately. Stay calm, but act quickly.
• Remove any items like watches, rings and shoes that might constrict swelling. 
• Do NOT apply a tourniquet.
• Do NOT pack the bite area in ice.
• Do NOT cut the wound with a knife or razor.
• Do NOT use your mouth to suck out the venom.

Learn more about rattlesnake safety on the California Department of Fish & Game website.

What’s on this week’s city construction map

Every week, we update our city construction map to highlight where city projects are happening around town that may impact traffic. Some of the items on the map are long-term construction projects, while others are shorter, traffic calming projects in residential neighborhoods.

• Traffic calming refers to a variety of things that can be done to slow down cars as they travel through neighborhoods.
• The city has a traffic calming program designed to address neighborhood concerns about speeding in Carlsbad.
• Four neighborhood traffic calming projects are wrapping up construction and on Tuesday, the City Council approved a contract for four more on Park Drive, Black Rail Road, Plum Tree Road and Carrillo Way.
• You can read more about how the program works to decide if it’s a good fit for your neighborhood and get in touch with our traffic team for any questions at traffic@carlsbadca.gov.

Watch this video for some program highlights.

Checking the city’s construction map allows you to plan ahead and take an alternate route, saving you time and helping to keep traffic flowing safely through construction zones. Remember, the map only shows city projects, not work being done by utilities or private companies.

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

The next City Council meeting will take place Tuesday, June 25, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Topics include:

• A donation from the Carlsbad Library & Arts Foundation to support cultural programming in the Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium, materials and services at the Library Learning Center and programs, exhibits and activities at the William D. Cannon Art Gallery
• A federal grant that will help pay for services to reduce homelessness and agreements with a nonprofit organization to help people find and obtain housing, employment and benefits
• Taking the first step to disband the Carlsbad Golf Lodging Business Improvement District, whose work promoting golf-related tourism in Carlsbad will be taken on by the recently re-established Carlsbad Tourism Business Improvement District
• Advertising for bids to build an upgraded fuel island at the city’s Fleet Operations Center to comply with state regulations 
• A memorandum of understanding with other local governments detailing how they will work together to implement various regional water quality programs
• An agreement to operate and maintain the fire hydrants in Carlsbad that are within the Vallecitos Water District’s service area
• Continuing the local storm-related emergency proclamation to repair a slope between El Camino Real and Trieste Drive. This proclamation must be renewed at each regular City Council meeting until the emergency is declared over.
• Appointing one new member to the city Planning Commission
• A request for a variance from hillside building standards that would allow retaining walls built on a backyard slope without required permits to remain in place
• The city’s annual Growth Management Plan Monitoring Report, which includes an analysis of development activity and the adequacy of public facilities and improvements
• Making the Carlsbad Municipal Water District Board’s ordinances more transparent and accessible online by organizing and formatting them similar to the city's municipal code
• A presentation on public transportation topics from the North County Transit District
• An update on the city’s progress on the City Council’s goal to reduce the unsheltered homeless population
• An agreement with the San Diego Association of Governments and the North County Transit District on pursuing funding for a proposed project to lower the railroad tracks in a trench through the Village
• A proposal from the San Diego County Water Authority for the Carlsbad Municipal Water District to prepay fixed charges for its water purchases

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 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.

Let me be among the first to wish you a great summer. If you’re planning any trips, please be safe on the road and look out for one another, and I’ll be back next week with more updates.

Scott Chadwick

City Manager