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News from the City of Carlsbad | Sept. 12, 2024

This week, I’ll go over some of the actions the City Council has taken to address new state housing laws and show you the final design approved Tuesday for the Monroe Street Pool renovation. Here’s the full list of topics for today’s update: 

• Maximizing local control over housing 
• Final Monroe Street Pool plans approved 
• Your library card: beyond books 
• Learn from a master gardener 
• Family Movie Night a returning fall tradition 
• Where construction is planned next week 
• City meetings next week 

Maximizing local control over housing

Last week, I told you about a resource we’ve created to learn about new state housing laws and how they are affecting Carlsbad. The main take away from these new laws is that they are designed to create more housing, especially affordable housing, by reducing a city’s ability to say, “no.” 

There are, however, some things cities can do to retain as much local control as possible. Today, I’d like to explain what steps the City Council has taken and why they’re important.  

Legislative advocacy 

The City Council established a Legislative Subcommittee to work with city staff and the city’s professional lobbyists to advocate for local interests at the state and federal level. This includes promoting legislation that preserves local control over land uses. So far this year, the City Council has taken positions on nine bills related to housing and land-use legislation. You can find information about each of these bills and the city’s response on the Legislative Subcommittee’s positions page of our website.  

Approved housing plan 

The City of Carlsbad has an certified “Housing Element,” which is a state-required plan for how the city will meet its share of the region’s housing needs, as determined by the San Diego Association of Governments. If the city did not have plan certified by the state, developers would be allowed to place housing anywhere in the city, at any density (this is the “builders remedy” I explained in last week’s update). 

Updated growth management plan 

The city has begun work on an updated growth management plan to help protect our future quality of life. The first step was a citizens committee that met for over a year to review and suggest updates to current standards for things like parks, roads and libraries. The City Council approved the committee’s recommendations and directed staff to continue work on the new plan. 

Objective design standards 

To strengthen local design regulations, the city has established objective design standards for multifamily housing and mixed-use development projects. This helps ensure new projects fit in with the existing character of the city. 

I will continue to keep you updated on these laws and how we are responding. In the meantime, I encourage you to read through the information we have compiled and share it with others concerned about these issues. 

Monroe Street Pool project ready for construction

This week, the City Council approved the final design for a major renovation of Monroe Street Pool, meaning the project is now ready to be put out to bid for construction. 

What’s planned 

After more than 40 years, the pool needs significant repairs and upgrades to remain operational and comply with health and safety and building codes. The new design will not only extend the life of the pool but also add modern amenities, including: 

• A larger (33-meter) pool with 50% more lanes 
• Expanded pool deck with outdoor lockers and showers  
• Renovated locker rooms 
• Family restrooms  
• More shade and bleachers 
• More parking spaces 
• Addition of an outdoor entrance (instead of going through the lobby and locker rooms to get to the pool) 
• New 8-foot wall with metal gates along Monroe Street to reduce sound for neighbors 
• New and expanded solar  

The new design reflects what community members told us they wanted in the renovated pool – balancing the need for more space and amenities while minimizing impacts on the surrounding neighborhood. 

Monroe Street Pool through the years 

The renovation is part of the City Council’s 5-Year Strategic Plan, which emphasizes maintaining Carlsbad’s unique community character and connectedness.  

Thanks to this project, Monroe Street Pool will continue to be a place that brings people together, whether it’s teaching kids how to swim, cooling off on a hot day, sticking to a workout routine or training for one of Carlsbad’s many championship sports teams.  

We were feeling a little nostalgic and pulled some aerial images from the past 20 years. I thought you might also enjoy seeing how the area around the pool has changed and evolved.

The project is estimated to cost $23 million, which is within the range presented to Carlsbad voters in 2022. Certain projects using over $1 million of general city funds must get voter approval.   

Next steps 

• City staff will put the project out to bid for construction and return to the City Council for approval of the contract. 
• Construction is expected to start next year and take about 18 months.  
• It will begin after planned repairs at Alga Norte Aquatic Center are completed to ensure a city pool remains available to the community during construction.

Your library card goes beyond books

In honor of National Library Card Sign-Up Month, I checked in with our library team to find out what sorts of things people are doing with their library cards, other than checking out books. Here’s what they said: 

Digitize old photos and videos. If you have old VHS tapes, film reels or photos packed away in your garage, our library staff can show you how to create digital copies that won’t deteriorate and are easier to share with friends and family. To get started, attend a demonstration at the Memory Lab on the second floor of Dove Library, and then use your library card to reserve time on the equipment. 

Explore your family tree. Learn to research your family tree with help from the genealogy experts at Cole Library. You can make a one-hour appointment to “Ask a Genealogist” who will help you navigate the library’s print and online resources and answer your genealogy questions. 

Subscribe to popular e-magazines and be alerted to when a new issue is available for download. All you need is the Libby App, which offers thousands of ad-free e-books and audiobooks for check out, in addition to magazines. 

Get a day pass to state parks. With your library card, you can borrow a California State Parks day-use vehicle pass, which gets you no-charge parking at more than 200 state parks. You can check out the pass on its own, or as part of a day pack that includes binoculars, a compass and a guide to wildlife and wildflowers you might see. There’s also an adventure pack, which includes hiking poles, a flashlight, a rain poncho and other supplies.  

You can sign up for a Carlsbad City Library card online or stop by any of the three Carlsbad City Library locations to get one in person. 

If you’d like to get involved this fall, please check our Fall Community Services Guide and sign up online.

Learn from a master gardener

With the change of seasons, the city is hosting an event this Saturday to help you transition your garden into fall (or start a garden, if you don’t have one already). 

Master Gardener and Carlsbad resident Dana Withall will be at our Grow Your Garden event to answer your questions and provide tips for fall planting. You’ll also have the chance to swap plants, seeds and produce with your neighbors.  

Grow Your Garden 

Saturday, Sept. 14 

10 a.m. to noon 

Dove Library 

1775 Dove Lane 

Pick up compost and mulch

Carlsbad residents can also pick up free compost and mulch to help maintain healthy soil in their gardens. Compost provides nutrients while mulch locks in moisture and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers. 

Monday through Saturday 

8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Palomar Transfer Station 

5960 El Camino Real 

Family movie night a returning fall tradition



Our annual Family Movie Night returns this Saturday at Stagecoach Community Park. This is a wonderful community event that has come to mark the start of the fall season in Carlsbad.  Families are just getting settled into their new school routines and the evening weather is still warm enough to enjoy a picnic under the stars. 

This year we are featuring the Pixar classic “Toy Story,” which turns 30 in 2025.  

Family Movie Night - “Toy Story” 

Saturday, Sept. 14, 5 p.m. 

Stagecoach Community Park 

3420 Camino de los Coches 

Movie starts at dusk 

From 5 to 7 p.m., we’ll have a movie-themed FunZone with bounce houses, obstacle races, crafts, games and activities. Attending the movie is free. You can buy wristbands for the FunZone on site for $5.  

We will also have food and drinks for sale, including pizza, nachos, hot dogs, ice cream and popcorn. 

Check out our construction map to avoid delays

Before you head out on the roads next week, don’t forget to check our construction map to see where some larger city projects are happening that might impact traffic. The map is updated every week to help you avoid or minimize traffic delays and detours that often come with construction. 

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

City meetings

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Sept. 24. The Parks & Recreation Commission is scheduled to meet Monday, Sept. 16. You can see our full meeting schedule on our city calendar. Meetings are open to the public and livestreamed on the city’s website. 

Remembering 9/11

Yesterday marked 23 years since the tragic events of 9/11, so I want to take a moment to remember the courage and sacrifice of the first responders and thousands of others who died that day, as well as their families, friends and loved ones whose lives were changed forever.  

At the 9/11 Memorial in New York City, there’s a quote from Virgil inscribed on a piece of steel taken from the wreckage that says, “No day shall erase you from the memory of time.”  That remains true now and always. 

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

Scott Chadwick 

City Manager