This week in Carlsbad we are tracking increases in COVID-19 infections and following the County of San Diego in recommending that everyone wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
In other news…
- Applications now available for vacant City Council seat
- Carlsbad’s new police chief coming to a park near you
- City Clerk to retire in August
- Tune up your irrigation system, save money
- Snores & S’mores family campout Aug. 14
- Upcoming public meetings
COVID-19 cases increasing, indoor mask-wearing now recommended for everyone
San Diego County announced this week it is continuing to make progress on COVID-19 vaccinations, with 70% of residents 12 and older now fully vaccinated. More than 81% of County residents have received at least one shot.
While the vaccination percentage is on the rise, new COVID-19 infections continue to increase as well, mostly in unvaccinated San Diegans. In the last 30 days, close to 90%, or 10,234, of those diagnosed with COVID-19 were not vaccinated.
The County of San Diego will follow the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in recommending the universal wearing of masks by both vaccinated and unvaccinated people in indoor public settings. The recommendation to wear a facial covering indoors, regardless of vaccination status, comes in light of new data that shows that the Delta variant is much more transmissible than previous strains of COVID-19. The new variant is expected to primarily strike the unvaccinated and also lead to an increase in cases in vaccinated individuals. Read more from the county
Application process underway for District 1 City Council vacancy
The City of Carlsbad is accepting applications through Aug. 11, 5 p.m., to fill the District 1 City Council vacancy for a term ending with the November 2022 election. Under the Carlsbad Municipal Code, the person appointed to fill this term may not run for that seat for at least a year after leaving office.
- To be eligible for appointment, applicants must live and be registered to vote in District 1, in northwest Carlsbad.
- District 1 residents are invited to submit topics they would like applicants to address during their City Council presentations. City staff will develop interview questions based on the topics submitted for City Council consideration at the Aug. 17 City Council meeting.
- All applicants will be given an opportunity to address the City Council for five minutes at a public meeting Aug. 24, including answering a set of standard questions that will be provided in advance. Applicants will be called to make a presentation in the order their applications were received.
- The public may make comments at the meeting once all applicants have had an opportunity to speak.
Meet your new Police Chief
Community members are invited to attend one of four meet-and-greet gatherings with incoming City of Carlsbad Police Chief Mickey Williams in August. These casual get-togethers at neighborhood parks will give residents of all four Carlsbad Council districts an opportunity to say “hello,” ask questions and share ideas with Chief Williams. District City Council members and officers assigned to your neighborhood will also be on hand. Chief Williams will be in the park from 6-7 p.m., but why not make an evening of it. Pack a picnic; bring a chair and enjoy a summer evening in the park.
Read more
Five ways to tune up your irrigation system and save water and money
It’s Smart Irrigation Month, and that means it’s time to tune up your irrigation system. Follow these steps to safeguard our precious water resources and save some money.
- Check for runoff to make sure you’re only watering your lawn, not the sidewalk.
- Fix blocked or broken sprinkler heads, drip lines or emitters.
- Switch to a weather-based irrigation controller or replace your turf to earn water-saver rebates.
- Install high-efficiency sprinkler nozzles and/or drip irrigation.
- Check your irrigation timer schedule, and water during the coolest part of the day, between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m., to reduce water lost to evaporation.
You can also call 760-728-1332 to sign up for a free home water checkup, and get expert tips at our free, Aug. 21 webinar: Water & Irrigation: Utilizing a Precious Resource.
Read more
Snores & S’mores family campout Aug. 14
The City of Carlsbad’s Snores & S’mores annual family campout is back! This family-fun event will be held from 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 14, to 9 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 15, at Aviara Community Park at 6435 Ambrosia Lane. This safe camping experience is fun for first-time campers as well as the seasoned pros. Enjoy a BBQ dinner, games and activities, s’mores, popcorn and an outdoor movie viewing of Finding Nemo (rated G), all while camping out in a neighborhood park. Continue the camping experience Sunday morning with breakfast and an optional early morning hike on one of Carlsbad’s scenic trails.
The event is $25 per person and is free for ages 3 and under with all activities and food included. The event usually sells out and registration is required by 11 p.m. on Aug. 13.
Read more
Thanks for everything: Carlsbad City Clerk to retire
After eight and a half years in office, Carlsbad City Clerk Barbara Engleson has announced her plan to retire from her role, effective Aug. 19. Under city law, the City Council may appoint someone to fill the vacancy or hold a special election. Engleson’s term is up in November 2022.
Engleson and her husband recently decided to relocate out of Carlsbad. When they move, she will no longer be eligible to serve as City Clerk.
“I am very proud of the many ways the City of Carlsbad has promoted government transparency and public engagement, which are critical to our democracy and key functions of the Office of the City Clerk,” said Engleson. “It has been my honor to serve alongside such a dedicated team of professionals.”
The City Council is scheduled to discuss next steps at its Aug. 31 meeting. During the vacancy, staff from the Office of the City Clerk will cover the City Clerk’s duties.
Read more
Get involved: Upcoming public meetings
City Council is on recess until Aug. 17, but there are still plenty of other meetings happening in Carlsbad next week.
- Aug. 2 – Traffic & Mobility Commission at 4 p.m.
- Aug. 4 – Beach Preservation Commission at 4 p.m.
- Aug. 5 – Arts Commission at 6 p.m.
These meetings will be held virtually. More information on agendas, how to participate and how to watch the meeting can be found here.
Quick links
- COVID-19 Information
- City Manager’s Update
- Council Meeting Info
- City TV
- Hot Topics
- Community Vision
- Emergency Preparedness
- Social Media
City of Carlsbad | 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008
