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This week the City Council approved projects to address traffic safety concerns in four Carlsbad neighborhoods. Today, I’ll explain how this program could work for your neighborhood, along with updating you on other news of the week:
- Get ready for more rain and wind
- “Traffic calming” explained
- Save energy and money this Earth Month
- Look for a credit on your energy bill in April
- A feathered friend returns to Carlsbad
- Rain plan is turning EGGstravaganza into a “Hop ‘n’ Go” event
- Meet author Shilpi Gowda Saturday at Dove Library
- Artist shares his talents at the Senior Center
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A rainy end to March
March may have come in like a lion, but it’s certainly not going out like a lamb. More rain and wind are in the forecast for the weekend. The National Weather Service says the heaviest rain will come on Saturday, with showers continuing Sunday with a chance of thunderstorms. (If you are interested in meteorology, watch the official briefing on the National Weather Service San Diego YouTube channel. It is always full of fun weather-related facts).
Here’s a recap of steps you can take to keep your family, your property and the environment safe during storms:
Before the storm starts
- Make sure your tires are property inflated and that your wiper blades are in good condition. (Tip: if you search for the make of your car and “wiper blades,” chances are you will find a video on YouTube that shows you how to take care of this task.)
- Pick up pet waste and don't use fertilizers or pesticides before it rains because water can carry these pollutants through our storm drain system to our local lagoons and the ocean.
Prepare for high winds
- Trim tree branches away from your house and power lines.
- Secure or remove items outside that could cause damage or injury if they were to be picked up by wind (patio furniture, patio umbrellas, loose gardening items, yard decor, etc.).
Driving in the rain
- Slow down and give yourself extra time.
- Turn on your headlights.
- Avoid slamming on your brakes.
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Turn around, don’t drown. Never drive through standing water.
To report flooding, call 442-339-2197. To report an issue with roads or blocked storm drains, call 442-339-2980. For emergencies, immediately call 9-1-1.
Remember, Friday is the beginning of a week-long spring break for our largest school district, so keep an eye out for more kids walking, biking and driving around town.
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“Traffic calming” explained (and how you can sign up)
As you probably know, government tends to use a lot of specialized terms. Traffic calming is one of those. Here’s what it means:
- Traffic calming refers to a variety of things that can be done to slow down cars as they travel through neighborhoods.
- The term originated in Europe to describe an approach to designing streets that balance the needs of all users – cars, walkers and bicyclists.
- Traffic calming is not used on major thoroughfares. It’s geared toward neighborhoods where you have a greater mix of users sharing the road.
The city has a traffic calming program designed to address neighborhood concerns about speeding in Carlsbad. On Tuesday, the City Council approved new traffic calming plans for sections of Park Drive, Black Rail Road, Plum Tree Road and Carrillo Way. (See the plans.)
Here’s how the program works:
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Report a concern about neighborhood speeding to traffic@carlsbadca.gov.
- A city staff person will follow up to discuss your specific street and gather background.
- If your street qualifies for the program, traffic engineers visit your neighborhood to determine potential solutions.
- We often start with quick solutions, like adding signs, increasing police enforcement and installing temporary speed feedback signs.
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If more is needed, we work with neighbors to evaluate other solutions, like speed bumps, restriping, curb extensions and traffic circles.
- Once we develop a plan, we mail a survey to the whole neighborhood explaining the proposed changes.
- If approved, the city makes the changes then monitors the street to make sure they’re working as intended.
(This is a high-level overview. You can read more about how the program works to decide if it’s a good fit for your neighborhood).
The City Council allocates funding for this program in the annual city budget. Depending on how many requests have been made in a given year, some neighborhoods might get put on a waiting list.
See the results
This video shows how the project works using three recently completed projects.
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Don’t forget to check our weekly map of major city construction projects that could cause traffic delays along your route. Remember, the map only shows city projects, not work being done by utilities or private companies. | |
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Energy (and money) saving tips, just in time for Earth Month
With Earth Month starting in April, over the next few weeks I’ll share some easy ways you can live more sustainably and help protect our natural environment – one of the key goals in the City Council’s 5-Year Strategic Plan.
The first topic is energy:
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Save energy and get rewarded. Carlsbad residents who are part of the Clean Energy Alliance can sign up for OhmConnect, a new service that lets you earn rewards by reducing energy use during peak times. (Carlsbad residents were automatically switched from SDG&E to the Clean Energy Alliance in 2021, unless they opted out. The Clean Energy Alliance provides the power, but SDG&E still handles billing, so check your bill if you’re not sure).
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Switch to 100% renewable energy. Consider switching to the Green Impact plan through the Clean Energy Alliance. It costs a few dollars more each month but ensures that 100% of the energy you use comes from renewable sources like solar, wind and hydropower.
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Look for a credit on your energy bill in April
Whether your energy supplier is the Clean Energy Alliance or San Diego Gas & Electric, you can expect to see a $72.22 credit on your electric bill and a $58.98 credit on your natural gas bill in April.
- The rebates will be provided to residential and small business accounts.
- All customers receive the same amount, regardless of their energy consumption.
- Customers who are signed up for net metering or who have an electric vehicle will also receive the credit.
Why the credit?
The California Climate Credit is part of California’s efforts to address climate change.
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This credit is from the California Cap-and-Trade Program, which requires power plants, fuel providers and large industrial facilities that emit greenhouse gases to buy carbon pollution allowances.
- The credit on your bill is your share of the payments from the state’s program.
- The Climate Credit is one of many programs resulting from legislation called the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.
- The credit on your bill is designed to help utility customers during the transition to a low-carbon future.
- The credits began in 2014.
- To date, Carlsbad customers have received total rebates of $949 from the program, and the 2024 rebates are the largest so far.
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Save the date for these Earth Month activities
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A feathered friend returns to Carlsbad
If you’re up for a little birdwatching once the rain clears, spring is a great time of year to catch a glimpse of the least Bell’s vireo. This unassuming songbird is a state and federal endangered species that returns to Southern California in March and April after spending the winter in Baja California.
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- Least Bell’s vireo are small and gray with short rounded wings and a straight bill.
- During breeding season, you can hear males marking their territory with a distinctive beautiful song.
- Fun fact: There are no documented sightings of the least Bell’s vireo drinking water. They appear to get all the water they need from the insects they eat.
Least Bell’s vireo live along streams and in wetland habitats. In Carlsbad, you might be able to spot a pair along the Quarry Creek Trail and the Lake Calavera Sage Creek Trail. These areas feature cattail, mulefat, bulrush and salt heliotrope, which thrive in moist soil conditions.
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Eggstravaganza Spring Festival rain plan
Due to the forecasted rain, we are transforming this year’s EGGstravaganza into a “Hop ‘n’ Go” drive-through event. Come by Poinsettia Park between 10 a.m. and noon Saturday, and our dedicated Parks & Recreation staff will pass out eggs and treats right through your car window, with an assist from our resident bunny.
Please visit our event page for final confirmation before you head out. We will update the page by 8 a.m. on Saturday with any changes or if it needs to be canceled.
Meet author Shilpi Somaya Gowda on Saturday at Dove Library
Shilpi Somaya Gowda didn’t set out to be a writer, but a summer during college spent volunteering at an orphanage in India inspired her first book, “The Secret Daughter.” The novel became a New York Times bestseller, and after years in the business world, Gowda transitioned into writing full time.
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Today, Gowda is the author of four New York Times best-selling novels, including the just-released "A Great Country.” The book is about an Indian American family wrestling with what success means to each of the members. It explores themes like ambition, cultural expectations, race and class.
Gowda will talk about “A Great Country” during an author event Saturday at the Dove Library.
Shilpi Gowda author event
Saturday, March 30, 2 p.m.
Dove Library
Schulman Auditorium
1775 Dove Lane
Books will be for sale, and a book signing will follow. You can also put a hold on the book through the library (all copies are currently checked out)
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Artist shares his talents at Carlsbad Senior Center
When Leigh Cohn visits picturesque spots around Carlsbad, he doesn’t just take in the view – he captures the scene on canvas.
Over the past 20 years or so, Leigh has given away more than 300 of his original oil paintings that now hang in homes and offices in Carlsbad and around the world.
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Last fall, Leigh was a featured artist at the Senior Center, with 25 of his paintings on display. At the end of the exhibition, he gave away all but two of those paintings, as well as several more.
Now, he’s sharing his love of painting by leading programs at the Senior Center celebrating the 150th anniversary of impressionism.
Birth of Impressionism (lecture)
April 15
3 to 4:30 p.m.
Register
Let’s Paint Like Impressionists (six week class)
April 23 to May 28
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Register
You can learn more about these workshops and stay up to date on all Senior Center programs by signing up for our Adults 50+ mailing list.
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City meetings next week
There is no City Council meeting next week, but some of our city boards and commissions are scheduled to meet.
Board and commission meetings are livestreamed on the city’s website and available to watch afterward. You can see the meeting schedule on our city calendar.
Stay safe, stay dry, and I’ll be back next week with more updates.
Scott Chadwick
City Manager
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