I am happy to report that we had a quiet weekend with good compliance with the local health order. As you might have seen, protesters targeted Carlsbad, Encinitas and downtown San Diego, calling for the easing of restrictions. Here in Carlsbad, we had about five people along the sea wall engaging in a peaceful demonstration.
I want to assure everyone that we are actively planning for the time when the city’s public spaces can begin to reopen. Our goal is to make that transition go safely and smoothly for everyone.
Case numbers
As hard as it’s been to stay home, please know that it’s working! Carlsbad cases have held steady at 50 for several days now. Overall, Carlsbad case numbers are on a good trajectory, and you can see a direct correlation between slowing the increase in local cases with the stay at home orders and other restrictions. Regionally, San Diego reports 2,268 total cases now, with, sadly, 71 deaths.
Here are links to more information about the current numbers:
• County breakdown by age, gender, need for hospitalization
• Bar chart showing changes in number of cases over time
• Cases by city, ZIP code and a map
• Detailed look at cases requiring hospitalization
• County dashboard (if you are viewing this on your phone, remember to hold it horizontally)
• State breakdowns, interactive dashboard and an open data portal
•Global dashboard
Nursing home cases
The state has released a list of skilled nursing facilities where COVID-19 cases have been reported involving either staff or residents. Here is a link. Thankfully, no Carlsbad locations are included on the list at this time.
From late January, the City of Carlsbad has reached out to nursing homes and other types of facilities at a higher risk from COVID-19 to ensure they had the information and support they needed. In fact, later this week I’ll share a story about one of our Community Emergency Response Team volunteers who led this effort. It’s a great example of the city’s “whole community” approach to emergency management.
City Council meeting
The agenda for this week’s City Council meeting is available. It will be a busy meeting with several complex topics. Here’s an overview:
•Approval of a five-year plan to meet the city’s housing and community development needs through federal or other funding resources.
•Approval of the design for rebuilding Fire Station 2 in La Costa, creating a temporary fire station at the Dove Library parking lot and putting the project out to bid
•Amendment to an engineering contract for a project to rebuild the beach stairs between Tamarack and Pine
•Approval to remove weeds on private property to reduce fire risk
•Required report on drinking water quality
•Biweekly update on the city’s COVID-19 response and expenditures
•Approval of a contract to create objective design standards and procedures to streamline the permitting process for multifamily housing and mixed-use development projects, and process for potential creation of an ad hoc design review committee
•Informational presentation on Windsor Pointe, a new affordable housing project in the Barrio that will provide permanent supportive housing to people with severe mental illness and veterans, how tenants will be screened and the loan program helping to fund it
•Approval of an Economic Response and Recovery Initiative developed by the ad hoc economic revitalization subcommittee
•Appointment of three members to the Art Commission
As a reminder, you can watch the meeting live on the city’s website or on the cable channel, which is channel 24 on Spectrum. On AT&T U-verse, go to channel 99 and follow the prompts.
You are encouraged to submit comments and we will accept them all the way up until each agenda item begins. Just email clerk@carlsbadca.gov and remember to indicate in the first line if you’d like your comments read out loud during the meeting.
Play @Home
Last week I announced a few new home-based activities developed by city staff, and Friday we unveiled a new web portal with access to even more. Go to the city’s website and select “Play @Home” from the home page. Whether you want to brush up on local history, take a virtual tour of The Flower Fields, try your hand at an art project or plan a neighborhood outing with the kids, we have something there for you.
We will be adding more activities this week, including a special lecture on mindfulness. Stress management was one of the top requests from our recent community survey.
That’s it for today. Don’t forget to check out our social media for more updates and links. This week we will be featuring neighborhood messages of hope and support on the city’s Instagram channel. Please take photos of inspiring sights around your own neighborhoods and email them to us at communications@carlsbadca.gov. They could be featured!
•Facebook
•Twitter
•Instagram
•carlsbadca.gov/COVID19
I would like to sincerely thank you for continuing to stay at home and do your part. Your efforts are making a difference and changes will be coming as soon as possible. Let’s continue to #Care4Carlsbad.
Scott Chadwick
City Manager
