The City of Carlsbad currently operates out of a number of buildings spread across our 39 square mile city. Many are old and no longer meet the needs of the workforce or the community. Plus having so many locations creates operational inefficiencies and is confusing for the public. That’s why the City Council has made it a goal to build a new city hall.
The Project
A new city hall would consolidate the main administrative functions of the city into one location and provide meeting rooms and other spaces to accommodate city business, including the City Council chamber.
Because we’re building a new city hall, there is an opportunity to add new public gathering spaces as part of the design, to increase the sense of community in our city. These could include park land, event space, recreation areas, an art venue or a library.
Project Funding
The city has set aside money from developer fees for many years, and this money can only be used for a new city hall. The city hall project won’t raise taxes, and the city will not have to borrow money to build it. Depending on what else is included with the project the city would develop a funding plan for those additional elements.
What Would You Like Included?
Future workforce trends and operational needs will help shape the city administrative building(s) that make up a new city hall, but the other potential uses have not been defined.
That’s where you come in. We’d like to know what you would like to see in a future civic center. In the coming months, we’ll be asking the community to weigh in on this project by asking questions like:
•How could the city support its core values with community spaces, activities and amenities as part of a city hall project?
•What types of public spaces and activities would you like to see more of in Carlsbad?
•When you are out and about in Carlsbad, where and when do you most feel the greatest sense of community?
•What do you most like in existing spaces in Carlsbad that should be considered in creating new spaces? What do you dislike that should be avoided?
Tell Us What You Think
The city needs your input on the above questions to help identify the best location for the new city hall and civic center. Here’s how you can weigh in on the project:
Community Workshops
•Thursday, June 21, 6 to 8 p.m., City of Carlsbad Faraday Center, 1635 Faraday Ave.
•Saturday, June 23, 10 a.m. to noon, City of Carlsbad Senior Center, 799 Pine Ave.
Give Input Online
•Starting July 1, you can give input online at www.carlsbadca.gov/input.
Potential Locations
Based on the city’s needs for its administrative functions and the community’s ideas for a future civic center, the city will select the best site from among four city-owned properties that have been identified as potential locations:
1.Existing city hall location (including Cole Library, the community garden and adjacent vacant lots
2.Western parking lot of Senior Center/Pine Avenue Community Park (would include underground parking that could be shared with the Village and Barrio on nights and weekends)
3.Current location of city’s Faraday Administration Center plus the vacant lot next door
4.Former Farmers Insurance building at the corner of El Camino Real and Faraday Avenue (closest to the geographic center of the city)
Timeline
•Spring/Summer 2018: Technical research and public input
•Fall 2018: Conceptual site plans and initial cost estimates for each site
•Spring 2019: City Council selects preferred site
•Winter 2023: City breaks ground on new city hall
More Information
Contact project manager Curtis Jackson, curtis.jackson@carlsbadca.gov, 760-434-2836
