Newsletter! We are very excited to be able to share more insight with the residents. Our main goal is to update community members on city events and projects through messages from the mayor or city administration.
Our city is very active. There are always events happening in the community and numerous activities for kids, families, and individuals. These newsletters will highlight upcoming events hosted during this month.
Past Event Photos
Dear Neighbors & Friends:
A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR
Carlsbad is heavily built on “giving back,” but this last month has especially shown that. There are many charitable folks in Carlsbad, and I want to thank all of you. Even the most minor acts can make a difference. I want to take the moment to highlight a few of them.
On July 12th, 2024, two of our city workers, Jimmy Padilla and Kenny Cruz, displayed remarkable courage and quick thinking. While on duty nearby, they noticed smoke billowing from a home located on Solana Street. They immediately stopped to notify the homeowner and called dispatch for the fire department. Their quick thinking and prompt action potentially saved a life. Thank you to Jimmy and Kenny for their amazing effort. As well as the Carlsbad Fire Department for having a fast response time. Their actions exemplify the commitment and vigilance of our city employees.
I also want to thank the Age-Friendly Committee at the Carlsbad Chamber for organizing this year ’ s Back to School Miniature Golf Tournament. I appreciate their efforts in creating a fun and engaging event for the children in our d h h endly Committee hosts many fantastic its time and effort to ensure that Thank you again.
This year, the kNOw More Project with Affirming Hearts Services distributed over 400 backpacks to our community's students at the 2024 Back to School Bash. It is lovely to see local businesses and community members come together this way, because one child helped is a success. I want
to thank everyone involved in this event for their hard work and commitment.
I am also delighted to announce the completion of the beautiful mural at the Carlsbad Beach Bandshell. The Bandshell serves as the center of private and community celebrations, such as the 4th of July. This artistic addition is a testament to the creativity and beauty we can find in our community. As well as the local talent many of us are not aware of, this mural, in particular, was completed by local artist Michael Fish (Art by Fish). Thank you for dedicating endless hours to completing this mural for us.
As we approach the start of the new school year, I want to extend my best wishes to all the students of Carlsbad. May you have a safe, happy, and prosperous year of learning and growth. I would also like to remind everyone that with the new school year starting, we can all contribute to the safety and wellness of our students. Please respect all speed limits, school zones, and crosswalks. Together, we can keep our students safer.
Lastly, I want to congratulate Wendy Austin on her promotion to City Administrator. Wendy has been an invaluable City of Carlsbad employee, previously serving as Interim City Administrator and Deputy City Administrator. Her dedication and leadership have greatly benefited our city, and I look forward to her continued contributions in her new role.
Sincerely,
CarlsbadMayorRickLopez
Dear Citizens of Carlsbad:
A LETTER FROM CITY ADMIN
It’s an honor to serve as the City Administrator to our wonderful community. I’m very grateful to Mayor Lopez for choosing me for this position and for the support that I’ve received from City Councilmembers, other City employees, and the community. I was born and raised in Carlsbad, and it’s a privilege to represent my hometown. I have over 12 years of governmental experience and over 12 years of industrial and safety experience from working in the potash industry. I have two Bachelor's Degrees, one in Administration and one in Accounting. I’m also an MBA.
First, I want to express my deepest appreciation to the employees who work for the City of Carlsbad. The City has very professional and dedicated employees. Police Officers, Firefighters, and EMS employees keep our community safe. Public Works, Community Services, and Utility employees provide critical services, such as water & sewer and road & street repair, and keep the City’s amenities, including parks, looking beautiful and in good working order. In addition, there are many employees who work for administrative departments, including Safety, Projects & Construction, Public Relations, IT, Planning & Regulations, City Clerk, Finance, Grants, HR, Legal, and Municipal Court, who all support the many activities of the City. I am truly grateful for all these amazing employees.
Next, I am grateful for the many community partners that the City of Carlsbad is fortunate to have. I appreciate the businesses in Carlsbad and Eddy County that provide good jobs to our residents. I appreciate the State and Federal agencies and elected officials, especially the local delegations, that support the City of Carlsbad with legislation and grants. I am grateful to our healthcare providers, educators, and nonprofits that keep us well. I’m very appreciative to
everyone who works in retail. Retail is the backbone of the City’s general government source of revenue through gross receipts tax. Ultimately, I’m grateful to all of YOU. It takes all of us to make our community a strong and wonderful place to live.
I’m excited about the future of Carlsbad! I sincerely appreciate Mayor Lopez and the City Councilmembers for giving me an opportunity to assist them in accomplishing their visions. Some priorities include increasing the number of affordable or attainable housing units, increasing options for healthcare and retail, and improving on and adding to City amenities. The City has many funded projects that will assist in accomplishing these goals. Please keep reading the monthly newsletters for updates on important and exciting City projects. In addition, you will actually notice many things happening around town!
We all love Carlsbad, and we all want Carlsbad to be a place where you and your family and friends can live safely while enjoying the area ’ s many economic opportunities and natural beauty. Carlsbad is a can-do community, and I’m ex-
cited about everything that we can accomplish by working together.
Thank you, and I look forward to serving you as the City Administrator.
Best regards,
WendyD.Austin
Thurs. August 1st:
AUGUST EVENTS & DATES
Downtown Farmers Market
Fri. August 2nd:
Carlsbad Public Library Family Story
Time
Crafts & Games at Carlsbad Public Library
Milton’s Brewing Third Seven
The Winery Comedy Tour at Balzano
Carlsbad Community Theatre
“Cinderella”
Sat. August 3rd:
Saturday Farmers Market
Carlsbad Community Theatre
“Cinderella”
ASL Signing Time at Carlsbad Public Library
Sun. August 4th:
Carlsbad Community Theatre
“Cinderella”
Mon. August 5th:
CMS First Day of School K-12th
Tues. August 6th:
Carlsbad Public Library Stitcher’s Anonymous
Thurs. August 8th:
Downtown Farmers Market
Fri. August 9th:
Carlsbad Public Library Family Story
Time
Justin Moore at Lea County Fair & PRCA Rodeo
Sat. August 10th:
3D Archery Tournament at Top Nock Archery & Supply
Carlsbad Public Library Dungeons & Dragons
Karlo Night For Kids at Top Nock Archery & Supply
Kane Brown at Lea County Fair & PRCA Rodeo
Tues. August 13th:
Carlsbad Public Library Recycled Arts & Crafts Magazine Bowl
Thurs. August 15th:
Downtown Farmers Market
Fri. August 16th:
Carlsbad Public Library Family Story
Time
Movies in the Park at Halagueno Arts
Park presents “Up”
Sat. August 17th:
Carlsbad Public Library ASL Sining Time
Downtown Farmers Market
Tues. August 20th:
Carlsbad Public Library Stitcher’s
Anonymous
Wed. August 21st:
Brews & Books at Milton’s Brewing
Thurs. August 22nd:
Film as Literature Class at SENMC
Carlsbad Public Library STEM Club
Thurs. August 22nd continued:
Small Biz Builder at Milton’s Brewery
Downtown Farmer’s Market
Fri. August 23rd:
Carlsbad Public Library Family Story
Time
Sat. August 24th:
Carlsbad Public Library Dungeons & Dragons
Thurs. August 29th:
Downtown Farmers Market
Fri. August 30th:
Carlsbad Public Library Family Story
Time
Jericho Fest 2024 at the Carlsbad Beach Bandshell
Sat. August 31st: Saturday Farmers Market
For more information regarding any of these events or others please visit the official City Events Calander.
Carlsbad Water Park
DEPARTMENT SPOTLIGHT:
The day typically starts with the guards and attendants showing up early to clean the park and get everything ready for the day. Once the day starts, both groups rotate between stands and breaks to ensure they stay out of the sun and can be fresh for the next set of rotations At the end of the day, the park is shut down and cleaned thoroughly to ensure it is ready to go the next day.
Our lifeguards are all certified by the Red Cross, and many of them have multiple years of experience Also, I have my CPO, which allows me to take care of everything in the park and ensure that the water chemistry is perfect for our swimmers. We have also been provided with a set of officers throughout the week to patrol the area and deal with any issues that may arise during the day, which keeps both the park and the surrounding area safe.
Guests can expect a clean park at a very affordable price, which the whole family can enjoy. We offer drinks and snacks but also allow food to be delivered/brought in so people are able to camp out for the day and stay refreshed. One of the biggest things I suggest is to bring an ice chest loaded with food and drinks. The water is an excellent way to cool off, but it gets hot, and if you are planning on staying a while, it is best to stay hydrated and fuel your body with some food. This way you can have a nice lunch with your family at the park Another suggestion is to bring sunscreen and maybe a personal pool floaty so you can relax in the lazy river without searching for a tube.
Besides the pool and the lazy river, the water park has three large slides and a play area for the smaller children. The slides vary in size and speed, which makes it great for all ages to enjoy, regardless of how fast you are willing to go. The slides were just refurbished this offseason, so people can expect smoother/quicker slides. Our splash
pad has a small play structure for the smaller swimmers and is a nice area for parents to relax in the water while keeping an eye on their kids. The lazy river is probably our most popular attraction. We have also had some improvements in the pump room so guests can expect the water to be crystal clear and in perfect condition to get out of the summer heat.
The biggest challenge with running the
park has to be the New Mexico weather. The constant shift in weather conditions makes it tricky to deal with the chemicals in the pool and the upkeep of the park itself. Along with that is having such a high number of staff and maintaining a fair schedule that they can all benefit from. Some of my guards are athletes, and others have summer vacations that I have to work around to make sure the park is fully staffed and ready to go.
My favorite moments are when I see the excitement and joy on a child’s face when they are enjoying our park It makes me proud and encourages me to work harder to continue providing a safe place for families to enjoy. One of my favorite memories is from 2019. During the 4th of July, I purchased a large floating flamingo for the lifeguards. We all enjoyed it after work and watched the fireworks from the island. I
have made some fantastic memories in my years here, and I have made a lot of friendships. I am honored to serve the City of Carlsbad in this position. I carry a lot of pride in having the opportunity to help provide this facility to the citizens of Carlsbad and beyond.
Sincerely,
LukeGarza Carlsbad Water Park Manager
CITY COUNCIL
Rick Lopez, Mayor mayor.office@cityofcarlsbadnm.com
Ward 1
Edward Rodriguez | etrodriguez@cityofcarlsbadnm.com
Lisa Anaya-Flores | laflores@cityofcarlsbadnm.com
Ward 2
JJ Chavez | jochavez@cityofcarlsbadnm.com
Jeff Forrest | jjforrest@cityofcarlsbadnm.com
Ward 3
Karla Hamel Niemeier | kjniemeier@cityofcarlsbadnm.com
Mary Garwood | msgarwood@cityofcarlsbadnm.com
Ward 4
Anthony Foreman | arforeman@cityofcarlsbadnm.com
Mark Walterscheid | mewalterscheid@cityofcarlsbadnm.com
CITY ADMINISTRATION
Wendy Austin, City Administrator wdaustin@cityofcarlsbadnm.com
KC Cass, Deputy City Administrator kccass@cityofcarlsbadnm.com
