CCPS FOCUS GROUP SUMMARY:
Carlsbad High School Associated Student Body Students
Tuesday, September 30, 2003

Thirty members of the Associated Student Body met on Tuesday morning, September 30th at Carlsbad High School to discuss their vision and ideas for Carlsbad's future.

The themes that emerged from this two-hour meeting included thoughts creating a sense of connectedness between North and South Carlsbad, and creating safe, convenient place where everyone could gather.

Participants were asked to focus on four topics -- Connections, Community, Place and Spirit -- and what these concepts mean in Carlsbad. Here are their ideas:

Connections
How can you connect with others in the community?
The top three ideas presented by students to create connections in our community are:

Other ideas included:

	People being involved and informed
	Still has a welcoming, small town feel
	Everybody is friends
	Tourism has effect on "Community"
	"Cozy" ~ feels like home
	Laid back, fun, clean, organized, safe, tradition/history
	Entertainment
	Location
	Friendly hang-out
	Cozy
	Social-Setting
	An Environment that encourages people to move here
	Clean, presentable
	Negatives? Tourists; mall is old (shootings, crowds)
	School Spirit starts early and turns into a spirit of helping others
	Lancer Day Parade - we all show our pride in being from Carlsbad
	Spirit means supporting others
	Football games - show support for community.
	Letting others know what they can do and how to get involved
	Have events that are appealing to the different cultures of the city
	Get out there and be involved; change community attitudes
	Get involved more; communicate more
	Publicize/communicate needs and wants
	Don't be afraid to contribute
	Find ways to bring people together
	Have events that are appealing to the different cultures of the City
	Get out there and be involved; change community attitudes
	Get involved more; communicate more
	Publicize/communicate needs and wants
	Don't be afraid to contribute
	Find ways to bring people together
	Activities for all age groups - Triathlon, 5000
	Religious groups = get them all together as a Council of Religions
	High School involvement in government
	Sports, boy scouts, school groups, band, volunteer groups
	No connection between Old Carlsbad and South Carlsbad
	Need to open more roads
	Better transportation
	There's more history in Old Carlsbad, more tradition
	Division between North & South
	City newspaper - all associations could contribute ideas and articles
	Civic Center = government
	no exclusions

Community
What does community feel like?
The top three ideas of how community feels are:

Other ideas included:

	Everyone is known by each other
	Treat others the way you want to be treated
	Everyone is involved
	Many ideas
	Leaders make it happen
	Everyone is important
	Gift is not a gift until it is given
	A big happy family
	Help/Support One another
	School is like a city/community - the Associated Student Body leads
	The Associated Student Body goes and gets what's needed
	Learn about one another
	2003/2004 goal for the Associated Student Body: Get everyone involved, get people out of shell and make others feel welcome
	Connected with rest of community - other schools
	Tradition
	Parents Share - multi-Generational
	Activities are well organized and special - home coming - sports - people socialize at games
	Special memorabilia
	High School is major connecting part of the community.
	Everyone contributes
	To be in the Associated Student Body, you want to volunteer time - same to make community
	You must care
	You must want to make it better
Carlsbad is...
	Safe, clean, a beach community, good location for fun, good weather
	Have resources
	Big but small town feel
What does living in Carlsbad feel like to you?
Place
	A fun environment
	Gathering place where people connect
	A special place to "hang-out" - like A & W Root Beer
	Uniqueness
	People today are more private - own car - independence
	A hang-out like in the old movies - Albertos? Plazas?
Spirit
	Carlsbad has good spirit - parade, High School support, Sports support - what about others? (outside of sports)
	Home Owner Associations's, small yards, home freedom not so good.
	Believe to make it happen
	One person can make a difference
	If community has same values - it can be enriched - Common goals, each is unique, but respectful
	Responsible for choices they make
	Invites you to be who you are.
Connecting
	Communication
	(A triangle drawing) vs. (a circle drawing) is good tool - everyone is valuable.
	Commitment
	Invest in the community and get a return
	Connect thru interests - sports, surfing, beach, hobbies
	Competition can make isolation
	Need to get out of the "Comfort Zone"
	Connections make the community

Place
What qualities create great public spaces?
According to students, the top three qualities are:

Other ideas included:

	Feel safe
	Fun
	Nice people
	Lot of opportunities; lot of ways to get involved
	School/neighborhood - places familiar with.
	Everyone has something different to offer
	Opportunity to be in a place where you can gather.
	School/Public interaction
	How buildings are set up
	Different things in community
	Alberto's always people there
	Beach
	Carlsbad Company Stores - environment - outdoors
	Not the feel in mall - outdoors
	Outdoors more enjoyable
	School - lunch table
	Parking lot when older - where people gather.
	Sporting activities
	Sense of belonging
	Comes from within - influence one another.
	Small community - get involved quickly.
	Downtown parades - Street Faires
	Out of ordinary
	Lively, happy
	Common experiences
	Fun, outgoing people - open minded
	Values: Respect, History, Tradition, History
	What have I done - help out
	Be genuine
	Individuals coming together - "building blocks" - relationships
	How involved - job, church
	Be comfortable when you are
	Leadership in communication
	Involved - do new things - appeals to interest - get personal
	Environment
	Clean
	Fun/Happy
	Familiarity - Memories - sense of history
	Mass of people
	Has purpose - needs
	Fits interest - diverse
	Safety
	Civic Center: Place for meetings - associations and Sporting Events.
	Food
	Shopping
	Swim pool
	To get away, relax
	Wild and exciting and quiet place
	FREE
	Location - Central
	Open Late
	Common age - group
	Outside - inside w/ "outside feel"
	Open roof
	Water feature - waterfall, fountain
	Fresh
	Plants - trees
	Locate downtown, close to beach
	Some place new - isolated
	Services: Shopping, movies, day care, classes, handicap accessible
	Cater to like age-groups, but together
	Naturally separate
	Lot to learn from adults
	Civic Center:
	Safety
	Location - outdoors - Teddy's River
	Everyone Involved - all ages

Spirit
What is required of us to deepen community spirit?
The top three ideas from the students are:

What does living in Carlsbad feel like to you?

	Everyone pretty involved
	Safe Community
	Active Community
	Good financial resources
	Associations are all about everyone knowing each other - connecting.

What qualities create public spaces?

	Come together w/o going out of your way
	Bldg should be appealing visually
	Close to freeway should be inviting
	Meets all persons desires - something there for everyone
	Least of our worries is crime - make something that is already good / better
	Take pride by visually pleasing facilities
	Everyone willing to work hard to keep aesthetics work i.e. downtown Carlsbad
	Price in Carlsbad - Take pride not only in new housing areas but Redevelopment areas / old areas also.

Do you believe that culture of this community is conducive to creating spirit? Why? Can you think of stores where individual spirit ignited community spirit?

	Advantage - Carlsbad because there's one high school - all for one. Sense of pride - banners on freeway.
	Think of Carlsbad - we think of downtown - nothing social between Carlsbad High School/ La Costa Canyon High School.
	They don't really live in Carlsbad (La Costa Canyon students)
	We need places to gather (Alberto's) nothing to do on Sat. night (Irvine Spectrum)
	People still come to "hub" which is downtown - but there's nothing to do. Nothing to do - leads to trouble
	Beach gets old.
	Football championships
	Community Sports - People like Carlsbad's lifestyle

How can you connect with others in the Community?

	New thinking - new residents have new ideas. Invite them to City Council meetings, or gather their ideas.
	Communication MOST important thing. Speak up or there's no communication - you have nothing.
	People forget they have the ability to change things. Don't complain unless you've tried to change something. Make an effort.
	Street fair/Xmas Tree Lighting / Oktober Fest / Jazz in Park / Carlsbad 5000 - Connection!

How can we create community spirit?

	Create motive for being involved. Keep going, keep working...
	Adults are easier to build Spirit than youth.
	Continue looking for new and fresh ideas.
	Special invitations to people other than the "regulars". Get them involved.
	Family as community - we are all one - connected, both as individual families and family of Carlsbad.
	Try to find things that help me connect
	Interests - find things that satisfy you - there are plenty of opportunities. Associate with people
	Value of small - town atmosphere (town)
	Difficult Choice? - More and more people - housing
	More & more people/ schools / housing - overcrowding - growth issues. Find other way to connect.
	We could use more parks, ballfields, GRASS! We're only building houses. What about a shopping center?
	A space to draw people in. Ideal space where their building Rancho Carrillo (Palomar Airport Road - El Camino Real) Need a Mecca where people can come to.
	Need to build up ECR/Faraday area. Nothing to do in that area. Not just City Council Buildings - City Recreation Center
	I like grass - nature - open space. There's no community in housing tracts.
	We have a vacant lot by us...my neighborhood all collect gather and visit.
	I live in Aviara - it's not good. No connection.
	I'll drive outside Carlsbad - to give me something to do. We need something to do.

Focus Group Summaries
	Carrillo Elementary School January 12, 2004
	Jefferson Elementary School December 3, 2003
	Aviara Oaks Elementary School November 20, 2003
	Hope Elementary School November 11, 2003
	City of Carlsbad Board Members and Commissioners November 3, 2003
	Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce October 22, 2003
	Kelly Elementary School October 20, 2003
	Carlsbad High School Associated Student Body Students September 30, 2003
	Southwest Quadrant Home Owners Association September 8, 2003
	CCPS Learning Conference March 2003

For further information contact:
City of Carlsbad
Connecting Community, Place & Spirit
1635 Faraday Avenue
Carlsbad CA 92008
(760) 434-2820

Email:
Contact Us | Connecting Community, Place & Spirit