During the Jan. 13, 2026 meeting, the Carlsbad City Council assigned members to represent Carlsbad on the boards of a regional agencies that handle issues such as public transit, water and public safety.
The City Council decided to keep all City Council members in their existing assignments, with the exception of Council Member Shin now serving on the City Council Economic Development Subcommittee in place of Mayor Blackburn.
The City Council also voted to keep City Council Member Priya Bhat-Patel as Mayor Pro Tem. This role stands in for the mayor when he is unavailable.
Under the Carlsbad Municipal Code, the City Council updates these assignments at the first meeting of the calendar year.
2026 City Council Regional Assignments
Keith Blackburn, Mayor
Buena Vista Lagoon JPC
Chamber of Commerce Liaison (alternate)
Clean Energy Alliance JPA (alternate)
Encina Joint Powers JAC
Encina Wastewater Authority Board of Directors
SANDAG Board of Directors (2nd alternate)
SANDAG Shoreline Preservation Work Group (alternate)
Priya Bhat-Patel, Mayor Pro Tem – District 3
City/School Committee
Clean Energy Alliance JPA
Economic Development Subcommittee
League of California Cities – SD Division (alternate)
North County Transit District
SANDAG Board of Directors (1st alternate)
SANDAG Shoreline Preservation Work Group
Teresa Acosta, Council Member – District 4
City Council Legislative Subcommittee
City/School Committee
League of California Cities – SD Division
San Diego County Water Authority
Melanie Burkholder, Council Member – District 1
City Council Legislative Subcommittee
Encina Joint Powers JAC (alternate)
Encina Wastewater Authority Board of Directors (alternate)
North County Dispatch Joint Powers Authority (alternate)
Kevin Shin, Council Member – District 2
Buena Vista Lagoon JPC
Chamber of Commerce Liaison
Economic Development Subcommittee
Encina Joint Powers JAC
Encina Wastewater Authority Board of Directors
North County Dispatch Joint Powers Authority
North County Transit District (alternate)
SANDAG Board of Directors
