A draft of the revised guidelines was available for public review and comment between April 30 and May 31, 2026. 

Draft revised guidelines
Redline version showing changes compared to the current (2017) guidelines

Three options are being considered for Section 8.2.2.4 regarding how tribal monitoring of construction sites is handled when multiple tribes request to participate:

• Option 1: Project applicant chooses which tribe or tribes will monitor (as presented in the draft revised guidelines)
• Option 2: Multiple tribes may monitor the same project, with the city notifying the applicant which tribes request to monitor
• Option 3: Tribes take turns monitoring projects based on a rotation list, with the city notifying the next tribe when it is their turn

Staff gathered input on the full draft guidelines and which option is preferred for Section 8.2.2.4 related to tribal monitoring. In all cases, at least one tribe must be selected when monitoring is required.

City staff will consider feedback received to make changes to the guidelines before they are presented to the Historic Preservation and Planning Commissions later this year.

The City of Carlsbad uses Tribal, Cultural and Paleontological Resources Guidelines to ensure development projects follow appropriate procedures to identify and protect important resources. These include Native American cultural sites and resources, archaeological and historic resources, and paleontological (fossil) finds.

The guidelines were first developed in 1990, then comprehensively updated in 2017 to reflect changes in state law and local policy. In particular, the 2017 update responded to the City Council’s adoption of Council Policy No. 83, which set a stronger framework for consulting with tribal governments and protecting tribal cultural resources.

The current updates continue this work, with additional refinements based on input from local tribal governments, paleontological and archaeological experts, and city staff.

The goal is to improve clarity, streamline the review process and ensure that city policies reflect current best practices and legal requirements.

• City staff will continue engaging with local tribal governments, industry experts and other stakeholders to gather feedback.
• Public meetings will be held later in 2026 for additional discussion and input:
  • Historic Preservation Commission
  • Planning Commission

This webpage will be updated with specific hearing dates once those are set. 

After these steps, city staff will incorporate feedback and prepare the final guidelines for City Council consideration in early 2027.