Friday, December 19, 2025

Solana Beach Weekly Update: December 19, 2025


City of Solana Beach

WEEKLY UPDATE

December 19, 2025

The following is provided as an update regarding City news, programs, and services.

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Community News

A Heartfelt Farewell to Dan Goldberg

The City of Solana Beach bids a heartfelt farewell to Dan “Dano” Goldberg, our City Engineer and Deputy Director, as he retires after 23.5 years of dedicated service to the community. In recognition of his lasting contributions, City Council, City staff, and the Engineering team presented Dan with a Proclamation honoring his exemplary service at last week's Special City Council meeting.


Throughout his career with the City, Dan played a key role in shaping the physical and environmental landscape of Solana Beach. By leading many of the City’s major Capital Improvement Projects, his impact can be seen across nearly every corner of the community. Dan helped transform Fletcher Cove and La Colonia Park into the vibrant community spaces they are today and improved how residents and visitors move through the City through projects such as the Coastal Rail Trail, pedestrian bridges, Highway 101 Streetscape, corridor improvements, and the Safe Routes to School Study. He also led critical infrastructure efforts, including stormwater management, street and utility improvements, and numerous other projects that continue to serve Solana Beach every day.


Beyond his professional accomplishments, Dan was known for his kindness, intelligence, strong work ethic, and deep institutional knowledge built over more than two decades of service. His personal passion for biking was evident through his work with the local BikeWalkSolana organization and his continued advocacy for bicycle safety and infrastructure. Dan was also an active participant in the American Public Works Association, where he contributed to committees and helped mentor future public works and engineering professionals.


Dan leaves behind a lasting legacy of meaningful improvements that have made Solana Beach a better place to live, work, and visit. Thank you, Dan, for your service. Solana Beach is better because of you.

La Colonia Christmas Tree Lighting Highlights

There was another special and fun holiday celebration at La Colonia last weekend and we captured some fun and special moments from this beloved community tradition.

Shop & Dine Local for the Holidays

Remember to shop and dine local this Holiday season and support all your favorite locally-owned businesses. Enjoy a day strolling around our beautiful community and discover a variety of unique Holiday gift options along Highway 101 and the Cedros Design District. On both sides of Interstate 5, shops, grocery stores, restaurants and other conveniences are available to meet all your Holiday shopping needs. So remember to shop and dine local this holiday season and support all your favorite locally-owned businesses!

Free Holiday Home Vacation Checks

The winter Holidays are a popular time of year to travel. Holiday vacations are a fun and exciting way to spend time with loved ones but can you be sure that you have taken the necessary steps to protect your home while you are away? If you're traveling this Holiday, consider signing up for a free Home Vacation Check. The San Diego County Sheriff's Office offers free home vacation checks year-round. Simply sign up for this free service and the Sheriff’s Office Senior Volunteer Patrol will keep a watchful eye on your home while you are away for the Holidays!

City Hall Extended Holiday Closure

In observance of the upcoming Holidays, City Hall and all non-essential City buildings will be closed from Friday, December 19th, (Dark Friday) through Friday, January 2th (Dark Friday). All other essential City services and emergency response will continue during this period. A complete list of emergency contacts and information about services affected by this closure is available on the City’s website. Regular City Hall hours will resume on Monday, January 5th. We wish you a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year!

Trash Service Schedule Changes for the Holidays

As a community reminder, the trash service schedule will be adjusted for the next two weeks in observance of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. EDCO will not provide residential or commercial collection on Thursday, December 25th, or Thursday, January 1st, and all public disposal sites, recycling buyback centers, and customer service offices will be closed. As a result, customers whose regular collection day is Thursday or Friday will experience a one-day service delay during each holiday week. Please remember to plan accordingly.

Solana Santa Fe Students Bring Ideas to City Council

Last week’s City Council meeting welcomed some very special (and very impressive) guest speakers. Fifth and sixth grade students from Solana Santa Fe Elementary School took the podium to share handwritten letters in support of a Sandtoy Borrow Box program. Through classroom lessons on civic engagement and environmental stewardship, students have been learning about the impacts of plastic waste on our beaches and oceans and proposed the borrow box as a way to help reduce plastic pollution. Councilmembers thanked the students for their thoughtful ideas and shared that the City is currently working with a local Girl Scout troop and community partners to move the Sandtoy Borrow Box program forward. The City is proud of these young residents for their leadership and for taking an active role in caring for Solana Beach’s coastline.

Heat Pump Water Heater Rebate Program

To reduce the initial cost of heat pump technology, the City is excited to announce the launch of a new pilot program providing a rebate for Solana Beach residents and verified contractors who purchase and install a heat pump water heater to replace a gas water heater. Heat pump water heaters are approximately 3x more efficient than their gas counterparts and they pose less of a safety risk in your home by eliminating the chance of gas leaks. If you or someone you know is in need of a new water heater, or you are thinking about a remodel in the new year, a rebate of up to $1500 may be possible. Learn more and apply below!

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Friday, December 12, 2025

Solana Beach Weekly Update: December 12, 2025


City of Solana Beach

WEEKLY UPDATE

December 12, 2025

The following is provided as an update regarding City news, programs, and services.

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here to view in a browser

Community News

City Council Appoints 2026 Deputy Mayor

At a Special Meeting of the City Council on December 10th, Councilmember Jill MacDonald was unanimously approved by her colleagues to serve as Deputy Mayor for 2026. The Solana Beach City Council traditionally elects a new Deputy Mayor every December, rotating through our four district-elected Councilmembers. The Deputy Mayor presides over Council Meetings and other official hearings in the Mayor’s absence and assists in leading meetings, facilitating discussions, and upholding protocol. Congratulations to our Deputy Mayor MacDonald, and thank you to Councilmember Kristi Becker for serving as Deputy Mayor in 2025. We look forward to your continued leadership and commitment to our community!

New Native Pollinator Garden at City Hall

The Pollinator Friendly City subcommittee of the Climate & Resiliency Commission joined forces with the Seaweeders, Water's Path Landscape Design/Hidden Agave, and the City's Public Works department to plant a pollinator garden in front of City Hall. After installing the boulders and irrigation this past summer, the plants have just been added to complete the garden this past week. This garden will continue to grow and establish itself over the following months, and will provide habitat for monarchs and other pollinators in the area. Special thanks to Scientist.com for their contribution towards funding this pollinator garden, and to everyone involved for making this happen. Make sure to stop by City Hall to see the beautiful changes that have taken place!

Recycling 101: What to Recycle in Solana Beach

Although reducing plastic use is one of the most effective ways to address individual plastic pollution, sometimes creating waste can feel unavoidable; especially during the holiday season. In these instances, it is important to remember what items to recycle in each bin to ensure that the maximum amount of waste produced can be reused instead of going to the landfill. Plastic items marked with recycling numbers 1 through 7 are accepted in the blue bin, while organic material such as pumpkins (unpainted), tissue paper, turkey bones and table scraps, and napkins are accepted in the green bin. Some wrapping paper can be recycled if you remove the tape; others are not recyclable, especially if it has glitter or a shiny coating. Learn more about how to recycle plastic and other common holiday items below.

Holiday Package Theft Protection Tips

As more people choose online shopping, the opportunities for “porch pirates” to take advantage of these “free gifts” are on the rise. The Holiday shopping season means more unattended boxes filled with merchandise purchased online end up on porches, which might then be targeted for theft. Fortunately, homeowners can take steps to protect against theft during the holidays after UPS, FedEx and Amazon drop off packages when no one is home. Here are a few tips that can help protect your packages and keep your homes safe during this Holiday season.

Building Services Holiday Schedule

City Hall will be closed for the holiday break starting Friday, December 19th, and will reopen on Monday, January 5th. The last day to submit building permit applications and rechecks for processing before the closure is Wednesday, December 17th (end of day). Any applications or rechecks received after that time will be processed in the order received once City Hall reopens. Building inspection requests will still be honored during the closure, except on December 24th-25th, and January 1st.

Quick reminder that construction may not occur on Sundays, Christmas Day, or New Year’s Day. Please visit Construction Hours and Noise Levels for more information and exceptions.


All other essential City services and emergency response will continue during this period. A complete list of emergency contacts and information about services affected by this closure is available on the City’s website. We wish you a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year!

New Community Resources Page

We’re excited to share that the City of Solana Beach has launched a new Community Resources webpage! This easy-to-use hub brings together helpful information and key contacts for local services, including parks and recreation programs, senior services, housing assistance, environmental initiatives, and public safety resources. You’ll also find links to community events, volunteer opportunities, and important city departments. Check it out and stay connected with everything our community has to offer!

Community Events

Fletcher Cove Tree Lighting Event Highlights

Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Open House

Saturday, December 13th, 10:00 AM

Assemblymember Tasha Boerner is hosting a Holiday Open House at the District 77 Office this Saturday, December 13th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM in Solana Beach (505 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Unit 110). Community members are invited to attend and enjoy refreshments, mingle, and meet Assemblymember Boerner and her staff! Attendees are encouraged to bring a donation of unopened baby supplies. Supplies brought to the event will be accepted at the Open House to support the Women's Resource Center.

La Colonia Tree Lighting

Saturday, December 13th, 5:00 PM

The City and La Colonia Community Foundation invite you to a special La Colonia Park Holiday Tree Lighting event on Saturday, December 13th, at 5:00 PM. Join your friends and neighbors to celebrate the holiday season. There will be plenty of sweets, treats and hot cocoa to go along with all the fun, including traditional holiday aguinaldos treat bags for the children, and delicious pan dulce (Mexican sweet bread). Santa will make another appearance and children will have the chance to share their special wish.

Solana Beach Fire Department Toy Drive

The Fire Department is hosting their annual Holiday Toy Drive to bring smiles to the children of local Marine Corp families, and your generosity can make all the difference! They are collecting new, unwrapped toys for children of all ages, from toddlers to teens. Whether it’s a cuddly teddy bear or a cool sketchbook, every gift helps brighten a local United States Marine Corp family's holiday. Toys go directly to the Edson Range Chapel to distribute during their annual Christmas party. Donations will be accepted now through December 23rd.

Missed an update? 

Check out previous

Weekly Updates

on our website!

Download the Solana Beach App

to easily report issues!

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