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Carlsbad honors longtime volunteers Bonnie and Gunnar Biggs and Maureen Simons as Citizens of the Year
Summary
The Carlsbad City Council recognized community volunteers Bonnie and Gunnar Biggs and Maureen Simons with its annual Citizen of the Year awards during a ceremonial segment of the council meeting; no policy actions or votes were taken on the item.
The Carlsbad City Council presented its Citizen of the Year awards to Bonnie and Gunnar Biggs and Maureen Simons during a ceremonial portion of the council meeting. The presentations highlighted volunteers' long‑term service to local arts, literacy and charitable organizations; the city did not take any policy actions related to the awards.
The council recognized Bonnie and Gunnar Biggs for more than 30 years of community involvement, citing Gunnar’s performances and music education contributions and Bonnie’s library and literacy work. Council remarks noted Gunnar’s concerts at local venues including the Dove Library, Carlsbad Senior Center and St. Michael’s Church, and recalled 24 porch concerts the couple hosted during the COVID pandemic. The mayor and council members praised the Biggses’ volunteer visits with therapy dogs through programs such as Love on a Leash, including visits to libraries, senior communities and schools and a Paws to Read initiative at local libraries and the Carlsbad Learning Center.
Maureen Simons was honored for long‑running service across local civic and charitable organizations. The council identified her leadership roles with the Carlsbad High Noon Rotary, Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation, Mitchell Thorpe Foundation, Carlsbad Republican Women’s Federation, Assistance League of North Coast and the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, and noted her organizing the St. Patrick’s dinner dance and continuing work with her church’s funeral ministry. Council members credited Simons with advancing volunteer efforts that support children’s needs through tutoring, clothing and other Assistance League programs.
Council members offered personal remarks and congratulations; the ceremony included brief remarks by the honorees and a group photo and reception following the formal recognitions. No motions, votes or formal council actions were recorded for this ceremonial agenda item.
