His “No. 1 priority,” Superintendent Brian Ketterer said, would be beautifying the eroded stretch of coastal bluffs between Pine and Tamarack avenues.

The bluffs, between the Carlsbad Boulevard sidewalk and the beach-level seawalk, have been long considered an eyesore. There are dead plants, squirrel holes and large patches of bare earth. Clumps of non-native, “invasive” species such as the ice plant — a mat-forming succulent — and pampas and Arundo grasses compete for space with struggling native plants such as San Diego sunflower.

The condition of Carlsbad’s beachfront has long been a source of conflict between city officials and the California State Parks department, which controls much of the city’s seven miles of coastline. In recent years, residents have lobbied the Carlsbad City Council for services such as beach lifeguards and better trash collection. City officials have said it’s not their job — beach property south of the downtown Village area is under the state’s control, and the land to the north is privately owned.

City Council members repeated that message when Carrigan made his pitch in early December.

Ketterer, who assumed the State Parks superintendent job in September, said that he realized the relationship between the city and state hadn’t been great.

“I think part of my job is to mend those fences,” he said.

As a peace offering, he has obtained two grants to get the beautification effort started. In October, he got $2,500 for a landscape architect and in early December he received $5,000 for plants and tools. That’s just a small part of the estimated $500,000 that’s needed overhaul the whole region — but it’s a start, he said.

The $5,000 grant, plus any other money he can collect in the weeks to come, will be used to fund the Earth Day planting.