In May, La Jolla Village Merchants Association voted unanimously to endorse an attempt to use $400,000 in already-collected coastal access and parking funds to pay for a bird and marine mammal waste clean-up at La Jolla Cove.
The merchants group also advocated requiring groups hosting community special events to provide extra trash cans to help with clean-up efforts.
Association president CA Marengo said the vexing problem of stench at the Cove caused by waste build-up continues. He noted the association has recently met with representatives from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as well as Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins’ office in attempts to get the odious problem addressed.
Marengo held up T-shirts that call attention to the problem showing humans — and sea lions — with clothespins holding their noses shut.
“It really affects businesses,” Marengo said. “Hopefully, we’ll find a solution soon.”
Marengo pointed out there is an existing fund, derived from developer impact fees collected over the years, that could conceivably be diverted for use in cleaning up the Cove stench. Those funds are earmarked for coastal-access improvements.
“Those coastal funds are kind of dead,” Marengo said, “because they’re supposed to provide coastal access in the form of a shuttle, which would be exhausted very quickly if we did that. But those funds could be used to clean up the rocks (where sea lions haul out).”
Marengo noted there’s at least one major hurdle to be overcome: convincing the California Coastal Commission that using the funds for coastal clean-up would qualify as a coastal-access improvement.
In his president’s report, Marengo also asked the board to endorse his writing a letter on behalf of the group, which would make a change in requirements for clean-up after special events by hosting groups.
“We’ve noticed lots of trash around after special events,” he said, “overflow that isn’t picked up until Mondays, two days after special events. We’d like to write a letter to the city’s special events department asking that permits require that extra trash cans be placed throughout the Village to handle the overflow. We just want to make sure it’s part of the permit process.”
The group voted in favor of a motion to support requiring more trash cans for special events.
In other action:
• Sarah Fields introduced herself as state Sen. Marty Block’s new La Jolla representative. Her email is [email protected].
• Association board member Nancy Warwick announced that the next La Jolla Town Council special forum on art and culture in La Jolla will be held Thursday, June 4 from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. at Warwick’s Bookstore, at 7812 Girard Ave. The program will include guest speakers representing La Jolla Music Society, La Jolla Symphony & Chorus, La Jolla Playhouse, The Stuart Collection, the La Jolla Historical Society, Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, UCSD’s ArtPower! and the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego.
• Marengo gave kudos to City Council President Sherri Lightner for removing foliage along Torrey Pines Road heading into town, saying this has significantly opened up ocean views and has had one other positive unexpected side effect. “I’ve noticed that cars have slowed down to look at the view, which is a reminder that they’re close to the Village,” he said.