Headlining discussion at La Jolla Shores Association’s July 12 meeting was advisory group review of Fourth of July weekend’s impact on Kellogg Park, which included reports from police and lifeguards.
San Diego Lifeguard Lt. Rich Stropky noted beaches were “jam-packed” and filled to capacity as usual on this year’s extra-long Fourth of July weekend,” while concluding it was a relatively “safe holiday weekend.”
Stropky shared some stats for La Jolla Shores.
“On Sunday with about 25,000 people on the beach lifeguards responded to 300 prevention acts, 10 medical aids and two water rescues,” Stropky said contrasting that with Tuesday, July 4th when there were an estimated 40,000 people at the Shores with lifeguards performing 500 prevention acts, 30 medical aids and two rescues.”
Though this Fourth of July weekend was relatively uneventful for major response incidents, Stropky noted: “we had quite a few cliff rescues with (hang) gliders, as well as helicopters rescuing stranded hikers.”
Lt. Erwin Manansala and Lt. Larry Hessselgesser from San Diego Police Department’s Northern Division, as well as deputy city attorney Caroline Song, also appeared to address law enforcement issues on the Fourth.
Manansala said there were an estimated 900,000 plus visitors to San Diego beaches over the holiday weekend. He added more than half of the 430 citations issued by police were alcohol-related.
“We fielded 1,200 radio calls during the four-day period,” said Manansala about the heavy workload.
Song introduced herself as a “neighborhood prosecutor.” She talked about the Instant Justice program, wherein select non-traffic infractions or misdemeanors can be punishable by beach clean-up community service, which leaves offenders’ arrest records clean.
“That program can be offered to offenders, mostly those charged with open containers, dogs off-leash or drunk in public, offering them the opportunity to do four hours of trash cleanup on July 5th instead of going to court,” Song said.
While the understaffed San Diego Police Department noted its beach enforcement teams had difficulty enforcing regulations prohibiting “enclosed tents,” LJSA chair Nick LeBeouf said some regulations were being enforced.
“A friend of mine got an an off-leash ticket because they didn’t have their leash in their hands,” he pointed out.
In other action:
• LJSA board member Janie Emerson said the City Council’s vote on the downscaled Hillel Jewish Student Center project was postponed this week until Oct. 2 because it was determined the meeting hadn’t been properly noticed. Hillel plans to establish a temporary Center for Jewish Life at 8976 Cliffridge Ave., until a nearly 6,500-square-foot permanent facility is constructed on a vacant lot at 9009 La Jolla Scenic Drive North. The project has been opposed for more than a decade by the adjoining single-family neighborhood who believe the project is out of character with the surrounding area, and that it would cause traffic and parking issues.
• Mauricio Medina from District 1 Council member Barbara Bry’s office said a proposal to rename La Jolla Shores boardwalk Walter Munk Way, in honor of the famed Scripps oceanographer, will be on the City Council’s consent agenda soon. Munk turns 100 this October.
LJSA will be dark in August and will next meet at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at SIO Building T-29 on the Scripps campus off Naga Way from La Jolla Shores Drive.