Scott Peters, San Diego City Council president and District 1 councilman, said that because La Jolla’s parking board has come to a standstill on the contentious paid on0street parking issue, he has decided to “flush the process” that’s created so much controversy inside the community, easing the minds of many local merchants and residents opposed to the plan.
“The interesting mix of businesses in the village area [that] developed over many years will continue to evolve,” said Darcy Ashley, a member of nopaidparking.org and an alternate on the La Jolla Community Parking District Advisory Board. “The dramatic negative effect that would have resulted from the installation of paid parking has been avoided ” it’s terrific news.”
“I think we have to take a step back from it,” Peters said Friday, adding that La Jollans have misinterpreted his position on the issue.
“My goal was not to come up with any specific solution,” he said, explaining that when the parking board was first created, he had a number of questions he thought the community could agree on. “The process has come to a screeching halt.”
Recently, the citizens group La Jollans For Clean Government sent documents to City Attorney Michael Aguirre’s office, asking La Jolla’s parking board to comply with the Fair Political Practices Commission by filling out financial disclosure forms. But Peters said the parking board shouldn’t fill out any financial forms because the group is only advisory. These differing positions brought the parking board to a standstill.
Aguirre said the city attorney decides the financial disclosure issue; the form is an internal control the board is legally required to fill out. After examining the parking board’s relationship with the San Diego City Council, Aguirre said, “under the Brown Act,” his office concluded it was “more ceremonial,” meaning the council has a history of approving what the board puts before it.
“I am skeptical that we can fix [the parking board],” Peters said.
Steve Haskins, attorney for La Jollans for Clean Government, said his group will likely refrain from any additional court proceedings. The group’s only goal was transparency while the parking board was moving forward, he said.
“La Jollans for Clean Government is happy that city officials are coming to their senses,” Haskins said. “It’s clear many of the things done by the parking board were illegal, and by starting over they have a chance to do things right this time.”
Peters said because the community and the parking board can’t move forward, he will “flush” La Jolla’s process, which will consist of going to the mayor about alternatives, such as seeking revenue from parking enforcement, he said.
“There just doesn’t seem to be much enthusiasm for paid parking right now,” Peters said.
“It is terrific news that Scott Peters is supporting people who want to preserve what is good about La Jolla,” Ashley said. “Caring people spoke from the heart and took action to keep our streets free for everyone.”
It seems Aguirre, Peters and most La Jollans now agree that paid on-street parking has fizzled in the village of La Jolla.
“There’s no one that wants [paid parking] in La Jolla,” Aguirre said. “There are a few loyalists that want to impose it.”
