LJCPA requests clarity on Brown Act from city Rob Whittemore, LJCPA vice president, requested that the committee invite an expert from the city attorney’s office to a future LJCPA meeting to make a presentation about the Brown Act and the appropriate submission of public information. “There is a lot of case law that’s involved. It’s more complex than just reading the statute,” he said. “It seems to me that it would be worth our time to have an expert from the city attorney’s office come and answer questions.” Other members of the committee agreed that clarity on actions with Brown Act implications is important for the LJCPA and its subcommittee members. “It’s unfortunate, I happen to be old enough to remember the days of McCarthyism when you were guilty by accusation. When somebody accused you of being a communist, that was enough, and that’s the way it has become with the Brown Act in this group,” said LJCPA trustee David Little. “I think the Brown Act is good sense. It’s our sunshine law, and we shouldn’t prevent ourselves from doing business by putting the fear of violating the Brown Act to the point that we can’t function, and that’s what it looks like it’s becoming.” Little said he is willing to take requests from the public wishing to view any emails that have transpired among the trustees. LJCPA appeals decision on Spindrift residence The LJCPA motioned to file an appeal to a hearing officer’s decision on Aug. 3 to approve a project that would demolish an existing residence and construct a 3,475-square-foot, single-family residence at 1912 Spindrift Drive. “Throughout the city of San Diego, the ordinance says that we have to create front yards and that we have to set buildings back from the front property line,” said trustee Phil Merton. “And it says that we are required to provide parking spaces for dwellings and that those required parking areas may not be in the front yard. That’s not allowed anywhere else in the city. This project proposes to do something that would not be allowed anywhere else in a single-family residential zone in the city of San Diego.” A hearing officer approved a variance for the project that would allow front yard parking. “This is setting a precedent opening the door to future applicants to say, ‘I want to put my parking right in the front yard,’” Merton said. “I think the hearing officer erred when he decided that the project was in compliance with the community plan.” Another complaint made by the committee regarding non-compliance with the La Jolla Shores Community Plan was a zero-foot setback on one side of the property, making the building adjacent to the neighboring property line. In other news… • The 2011 La Jolla Art and Wine Festival will take place on Oct. 1 and 2 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Girard Avenue. The event will feature 100 fine artists, a food court, live music and other activities. Proceeds from the event will benefit La Jolla, Torrey Pines and Bird Rock elementary schools. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under, military, seniors 65 and older, and free for children 2 and under. • LJCPA trustee Dan Allen announced a La Jolla Parks and Beaches Committee decision to request that the city provide analyses of bluff stability and drainage, a map of the public right-of-way and an analysis of traffic safety and fire department access issues to identify possible constraints to additional parking proposed on Coast Walk. • LJCPA trustee Dan Courtney urged the board to support the installation of the traffic signal in Segment 4 of the Torrey Pines Corridor project for the safety of residents getting in and out of their driveways. • President Tony Crisafi praised the work of the applicants and members of the board for their efforts on bringing the Kooklani residences I and II into compliance. “This is a good example of how a project can move through the community review and work well,” he said of the process. • The LJCPA voted unanimously to approve the Herschel Avenue Mixed-Use Lofts — a project proposal to create five residential condos and one commercial unit at an existing commercial space on 7844 Herschel Ave. In city news… • A final redistricting map will be approved by the City Council on Aug. 25, reuniting La Jolla, Torrey Pines, Torrey Hills, Carmel Valley and University City under one council district. • The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce endorsed District 1 City Councilwoman Sherri Lightner’s comprehensive water policy plan last week. The policy, one that would update the city’s outdated plan, will be heard by the City Council in September. • “San Diego 311,” a new phone application for smart phones, helps citizens report problems such as graffiti, potholes, overgrown trees and abandoned vehicles. Since the launch of the application in May, there have been 120 closed cases. In university news… • Construction on the three-story, 40,000-square-foot Marine Eco system Sensing, Observation and Modeling (MESOM) Laboratory will begin the third week of August on a 1.2-acre site at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Expected completion of the project is set for October 2012. • The University House project, the proposed rehabilitation of an existing 11,400-square-foot site in La Jolla Farms that serves as the Chancellor’s official residence and a venue for community meetings and social events, will be heard on Aug. 10 at the Coastal Commission meeting in Watsonville, Calif.