A proposal to explore revenue-producing alternatives, including the installation of parking meters in the Village, resurrected a simmering community debate at La Jolla Village Merchants Association’s (LJVMA’s) August meeting.
Board member Nancy Warwick was defeated in her attempt to amend a motion brought by board colleague and attorney Mark Krasner to “research various ways to increase the revenues of LJVMA. Her attempt was defeated 5-4, with LJVMA chair CA Marengo voting to break the tie.
“I would exclude discussion of paid, on-street parking,” said Warwick, noting that her reasons included “a lack of community support for it in the Village only six years ago and the negative impact it would have on some businesses like restaurants or hotels that rely on valet (parking).”
Krasner said tax-funded mechanisms he’d like to see include a Maintenance Assessment District (MAD), a (PBID) Property Based Improvement District or any other revenue stream “that can further our purposes in a much stronger manner.”
“I think we’ll chase away customers with our general lack of public transportation,” warned Warwick.
Noting he was neutral on the paid parking issue, board member Trenton Bonner pointed out that “business is changing in our community, and we should always keep an open mind, and parking is something that we should consider.”
Past LJVMA president Phil Coller said he would frown on “any revenue-generation plan that will produce animosity between the residents and the businesses.”
Board member James Niebling noted that Krasner’s motion was merely to initiate study on revenue-generating ideas, not take action on them.
“It’s a new day,” he said. “We should leave no stone unturned. We should keep the (paid-parking) option on the table.”
First District Councilwoman Sherri Lightner said city policy now requires a 45-55 split between community and city on paid-parking revenues. “The city gets the bigger portion,” she said.
“I think we need to look at this (revenue generation),” said Marengo, noting he wasn’t endorsing paid parking, merely advocating its study. “If anything, it might confirm what happened six years ago and we’ll move on,” Marengo said.
In other action:
• Marengo noted that the stench has returned to the Cove area from collected pinniped waste and that it might be time for the city to once again cleanse the area as it’s done previously.
• Wednesday, Sept. 24, has been designated as La Jolla Day at Petco Park. The San Diego Padres are playing the Colorado Rockies at 6:10 p.m., and LJVMA is offering a 50 percent discount on ticket prices, with $5 from each ticket being reinvested by the BID back into clean-up projects in the Village. For more information, call Sheila Fortune at (858) 454-5718 or Brad Dwight at (619) 795-5117.