La Jolla reportedly fiscally capable of independence At the La Jolla Town Council meeting on Sept. 8, Cindy Greatrex, Independent La Jolla president and LJTC treasurer, announced progress made by Independent La Jolla — a membership-based civic organization that is dedicated to making La Jolla an independent city. “We have had the feeling over the years that for all the taxation money that we bring to the city of San Diego, we don’t necessarily see a mirror of services coming back into 90237,” she said. “There’s nothing terrible happening, but there’s a feeling among the population that there is enough intellectual capital in an existing village to become a self-governed city.” According to a recent study, La Jolla is fiscally capable of becoming its own city, she said. Economic and Planning Systems — a land economics consulting firm in Sacramento — took into account factors including taxation revenue the village pays to the city, demographics, public works, real estate economy, transient occupancy taxes, sales taxes, property taxes and other quantitative facts to determine that La Jolla is, in fact, fiscally capable of seceding from the city. “The fiscal review and analysis was not based on opinion or on any input from Independent La Jolla,” said Greatrex. “It was based on absolute facts, figures, hard data.” The analysis also took into account “revenue neutrality” — a caveat stating that in order for a village to secede, not only does it have to be fiscally solvent, it cannot negatively affect the city it secedes from. Greatrex confirmed this also held true in the study because La Jolla does not have large used-car lots or municipal transportation hubs such as airports, light rails or trolleys — San Diego’s largest sources of tax revenue. “Are our property taxes higher than other villages? Absolutely. Our sales tax is pretty much the same,” she said. “What you have to understand, it’s never just the property taxes that you’re looking at. It’s a lot of things that are coming together in one number.” If La Jolla secedes, the village will have to pay revenue mitigation payments to San Diego in the amount of $4.6 million over an eight-year period for services provided to La Jollans. Even with the mitigation payments, however, Greatrex said that there would be a net surplus of $1.3 million for La Jolla. The revenue mitigation payments are based on the analysis as it stands. Certain numbers, however, including the transient-occupancy tax and sales tax, must be updated before the feasibility study is sent to the Local Agency Formation Commission for review and approval. For more information about Independent La Jolla, visit www.independentlajolla.org or call (858) 368-4110. Beautification efforts continue on Oct. 1 The La Jolla Parks and Beaches Committee and landscape architect Jim Neri will host a “Beautification of Coast Boulevard Walkway at Children’s Pool Park, Casa Beach” community workshop on Oct. 1 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Children’s Pool lifeguard station. At the workshop, La Jollans can become oriented with the site and the history of the La Jolla Coastline Plan, discuss options for improvements, suggest funding sources and view design plans for the new lifeguard tower and restroom facilities. “This area of Coast Boulevard — all of Coast Boulevard — is such a treasure to us,” said Phyllis Minick, La Jolla Parks and Beaches Committee treasurer and sponsor of the workshop. “If you’ve ever been to Coast Boulevard in front of the lifeguard station any weekend day that is sunny, you’re confronted with crowds of people, baby strollers, hawkers, tables, signs, all kinds of things that really shouldn’t be in that exquisite spot. That place should be clean and tranquil.” For more information, contact [email protected]. Poker night in La Jolla The LJTC will host its first monthly La Jolla Charity Poker Tournament at Hennessey’s on Oct. 4 to raise funds for the LJTC and nonprofit organization Voices for Children. The winner of the Texas Hold’em tournament each month will have the opportunity to choose the charity of his or her choice to benefit at the next poker night. For those unfamiliar with the rules and strategy of the game, Hennessey’s and the LJTC invites guests to come early for a pre-game dinner and beginner lesson at 6 p.m., followed by the tournament from 7 to 10 p.m. The buy-in is $20 for $100 in chips with unlimited re-buys. The La Jolla Charity Poker Tournament will take place on the first Tuesday of each month from October until June. For more information, contact John Weinstein at [email protected] or call (858) 456-4995. Other news • LJTC secretary Sonia Olivas asked for volunteers from the Town Council to help with the LJTC booth at the La Jolla Farmers Market on the first Sunday each month. The LJTC booth provides community members with a platform to learn more about the Town Council and its members, find out ways to get involved in the community and provide information or contacts for specific concerns or issues within the community. • The LJTC approved all items on the consent agenda, which included: changes to the Riford Center’s façade, paint and new ADA access ramp; new signage at 1227 Prospect St.; development of a tennis court at 9721 Blackgold Road.; and street closures for the La Jolla Christmas Parade and Holiday Festival on Dec. 4 and the La Jolla Art and Wine Festival from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2. • The next SunSetter mixer will be held at 5 p.m. today, Sept. 15, at Karl Strauss Brewery, located at Herschel and Wall streets. The cost is $5 for members, $10 for nonmembers and free for new members who sign up and pay dues at the door. • The LJTC approved a proposal to create a new bylaws committee to update and improve the council’s current bylaws. Second vice president John Weinstein recommended that trustees Peter Wulff, Steve Haskins, Cindy Greatrex and Michael Dershowitz serve on the committee. • Olivas reported the LJTC fundraiser event “Day at the Races” was successful in raising $655.66 after expenses and gaining several new members.