The city of San Diego’s redistricting was the talk of three civic meetings in La Jolla this past week: the city of San Diego’s Redistricting Commission’s last of nine pre-map public hearings on May 11, the La Jolla Shores Association’s monthly meeting on May 11 and the La Jolla Town Council meeting on May 12. Redistricting is a result of a San Diego city charter requirement that establishes a Redistricting Commission each decade. This commission listens to and implements plans that will redefine the boundaries of each City Council district in order to account for changes in population. This decade is unique because the city will add a ninth district and council seat. The last time a seat was added was in the 1960s. About 140 people attended Wednesday’s Redistricting Commission meeting at the La Jolla Library, said Joe LaCava, former president of both the La Jolla Community Planning Association and the Bird Rock Community Council. LaCava leads the Coast & Canyons plan, a proposal to unite the neighborhoods of La Jolla, Carmel Valley, Del Mar Mesa, Fairbanks Country Club, Flower Hill, Pacific Highlands Ranch, Torrey Pines, Torrey Hills and University City into District 1. “What I took away from [the] meeting was, everyone that attended from the current District 1 is in approval of Coast & Canyons,” LaCava said. “That is somewhat unique. Other public meetings … showed public disagreements. This was the first time you heard everyone in the meeting saying, ‘This is what we want.’” Under the plan, all of La Jolla and University City would be united in District 1, rather than split, as they currently are. The plan would also remove from District 1 Rancho Penasquitos, Black Mountain Ranch and Torrey Highlands — communities that are already seeking to move to an inland district, LaCava said. “The target population for the new district is approximately 144,000 [people],” said LaCava. “Our Coast & Canyons plan has a population based on the U.S. Census, 147,000, and we believe that to be an acceptable and allowed deviation from the law.” One group with a vision that conflicts with Coast & Canyons is the Asian Pacific American Coalition, whose proposed District 9 would include a portion of University City, thus splitting it. That’s the last thing La Jolla Shores Association wants, said chairwoman Audrey Keane at the group’s meeting last Wednesday. “University City supports us and is part of our district,” she said, “so we’d like to keep them all together.” The association motioned to support the Coast & Canyons plan. Last Thursday, LaCava said, the La Jolla Town Council also unanimously endorsed the Coast & Canyons plan. Civic report This month’s La Jolla Shores Association meeting, held on May 11, was lively and informative. Here are the main points: • Construction on the J. Craig Venter Institute Project will begin in July, said UCSD representative Mitt Phegley. Three buildings will fill the area next to Allen Field, with a goal of bridging the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, UCSD and the J. Craig Venter Institute. The project is expected to be complete in late fall 2012, and will allow access for pedestrians. • The summer beach police team is now here until September. They are an extra squad patrolling from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and weekends, said police representative Alan Alvarez. • The board welcomed two new members. Brandon Price, who has lived in La Jolla for nine years, owns an apartment complex behind Piatti’s. “I love La Jolla Shores and want to be active in the community to shape the future,” he said. The second member, Jamie Emerson, said, “My family’s been very involved in the community. I’ve been involved in all sorts of public activities. I want to get more involved in the community.” • This meeting marked new chairwoman Audrey Keane’s first full meeting. • La Jolla Shores Drive will be undergoing a tubular makeover from Labor Day to Memorial Day in 2012, said San Diego civil engineer Jerry Barca. The job includes installing a 16-inch water transmission ring and 42 smaller pipes to serve homes on the east side of La Jolla Shores Drive. The project will cost $1.75 million and spans 3,900 feet. The city will replace cast iron water mains installed in 1954, which erode from salt, with PVC pipes. • After seven years, the restroom at Cliffridges Park is complete, said parks and beaches representative Mary Coakley. “We’ll need to have a celebratory flush,” said one board member. • The council approved the La Jolla Cove Swim Club’s Pier to Cove and Tour of Buoys swimming events. Pier to Cove, in its 10th year, begins at 9 a.m. north of Scripps pier on Saturday, June 25. Athletes will swim for 90 minutes and then have lunch at La Jolla Cove. Tour of Buoys, in its 15th year, will be on Sunday, Aug. 14, and also starts at 9 a.m. Athletes swim 1.5 miles, except for elite swimmers, who wade through five miles of Pacific Ocean. About 200 participants are expected for each event. • The council proposed two motions regarding city redistricting. The first motion supports La Jolla being joined within one district. The second supports University City being included in the same district as La Jolla.