The La Jolla Shores Association (LJSA) was updated on the latest at City Hall, heard a proposal for an ocean “puppet show” and debated creating an educational plaque on surfing etiquette at its September meeting.
The group also heard that La Jolla Shores Lifeguard Tower is now complete, and that an official ceremony dedicating it will be held Friday, Oct. 11 at 9:30 a.m. on the Shores boardwalk.
District 1 City Councilwoman Sherri Lightner dropped in to talk about a new ordinance being discussed to eliminate ocean-polluting plastic bags. She also touched on a couple of other citywide issues in the post-Filner era now that an election is being planned to replace the former mayor.
“Five hundred million single-use plastic bags are distributed annually in San Diego and only 3 percent of those are recycled,” Lightner said, adding doing without plastic bags in other municipalities has proven it can be done “without burdening businesses or residents.”
Lightner said a surf camp request-for-permit process is under way and that she’s heard LJSA’s request that a way be found to have at least part of funding derived from camp permitting fees be diverted back into the Shores community.
“Our office will update you as more information becomes available,” Lightner said.
The councilwoman added she would be hosting a meeting with T.B Penick & Sons, Inc., which built The Map at Kellogg Park, to “find a mutually agreeable solution to The Map situation.”
Nonprofit Friends of La Jolla Shores sued T.B. Penick & Sons, Inc., and Shaw & Sons, Inc., on June 20, alleging fraud, deceit, misrepresentation and negligence. The lawsuit was filed over The Map, a 2,300-square-foot plaza depicting marine life at La Jolla Shores. The Map has seriously deteriorated since the two contractors completed the educational project in September 2008. Tom Dugdale of La Jolla Playhouse clued the advisory group in on a request for performances to be held Oct. 3-6 at the north end of the Shores beach by renowned puppeteer Basil Twist.
Dugdale said the theatrical performances are part of the Playhouse’s Without Walls program, allowing unorthodox performances outside traditional theater space.
“The puppets come out of the water onto the shore and interact with kids and passersby,” Dugdale said, adding the performance is done to amplified musical accompaniment.
The group voted unanimously in favor of the show with the provision, suggested by chair Tim Lucas, that sound be directed toward the water and away from nearby residences. The group debated at length a proposal for an educational plaque on surfing etiquette be placed on a restroom building at Kellogg Park before deferring final action on it to a future meeting.
A sample sign was presented showing proper and improper ways for surfers to catch waves in a lineup.
“A large percentage of surfers would very much like to have something up that speaks to surfing etiquette,” said LJSA boardmember Mary Coakley Munk.
Others agreed.
“It’s a nice learning tool. We always have new surfers,” said Terry Kraszewski from the audience.
Not everyone was for the sign, however.
“If we do this for surfers, we’ll have to do this for other groups,” boardmember Janie Emerson said, noting the sample sign shown “looks like a cartoon. There’s a difference between making it attractive and making it effective.”