Highlights of La Jolla Shores Association’s (LJSA) June meeting included bon voyage to an old friend, dedication of a new landmark shade structure, robust discussion of divers working with the community to resolve crowding and funding issues, as well as a call for the hiring of a ranger at Kellogg Park. The advisory group feted Milt Phegley, the community’s liaison with UCSD, who is retiring after more than 20 years of service. “It was great to be able to develop information and outreach programs and try to keep the lines of communication between the campus and the community open and active,” Phegley said. “My primary purpose was to take university projects and issues out to the community, then listen to what the hot topics and community concerns were, and to bring those back into the university process.” Early on in his assignment, Phegley said he was asked, “Why are you making yourself a lightning rod?” To which he replied, “A lightning strike is fast, quick and direct. You really know what it means, as opposed to some sleeping wave out there building that suddenly bombards you, and you don’t know what hit you — or how to react.” Phegley said the community will be in good hands, no matter how his position is ultimately filled. He will be moving to Eureka in Northern California where he is originally from. LJSA board member Mary Coakley had some good news to report. “The shade sail for J.J. [Kellogg Park whale sculpture] is up and J.J. is clean and fencing around it has been removed,” she said of the park’s unofficial beach mascot, which required shading to make it safe for children to play on. Coakley noted the shade structure project took more than 13 months from start to finish, and is likely to end up costing slightly more than $40,000. Another issue has emerged with the relief map of La Jolla Shores in Kellogg Park depicting common fish along the La Jolla coastline, Coakley said. The inlaid reference guide is becoming worn by foot traffic. Therefore, she said, park users are being strongly encouraged to travel around it to access the ocean. The meeting’s central focus, however, was on issues surrounding commercial interests, like ice cream trucks, divers and other user groups utilizing Kellogg Park for their own purposes without compensating the community for crowding, trash and parking problems they contribute to. Shores resident Charlie Williams complained of the threat to emergency beach access by trucks used by divers, kayakers and others on busy weekends. “Half the beach in front of Sea Lodge Hotel is taken up running hundreds of boats through the neighborhood, which is ruining one of the best assets this community has,” Williams said. “It’s turned into a circus.” Audrey Keane, LJSA chair, pointed out the challenges of finding harmony between commercial ventures and residents of the beach community. “The question has been raised of how commercial operations on the beach have been regulated,” she said. “Whether that be ice cream trucks or kayakers or scuba businesses — it’s still commercial efforts.” Small-business owner and dive instructor Michael Timm cautioned against regulating scuba divers using Kellogg Park with a request for proposal process, like that in place limiting kayak use. He said that would squeeze out smaller operators in favor of larger ones creating a monopoly. Coakley suggested one solution might be to have scuba and kayak groups give voluntary donations for a fund to hire a ranger to police user groups at Kellogg Park. After someone replied that District 1 City Councilwoman Sherri Lightner’s office had made it clear there is no immediate funding available for a Kellogg Park ranger, Williams replied, “She’s an elected official. She works for you.” In other parts of the world, Timm said, marine park fees are charged to user groups to defer costs associated with enforcing rules and regulations governing commercial interests. Shores resident Pat Granger noted park user groups have gotten so large “they overwhelm.” “It’s the cruise ships and the hotel bookings that have turned this community into the entertainment zone of San Diego,” said Williams, claiming that, at Lindbergh Field, kayaking at La Jolla Shores is “the No. 1 thing that’s advertised.” “What we need to discuss is a master plan,” said LJSA board member and surf school operator Coco Tihanyi, who warned that other businesses “will be popping up using Kellogg Park for commercial purposes” without one.