Don’t decertify La Jolla’s planning group

The following is a copy of a letter sent to members of the San Diego City Council. (See story in this issue for an update from the hearing.)

I write to you out of concern over the proposed decertification of the La Jolla Community Planning Association (LJCPA). On April 24, 2007, this issue will come before the City Council as Item 331 on the agenda. I urge you to
oppose the motion to decertify.
Over the past two years, the citizens of La Jolla have fought tirelessly to
wrest control over the development and planning of their neighborhoods from self-interested profiteers who aimed to over-build La Jolla without
consideration for the well-being of the greater community. That fight
included taking back community control of the LJCPA, which had been
dominated by developers, architects and builders. The community’s voice had been silenced as a consequence of a lack of representation at the LJCPA, largely because of the use of onerous membership requirements, proxy voting and procedural irregularities allowed by the association’s former bylaws. A change was needed.
In response to this need for change, a sub-committee of the LJCPA was formed to review the bylaws and recommend changes. Over 20 LJCPA members came together to evaluate, deliberate, vet and debate new bylaw proposals, and after an enormous effort, reached consensus on a new set of bylaws. These new bylaws were then evaluated, deliberated, vetted and debated before the entirety of the association’s members, and were ultimately approved by the members, not once, but twice. These deliberations were done in a public forum, in accordance with the strictures set forth in the Brown Act, and were at all times attended by a representative of the City Attorney’s Office who regularly provided input and guidance when asked or needed. (It is worth mentioning that membership enrollment and attendance over the past two years have been at historic highs.)
Now, La Jolla’s planning group wants to go forward under its new bylaws with the job of better planning for the wellbeing of this unique and historic
beach-side community. However, while the City Attorney was twice attempting to get the City Council to calendar a hearing to approve the new bylaws (for which the City Council apparently had no time), the City Council found time to calendar a motion to decertify the LJCPA. This is a drastic and unprecedented move that has the entire community stunned and upset. The implications of decertification are not only ominous for La Jolla, but for any community within San Diego which seeks to protect its quality of life.
Community involvement in planning and development decisions should be encouraged, not punished. Please oppose decertification of the La Jolla Community Planning Association on April 24th.

Joseph G. Dicks
La Jolla Community Planning Association member
La Jolla Shores Association board member