The La Jolla Community Planning Association (LJCPA) is currently entangled in an lawsuit with members Michael Morton and Bob Whitney over the March 2014 election, where Morton was duly elected but not seated. Due to this lawsuit, the LJCPA appointed a three person ad-hoc committee, Cindy Greatrex, Ray Weiss and Rob Whittemore (who later resigned), to review Article III Section 3 of their bylaws. The goal was to amend the LJCPA bylaws to prevent new candidates with a single vote, from defeating termed-out candidates with 2/3’s of the votes, as permissible by City Council Policy 600-24 and the current LJCPA bylaws, to promote turnover among the LJCPA Trustees.
On December 4, 2014 the, now two person ad-hoc committee, presented their proposed bylaw amendment. The LJCPA Trustees considered the amendment, and after several failed motions, approved a revised amendment by an 8-5-1 vote. The “draft” amendment was than sent to City Staff for their preliminary review and comments. At the May and June LJCPA monthly meetings, Mr. Whitney asked Mr. LaCava if there had been any update or response from City Staff to the proposed bylaw amendment approved in December by the LJCPA. Here is LaCava’s response;
Disappointed with LaCava’s response Whitney submitted a Public Records Request to the City of San Diego for copies of any and all written or electronically transmitted correspondence between City Staff and the LJCPA regarding the proposed bylaw amendment on June 30, 2015. (Click here to see Public Records Request)
At the LJCPA July meeting, LaCava unexpectedly stepped down as President, but stayed on the board as a Trustee. First Vice President Cindy Greatrex assumed leadership of the meeting. Whitney, once again inquired, has the City Staff responded to the proposed bylaw amendment? Listen to the contradictory responses from, Greatrex “Not that I am aware of”, LaCava, “No, those were not submitted to the City…..” and Ms. Karen Busey’s (San Diego City Planner) “It my understanding Besty McCullough had look at it (the proposed amendment) on behalf of City Planning……. It’s not something the City Attorney would sign off on and it’s not something City Planning Management would agree is consistent with City Council Policy 600-24 or the LJCPA bylaws.”
The documents obtained thru Whitney’s Public Records Request confirm there have been many emails and at least one meeting between LaCava, Greatrex and City Staff to discuss and negotiate the LJCPA’s proposed bylaw amendment. The documents additionally reveal that LJCPA member and retired attorney John Berol has also reviewed and commented on the bylaw amendment? The documents similarly confirm despite Ms. Greatrex claim, at the August LJCPA meeting, “I was not in the email chain” this is simply not true. (Click here to see Public Records Request documents).
The community has a simple request of the LJCPA Trustees, while conducting the business of our community, please be open and transparent. (Note the gentleman in the front row typing is the reporter for the La Jolla Light?)