For years our community has been and continues to complain about the La Jolla Community Planning Association’s voting irregularities, Brown Act and City Council Policy 600-24 violations. In a effort to re-establish the creditability, integrity and transparency of our community group we will post ongoing public conversation regarding how the LJCPA conducts the business of our community.
1. In 2006 our current Councilperson Sherri Lightner expressed complaints to the City Council regarding the operation of the LJCPA. Guest what, nothing has changed. Members of our community group are up to the same old shenanigans in 2014. Current Trustees and former Trustees proclaimed a proposed amendment of the LJCPA bylaws is not the correct method to resolve the ongoing election debacle. Former Trustee David Little asked the group to seat duly elected Michael Morten and requested Joe La Cava to step down. Trustee Ray Weiss agreed Michael Morten was properly elected and Joe La Cava was not. Trustee Fran Zimmerman asserted the March election was tainted with “chicanery” and “ill-regularities”. Trustee Janie Emerson, believes it is unconscionable to tinker with or change the LJCPA bylaws to correct election errors. Trustee Rob Whittemore resigned, “Regrettably the systematic corruption of the planning group has taken hold and I prefer to watch the debacle from afar” he told the La Jolla Light. Former Trustee Jim Fitzgerald clarified new candidates had priority over term-out candidates in the March election. Jim Fitzgerald correctly stepped down. However, despite previously acknowledging he was not duly elected in a March 26th email, termed-out Joe La Cava continues to jeopardize the creditability, integrity and transparency of our community group by not stepping down.
2. At the September 2014 LJCPA meeting, termed out Trustee Jim Fitzgerald articulated that pursuant to LJCPA bylaws, 600-24 and Article III Section 4(1) of the Administrative Guidelines, that new candidates Michael Morton and Peter Ovanssoff had priority over himself and Joe La Cava who were both termed out candidates.
3. Mr. La Cava, despite being instructed by the Mayor’s office to not hold a special LJCPA election, without a public discussion or vote he alone made the decision to ignore the Mayor’s office request and proceed with a July 3, 2014 special election.
4. Tuesday, May 27, 2014 Phil Merten, Interim Chair of the La Jolla Shores Permit Review Committee, asked the LJSPR committee for discussion of SDMC Chapter 13, (Zones). Item 7 on the agenda asks; “Does the zoning requirements of SDMC Chapter 13, (Zones) Regulations apply to projects within the La Jolla Shores Planned District?” Contrary to Phil’s comments on this video, Phil along with Rob Whittemore today continue to attempt to downzone all the properties in La Jolla Shores by imposing a non-relevant City wide Floor Area Ration (FAR) in La Jolla Shores.