San Diego councilman’s budget memo includes La Jolla projects – San Diego Union-Tribune

With budget season for the 2025-2026 fiscal year underway at San Diego City Hall, an initial budget memo submitted by City Councilman Joe LaCava lists some big items for La Jolla.

As part of the annual budget cycle, each council member submits a memo to the Independent Budget Analyst’s Office with a list of requests for community projects that the city could fund and implement.

LaCava, whose District 1 includes La Jolla, outlined several citywide efforts in its memo for the fiscal year that starts July 1, such as funding for police, libraries, arts and culture and homelessness services.

However, La Jolla-focused projects are also included.

Scripps Park

The memo requests funding from the city planning department to prepare a Scripps Park Land Resource Management Plan and environmental impact report. Both are seen as a path to resolution persistent conflicts among sea lions and people at La Jolla Cove, which is directly adjacent to Scripps Park.

“That line item, along with most other La Jolla-related items, is at the top of our annual priority list for capital projects from La Jolla community groups that we submit to (LaCava’s office),” said Bob, president of La Jolla Parks & Beaches. Evans.

If and when the Scripps Park plan is developed, “I want to be the first at the table to discuss,” Evans added.

The memo also requests that La Jolla Shores and La Jolla Village’s planned district ordinances be updated.

Some other Planning Department projects are not specifically for La Jolla but would apply to the area and have been sought for years, including electricians to handle lighting fixtures managed by the Parks and Recreation Department. In recent years lighting failure meant darkened park spaces, including at Scripps Park and La Jolla Shores.

Road works

“Priority for street paving and repairs” is stated in the memo for La Jolla Shores Drive between Avenida de la Playa and Horizon Way, Nautilus Street between Fay Avenue and West Muirlands Drive and La Jolla Mesa Drive between Colima Street and Deer Hill Court.

The memo also requests continued cooperation on current issues Village streetscape project on Girard Avenue, funding for a “comprehensive traffic circulation study of hard-hit beach areas” and a comprehensive traffic study in the area known as “The Throat” near the entrance to La Jolla Shores, where La Jolla Parkway turns into Torrey Pines Road .

Parking spaces

The memo also recommends funding for “projects included in the Coastal Resilience Master Plan,” which for La Jolla includes two projects in La Jolla Shores involving the redevelopment of Kellogg Park and the addition of berms and seawalls.

Members of the La Jolla Shores Association previously expressed their disapproval of the projects, but did not respond La Jolla Light recent request for further comment.

The budget also requests funding from the Parks and Recreation Department for increased “cleaning, sanitation and trash collection for all coastal parks at overlooks and (restroom facilities known as) comfort stations” and to expand center maintenance “to medians and parkways east of De Keel and the median west of La Jolla Shores Drive.”

Another item, split between Parks & Recreation for the daytime efforts and the San Diego Police Department for the nighttime, would “provide security and enforcement of the law regarding overnight parking, vehicle parking, street vending, and beach fires at all beaches and La Jolla parks intensify.”

Partially and unfunded projects

“There are several projects that are partially funded or funded in the next phase,” LaCava wrote. “I ask that these projects be prioritized to fulfill promises previously made by the city.”

They are:

• Wide and rebuild the sidewalk adjacent to Coast Boulevard at Scripps Park • Complete the Gilman Drive segment of the Coastal Rail Trail bicycle route • Repair handrails on the Children’s Pool seawall • Complete a study and repair or replace handrails and steps for access to the ocean at the Camino viewpoint de la Costa • Complete a feasibility study to improve beach access via a pedestrian walkway at Spindrift Drive at The Marine Room

The memo includes a list of unfunded projects “primarily resulting from requests submitted by community planning groups,” LaCava wrote. Earlier this year, representatives from La Jolla groups met to compile lists of proposals An- And five years projects.

They include:

• Repave the La Jolla Shores Boardwalk • Repave the La Jolla Bike Path • Repair and replace street lights with street lights and globe lights throughout La Jolla • Repair deteriorating sidewalks, curbs and gutters throughout La Jolla

Community volunteer Diane Kane, who compiled the list of five-year projects, said that with the release of LaCava’s memo, “we’re now at least on his radar.” However, she said the memo should also include proposals that “address overtourism, which is causing so much damage to the parks along the coast.”

Additional unfunded projects include the installation of roundabouts at Virginia Way and High Street, Prospect and Silverado streets in front of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, and along La Jolla Shores Drive.

Furthermore, the memo calls for improved pedestrian safety through these and other unfunded projects:

• Install and upgrade pedestrian-activated signals on La Jolla Boulevard between Palomar Avenue and Colima Street • Repair or replace crosswalks on La Jolla Shores Drive between Torrey Pines Road and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, especially on the west side • Install stop signs and crosswalks on all intersections west of La Jolla Shores Drive

The council notes will be reviewed in the future and more will be submitted in January. The budget will be finalized in the spring.