 FAQS
Who is Independent La Jolla?
What is the reason for doing this?
What are the boundaries of La Jolla?
What has been accomplished so far?
Why is this possible now and was never possible before?
Can we afford to be our own City?
What is a feasibility study?
What other steps are necessary?
What is LAFCO?
What can I do to help make La Jolla become its own
city?
What ballot?
How is our new city council elected?
Do these officials have to be residents of La Jolla?
How much do we pay the elected officials?
Who manages the city funds—i.e. investments,
insurance (City of San Diego is self insured for liability)- how
is this addressed?
Will my Property Taxes go up?
Where do the revenues come from for roads, sewer and
infrastructure?
What about fire, police and lifeguards?
What about the post office?
Where is the city hall?
What about our new library?
How much revenue from Property Taxes comes back to
La Jolla?
Does more money go out of La Jolla than comes back
in services?
Can we have our own school district?
Do the auto license fees go to the new City of La
Jolla?
Does the City of San Diego need La Jolla financially?
Has any other city tried to break away from San Diego?
What is the population of La Jolla?
What is the population of San Diego?
Why do I as a La Jolla citizen want to do this? What
is in it for me?
Who is Independent La Jolla?
A group of local concerned citizens who care deeply about the future
of La Jolla, including the growth, traffic, density, parks, beaches,
and the quality of life in our community. There are potential great
benefits to our community under local control.
What is the reason for
doing this?
The preservation, enhancement and protection of La Jolla. La Jolla
is now subject to the laws and actions of the City of San Diego,
which has undergone dramatic growth and change in recent years.
That growth has increasingly put San Diego’s priorities as
a city at direct odds with those of La Jolla as a community.
The city of San Diego is so large (330 square miles) that the cities
of Manhattan, Pittsburgh, Boston, San Francisco and Cleveland all
fit inside the city of San Diego’s square mileage.
Some of our main goals:
- Enhance police, fire and lifeguard services
- Protection of the La Jolla Planned District Ordinance
- Increase local voice
- Enhanced quality of life for residents
- La Jolla community standards vs. San Diego City standards
- More community projects with less money
- Create a La Jolla Unified School District
- Preserve, enhance and protect parks and beaches
- Control Zoning
We believe our efforts will benefit all La Jollans and San Diegans
who visit our community.
What are the boundaries
of La Jolla?
It is based on the current Zip Code 92037, but this is still open
for discussion. See Map for proposed boundaries.
What has been accomplished
so far?
We have registered the name- Independent La Jolla. $2500 has been
spent to get a 501[c][4] status. Fundraising efforts have begun.
Independent La Jolla is a public advocacy non-profit corporation.
Donations are only deductible for businesses, not individuals. We
have enlisted Scott Barnett as a consultant. (Former Del Mar City
Councilman, with over 20 years of experience in local government,
and elections.) Organized committee meetings have been held monthly
since early 2002.
Why is this possible
now and was never possible before?
A: There was a brief effort to pursue city-hood in the early 1990’s.
Due to recent changes in California State law, and the stated “neutrality”
of the current Mayor and District 1 Councilman, we no longer face
the legal and political constraints blocking our efforts, and can
now apply for city-hood with the expectation that it will succeed.
Can we afford to be our
own City?
Yes, given the high property values, excellent sales and hotel tax
revenues, and the real likelihood that La Jolla can deliver services
at lower costs than the city of San Diego. This will be demonstrated
in the feasibility study.
What is a feasibility
study?
It is a study that Independent La Jolla will commission the San
Diego County Taxpayers Association to undertake. UCSD, Urban Studies
Professor Steve Erie will be retained to implement the study. The
study determines if enough money is currently generated from La
Jolla (sales tax, property tax, automobile license fees, other existing
fees and taxes) to supply services to La Jollans. The Study will
also investigate the potential impacts to the rest of the City of
San Diego, as a result of secession.
What other steps are
necessary?
After the feasibility study is completed, it’s taken to LAFCO
for verification and its impact on the City of San Diego.
What is LAFCO?
LAFCO is a state Mandated regional agency (Local Agency Formation
Commission), which must analyze the results of the feasibility study
and ensure that the process is handled appropriately. It is comprised
of :
One San Diego City council member,
Two San Diego County board of supervisor’s members
Two representatives from incorporated cities
One public representative.
What can I do to help
make La Jolla become its own city?
Donate money for the feasibility study.
The feasibility study will show that we can afford to be our own
city. The cost of that is approximately $75,000. This amount needs
to be raised by Spring 2004 in order to be on the ballot for 2006
when a final vote is taken for independent City hood.
What ballot?
Once the feasibility study and other legal processes are completed,
a petition of La Jolla residents calling for the “secession”
will be circulated. Once the petition is finalized, an election
will be held in the proposed Boundaries of the City of La Jolla
and a separate election within the rest of the city of San Diego.
A simple majority (50% plus one vote) must approve both measures
for the La Jolla City-hood to be finalized.
How is our new city council elected?
On the same ballot, La Jollans will choose a city council. The top
candidates will become the first City Council.
Do these officials
have to be residents of La Jolla?
Yes, only “qualified electors”-- registered voters within
the proposed city limits may run for city council.
How much do we pay
the elected officials?
Most small municipalities pay their city council a monthly stipend
(from a few hundred, to several thousand) for serving on the city
council.
Who manages the city
funds—i.e. investments, insurance (City of San Diego is self
insured for liability)- how is this addressed?
Most government agencies in San Diego County have their investments
in a “pool” which maximizes returns and ensures additional
oversight and security.
Small liabilities are usually paid with reserves. Cities are not
required to have “insurance” the way private businesses
and individuals are.
Will my Property Taxes
go up?
NO. Proposition 13 prevents any property taxes from going up.
Where do the revenues
come from for roads, sewer and infrastructure?
The water and sewer system will continue to be funded by “user
fees.” However, the City of San Diego transfers millions of
dollars a year in these revenues out of the water and sewer system,
requiring that ratepayers pay more than is required to maintain
and repair the system. The new La Jolla City Council can ensure
that all sewer/water revenues stay in the system.
What about fire, police
and lifeguards?
The new city council will be responsible for determining the best
way to supply these services. The City of Coronado has its own Police/Fire
and Life guard services. The City of Del Mar and Solana beach have
their own fire and life guard services but “contract”
with the SD County Sheriff’s for police protection. Initially,
it is likely that La Jolla will ‘contract” with the
city and or County of San Diego until the new city council determines
how to supply the highest quality service at the lowest impact to
the tax payer. There are currently three fire stations, a police
station and a sub station within La Jolla’s boundaries. We
are entitled to keep those buildings as part of our own new city.
What about the post
office?
We already have our own post office and sub annex, plus our own
zip code 92037. Nothing would change.
Where is the city hall?
Our historic city hall is on the corner of Wall Street and Herschel
Street (the old fire station).
What about our new
library?
We will have the opportunity to either join with the County Library
system or stay with the City library system.
How much revenue from
Property Taxes comes back to La Jolla?
Currently there is no way to determine that. In the future, the
exact number will be estimated at part of the feasibility study.
It will take some calculating.
Does more money go
out of La Jolla than comes back in services?
A quote from a letter to the president of the La Jolla Town Council
in August of 1998, written by the then director of the financial
management dept of the City of San Diego-Ernie Anderson, states
that “All of the measures listed indicate that services are
being provided to La Jolla in an amount approximately equal to or
greater than the proportionate share of the population or the revenue
generated within La Jolla.”
Can we have our own
school district?
Yes, it is an option.
Do the auto license
fees go to the new City of La Jolla?
Yes.
Does the City of San
Diego need La Jolla financially?
If the feasibility study indicates that La Jolla generates more
money than it uses, there is a clause in the new law stating La
Jolla will have to pay the City of San Diego alimony for the next
seven years. Our contention is that, if managed properly, La Jolla
can provide more and better services for less money. Our intention
is not to take anything away from the City of San Diego, but make
La Jolla a better community for all of San Diego.
Has any other city
tried to break away from San Diego?
In the mid 70’s San Ysidro attempted unsuccessfully. Their
failure was due to the old laws specifying that the mother city
had to let you go.
What is the population
of La Jolla?
Approximately 44,000.
What is the population
of San Diego?
Approximately 1,250,500
Why do I as a La Jolla
citizen want to do this? What is in it for me?
Protection and control of our parks and beaches, schools, local
control and an unencumbered voice in our community. It also gives
us the ability to set our own priorities for how money is spent,
such as roads, beaches, parks and schools. We will have the ability
to create the unique character that small cities like Carmel, Del
Mar, Solana Beach, and Coronado have created.
Please email us your question at:
independentlajolla@sandiegocities.org |
