City of La Jolla petition drive ends with “well over” 7,000 signatures – San Diego Union-Tribune

A six-month signature-gathering effort that marks a major step toward La Jolla’s eventual separation from San Diego and the creation of its own city ended Dec. 1 with the La Jolla City Association announcing it had met its goal of exceeded 7,000 signatures.

There is now until Sunday, December 15, to submit petitions to the San Diego County Board of Voters and the San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), which helps communities incorporate.

As part of the required city charter process, the association began collecting petition signatures on June 1 and needed the support of at least 25% of La Jolla’s registered voters to continue the effort.

Based on the number of registered voters residing full-time in La Jolla, the number of valid signatures required is 6,536. Association members wanted to collect at least 7,000 as a buffer in case some were later deemed invalid after filing.

Association board member Sharon Wampler said this La Jolla Light that “we have well over 7,000 signatures and are approaching the 8,000 mark. It was really inspiring to see how the community supported this.”

Group president Trace Wilson said he was “very proud of the team who worked tirelessly for six months and thrilled with the community’s response.”

Story Gallery: “Leaving San Diego?” A series about the potential city of La Jolla

The organization’s efforts to make La Jolla a city began with private meetings in 2021 and have continued with public forums and a financial feasibility analysis ongoing since September 2022.

More than a year ago, the association announced the first figures in a draft of the feasibility report Richard Berkson a municipal commercial enterprise Berkson Associates looked promising without giving details. A final draft has not been published. Wilson said the analysis will not be considered final until it is presented to LAFCO.

What’s next?

If the group’s petition passes LAFCO review, the next steps can begin.

This includes the submission of the feasibility study and the review of the formal urban development proposal by LAFCO. This analysis is expected to take nine to twelve months.

If LAFCO approves the proposal, the plan would be put to a public vote in which a majority of both La Jollans and the rest of San Diego would have to support secession from La Jolla. The association hopes to bring the initiative to a vote in 2026.

However, to take the next steps, the association would like to raise $200,000 to cover LAFCO application fees, legal fees and required additional analysis. Wampler said the group “would like to have the majority of funds raised by Jan. 1 and will continue fundraising through Jan. 24” in anticipation of the Jan. 31 application deadline.

“We will be soliciting donations from the community at all levels,” Wilson said, adding that donations can be made on the association’s website. cityoflajolla.org.

The organization has already raised $60,000 in donations for Berkson’s financial analysis.

Since the majority of San Diegans would also have to vote to replace La Jolla, the association wants to raise an additional $175,000 to hire a political strategist to help promote the idea throughout San Diego.

“Right now the polls are negative against La Jolla,” Wilson said of a poll the association conducted over the summer that showed support from about 40% of the 400 people surveyed.

The proposed city’s boundaries largely coincide with the 92037 ZIP code, extending north-south from Del Mar to Pacific Beach and east-west from Interstate 5 to the Ocean, excluding UC San Diego and the Scripps Memorial Hospital. ♦