August President’s Column

Greetings. We’ve had a busy summer and therefore I would like to take this opportunity to highlight some important developments occurring in Bird Rock.

First and foremost, I’d like to welcome Barbara Dunbar, our newest board member. Barbara has been an instrumental volunteer in organizing the delivery of our newsletter and a leading member of our beautification committee. Barbara will also support our Maintenance Assessment District (MAD).

The replanting of medians along La Jolla Boulevard not only look great but also provide increased visibility for oncoming traffic, an important safety issue for the community. Take note that as of July 1, the city has implemented new restrictions that limit watering to 5 minutes per station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during early morning hours. Watering cycles generally begin at the south end of La Jolla Boulevard and progress to the north end beginning at midnight and ending at about 5 a.m. Anyone noticing a watering problem is requested to notify the BRCC Board.

We’ve also received notice that the city will commence Sewer Main Replacement Group Project #714 in August 2011 affecting residential areas throughout Bird Rock. This repair and replacement project will last approximately eight months. The work will take place on Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will include daily traffic control and clean up at the end of each day. Residents will receive a 30-day notice prior to the time when their street will be affected. Please note that although the map distributed by the city indicates that the project includes portions of La Jolla Boulevard, that work was completed when the roundabouts were constructed.

Our traffic calming efforts also continue. We are working on a four-prong approach to slowing traffic on neighborhood streets, and to make people more aware of laws regarding cell phone use and distracted driving. Plans include (1) educating the public; (2) traffic enforcement; (3) minor infrastructure solutions such as striping and painting of roadways; and (4) the possibility of more major infrastructure, to the extent necessary. If you are aware of a specific problem on a residential street in Bird Rock, please let us know at info@birdrock.org.

Lastly, our summer concert and family event, “Birdstock,” will take place on Sept. 11 at the park located at Bird Rock Elementary -s tay tuned for more information and details – it is sure to be a fun-filled event! The successful “Sponsor a Classroom” project for Bird Rock Elementary is also back this year, and we look forward to helping to support BRE as the new school year begins.

Thank you to our volunteers for their hard work and dedication. We appreciate all you do to make our community a better place to live!

July President’s Column

Public art is on the rise in Bird Rock. We’ve just completed our fourth mosaic bench located on La Jolla Boulevard, and there are more to come. These incredibly beautiful benches are the work of local artist, Jane Wheeler, who has spent painstaking hours crafting her intricate designs and incorporating the rich themes chosen by our sponsors.

The beauty of these benches and the amount of work required to create such masterpieces speak for themselves. We are grateful to benefit from such wonderful talent and perspective. But there is more – much more to these benches than meet the eye. Each bench carries an important theme, such as dedication to family, the arts, our children and the appreciation of our community. The newest bench, themed, “Love Your Community,” struck a chord with me because it highlights the importance of investing in your neighborhood to maintain and better the quality of our lifestyle and that of our most important asset – our children. (If you missed them, take a look at the photos in La Jolla Highlights: Love your community)

“Love Your Community” can mean many things. For me, it celebrates the spirit of volunteers and sponsors who steward the many private projects and events that enrich all of our lives. It is easy to get exhausted by the constant call to arms to support a fundraiser, chair a committee or join a work party to perform a beach cleanup. What is less obvious is the passion of these leading volunteers who must first raise the issue and then turn to the community for help. They do it because they love their community and recognize that “energy in equals energy out.”

What is your passion? Think about why you love your community and then take a moment (or more) to get involved. It can be as simple as a donation, helping to deliver the local newsletter, or just attending a community meeting to show your support. By doing so, you set a great example for others and our children, that investing in the community is the safest bet on the market. In other words, if you are sitting on the bench, you are missing out on the game!

June President’s Column

Greetings and salutations! Summer is here, providing our children, staff and educators a well-deserved siesta from their dedicated efforts during the school year.

In my first column as President, I mentioned that the people of Bird Rock are unique because they share a common goal of supporting the community in a variety of ways that greatly enrich our lives. Our educators share that same vision and our children substantially benefit from this outstanding stewardship. In a nutshell, our educators recognize that the legacy of every community are the youth of today who will become our leaders of tomorrow.

I’d like to close the loop on my comments in my first column about the importance of community spirt by congratulating Bird Rock Elementary on its receipt of the California Distinguished Schools Award from the State of California, something that is no easy task to accomplish. The California School Recognition Program (CSRP) directly focuses on California’s students and their entitlement to an equitable and rigorous education. Under the CSRP, the California Distinguished Schools Award identifies and honors those schools that have demonstrated educational excellence for all students and progress in narrowing the achievement gap.

In order to be invited to apply for Distinguished School honors, schools must meet a variety of eligibility criteria including designated federal and state accountability measures based on No Child Left Behind (NCLB), Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), and the Academic Performance Index (API) requirements. The criteria for school selection are based on the submission of an application, including a comprehensive description of two of the school’s successful signature practices, an application review, along with a site visit designed to validate the full implementation of the submitted practices. Applications are reviewed for completeness by teams of educators from across the state under the direction of the California Department of Education (“CDE”). Each nominee receives a site visit by a team of educators to validate the full implementation of the submitted practices. The site visits are conducted as a collaborative effort between the CDE and county superintendents of schools.

To say the least, the application process is exhaustive, and the administrators, educators and parents involved with this process are to be recognized for their strong efforts in bringing this award home. You make us proud and we are grateful to have such a wonderful school and support system that nurtures are most precious asset–our children!

Another salient feature of this award includes the measurement by decision-makers of community involvement by those who do not have a direct interest in the school, i.e., residents and merchants who don’t have children presently enrolled at BRE. Now here’s the cool part of this story for the community at large–most of us didn’t even think twice about this requirement because that is what Bird Rock is all about. We tend to support each another no matter what the individual interest may be, and that is the hallmark of this community as I pointed out months ago. The decision makers, however, were surprised by something we took for granted, so much so that we had them at “hello” when it came to this criteria. So in addition to congratulating the superior efforts of those directly involved with BRE in obtaining this milestone award, hats off once again go to the community for recognizing that there is no “I” in “Team”!

Have a wonderful summer, and to our educators, staff, administrators and supporters of BRE, take a well deserved break–You’ve earned it!

May President’s Column

April showers bring May flowers! Our plants and trees are wildly in bloom thanks to the repeat rainfall-Bird Rock is indeed going green. Unfortunately, with the moisture came the storms-storms that did a fair amount of damage to our infrastructure. We lost a good chunk of the famed Bird Rock this year, and like the famous arch at the La Jolla Cove that collapsed years ago, the reality is beginning to set in that our “Rock” will likely follow the same path. Take the time to see the change before the Rock takes it place in history. 

We’ve also suffered significant damage to our coastal bluffs, and both the City and homeowners are working hard to defend against Mother Nature’s aggressive assault fueled by’ El Nino. We continue to wait for additional funding for the repair of the Midway Street,overlook. However, we may need private donations to get the job done as only half of the funding exists to complete the project. We also continue to press the City to address the open culvert at Wrelton Street where it intersects with La Jolla Boulevard. Unfortunately, like the pending cross-walk repairs, the City simply does not have enough funding to address these dangerous conditions. So watch your step and look out for oncoming traffic as we push for solutions. 

Crime also continues to weigh on our minds. We’ve suffered a rash of “auto burglaries” in the neighborhood and along La Jolla Boulevard. Thieves are becoming more emboldened by visible opportunities left in our vehicles. How can you prevent this from happening? Discourage theft by removing any articles of value from plain view (including garage door openers). If we take away the opportunity, chances are the criminals will move on to an easier target. You can also help by continuing to report crimes to the police and the BRCC. The more we know, the more the police know, and that translates to better support for our community. 

Now the good news! Last month, the City sponsored a special trash pick up, collecting everything from junk furniture to mattresses for a portion of the neighborhood. We sincerely appreciat~ the efforts of Gary Warren in Environmental Services who made this happen. We are already planning the second phase of this pick up which will cover other parts of Bird Rock. Thanks Gary! 

Bird Rock also has a new website!! Special thanks to Julie Ryan, Joe La Cava, and other dedicated volunteers who shepherded this project to fruition. The site is not only dramatically improved in appearance and navigation, but will assist our efforts to go “green” by channeling some of our more traditional “paper” communications through the website. Check it out at http://www.birdrock.org if you have not already done so, and drop us a line at the new address: info@birdrock.org. 

Beautification efforts also continue on the Boulevard. The first phase of test plantings has been successful, and similar changes are underway throughout the roundabout locations. The bottom line is that the new plantings are not only better suited for the environment, but also improve the visibility of pedestrians and oncoming traffic as we strive to keep it safe on the Boulevard. Let us know what you think as the changes unfold. 

Lastly, in the wake of the recent earthquakes, take the time to ensure you are prepared for the inevitable. You can learn more about earthquake preparedness at http://cms.calema.ca.gov/prep earthquake and tsunami.aspx. 

Remember, we may rock, but that’s how we roll! 

April President’s Column

The past few months have been hectic in Bird Rock, and frankly I don’t know how time passes so quickly.

We have much to report. Tour of Bird Rock Homes was a smashing success. Congratulations to organizer Michelle Fulks and her co-chairs. The homes on display were exquisite and each unique to individual character. The event was also a successful fundraiser for BRE, an incredible feat in this challenged economy. Thank you to our sponsors, homeowners, volunteers and dedicated patrons who make this event better and better every year.

In February, we approved the annual budget for the MAD. We continue our beautification efforts along La Jolla Boulevard addressing safety, water conservation, longevity of plant life and improving the aesthetic appearance of planted material and ground cover. Thank you to Barbara Dunbar and the members of the Beautification Committee who have spent a great deal of time analyzing these issues for the betterment of our community. We also appreciate Dave Kirkwood’s careful management of the work being performed by our landscape contractor who has been implementing these changes. If you have not seen the test planting area in front of CVS, we encourage you to check it out.

The storms in recent months have unfortunately caused damage to our scenic bluffs both in private and public areas, including the famed “Bird Rock”. The City has deployed crews to areas of immediate danger, and we are hopeful the repairs, temporary or permanent, can be completed in short order to prevent further damage. We’ve also had problems with flooding on the Boulevard during the heavy rains, an issue that also has been reported to the City. It goes without saying that money is tight and resources scarce, so we ask for your patience and input as the City is forced to conduct triage in the wake of these storms.

Our public art projects continue with Jane Wheeler completing another mosaic bench by Lupi’s restaurant and The Dapper Dog. The sponsors dedicated the bench to our children and we hope to see similar positive messages from others as more benches are completed.

On the zoning front, the owners of Bird Rock Station, a proposed three-story project, lost a legal challenge brought by interested La Jolla residents. In pertinent part, the court found that the proposed project could have a significant impact on the environment, requiring further studies and land use proceedings. This could affect the viability of the project as currently planned. The court’s decision was limited to only this project. Stay tuned.

On Neighborhood Watch, be on the lookout for unannounced visitors who may be posing under the guise of door-to-door sales personnel in an effort to defraud unsuspecting residents or worse, burglarize unoccupied homes during daytime hours. Be careful about opening doors to strangers and don’t hesitate to contact the police if you suspect criminal activity is afoot. Michelle Fulks is working closely with our community liaison officer to monitor complaints from the community. It is important that you report the problems to the police (and Michelle) as soon as possible so that we can obtain the assistance of local law enforcement whose resources are also stretched thin.

Finally, the future of Taste of Bird Rock is on everyone’s radar as we review comments from the City in the wake of last year’s successful event. As I mentioned in two articles in the La Jolla Light, we are committed to saving the event even if it is suspended for one year or comes back in another form as we tackle the issues raised the City.

Indeed, March comes in like a lion….

Annual Maintenance Assessment District Meeting

Tuesday, February 2, 2010, 6:00pm, Masonic Lodge
Nearly 60 property owners turned out at the annual maintenance assessment district meeting in response to the direct mail invitation to nearly 1500 property owners in the district. Joe LaCava described the progress over the past year and discussed the draft budget for the the upcoming fiscal year (July 2010 to June 2011). The audience had numerous questions about maintenance over the past year, plant removals, plans for the upcoming year, and sought clarification of the budget line items. In the end there was consensus on the draft budget which will be forwarded to the City of San Diego. George Sutton gave an update on the progress of the boulevard decorative lighting program and answered questions. Barbara Dunbar described the revised landscaping plan noting the first example is now in place in front of CVS.

Tour of Bird Rock Homes

Bird Rock Community Council is pleased to announce our 4th Annual Bird Rock Home Tour with special thanks and appreciation to our lead sponsor for the third year, Tim Golba of Golba Architecture as well as to Tony Parker General Builders, Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, Linda Daniels Realtor with Willis Allen, Wells Fargo, Witt Lincoln Mercury, Gamboa Gardening, Lele’s Cleaners, Bodywear Boutique and The Santman Family.

Come enjoy a wonderful day touring beautifully appointed homes. Each home has its own distinct style and charm which reflect the uniqueness of the Bird Rock neighborhood. Discover an abundance of creative ideas for your home. This event showcases the pride in homeownership. The Bird Rock Home Tour will once again benefit Bird Rock Elementary School with a focus on technology. The homes will be revealed on the day of the event. No photography please!

Saturday, January 30th, 2010, 11 am – 3 pm
Ticket prices:$25 per person, $20 w/ BRCC membership

Tickets can be purchased in advance starting January 18th
or the day of the event at:
Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, 5627 La Jolla Boulevard, (858) 551-1707

For more information call (858) 775-8500.