Bylaws & Governance

The La Jolla Community Planning Association (LJCPA) was incorporated as a California nonprofit corporation in 1964 as “La Jolla, Inc.” in order “…to protect, beautify, improve, and develop…” the community and, as expanded by a 1973 amendment, “…to engage in community planning activities” based on the La Jolla Community Plan. LJCPA took its current name via a 1992 amendment to the Articles of Incorporation.

In order to be recognized by the City of San Diego as the Community Planning Group for La Jolla, LJCPA must comply with City Council Policy 600-24. Policy 600-24 was revised and updated in 2023. Following the new Policy 600-24 and a months-long process managed by a Bylaws Update Committee, LJCPA drafted new Bylaws and a new Operating Procedures document.

The Members of LJCPA approved the revised Bylaws and the new Operating Procedures at a special meeting convened for that purpose on January 4, 2024, and amended them at a regular Member meeting on March 6, 2025. The City approved the amended Operating Procedures on March 28, 2025, and therefore the amended Bylaws and Operating Procedures have taken effects.

Current Governing Documents

Older & Related Documents

City Governance

The City Council’s policy is to require each recognized community planning group, as a condition of official recognition by the City of San Diego, to submit a copy of its own operating procedures and responsibilities to the City. These must contain, at a minimum, all the provisions addressed in Council Policy 600-24 and conform to the criteria contained therein. Individual planning groups’ bylaws may utilize options within the standardized bylaws shell and may also expand on provisions in this Policy to better meet the needs of diverse communities. However, all bylaws must remain in conformance with the provisions of this Policy to maintain official recognition by the City. Planning groups are permitted with the approval of the City Council to combine their corporate bylaws and their planning group bylaws.

Planning groups must utilize 600-24 and their adopted bylaws to guide their operations. Further, City staff have prepared Administrative Guidelines. These Guidelines are intended to explain 600-24 minimum standard operating procedures and responsibilities of planning groups. The Administrative Guidelines provide the planning groups with explanations and recommendations for individually adopted bylaws and planning group procedures. Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised should be used when this Policy, the Administrative Guidelines, and planning group bylaws do not address an area of concern or interest.

It is also the policy of the City Council that the City shall indemnify, and the City Attorney shall defend, a recognized community planning group or its individual members in accordance with Ordinance No. O-19883 NS entitled “An Ordinance Providing for Legal Representation to and Indemnification of Community Planning Committees Against Claims for Damages,” and any future amendments thereto, as discussed further in Article IX, Section 1.