La Jolla Village Merchants Association members will count ballots for eight board seats at the group's annual meeting Wednesday, Oct. 14. The agenda also includes a Girard Avenue StreetScape construction update and early results from the La Jolla Savings Pass discount app.
The meeting begins at 4 p.m. at the La Jolla Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. Ballot counting starts at 3 p.m.
A quorum of 50 members is required to open and count ballots, according to the LJVMA meeting agenda. If 50 members do not attend, the count moves to the monthly board meeting that follows immediately. In-person ballots were cast Monday, Oct. 5, and Tuesday, Oct. 6, at the LJVMA office on Herschel Avenue, according to the association's election packet.
Eight candidates are on the ballot: Scott Baul of Inn by the Sea, Bill Podway of Decker's Dog + Cat, Mark McDonald of Compass Realty, Sarah Putnam of Ashen Salon and Kaity Garner of Duke's La Jolla.
Also running are Nicole Medina of My Senior Health Plan, Sierra Prescott of La Valencia and Gabriel Ferrao of Prospect Ink. Newly elected members will be sworn in Nov. 11.
Girard Avenue StreetScape
Lidia Rosner of Enhance La Jolla will present a StreetScape construction timeline during the meeting's community spotlight segment.
The $7.43 million project would renovate Girard Avenue between Prospect and Wall streets with improved lighting, seating, more street trees and traffic-calming measures, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported in July. Construction was pushed from August 2026 to January 2027 because a federal HUD grant required a new bidding process. Phase 1 is considered fully funded with $850,000 in federal money, $1 million from the state and about $3 million from local donors.
Savings Pass results preview
The agenda includes a marketing update on the La Jolla Savings Pass, a free app launched Sept. 4 that offers discounts at participating Village businesses. The program covers restaurants, salons and bridal boutiques, among other shops. It includes a chance to win a gift basket valued at more than $1,000, courtesy of LJVMA marketing chair Stephanie Silverberg of Compass Realty.
When the app launched in September, LJVMA executive director Jodi Rudick told Times of San Diego the program was designed to give locals a boost after a busy summer. "No matter how much you have or need, everybody is looking for a bargain," Rudick said at the time.
Businesses can still join the app via QR code, according to the agenda. Initial download and usage data will be shared at the meeting.
What's next
The LJVMA also plans a Business Breakfast on Oct. 27 at My Senior Health Plan, 875 Prospect St., featuring a tourism update. The next regular meeting is Nov. 11, when the new board takes office.
