The State Assembly’s Natural Resources Committee on June 22 passed Sen. Christine Kehoe’s Senate Bill 428 (SB 428) that would allow the harbor seal colony living at La Jolla’s Children’s Pool continued use by altering the wording of the state tidelands grant. The city continues battling attorneys in court regarding dredging the Children’s Pool. Deputy city attorney George Schaefer said he planned to ask the court to vacate an injunction once the legislation passes. “If the legislation does pass, the court does have the discretion to vacate the injunction,” Schaefer said. “It doesn’t make much sense to dredge the beach.” “Passage of this bill will give the city of San Diego the discretion to decide which allowable use of the Children’s Pool to adopt, thus returning local control to the city on what has become a very controversial issue,” Kehoe said in a press release. “It is my hope the assembly will promptly pass the bill and forward it to Governor Schwarzenegger for his signature.” In February, Kehoe introduced the bill, which adds that, in addition to uses such as a bathing pool for children, parkway, highway and recreational purposes, the Children’s Pool area would be devoted exclusively to a “marine mammal park for the enjoyment and educational benefit of children… ” Natural Resources Committee members voted unanimously in favor of the bill, 8-0, passing it to the full assembly, according to Kehoe’s field representative, Sean Wherley. Meanwhile, Judge Yuri Hoffman ordered the city to return to court July 20. “We still have the federal court order prohibiting the city from dispersing the seals,” Schaefer said. For more information, visit www.senate.ca.gov/kehoe, www.childrens pool.org or www.friendsoftheseals.com www.aprl.org www.aprl.org/seals.html.