The Isla Vista Community Services District (IVCSD) directors supported a proposed weekend harm-reduction program for Del Playa Drive at their Oct. 13 meeting. This initiative, known as the Isla Vista Harm Reduction Project, aims to provide police-alternative safety services on Friday and Saturday nights. The program draws on methods similar to those employed successfully at Soltopia, focusing on community intervention to address safety concerns.
The proposed project utilizes a three-tiered response system, prioritizing direct community intervention before law enforcement becomes involved. At the first tier, trained “harm-reduction ambassadors” would work to de-escalate conflicts on Del Playa Drive. Law enforcement would only be contacted at tier three, following attempts at community-level resolution. IVCSD General Manager Jonathan Abboud indicated the program would operate from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. each Friday and Saturday, requiring an estimated annual budget of $270,000.
General Manager Abboud requested the board’s support to continue developing the project and to explore necessary funding sources. He specifically proposed seeking additional funding from Santa Barbara County (SBC), targeting unused funds from its legal settlement with UC Santa Barbara. This settlement stemmed from a 2022 lawsuit, where SBC sued UCSB for not having sufficient housing for its increasing student population. The agreement mandated the University to initiate the San Benito Student Housing Project and pay the county $3.7 million for “direct community-facing projects.” Pending planning and funding approval, the district hopes to launch the program in late winter or early spring.
IVCSD Community Programs Engagement Director Myah Mashhadialireza highlighted the effectiveness of a similar tier system at Soltopia as a precedent for the proposed project. Mashhadialireza pointed to a significant decrease in citations during Soltopia events. She stated that “the 94% reduction in medical calls and then zero arrests and citations, even when sheriffs were on site,” demonstrated the success of the tiered approach compared to an enforcement-only model.
During public comment, longtime Isla Vista resident Henry Sarria raised concerns about whether the daytime Soltopia model would translate effectively to nighttime operations. The board acknowledged this difference in operating hours but emphasized that the harm reduction program represents one component of a broader effort to address safety concerns within the community.
In other business, the board approved a $26,135 agreement with Dixon Resources Unlimited. This agreement is designed to facilitate the collection of parking occupancy data using license plate information and drone imagery. The primary goal of this initiative is to evaluate the effectiveness of IVCSD’s existing Parking Compliance Program. Under the agreement, Dixon Resources Unlimited will conduct vehicle surveys four times per day over two days, utilizing license plate data to analyze parking patterns. Drone imagery will be employed to estimate the number of vehicles parked in off-street areas, including driveways and private parking lots. IVCSD Director Spencer Brandt clarified that the license plate data collected will be anonymized, ensuring that privacy is maintained while still allowing for the identification of parking patterns.
Finally, the board received an update on the fiscal analysis intended to determine Isla Vista's financial capacity for cityhood. The board had previously approved $40,500 toward this study in March, authorizing the comprehensive fiscal analysis. However, General Manager Abboud reported that progress on the study has stalled due to delays from Santa Barbara County. The IVCSD had requested specific data from SBC, which now requires the county to evaluate the costs associated with providing that information. Director Brandt expressed frustration with this ongoing delay and suggested elevating the matter to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors to expedite the process.