IVCSD plans to permanently use Soltopia’s harm reduction methods every weekend

The Isla Vista Community Services District directors supported a proposed weekend harm-reduction program for Del Playa Drive at its Oct. 13 meeting.

The proposed Isla Vista Harm Reduction Project would provide police-alternative safety services on Friday and Saturday nights using similar methods employed at Soltopia.

The project utilizes a three-tiered response system that prioritizes community intervention before law enforcement involvement. According to the project proposal, “harm-reduction ambassadors” at tier one would de-escalate conflicts and contact law enforcement at tier three.

Isla Vista Community Services District (IVCSD) General Manager Jonathan Abboud requested the board’s support to continue the project’s development and explore funding sources. The program requires an estimated annual budget of $270,000 and would operate from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Abboud proposed seeking additional funding from Santa Barbara County (SBC), specifically the unused funds from its legal settlement with UC Santa Barbara.

In 2022, SBC sued UCSB for not having enough housing to accommodate its increasing student population. The settlement required the University to begin the San Benito Student Housing Project and pay the county $3.7 million for “direct community-facing projects.”

With pending planning and funding approval, the district hopes to begin the program in late winter or early spring.

IVCSD Community Programs Engagement Director Myah Mashhadialireza highlighted the decrease in citations at Soltopia utilizing the same tier system.

“I think the best example is what Deltopia was like before Soltopia in terms of what an enforcement-only model looks like versus what the tiered approach resembles,” Mashhadialireza said. “I think what we saw this year was the 94% reduction in medical calls and then zero arrests and citations, even when sheriffs were on site.”

Longtime I.V. resident Henry Sarria raised concerns during public comment on whether the model would translate well, since Soltopia utilized the system during the daytime. The board acknowledged the difference but emphasized the program would represent one part of the broader effort to address safety concerns within the community.

The board also approved a $26,135 agreement with Dixon Resources Unlimited to collect parking occupancy data using license plate data and drone imagery. The proposal aims to evaluate the effectiveness of IVCSD’s Parking Compliance Program.

The agreement allows Dixon Resources Unlimited to conduct vehicle surveys four times per day over two days using license plate data to analyze parking patterns. Drone imagery would be used to estimate the amount of vehicles parked in off-street areas, including driveways and parking lots.

IVCSD Director Spencer Brandt stressed that the data collected from license plates are anonymized — allowing pattern identification without risk to privacy.

Finally, the board received an update on the fiscal analysis that will determine whether I.V. can financially sustain cityhood.

The board previously approved $40,500 toward the study in March which authorized the fiscal analysis. However, Abboud reported that progress has stalled due to delays from SBC.

IVCSD requested data from SBC, which requires them to evaluate the costs to provide that information. Brandt expressed frustration with the delay and suggested bringing the matter to the SBC Board of Supervisors to quicken the process.