Agenda Item A.7
CPMS CONSENT CALENDAR
Meeting Date: September 3, 2024
TO: Mayor and Councilmembers
SUBMITTED BY: JoAnne Plummer, Neighborhood Services Director
PREPARED BY: Michael Baris, Emergency Services Coordinator
SUBJECT: Temporary On -Street Parking Restrictions for the 2024 Isla Vista Halloween Event
RECOMMENDATION:
A. Receive a report regarding the latest Isla Vista Halloween Events and the temporary on-street parking restriction program associated with the events.
B. Direct staff to not implement parking restrictions for the 2024 Halloween Event.
BACKGROUND:
In past years, the City experienced impacts from events held in Isla Vista with an estimated 25,000 people passing through Goleta for Isla Vista events such as Halloween and Spring “Deltopia”. In response to this influx of people, a temporary permit -only on- street parking program for residents was implemented for each event, specifically for the impacts in the University 1-2 neighborhoods in Goleta.
One of the significant impacts from these Isla Vista events has been parking overflow impacts into the University 1 -2 neighborhoods and associated noise and other disturbances from individuals returning from Isla Vista in the late evening and early morning hours.
Staff have received feedback from residents and the Sheriff’s Department regarding past Halloween parking restrictions, and feedback points towards Isla Vista Halloween as being a “non-event”. Fewer than five parking tickets were issued each year in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 and Halloween has transitioned into an event that is not celebrated in the same way as when the restrictions were initially put into place.
In 2023, the City Council voted to not implement Halloween parking restrictions but requested to receive an activity report for the 2023 Halloween weekend. During the 2023 Halloween event, one (1) call for service was received related to Halloween and that call
Meeting Date: September 3, 2024
did not come in from the historically restricted zone. No citations were made within the historically restricted zone in 2023.
On August 12 th, the Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee met to discuss the 2024 Halloween restrictions and have recommended that parking restrictions not be implemented this year but be considered in the future when Halloween falls on a weekend.
DISCUSSION:
City staff and the Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee recommend that the City Council not implement parking restrictions for the 2024 Halloween event but re-consider the restrictions in the future when Halloween falls on a weekend.
Other City of Goleta partners will be enacting measures to curb po tential Halloween impacts. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office and the University of California – Santa Barbara will continue taking measures that have been put into place in past years such as upstaffing and hosting on-campus events, respectively. Isla Vista Community Services District and Isla Vista Parks and Recreation District have also recently held community events during Halloween focused on arts and entertainment for residents, particularly families, living in Isla Vista.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
The City’s adopted Fiscal Year 24/25 budget includes $25,000 in account 101 -60-6100- 54006 (Special Event Response) which is intended to cover related expenses for the Fall Halloween and the Spring Deltopia event s. These costs are estimated to include the printing and mailing of parking permits to residents in the restricted area, posting signs throughout the neighborhoods, and the placement of four electronic message boards at the entrances to the neighborhoods. Not implementing the restrictions in October wi ll result in cost savings.
The additional law enforcement presence in the City related to the upcoming Halloween event will be covered within the City’s Deputy Sheriff Service Unit contract model, without incurring additional charges related to overtime. All tow costs of vehicles parked in violation will be covered by the registered owners of any vehicles towed.
ALTERNATIVES:
The City Council may direct staff to return at a later date with a resolution capable of implementing temporary parking restrictions for the 2024 Halloween event.
LEGAL REVIEW BY: Megan Garibaldi, City Attorney
APPROVED BY: Robert Nisbet, City Manager