Agenda Item C.3
CPMS DISCUSSION/ACTION
Meeting Date: September 16, 2025
TO: Mayor and Councilmembers
SUBMITTED BY: JoAnne Plummer, Director of Neighborhood Services PREPARED BY: Jason Levy, Emergency Services Coordinator SUBJECT: Temporary On -Street Parking Restrictions for the 2025 Isla Vista Halloween Event
RECOMMENDATION:
That City Council provide staff with direction on whether to establish temporary on-street parking restrictions related to the 2025 Isla Vista Halloween Event.
BACKGROUND:
In past years, the City of Goleta experienced impacts from unsanctioned events in Isla Vista occurr ing during the Fall Halloween event, and the Spring Deltopia event.
Halloween is an unsanctioned fall event usually held the weekend closest to October 31st in the Isla Vista area. Halloween 2025 is anticipated for the afternoon of Friday, October 31st through the morning of Saturday, November 1st.
One of the impacts from these Is la Vista events has been parking overflow into the University 1 and 2 neighborhoods in Goleta (see Attachment 1 for area map), and associated noise and other disturbances from individuals returning from Isla Vista to their vehicles in the late evening and early morning hours. In partnership with Santa Barbara County, and surrounding jurisdictions (UCSB, Isla Vista Community Services District), the City of Goleta has implemented parking restrictions for the anticipated weekend in past years. The restrictions are meant to dissuade partygoers from parking in the Goleta neighborhoods, thereby ensur ing the safety of students and the broader community during the annual unsanctioned event.
Moreover, Santa Barbara County over the years has also moved to reduce large nuisance gatherings in Isla Vista through changes in its Code of Ordinances, including an Outdoor Festival Ordinance (Chapter VI, in 2010) and Social Host Ordinance (Chapter 48, in 2024).
In 2024, the City of Goleta’s Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Standing Committee (Committee) advised against implementing parking restrictions for Halloween 1 Meeting Date: September 16, 2025
2024. In past years, both University of California Police Department and the Santa Barbara County Sherriff’s Office (SBS O) have increased officer presence during the Halloween event in partnership with other UC campuses and law enforcement jurisdictions, respectively. Additionally, UCSB, via its Parking Services, has implemented on-campus parking restrictions for the weeken d that Halloween occurs. Historically, the increased parking restrictions on campus have resulted in event attendees utilizing parking within the local Goleta neighborhoods and businesses. The SBSO indicated that Halloween 2024 was uneventful, consistent w ith the trend of minimal activity in recent years.
On August 7, 2025, the Committee revisited the topic in preparation for Halloween 2025.
The Committee recommended that no parking restriction be enacted if UCSB hosts a student-only concert or similar typ e of programming . However, if no such concert or programing is held, the Committee recommended that the City enact a parking restriction, citing the potential of increased public activity due to Halloween falling on a Friday this year.
DISCUSSION:
Given the consistent trend of Isla Vista Halloween weekends being non-events in recent years, the SBSO anticipates an uneventful Halloween with minimal staffing level increases for Isla Vista on Halloween Weekend . UCSB also expects to take similar measures for this Halloween 2025 event including the on-campus parking restrictions.
Following the August 7 Committee meeting, UCSB confirmed that its planned alternative programming will take place on the weekend (Friday, October 24th and Saturday, October 25th) prior to Halloween weekend. Although Halloween weekend has remained relatively uneventful in recent years, there has been an increase in Isla Vista Halloween activity during the weekend s preceding Halloween. This uptick is largely due to the fact that it falls outside the scope of the large nuisance gathering restrictions established in 2010 and in 2024. This year, UCSB will host a student -only event the weekend before Halloween as an alternative to the anticipated Isla Vista gatherings on October 24 a nd
25. Additionally, law enforcement anticipate that many student residents of Isla Vista will travel out of the area (to other less restrictive areas) for the Halloween weekend (Friday Oct. 31st and Saturday Nov. 1 st) due to the Social Host Ordinance rest rictions in Santa Barbara County.
Alternative #A: Considering UCSB’s decision to host its student-only event the weekend prior to Halloween and based on supplemental intelligence provided by both UCSB and the SBSO, recommend that parking restrictions not be implemented on the evening of Halloween (October 31, 2025).
Alternative #B: Considering the Committee’s recommendation and UCSB’s decision to host its student-only event the weekend prior to Halloween , the Council may direct staff to establish temporary parking restrictions. These measures are outlined in Attachment 2, Adopt Resolution No. 25 -_ entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of 2 Meeting Date: September 16, 2025
Goleta, California, Establishing Temporary On-Street Parking Restrictions Related to the 2025 Isla Vista Halloween Event.”.
The City Council may choose to enact the proposed parking restrictions and address potential neighborhood parking impacts and associated disturbances by responding to community complaint calls based on prior year events. The alternative recommendation is a proposed parking restriction spanning overnight from Friday October 31st at 4:00 PM through Saturday November 1st 7:00 AM.
The parking restriction area has the following boundaries: Cannon Green Drive to the west, Hollister Avenue to the north, Storke Road to the east and Whittier Drive to the south. A map of the proposed parking restriction area is provided in Attachment 1. T his area is comprised of an estimated 1,250 dwelling units representing approximately 4,000 residents. Parking permits will be required to be taped to the inside of the vehicle’s driver’s side window during the restricted hours as noted above.
The affected streets will be posted in advance to allow towing consistent with Section 22507 of the California Vehicle Code. Vehicles found parked on any of the streets in the University 1 and 2 neighborhoods during the restricted times, not displaying the appropriate parking permit, will be subject to ticketing and/or towing. In lieu of towing , citations are preferably issued for vehicles in violation of the resolution unless the vehicle is parked in an unsafe condition as defined in Section 22500 of the California Vehicle Code or has already received a citation for the same violation within the previous 24 hours. Households will be mailed notices with two parking permits. Staff have an accurate mailing list for the entire area. A total of four electronic message boa rds will also be deployed in several entrances into the University 1 and 2 neighborhoods to provide added and visible notification of the parking restrictions.
Additionally, on the Monday morning following the temporary parking restriction weekend, Public Works staff will also go through the subject neighborhoods to remove any trash or debris from the streets.
GOLETA STRATEGIC PLAN:
City-Wide Initiative: 7. Maintain a Safe and Healthy Community Strategic Goal: 7.2 Participate in regional public safety collaboration FISCAL IMPACTS:
The City’s adopted Fiscal year 2025/26 budget includes $25,000 in account 101-60-6100- 54006 (Special Event Response) which is intended to cover related expenses for the Fall Halloween event and the Spring Deltopia event. These costs 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.
3 Meeting Date: September 16, 2025
All tow costs of vehicles parked in violation will be borne by the registered owner (s) of any vehicles towed.
Halloween Parking Restrictions, FY 25/26
Fund Type Account FY 25/26
Current Budget
YTD
Actuals
Total Available
Budget
General 101-60-6100-54006 $25,000 $0 $25,000
Total $25,000 $0 $25,000
ALTERNATIVES:
The City Council shall provide direction on the alternatives provided.
LEGAL REVIEW BY: Issac Rosen, City Attorney
APPROVED BY: Robert Nisbet, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Map of Proposed Restricted Area
2. Resolution No. 25-_ entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Goleta, California, Establishing Temporary On-Street Parking Restrictions Related to the 2025 Isla Vista Halloween Event”
4 ATTACHMENT 1
Map of Proposed Restricted Area
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ATTACHMENT 2
Resolution No.25-_ entitled "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Goleta, California, Establishing Temporary On-Street Parking Restrictions Related to the 2025 Isla Vista Halloween Event”
7 RESOLUTION NO. 25-__
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GOLETA, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING TEMPORARY ON -
STREET PARKING RESTRICTIONS RELATED TO THE 2025
ISLA VISTA HALLOWEEN EVENT
WHEREAS, Section 21351 of the California Vehicle Code authorizes the City to place and maintain, or cause to be placed and maintained, such appropriate signs, signals or traffic control devices upon streets and highways as may be necessary to properly indicate and carry out the provisions of the Vehicle Code or local traffic ordinances, or to warn or guide traffic; and
WHEREAS, California Vehicle Code Section 22507 (a) authorizes the City, by resolution, to prohibit or restrict the parking of vehicles on certain streets during all or certain hours of the day and grant preferential parking privileges to residents adjacent to the streets for their use; and
WHEREAS, California Vehicle Code Section 22507 (a) further authorizes the issuance of permits to residents to exempt them from a parking prohibition; and
WHEREAS, residents of the unincorporated community of Isla Vista and others have historically organized and engaged in unpermitted assembly and street partying attended by thousands of re sidents and visitors that has included excessive and illegal use of alcohol which has not been successfully restrained by residents or governing authorities; and
WHEREAS, the unincorporated community of Isla Vista does not have adequate parking or infrast ructure to support the number of people who have attended such events and as a result have historically parked in the University 1 and University 2 neighborhoods of Goleta to attend such events; and
WHEREAS, the City of Goleta and the residents of the University 1 and University 2 neighborhoods have suffered impacts from these Isla Vista events by non-residents who take all available on-street parking eliminating resident parking; who park in a manner to block driveways and streets; who cause loud disturbances throughout the night; who litter through the neighborhoods; who damage and vandalize property; and who create other nuisances; and
WHEREAS, citations are preferably issued for vehicles in violation of the resolution unless the vehicle is parked in an unsafe condition as defined in Section 22500 of the California Vehicle Code.
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WHEREAS, the City desires to implement temporary parking restrictions on the following dates and times in an effort to minimize the burden of Isla Vista events on the City of Goleta and the University 1 and 2 neighborhoods:
October 31st, 2025 Friday 4:00 PM – November 1st, 2025 Saturday 7:00 AM
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GOLETA, AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1.
Between the following hours:
October 31, 2025 Friday 4:00 PM – November 1, 2025 Saturday 7:00 AM
Parking on the following roadways shall be prohibited:
Cannon Green Drive from Hollister Avenue to Phelps Rd;
the entirety of Chapman Place;
the entirety of Lowell Way;
Davenport Road from Pacific Oaks to its western terminus; the entirety of Elmhurst Place;
the entirety of Freeman Place;
the entirety of Greensboro Street;
the entirety of Hillsboro Way;
the entirety of Hillsboro Street;
the entirety of Evanston Place;
the entirety of Fordham Place;
the entirety of Georgetown Road;
the entirety of La Salle Road;
Pacific Oaks Road from Hollister Avenue to Marymount Way; Phelps Road from Storke Road to Cannon Green Drive;
the entirety of Reed Court;
Armstrong Road from Mills Way to Reed Court;
Marymount Way from Scripps Crescent to Reed Court;
the entirety of Scripps Crescent;
the entirety of Pitzer Court;
the entirety of Pepperdine Court;
the entirety of Pomona Court;
the entirety of Mills Way;
the entirety of Linfield Place;
Whittier Drive from Storke Road to Mills Way;
Whitman Street from Phelps Road to Whittier Drive.
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SECTION 2.
The Neighborhood Services Director is authorized to issue permits to Residents a nd Girsh Park management in the affected neighborhoods, exempting them from the prohibitions in Section 1 for parking adjacent to their property.
SECTION 3.
The Neighborhood Services Director is hereby authorized to provide for the installation and maintenance of appropriate temporary markings for the locations identified above beginning at least 72 hours prior to the restrictions taking place.
SECTION 4.
The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this __ day of _____ 2025.
__________________________
PAULA PEROTTE, MAYOR
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________ __________________________
DEBORAH S. LOPEZ ISAAC ROSEN
CITY CLERK CITY ATTORNEY
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA ) ss.
CITY OF GOLETA )
I, DEBORAH S. LOPEZ, City Clerk of the City of Goleta, California, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution No. 25-__ was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Goleta a t a regular meeting held on the __day of ______, 2025 by the following vote of the Council:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
(SEAL)
_________________________
DEBORAH S. LOPEZ
CITY CLERK
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