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Students and residents ask Isla Vista board to study cityhood
Summary
Three public commenters — two Associated Students senators and a longtime resident — urged the board to commission a new study on the feasibility and fiscal viability of incorporating Isla Vista as a city, citing governance fragmentation, housing issues and Deltopia concerns.
Three public commenters asked the board to consider a renewed study into whether Isla Vista should pursue incorporation as a city.
Noah Lukin, who identified himself as an Associated Students senator and chair of the outreach committee, asked the board to “seriously consider performing another study similar to the one done about a decade ago” on the feasibility and economic viability of cityhood and offered to help with outreach and research.
Neil Harder, also an Associated Students senator and vice chair of the outreach committee, said he had reviewed the prior study and the history of the Isla Vista Community Services District and urged the board to issue another study and survey, citing recent problems including Deltopia and housing issues. He offered the senate’s outreach capacity and said student engagement efforts (flyers and online outreach) had been effective.
Henry Soria, who said he has been a 38-year resident of Isla Vista, expressed conditional support for further study but urged the board to consider nonstudent residents, fiscal viability and possible university involvement in planning, saying “we have to consider, you know, maybe even having to involve UCSB into the picture.” He cautioned that prior studies found fiscal viability limited but said circumstances could change.
Vice President Pilat closed public comment and a board member attending remotely under Assembly Bill 2449 thanked the speakers, said the topic “warrants a more meaty discussion that is agendized” and asked that the board add it as a future agenda item. The board did not take formal action to commission a study during the meeting.
