Board of Supervisors

Meeting Summary

Present: Lee, Capps, Hartmann, Lavagnino, Nelson

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The Board passed an amendment to County Code Chapter 17 regarding solid waste management.
Maximum cart limits were set at six per property with dumpster requirements for larger units.
Storage screening requirements are waived for residential premises until July 2028.
Waste service accounts must be held by property owners to address turnover issues.

An amendment was approved prohibiting vending within 500 feet of schools during events.
The Board discussed prioritizing mental health staff scheduling for enforcement needs.
Staff recommendations were adopted as amended to address public safety.

The Board heard appeals regarding a sandstone boulder wall repair in the San Ysidro Creek channel.
A continuance request to gather more hydraulic modeling data was denied.
Appellants argued the wall redirects water flow while the applicant cited agency review.
The Board found the engineering record sufficient to deny the appeals.

The Board considered and passed an amendment to County Code Chapter 17 regarding solid waste management in Isla Vista (IV). Key provisions include:
Container Limits: A maximum of six total carts (trash and recycling) is required for most properties to improve efficiency. Properties with 10 or more bedrooms must use dumpsters.
Storage Screening: The requirement to store containers out of public view is waived for residential premises in IV until July 1, 2028, allowing owners time to adapt storage areas for larger containers.
Service Continuity: All residential premises must maintain active waste service year-round, with exceptions for renovations and partial occupancy.
Accountability: Waste service accounts must be held by property owners/managers rather than tenants to address turnover issues.
Rate Restructuring: Negotiations with hauler Marburg Industries are complete; revised fee schedules will be presented in June 2026.
Public Comment: Representatives from the Isla Vista Community Services District (IVCSD) strongly supported the ordinance, citing it as a necessary structural solution to litter problems rather than just cleanup.
Action: Supervisor Capps moved and Supervisor Hartmann seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

The Board reviewed a pilot program regarding sidewalk vending.
Amendment: An amendment was approved prohibiting vending within 500 feet of a school during school-sponsored events (e.g., games, back-to-school nights) for public safety.
Enforcement: The Board discussed prioritizing mental health staff scheduling to better respond to enforcement needs.
Action: Supervisor Hartmann moved to adopt staff recommendations A through D as amended. Supervisor Lavagnino seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

The Board heard appeals regarding a 2025 Montecito Planning Commission approval to legalize an as-built sandstone boulder wall repair in the San Ysidro Creek channel (Case Nos. 25-APL-19 and 25-APL-20).
Background: The 85+ year-old wall was repaired in 2018 following the Montecito debris flow under an emergency permit. The wall was not explicitly detailed in the original permit, leading to a violation notice in 2023.
Continuance Request: Appellants requested a continuance to gather more data on hydraulic modeling and wall impact. The Board denied this request unanimously (Motion by Supervisor Lee, Seconded by Supervisor Lavagnino).
Arguments:
Appellants: Expressed concern that the wall's angle redirects water flow, causing erosion and flooding on neighboring properties and the Ennisburg Preserve.
Applicant: Argued the repair was "like-for-like," did not alter flood conveyance, and was reviewed and cleared by Flood Control, the Army Corps, and other agencies.
Board Discussion: Supervisors noted the frustration regarding permit ambiguity that caused significant costs for the applicant but found the engineering record sufficient.
Action: Supervisor Lee moved to deny the appeals and approve the staff recommendations. Supervisor Lavagnino seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Closed Session: The Board met briefly to discuss litigation (Abdullah v. County) and labor negotiations. No reportable action was taken.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned with the next scheduled meeting set for Tuesday, March 3, 2026.