BILL NUMBER: AB 3INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Williams DECEMBER 1, 2014 An act relating to local government. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 3, as introduced, Williams. Isla Vista Community Services District. Existing law authorizes the formation of the Isla Vista College Community Services District within the unincorporated area of Santa Barbara County known as Isla Vista for the performance of various services, including, but not limited, to public parks, police protection, and transportation facilities. This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to clarify and establish the necessary authority for the creation of the Isla Vista Community Services District within the unincorporated area of Santa Barbara County, and would make legislative findings and declarations relating to that intent. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (1) The Isla Vista community encompasses a population of over 20,000 residents situated within an area comprising of less than one square mile of land in Santa Barbara County. It is adjacent to the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) campus and its student population. Including university property, the area totals about 1,500 acres. Isla Vista represents one of the largest urban communities in California not governed as a city. (2) Isla Vista faces various challenges in local governance. As a university town, Isla Vista must accommodate the service needs associated with its transient student population and a predominantly renter-oriented community. Isla Vista's situation is complicated by its unincorporated status, which limits its local participation in managing public services and providing needed public improvements, such as increased lighting, sidewalk and street improvements, and housing code enforcement. (3) As an unincorporated area, various county agencies provide services to the residents and businesses of Isla Vista. Since these agencies must provide services throughout the whole county, Isla Vista must compete for attention and funding for the services they need. Isla Vista is represented at the county level by one of five supervisors and is situated in the largest and most diverse geographic district in the county. The Isla Vista Recreation and Park District is the only local district providing limited services exclusively to Isla Vista. (4) There have been multiple attempts at achieving cityhood for Isla Vista, however, insufficient tax revenue prevents cityhood from being a viable solution. In 2003, the Santa Barbara County Grand Jury found that establishing a community services district would be the best governance option to expand and improve services to Isla Vista. (5) Over the last year, the Isla Vista community has been faced with many challenges due to tragic events, including two violent sexual assaults, a riot, and a mass shooting that has brought focus to the unique needs of Isla Vista that can only be addressed by direct, local governance. Following these events, a local coalition was formed to determine the best direction for Isla Vista self-governance and the community services district has garnered much local support. (6) Additionally, following these events, many trustees on the UC Santa Barbara Foundation Board expressed a strong desire to support the chancellor and the university in efforts to create change in Isla Vista, to ensure a safer and more enhanced community for students. The UC Santa Barbara Foundation Trustees' Advisory Committee on Isla Vista Strategies was formed to analyze the conditions and dynamics of Isla Vista and develop mid- and long-term recommendations to establish a viable, safe, and supportive environment. Among their recommendations is that the State of California create a Community Services District/Municipal Improvement District in Isla Vista with potential powers of infrastructure, utilities, garbage, police services, parks, recreation, cultural facilities, fire, security, and roads. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that will clarify and establish the necessary authority for the creation of the Isla Vista Community Services District within the unincorporated area of Santa Barbara County.