CountyofSantaBarbara
JOINED MOTHERS & COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO DISCUSS EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO TRY TO PREVENT FUTURE FATALITIES
By the Office of County Supervisor Laura Capps
With the start of the new UCSB school year, today Supervisor Capps and county staff presented the 8-point plan they are pursuing to improve the safety conditions along the bluffs of Isla Vista. Mothers of young people who died accidentally on the cliffs joined Supervisor Capps to discuss this plan. The plan will address issues such as fence heights, warning signs and other safety measures; it is described in full below.
Statement by Supervisor Laura Capps:
“Our county experienced a devastating loss over Labor Day weekend with the passing of Benjamin ‘Benny’ Schurmer in Isla Vista. Benny was a beloved member of the Ojai community, a thriving Santa Barbara City College Student, and a talented and loving young man with a bright future ahead of him. Tragically, he is one of 13 young people whose lives have been cut short by an accident involving the bluffs along Isla Vista. As a mom, this loss has hit me especially hard. I commend the courage of the moms who have joined me today.
My team and I are one hundred percent committed to doing what is possible to prevent another fatal fall. Working in close partnership with the Isla Vista Community Services District (IVCSD), we are pursuing an eight-point plan to move swiftly and take action. With gratitude, this work has been informed by the thoughts and experiences of other families who have lost their children in accidents along the bluffs, the Associated Students of UCSB, and other caring members of the community who have reached out to share their constructive ideas. We are all dedicated to achieving a safer Isla Vista.”
SUPERVISOR CAPPS EIGHT POINT PLAN FOR ISLA VISTA BLUFF SAFETY
- Fencing:
Stakeholders have conveyed that higher fencing is the top priority to prevent cliff falls. There are approximately 70 privately owned buildings on the coastal side of Del Playa and multiple County and Isla Vista Parks and Recreation parks. We will work closely with Planning and Development and Coastal Commission staff to expedite any necessary permitting.
We will work with the Isla Vista Community and the Board of Supervisor to:
- Height Requirement: Amend Santa Barbara County Code and Building Regulations to raise the mandatory height for railings and fencing along the bluffs in Isla Vista. Currently the minimum mandatory height is 4 feet. After hearing from the community, Supervisor Capps is suggesting a six feet minimum.
- County land + Private: To be clear, this height change would apply to both county land and private property.
- Anti-climbing: Currently existing county fences are made with ‘anti-climbing’ material. We will inspect our fences to fortify these materials.
- Private property owners: To streamline this process for private property owners, we’ll be providing incentives to make these changes as easy as possible to come into compliance.
- Supervisor Capps will bring these proposed regulatory changes to the Board of Supervisors for their consideration by November 7th.
- Lighting
These fatal cliff falls occur at night. In the past, lighting has been objected to by neighbors who want to protect their coastal views. We believe there are innovative ways such as motion sensor lighting to protect coastal views while also potentially improving public safety.
- We are working with county staff to install innovative lighting along our fences. As a pilot, solar lights were installed on some signs already.
- We will work with property owners to incentivize this as well.
- Warning Signs
Currently the county has placed many warning signs explaining the dangers presented by the cliffs. Unfortunately, these signs are often stolen and found on the walls of dorm rooms and I.V. apartments. Accidents happen at night then signs are not as visible.
- We are working with County Parks to install durable signage, ideally well-lit.
- As mentioned, the county has already initiated a pilot project to light some of the signs.
- Bathrooms
We’ve learned that one reason for people to hop the fence and/or get too close to the edge is to urinate. More public bathrooms in Isla Vista has long been a priority for the Isla Vista Community Services District.
- Weeks ago, the Capps office put a porta potty at Walter Capps Park.
- IVCSD has allocated $15,000 for more. Working with them, there are now 4 porta potties along Del Playa.
- We know there are issues with portable bathrooms and will pursue more permanent bathroom options.
- Education
Isla Vista Community Service District has led the charge of educating students and the community about bluff safety. We are grateful to the media for providing such valuable information about these inherent dangers, and of course to the families of those who have died for the public service they have provided for us all.
- We will maintain our collaborative efforts with Santa Barbara City College, UCSB, and the Isla Vista Community Services District to both educate the community and further enhance existing initiatives.
- Horticulture
It has been suggested that there is effective shrubbery that makes it harder for people to trespass where it is unsafe for them to be, due to thorns, prickles or other sharp characteristics.
- We are working with County Parks to explore the kinds of horticulture that can be planted that make it difficult to traverse.
- Once we have recommendations we will share this information with property owners for them to do the same.
- Memorial
We support and envision a memorial for the 13 people who have died as a way to honor their life and serve as a powerful reminder for safety.
- Supervisor Capps is contacting the families to make sure they are comfortable with this idea.
- We are looking for who might want to sponsor this memorial.
- Enforcement
Currently, law enforcement is not able to stop people from acting unsafely on the cliffs, such as breaking up a party where people are sitting on balcony fences. They need a stronger ability to uphold safety.
- With the IVCSD, the Sheriff’s office and the community we are working to strengthen the tools they have to prevent unsafe situations from escalating into dangerous situations.
- This work began in early 2023.
Alcohol and Drug Use Considerations
It is essential to acknowledge that alcohol and drug use have played roles in some of the cliff falls that have occurred in Isla Vista over the years. Efforts to address these issues have included ongoing education and awareness campaigns aimed at promoting responsible behavior and personal safety, particularly during events like Deltopia and other gatherings. The presence of alcohol and drug use underscores the importance of increasing safety measures that can effectively deter individuals from accessing precarious areas along the bluffs, even when under the influence. Education alone, while valuable, may not always be sufficient to prevent accidents, especially when impaired judgment is a factor.
Therefore, it remains imperative to proceed with the proposed eight point plan as an integral component of our community’s commitment to awareness and increased safety. This proactive approach not only addresses immediate safety concerns but also complements ongoing educational efforts by providing an additional layer of protection to residents and visitors, regardless of their state of sobriety or awareness.
No lighting, please. Light at night disrupts all kinds of critters. Four foot fences that are hard to climb should be enough. I really don’t like the idea of six foot fences—I’d want to climb over just to get a clear view.
And bathrooms! I’m all in favor of public toilets. The one downtown by the Fiesta Five theater is a good model: barely enough privacy to do what one needs to, with little space for creepy people to lurk. Or try the Portland Loo, designed to work well in a city.
So, with 6′ high fences, with “anti-climbing” features (barbed wire?) no less, nobody will be able to enjoy the ocean view any longer. Because of somebody’s lack of responsibility for their own self-preservation, we all pay a price. I’m sure somebody will cry, “What if it was your child?” It’s a tragedy to be sure, but where does the responsibility lie? Should Shoreline Park similarly install 6′ fencing? And what about the Douglas reserve? Or Ellwood for that matter? Where does it end? The one good suggestion I see is landscaping. Plant a bunch of impenetrable agave.
Are thousands of young adults getting drunk and high 2-3 times a week since forever at Shoreline? Douglas? Ellwood?
Would love to see every student sign a waiver of liability and to see ucsb simply suspend anyone who’s on the bluffs.
It’s not just UCSB students. There are SBCC students, as well as non-students, visitors, you name it. California requires swimming pool fencing to be 5’ high, without hand- or foot-holds that facilitate climbing. I’d prefer only 4’ high fencing so as not to obscure the view for the vast majority of people who don’t try to climb over. As we know from other situations, you can’t easily build a fence that cannot be scaled; determined climbers will get over, under or around. We just need to make it clear that it’s a boundary that should not be crossed. The rest is on the individual.
4′ fences with cactus/agave would be great I’d think. If you look at the photo above, there is no fencing at all. I think something would help there. 6′ is a bit much. I’m just glad they’re doing something. Many people partying out there haven’t grown up here or know the danger and history of these cliffs.
I am very sorry for the 13 lives lost. I also believe that babyproofing the coastline is not the answer! These tragedies are not a result of normal behavior, these are drunk people making horrible decisions to climb fences. If sober people and children were falling off the cliff, that is one thing, but this is not that. The answer is education, drill it into IV residents heads that you NEVER climb a bluff fence. Make it mandatory. Make it part of UCSB and SBCC freshman and transfer orientation. Have presentations in the street via loudspeaker along Del Playa.
Anti-climbing features in this case means tiny mesh chain link that is too small to get the toe of your shoe into to climb, or curved fence tops.
Those “safety measures” are more show than substance. And they will have a negative effect on our community. Yes, I am in Isla Vista almost every day since I arrived as a grad student in 1982.
A six foot fence would create a visual obstacle that will ruin the very reason we have these precious bluff top parks. A fence just needs to be tall enough to keep people from accidentally falling over the edge in the dark. Four feet is plenty tall. If someone is determined to get through, making it six feet tall will not help. I predict people will start cutting holes in them, for one thing.