The possibility of a Social Host Ordinance being imposed in Santa Barbara County will be considered today by the Board of Supervisors. While it would apply to the whole county, Isla Vista seems to be the focal point of opposition.

Recently-elected 3rd District Supervisor Doreen Farr organized an open meeting Feb. 19 at IV Theater to get feedback from students living in Isla Vista about the ordinance.

“I was successful in having that ordinance postponed from the board’s agenda so that we could have this meeting,” Farr said. The hearing is scheduled for tonight, when the public will be able to express opinions about the ordinance to the Board of Supervisors.

Similar social host ordinances targeting underage drinking have been recently introduced in Carpenteria and Ventura. The ordinance would attempt to hold residents and property owners responsible for underage drinking by charging them with a fine-a civil violation.

The ordinance defines a “loud or unruly gathering” as a party or gathering of five or more people, two of whom are minors, that disturbs the peace of a neighborhood in any number of ways. Those ways include excessive noise, excessive traffic, public drunkenness, fights, vandalism and litter.

The penalties range from $250 for the first violation, to $500 and $1,000 for a second and third, accordingly, within 12 months.

These fines are in addition to any response costs, including police, fire and emergency medical response costs. The county could also hold the “responsible person” liable for the cost of any follow-up police response during the following year.

Farr brought a six-member panel to explain the ordinance to students, including Isla Vista Foot Patrol Lt. Brian Olmstead and other advocates, as well as opponents from the UCSB Associated Students, IV Property Owner’s Association and IV Tenants Union.

Following a brief presentation from each panelist, they answered questions from students in the audience.

Sue Paul, Santa Barbara County assistant CEO and human resources director, said the ordinance is meant to hold individuals responsible for underage and binge drinking on residential property.

“This ordinance wasn’t crafted specially for the IV area,” Lt. Olmstead said, adding, “It’s a county-wide ordinance.” Both Paul and Olmstead brought up various crimes that often involve, or are a result of, alcohol consumption.

Ashley Day, the UCSB Associated Students on-campus representative, said that 50,000 local college students had been overlooked in drafting the ordinance. She said that while high school students were consulted, college students were not.

Day added that after their comments were made, only words – and not issues – were changed in the second draft of the ordinance.

Chuck Eckert, representing the IV Property Owner’s Association, opposed the ordinance.

“You’ve got to use a rifle, and not a shotgun, to hit a small target,” he said. He added that it seeks to hold people who often have no control or knowledge of such gatherings responsible. This includes residents away from home, as well as residential and property managers.

“You should be aware of what goes into these response costs. You’ll be shocked,” Eckert said.

Ultimately, the student-dominated audience was allowed to have the final words with open public comments.

The students did not sympathize with Lt. Olmstead.

“I grew up drug and alcohol free here,” said Steve Stormoen, an Isla Vista resident. “I did so without any ridiculous social host ordinance,” he added. Stormoen said that the ordinance would destroy any all-age music shows, as it can’t be known for certain that nobody will drink alcohol.

Stormoen said that the ordinance cannot address the true social problems behind underage drinking. He said it would only make the problem harder to see and therefore harder to treat, rather than stop it.

Another student voiced that while there is no response cost for domestic abuse or sexual assault, the police would charge to come pour out a beer.

“Amazingly, Santa Barbara and Carpenteria are not the same,” called out another.

The meeting was ended at 8:30 p.m. Farr said that she will continue to respond to questions being asked, and will try to get answers to the students’ questions and her own questions.

A free bus has been arranged to pick up students at IV Theater in Isla Vista to attend the hearing tonight.