The owner of the Farmhouse Motel on Avenue of Flags objected to the Buellton City Council’s attempt to remove his business’ standing as a housing unit, as the council introduced a first reading of a proposed update that would limit hotel rooms to just short-term rentals, during the council’s regular meeting on Thursday, Aug. 14.

The council put the public hearing, Resolution 25-06, on the agenda to eventually prohibit hotels rooms from being long-term rentals, or single-room occupancies (SROs). Farmhouse Motel was one of the lodging establishment that eventually became residential units for low-income individuals that the city believes does not fit in with the planned redevelopment of the Avenue of Flags corridor. The city also desires hotels on that street that will bring in more Transient Occupancy Tax (TOR).

However, due to the state of California designating the motel as a low-income residence, the city would have to arrange alternate housing for any displaced residents to move into.

During Public Comment on the item, Kerry Moriarty, owner of the Farmhouse Motel, protested the proposal to take away his business’ designation for long-term residence, believing his motel is being singled out.

“My property is really the only one that’s affected by this proposal,” said Moriarty, who noted that the nearby Red Rose Court was deterimined to be exempt from the ordinance, and the San Marcos Hotel, which only rents long-term to “three or four” tenants.

“I’ve had this property for 20 years; I’ve operated it as an apartment building, I’ve got a mortgage on it underwritten as an apartment building,” he said. “If it goes back to being a motel, guess what happens to that mortgage — I go in default.”

“I don’t know how you’re even considering this with the state mandate on affordable housing,” he continued. “My property is what the state mandate is trying to preserve.”

Later on, one of Moriarty’s tenants spoke on behalf of the owner.

“I’ve been a Farm House resident 14 years, disabled 15 years ago and this is the only place I can afford,” said the man, who did not give his name. “It just doesn’t seem right, it’s a nice place .Cary keeps it up nice. With the homeless problems in that state, to take our home away from us, I don’t understand.”

When it went to council, it was pointed out that this was just a first reading, and wouldn’t have a chance to pass until the next council meeting on Sept. 11.

Vice Mayor Elysia Lewis said she was uncomfortable with the Dec. 31 deadline for residents of the Farmhouse to move out, citing the probable cold weather at the time. Councilmember Hudson Hornick thought the deadlines were too tight also, while John Sanchez (who incidentally was on remote from Nottingham, England), suggested the Farmhouse could get an extension and noted that his son had stayed there at one point.

Ultimately, council moved to approve first reading, but with the ameneded dates of April 1, 2026 (instead of Dec. 31), to vacate the motel, and Oct. 31, 2026 (instead of June 30, 2026) to be moved into other affordable housing. The motion passed 3-1 with Sanchez dissenting.

In other business:

The City Council approved a $48,800 outlay to the upcoming Buellton Theatre Project, a 14-week theatre arts program that will culminate in a performance of the Broadway musical “Annie.”

City Manager Scott Wolfe introduced the item because the original choice, Allison Firey of Buellton Parks and Rec, will be a volunteer on the project and recused herself. In fact, it was Firey who made the presentation to council, noting that her love of performing was inspired by being in a production of “Annie” as a child. Council passed the item 4-0, with Hornick calling the proposal “awesome.”

After the approval last month of Hundred Hills School operating on the Willemsen site by the library for up to five years, council discussed initiating the process of investigating possible uses for the Dairyland Road parcels once the school finds another permanent location in Buellton and leave it temporary site. If approved the council would then appoint two members of council to appoint an ad hoc committee to lead the effort.

While three of the councilmembers backed the idea, Sanchez opposed it, citing animosity in the debate over the school’s location, and said they should let the school settle in at the site before thinking about a replacement. “Let the school have its time there. Put it off for a year,” he said.

However, Lewis believed that with the complaints during the HHS debate about the lack of transparency and notification on the proposal, the council needs engage with the public early. “Getting ahead of future project, being proactive would benefit city more,” she said. “Also it would be a show of faith to public.”

Interestingly, when the council decided there was a consensus to go forward with the committee, Sanchez immediately volunteered to serve on the committee. However, Wolfe believed that the Distict 1 representative, Hornick, should serve along with Mayor Silva. Silva and Hornick agreed and were voted as the ad hoc committee by a 3-1 vote, Sanchez dissenting.

The City Council will not meeting on the next scheduled Thursday, Aug. 28, and will return to session on Thursday, Sept. 11.

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The Solvang City Council culminated a busy Monday, Aug. 11, regular meeting by directing staff to draft a new ordinance focused on short-term rentals (STRs) in the city in an effort to limiting them to the Village Mixed-Use zone. The council on this evening was just four members, with Councilmember Claudia Orona absent.

During the meeting, the council also voted to change how the city handles retirement benefits, discussed plans for the upcoming Julefest Christmas celebration and next year’s Wine County Half-Marathon.

Back in March, the City Council had directed city staff to begin revisions to the City’s short-term rental (also known as vacation rental) ordinance, which would include a framework of an ordinance for further input from the City Council and residents.

Planning Development Director Rafael Castillo in giving his report, said the main objective of the ordinance is determining where the rental (which by definition are homes where people reside for 30 days or less) was where the council would allow the STRs in the city.

Currently, the areas in the city zoned for STRs are the Village Mixed-Use Area (VMA), and some lots in the R-3 zone of the city, along Copenhagen Drive, east of Fifth Street. Castillo said staff recommend that the STRs be limited to the Village Mixed-Use Area only.

Residents who spoke in Public Comment agreed the STRs should be kept in the VMU area. Dennis Beebe said the council needs to make the VMU boundaries “explicitly defined,” along with the limits for STRs. C.J. Jackson and Aaron Peterson reiterated their views that city’s should not allow STRs in residential areas. “Have a nice neighborhood and put in transient people is not something we should not consider,” Peterson said. “Hotels basically are vacation rentals.”

Although the council was on board with limiting the rentals to the VMU area, Councilmember Elizabeth Orona did remind her colleagues of the importance of tourists and visitors, including those using STRs, to the city’s economy, and wondered if there could be a way to allow them outside the VMU with further conditions like caps, allowed usage, and a minimum distance betweens STRs.

However, Councilmember Mark Infanti said his problem was with the “outside the VMU part of that,” and Mayor David Brown agreed the rentals should be focused within the VMU.

“I’m not sure the juice is worth the squeeze — doing the entire city,” Brown said. “If we can limit it to Village we’ll be OK, outside that, there would be lots of problems.”

Castillo then suggested the compromise of limiting STRs outside the VMU to “homestays” where the property owner would have to be present, Mayor David Brown also favored limiting them downtown.

Castillo and staff were directed to draft an ordinance limiting the STRs to the VMU, but adding the possiblity of allowing the homestays outside the VMU and listing the conditions of them. Castillo said the draft could be presented at the next meeting in September.

In other business:

The council voted 4-0 to move its city employees retirement plan from the management of CalPERS to that of the Public Agencies Post-Employment Benefits Trust administered by Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS).

Administrative services director Wendy Berry introduced Rachel Sanders from PARS to make a presentation on the program to the council. Sanders said benefits of the program would be complete local control over assets, pension rates stabilization, establishment of a “Rainy Day Fund,” and more diversification

The plan would see the city’s retirement fund go into two “buckets” — a Pension bucket and Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) bucket —, require a plan adminstrator, and would be subject to annual reviews or more frequents reviews, if desired. It also gives the city the option of active and passive approaches to investments within the plan.

The council approved the item, along with an add-on to add language that council will select strategy and annually review the strategy.

Solvang Marketing and Events Coordinator Candice Libera addressed the council on two discussion items, one regarding plans for this year’s Julefest Celebration in December, and next May’s Wine Country Half Marathon.

She first spoke on the half-marathon, which has run in Solvang every Mother’s Day weekend since 2008, and draws approximately 2,500 participants plus their friends and families, Libera said. However, she also said that there were complaints about restricted access to businesses with the race’s finish line on Copenhagen Drive, as well as concerns about litter and damage to the grass at Solvang Park, where the post-race gathering is held. Libera said that changes would be made to the race course, placing the finish line at a new location that wouldn’t inhibit access to merchants, and measures would be taken to mitigate the litter and placement of equipment at the park to protect the grass.

She also said advertising and promotional materials would more prominently feature the Solvang name, another point of contention.

For the Julefest, Libera said that the city was close to a deal to bring in snow at some point during the monthlong celebration, and with consideration for traffic and safety on Copenhagen Drive, the street would be closed to vehicles between Alisal Road and 1st Street for the entire Julefest and the light diplay at Solvang Park would be expanded.

Libera said options to address parking concerns were being looked at, including the opening of Lot 72 east of Alisal Road for additional parking.

The City Council will take a scheduled break, with no meeting on Aug. 25, and will next meet on Monday, Sept. 8.

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For the second time within a month, opponents and proponents of the proposed expressed their views on the potential Hundred Hills School (HHS), a Waldorf-inspired private school, to be temporarily placed on three parcels on the city-owned Willemsen property, this time to the Buellton City Council in its five-hour meeting Thursday, July 24, meeting.

After hearing the arguments, both pro and con, for the school founded by husband-and-wife Sundeep Chanana and Whitney Stevenson, the council voted 3-1 to approve the Conditional Use Permit allows the private educational facility to be established on four parcels next to the Buellton Library on Dairyland Road. The decision overturned the 2-2 vote at the Buellton Planning Commission meeting on July 3, which was technically a denial of the CUP.

After that decision, the council unanimously agreed to approve a license agreement for HHS to operate on the property for up to five years, with a fair-market value compensation of $1,750 per month, to give the school time to find a permanent location in Buellton.

Buellton Planning Director Andrea Kiefer started off the presentation by describing the school that would come to the neighborhood: It would be a Waldorf-inspired school serving preschool through the fourth grade. The campus, on the topmost portion of the Willemsen Property at 202, 208, 212, and 218 Dairyland Road, would consist of four classrooms, one administration building, and one restroom, all of the California Roundhouse building style, more commonly know as “yurts.”

The school’s founders spoke on their proposed school, with Montgomery starting off calling HHS a project “small in size, but enormous in possibility.”

Alluding to the opposition that been stated against the school and the founders, Stevenson told her story as someone who was raised in Buellton and went to numerous local schools, and said that heirs of the Wilhelmsen family that used to own the land approve of the plans.

“My husband and I were lucky to be exposed to an approach to education that deeply resonates with us,” Stevenson said. “Now we’re in a place where we can help bring it home to share it with the place that raised me. I just ask that we pause and consider what tonight means to this town.”

After that, Stevenson’s husband Sundeep Chanana spoke about the project, and listed a number of reasons why he felt the project would benefit Buellton: It would keep the land away from developers who wish to build high-density projects, it would allow the city to collect rent and fees for the property, it would give local families another school option, and it would help the “preschool crisis” for a town that has just one preschool.

“I can’t think of a single reason to vote anti-school,” Chanana said.

During a long public comment session, that saw 55 people speak on the project, many found reasons against the project, with pretty much all indicating that while they didn’t have problems with the school per se, they did not like it being proposed for the parcels on Dairyland Road next to the library.

As in the Planning Commission meeting, most of the objections came from residents of the surrounding neighborhood who believed there would be a negative impact with traffic and noise because of the school. Others did not like the idea of city-owned land being used for a private school. Others were concerned that some of the trees would be removed (although Chanana stated earlier that would not be the case), and residents would lose the use of the green area on the site.

An informal count of the 55 people who spoke found 34 that opposed the project.

Some of those who spoke in favor of HHS noted the lack of options for students in early education, most notably preschool, while others praised other Waldorf schools and said it would be a great experience for Buellton children. Some said they had to drive their kids to a Waldorf school in Santa Barbara and would appreciate being able to go to the same kind of school in Buellton.

When the item came back to council, Councilmember Hudson Hornick agreed with arguments on both sides, saying he felt the school would be a huge benefit, but also believed its proposed for the wrong site. However, he said he would support it, noting the site would be temporary and that he hoped “the open space would return.”

“It’s important we guide city in positive direction, and the Waldorf school is part of that,” he said. “The preschool is very important in this, we need more locations.”

Councilmember John Sanchez said he also supported the project, downplaying the complaints about traffic.

“I don’t see the additional trips as a deterrent; there will always be traffic,” he said. “It would be an honor to have a Waldorf school. I don’t see the problem.”

Vice Mayor Elysia Lewis said supported the school for the same reasons Hornick did, although she agreed the location was not a good one. She also thanked the public speakers for their decorum during comment.

Mayor David Silva said his decision on this is “the most torn I’ve ever felt,” and admitted that he was a bit detached on the subject because he doesn’t have kids.

“I sat through experience of people living next to site concerned about it,” he said. “I’ve struggled with it. Hard to make decision you aren’t impacted by, and you’re against. This is one subject where there hasn’t been neutrality, either you’re for it or against it.”

Lewis moved to approve the resolution overturning the Planning Commission decision and OK the Dairyland Road site for the school, with Hornick seconding, and the motion passed 3-1, with Silva dissenting.

The City Council will next meet on Thursday, Aug. 14, at 6 p.m.

The post Buellton City Council approves private school for Willemsen property appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

The Solvang City Council, in its Monday, July 14, meeting, awarded a contract to XIT Inc. to implement an AI-enabled surveillance camera system as part of the Downtown Corridor Surveillance Project.

Based out of Bakersfield, XIT Inc. who founded operations starting in the 2000s, claims to have become a significant player in the technology and IT services sector in the Central Valley of California and Southern Nevada.

City Manager Randy Murphy said seven new cameras would be installed as a pilot program to surveil strategic spots that were chosen by city staff with the help of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department. This project was hatched from one of the city’s goals, established earlier this year, to improve police response utilizing private security and technology.

The contract calls for surveillance camera purchase and services in the amount-not-to-exceed $147,407.01 for the three-year term from July 1, 2025 to Dec 31, 2028.

Murphy said XIT will be responsible for the installation of the cameras, and for storing the data from the cameras.

“The system will be monitored by city staff, with access provided to the sheriff’s department,” he said. “We do not have a policy in place yet for how to operate the program yet. We will bring that to council before its implemented.”

Councilmember Mark Infanti began the council questions by asking who would be doing the monitoring. Murphy answered that he and Assistant to the City Manager Olivia Uribe Mutal would be keeping tabs, but that mainly the system would be AI-enabled and that the objective would be to have footage that city officials or law enforcement can look at if a crime or incident is reported in Solvang’s downtown area.

At this point, City Counsel Chelsea O’Sullivan pointed out that the item was just to OK the contract, and the city would be able to start figuring out policy and usage afterward; however, Councilmember Elizabeth Orona pointed out that according to the schedule supplied to council, the system was going to start operation in September.

“Does the Sheriff’s Department have same software, and can it integrate with our system,” she asked. “We want to know the framework of what criteria they help us set, identifying procedural process, and clearing guidelines on what is being surveilled.

“I would like to approve this, but I feel like we’re behind the times on this,” Orona said. “There’s no policy; no skill set; there’s still work to do. We don’t know how complicated it gets until we get more answers.”

Murphy answered that by saying he would try to bring the framework of a policy by the next council meeting on Monday, Aug. 11.

Infanti then moved to approve the contract, with Councilmember Claudia Orona seconding, with the understanding that a policy for the use of the program was would be coming soon. The items passed 5-0

In other business:

The council unanimously approved the city’s new appropriation limit of $26,362,892 for the Fiscal Year 2025-26, an increase from $24,651,978 in FY 2024-25. The annual appropriations limit is calculated based on the 1978–79 fiscal year limit, adjusted annually to reflect changes in the cost of living and population. As required, the City has reviewed and calculated its annual Appropriations Limit. Based on population and cost-of-living data provided by the California Department of Finance (DOF).

The council had actually introduced the item in its previous meeting on June 23, but it was published just 12 days before the meeting, short of the required 15 days. Because of that, they couldn’t approve it until the July 14 meeting.

Also approved was the amendment of the Safety Element of the Solvang General Plan to incorporate the adopted Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, and update Figure SAF-8, Fire Hazard Severity Zones. The city had updated the Safety Element in 2024, and the latest amendment included language to make it compatible with Assembly Bill 2140, which opened up funds for use in disaster recovery. Murphy estimated that the city’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) hadn’t yet been added to the Safety Element during the damaging storms in January 2023, and if they had, the city could have gotten another $40,000 in emergency funds.

The council passed the first reading of the amended Cross-Connection Control Plan ordinance, and approval of the actual CCC Plan, which outlines the city’s compliance framework for backflow prevention, hazard assessments, inspection and testing procedures, and legal enforcement authority. Utility Director Jose Acosta said it was the city’s program for protecting its plumbing.

The council OK’d a new agreement with Wildan Engineering for Building Official Services, Plan Review, and Inspection, and an agreement with 4Leaf, Inc. as an on-call contractor for the same services if Wildan is not available. The fiscal impact of the two agreements was give as $200,000.

The City Council will next meet on Monday, Aug. 11, at 6:30 p.m.

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Every year at the end of the Buellton State of the City address, the speaker tries to sum up in one or two words how things are going for the city.

This year, Mayor David Silva, who took office last December, got to give the address for the first time at the Santa Ynez Marriott on June 26 and gave his take on the state of Buellton: “Fabulous.”

Leading up to that, Silva began his speech by highlighting some of the new construction in town. Buellton is awaiting the completion of two housing developments: Polo Village Apartments off McMurray Road, and Buellton Garden Apartments being built behind the Albertston’s shopping center.

He also talked of the new Cottage Medical Building, which will take over the old Parks Plaza Theater space on McMurray. While many were hoping to open up the building as a theater again, Silva said the medical center will be a valuable entity in the city.

“Things like a movie theater are like candy, a sweet thing you enjoy,” he said. “But think of the Cottage building as a vegetable, something that’s good for you.”

Silva also praised two additions on the old Wilhelmsen property on Dairyland Road: The new Buellton Library that opened in February, and right next to it, the Santa Ynez Valley Children’s Museum, a work in progress that the city agreed to partner with.

“The library has been years in the making, thanks in part to the tenacity, the grit, and sometimes the intimidation of our former mayor Holly Sierra,” he said. “And I always get the questions ‘what can families do together around here, and we have this Children’s Museum, thanks to Ashley Jenkins, who’s gotten it going. I’m excited to see where it goes.”

Silva also spoke proudly of his and his fellow councilmembers community engagement “We have made a point to talk to the residents in the area and find out their concerns,” he said. “Just this week, we had two town halls, and I conduct a coffee with the mayor meet-up, electronically we offer Buellton Engage, which keeps everyone up-to-date on our projects.”

Moneywise, Silva said that Buellton was doing good, with the Transit Occupancy Tax (TOT) being the top revenue provider, and the per capita sales tax, which he called “a small, but mighty economic driver.”

Other things Silva was happy to touch on included the addition of a motorcycle officer to patrol Highway 246, where speeding has been a problem, the city’s effort to fund nonprofits, and the 1,000 Tree Initiative, a campaign to bring more foliage to town.

Despite challenges faced, like inflation, state and federal economy, and state mandates, Silva said Buellton’s in a good place.

After the address Silva fielded questions from the audience. The first was about the proposed bike trail that would link the communities of Buellton, Solvang, and Santa Ynez. Silva said the project got a grant from Assemblyman Gregg Hart’s office and was hoping to get partnerships with the Chumash tribe.

Another asked about finding things to do for kids and families. Silva said that’s not something the council can fix by itself.

“There isn’t anyone who doesn’t recognize the need for activities for young residents to do,” he said. “But that’s something that residents, business owners have to come up with. If anyone has ideas, we’re there and we can partner with them.”

Despite the announcement of the new motorcycle officer on 246, Silva fielded questions about traffic issues on the highway, including the “carmageddon” that’s been happening because of road work on the highway and McMurray Road.

“We’ve been trying to slay that dragon for a while,” he said. “Problem is, when you’re talking to Caltrans which is in charge of that road, they tend to work in decades and things don’t get done fast, and it gets exhausting having to keep dealing with them.”

Finally, someone asked Silva what residents can do for councilmembers and other officials to help the city.

“Just trust the process in our council,” Silva replied. “We like to keep open communication. If your ideas are better that ours, communicate that with us.”

Before the address, Silva and Vice Mayor Elysia Lewis accepted the city’s annual Beautification Award on behalf of the city’s new library. 

Also, the Vincent B. Evans Award, named for the long-time owner of Pea Soup Andersen and honoring a resident for his service to Buellton, was given to Dan Vreeland, co-owner of Jim Vreeland Ford. The presentation had even more meaning because he received the award from Buellton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kathy Vreeland, the emcee of the program — and Dan’s wife — and good friend and Chamber Board President Tessi Martinez.

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Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse was unanimously selected as 2025 chair of the Board of Directors for Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) and Fourth District County Supervisor Bob Nelson as vice-chair. Santa Barbara County Supervisor Roy Lee, Buellton Mayor David Silva, Lompoc Mayor James Mosby, and Solvang Mayor David Brown join the board as new members. The board also approved its 2025 meeting schedule.

Rowse, as chair, will guide the board in 2025 discussions on SBCAG’s future regional priorities after completing the Santa Barbara Highway 101 High Occupancy Vehicle project. Local, state, and federal partners secured approximately $700 million leveraged by Measure A, the voter-approved countywide half-cent transportation sales tax for the Highway 101 upgrades, including safety improvements, carpool lanes, rail, transit, bicycle, pedestrian, and local road enhancements. The SBCAG and Caltrans project team expects to receive news this summer about state funding for the final segment in Santa Barbara, stretching from Hermosillo Road to Sycamore Creek north of Cabrillo Boulevard. If approved, the entire project could be completed by the end of 2028.

“Securing funding for the Highway 101 corridor is a testament to the power of partnership and dedication,” said Rowse.”This project is a critical investment in our region’s connectivity and future, and we remain committed to seeing it through to completion.”

The SBCAG Board of Directors is set to consider several initiatives in 2025, including adopting the State Route 166 Comprehensive Corridor Study. The study outlines key infrastructure improvements and safety enhancements along the vital east-west corridor connecting Santa Maria and Guadalupe.

The implementation of a peak-hour morning rail service between Ventura and Santa Barbara counties is also a priority. A pilot rail service for commuters is in the planning phase in partnership with Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC), Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency (LOSSAN), and Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink). The one-year pilot, operated by Metrolink, is anticipated to start in fall 2025, pending contract negotiations and other planning activities.

The agency will also continue its efforts to carry out the Broadband Strategic Plan, introduce expanded Clean Air Express service, and adopt the updated “Connected2050” plan, which will shape regional transportation and land use decisions for the next 30 years.

“Now more than ever, serving on SBCAG presents a unique opportunity to guide the future of the agency’s work in the region,” said Executive Director Marjie Kirn. “SBCAG is uniquely poised to provide a forum for regional collaboration and to create transformative change.”

The first Board of Directors meeting in the new year took place on Thursday, Jan. 16, in Santa Barbara. The Board of Directors will decide on several statewide or multi-county organization appointment opportunities, including positions on the California Association of Councils of Governments (CALCOG), Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency (LOSSAN), Coast Rail Coordinating Council (CRCC), CalVans, and Highway 154 Safety Committee.

“As we move into the new year, I will look to our Board of Directors to make key investments in Northern Santa Barbara County,” said Vice Chair Bob Nelson. “Connectivity is extremely important but safety is paramount. Improvements to corridors such as State Route 135 and 1 at Santa Lucia Road are vital to enhancing every aspect of our daily lives.” 

SBCAG provides planning, project management, grant administration, alternative transportation commuter services, administers Measure A, and seeks transportation infrastructure funding opportunities for the benefit of all residents of Santa Barbara County. Its Governing Board consists of all five county board of supervisors plus one representative from each city council.

SBCAG board meetings occur on the third Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. unless communicated otherwise and rotate between North County and South Coast locations. The Jan. 16 meeting will took place at the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors hearing room at 105 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.

The public is encouraged to subscribe to receive the latest SBCAG news and review upcoming agendas at sbcag.org

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A Buellton City Council meeting that many hoped would result in the appointment of a new City Councilmember, instead resulted in that issue being tabled until the next meeting, and the increased possibility of a special election to fill the seat.

The new contingent of councilmembers had hoped to appoint a candidate to serve out the term of the District 4 seat during the meeting, but the four councilmembers deadlocked on the two main candidates: Carla Mead, a self-employed math tutor and wine ambassador for Rideau Winery, who’s served as Solvang Theaterfest board member and a volunteers for a number of local organizations, and former Buellton Mayor Dave King, a retired CHP officer who has also served on many local boards and commissions.

The process for the new councilmember vote began with Mayor David Silva, who was the District 4 representative until taking over as mayor last month, announcing that candidates would have a three-minute period to state their case for the position, moving to public comment, and then the established councilmembers deciding on their choice. Silva then called up Mead, who he said was the only candidate who submitted a letter of interest “to all of us as a council.”

In her speech, Mead cited her experience as an educator for 20 years as well as her work as a volunteer with groups like the SYV Humane Society and Solvang Theaterfest Board, among others.

“I’ve taught in a wide variety of environments. These experiences required me to connect with people of diverse backgrounds, understand their unique challenges … and collaborate to find solutions for everyone,” she said.

She also spoke of her direct involvement in city government in applying for a spot on the Planning Commission, and helping lead a successful appeal against the building of an In-N-Out Burger on McMurray Road.

“These experiences deepened my understanding of local government and reinforced my view of thoughtful planning that balances economic growth with the preservation of the character of our city,” Mead said.

“Throughout my life, I’ve been guided by my commitment to service,” Mead concluded. “This opportunity to serve on City Council would give me the chance to serve the community I love in a profound way.”

After Mead spoke, Silva opened up the floor for anyone else who wanted to be considered for the council vacancy, and Dave King, the city’s previous mayor, stepped up to the podium to express his interest.

“I think my record speaks for itself,” King said, citing his experience in the military, law enforcement, and city government. “I think some of the accomplishments that I’ve done over the last 12 years have served the City of Buellton and its citizens. Every decision I’ve made was for the good and betterment of the community. We all do this as a labor of love for the community.”

In the following public comment, seven speakers came forward to voice their support for Mead, including her husband John, and some co-workers and fellow volunteers. The common thread with the speakers was their desire to bring some”new blood” (as put by the first speaker, Vivian Engle) on the council. They also praised Mead for her past work as a volunteer and on numerous board and councils, as well as her efforts in appealing the In-N-Out proposal.

When the item came back to council, District 1 Councilmember Hudson Hornick and District 3 Councilmember John Sanchez backed King; however, Silva and Vice Mayor Elysia Lewis (District 2) threw their support behind Mead.

The impasse seemed to be a case of the councilmembers arguing on two different issues as they debated, at times contentiously, the choice between the candidates.

Hornick began by nominating King, saying he was against the idea of appointing someone to the council instead havingan election. He said if they had to appoint, they should select King because although he lost the mayoral election in November, the votes he garnered showed he has support from people in the city.

“There was a mayoral election and Dave King got 1,200 votes,” he said. “I am unwilling to appoint someone else when we have somebody who got 1,200 votes in the election wants to serve.”

Sanchez also supported King for the appointment, bristling at the talk that the council needed “new blood,” or a different voice. His position was that the previous council had done a good job at leading the city.

“A small group got together to stop In-N-Out, and now a small group wants to come in and change things,” Sanchez said. “I get comments from residents from other cities who tell me what a great city Buellton is and we’re doing it right, and a lot of that should be credited to Dave King.”

Lewis, meanwhile, believed bringing in a “new voice” would be beneficial, and would encourage citizens in the future to get involved.

“I don’t take away from awesome things King did for this city,” she said. “My concern is we had a small group get involved in leading this city. We talk about wanting to get the citizens involved [in council] but then we don’t let them in, and it’s difficult to get new people involved. My support would be for new voices, why I would nominate Carla, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate who came before.”

In expressing his support for Mead, Silva said that District 4 supporters had come to the meeting and expressed their desire to see Mead appointed, and that took precedence over an election for another office.

“I struggle with the rational of an election for mayor being the reason not to get someone new [for District 4],” Silva said. “If we’re trying to represent District 4’s interest, District 4 has spoken: 17 emails for Mead , nine from the district, and four or five [actually seven] comments.”

After the ensuing debate over the relevance of the mayor’s race to the District 4 appointment, and the need for new voices when, as Sanchez pointed out, he was the longest serving councilmember on the dais and had only been there six years, the four councilmembers said they would not budge.

After separate motions to appoint each of the candidates to the seat ended in 2-2 votes, Hornick moved to continue the item until the next meeting on Jan. 23. Motion passed 3-1, with Lewis dissenting.

Silva said that any additional candidates wanting the appointment would be considered, but that if a decision isn’treached on Jan. 23, the city would go to a special election for the seat.

In other business at the meeting:

• Appointments were made for the city’s Planning Commission as Silva appointed Brian Campbell, and Hornick appointed Kasey Kump. Two existing members, Shannon Reese and Marcilo Sarquilla were designated as appointees of Lewis and Sanchez, respectively. The council held off the appointment of a fifth member pending the potential appointment of the District 4 council seat.
• The councilmembers determined assignment for some of the boards and commissions: As mayor, Silva will be the representative for SBCAG and the Air Pollution Control District, with Lewis being the alternate for both;while Sanchez will continue as rep for the Central Coast Water Authority.

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The Solvang City Council wasted no time filling its District 3 vacancy as the councilmembers voted to appoint Louise Smith, a chef and owner of Louise’s Kitchen Table, a catering business in Solvang. 

Smith isn’t exactly a stranger to Solvang city politics and government; she ran for the District 3 seat in 2022, when the City Council began it’s conversion to a district-based council, and lost to David Brown by six votes. The seat opened up when Brown was elected mayor in November 2024. Smith has also served on the city’s Tourism Advisory Committee in 2023.

The council kicked off the meeting by introducing the two candidates for the empty seat: Smith and Melanie-Eckford Prossor, who serves as director of curriculum and outreach for the Liberty Cap Foundation, and is also a book seller at the Book Loft in Solvang.

The meeting kicked off with both candidates addressing the council and making their case for the position.

Smith started off by reminding that she narrowly the District 3 election and said it did show that she had support among the district’s voters. She also cited her experience as president of her HOA and her time with many boards and commissions locally.

“I’ve had to make the hard decisions that boards and councils make, so I understand the process,” Smith said.

Smith cited water supplies and infrastructure as the major issues confronting Solvang.

“2025 is expected to be a drought year, which brings up concerns about water conservation, aging wells, and our dependence on state water,” she said. “The L.A. fires shown how vulnerable we really are.”

Smith also commented on the fact that 800,000 tourists came through town during Julefest, the city’s month-plus-long Christmas celebration.

“That was all exciting and wonderful, but it puts strains on our resources, including parking and our traffic congestion,” she said.

In summary, Smith said “I don’t have all the answers, but my passion and commitment to District 3 and to Solvang are strong.”

In addressing the council, Eckford-Prossor said came by the District 3 vacancy by accident.

“I was working at the Book Loft and was checking Julefest things, and I saw the District 3 seat was open,” she said. “And I thought to myself ‘This really is the time,’ because I’ve been in governance at the academic senate at a university and as senate president at Santa Barbara City College. The links between how a college works and a city works is, I believe, very similar.”

Eckford-Prossor also cited her experience on the Theaterfest Board and Santa Barbara Foundation, among other pursuits, before addressing the issues in the city.

“We’re at a crucial hinge moments for Solvang,” she said. “I live on Laurel and 2nd, and during December, the parking [by tourists] reached up to past the secondary school. We need to better for residents, tourists, and businesses. And that’s been the impetus for my applying.”

Eckford-Prossor also identified water conservation as a big issue.

“I’m involved in the Santa Barbara Community Rowing Association at Lake Cachuma, and every time I go down thereI see the water level dropping,” she said. “And I have a dog, Daisy, that I take to the park and there no place there where she can get a drink of water. We need to build consensus for these things.”

After the Public Comment segment saw five speakers come to the podium in support of Smith, it did not take long for the council to act.

Councilmember Elizabeth Orona praised Smith before making a motion, seconded by Councilmember Mark Infante, to appoint her to the board.

“Having run for office, it give the public an opportunity to know the person,” Orona said. “Having the evidence of what the voters thought in the [2022] election is a good indicator for the appointment. And when Louise didn’t win that election, she immediately raised her hand and joined the Tourism Advisory Committe, so I think there’s something very right about appointing her.”

The council approved Smith’s appointment with a 4-0 vote.

In other business, the City Council appointed people to the city’s boards and commissions. The appointments are as follows:

Planning Commission: Jack Williams (appointed by Infante), Aaron Peterson (Claudia Orona), Brandon Sparks-Gillis (Smith), Bill Ziegler (Elizabeth Orona), Kief Adler (Brown).

Design Review Committee: Esther Jacobsen-Bates (Infante), Jennifer Johnson (Claudia Orona), Melissa Bates (Smith), Charlene Goetz (Elizabeth Orona),Richard Boyd (Brown).

Measure U Citizen Oversight Committee: Adelia Kehoe (Claudia Orona) and Henry Haugse (Brown).

The next City Council meeting will be Monday, Jan. 27, at 6:30 p.m.

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The Solvang City Council took a first step toward a more streamlined sign ordinance after a recommendation from Planning and Building Director Rafael Castillo in the Tuesday, Nov. 12, meeting.

The council held a rare Tuesday meeting on Nov. 12, which was done because the second Monday in the month, when council usually meets, was Veterans Day. Councilmember Elizabeth Orona was absent from the meeting.

During the meeting, the present councilmembers acknowledged Mayor Pro Tem David Brown’s victory in the previous week’s mayoral election. Although the election has not yet been certified, the second post-election update released last Thursday saw Brown getting 58.99% of the vote, with runner-up Jamie Baker getting 26.43%, and Denise El Amin 13.97% to finish third.

Meanwhile, Mark Infanti, who did not seek reelection as mayor, ran unopposed for the District 1 seat and got 96.78% of the vote, while fellow councilmember Claudia Orono ran unopposed for the District 2 seat, getting 96.43% of the vote.

In his presentation for the item Discussion and Possible Action to Provide Staff Direction regarding Updates to Solvang Sign Ordinances, Castillo explained how the sign ordinance was passed in 1990 to keep the town’s architectural character, with the thought to revise it every few years. However, recent revision attempts in 2018 (city officials didn’t bother to put the changes before the council) and 2019 (COVID) weren’t put in.

City staff actually temporarily relaxed signage regulations, particularly A-frame signs and other types of signage during2020 through 2022.

Under current policy, sign placement, whether a new sign, replacement sign, etc. requires approval from the Design Review Committee (DRC). While the sign ordinance is comprehensive, there are times where the ordinance is left up to interpretation, and the ordinance is sometimes in conflict with itself. 

Castillo pointed that one streamlining attempt has submitted signs just going on the Consent Agenda, which tends to pass without much analysis. Another problem Castillo pointed out is the time the process takes and the cost.

“I’m looking for direction on an action to begin revising this,” Castillo said. “I also think this is where the DRC is essential. They know about the ‘brand’ of Solvang, and what we’re trying to maintain.”

One person spoke out on public comment on the issue: Local business owner Aaron Petersen.

“I’m the only person speaking here, but there’s a lot more people I could be speaking for tonight,” Petersen said. “We’re concerned about the sign ordinance. When you’re trying to get a sign permitted, you need to understand the DRC only meets once a month, you submit a sign and they suddenly say ‘oh, something’s wrong with the color,’ sometimes that can push you to 90 days, and you’re still waiting.”

Peterson liked the idea of having a workshop.

“We need people to get together; we need people involved,” he said.

The councilmembers were all in agreement that a workshop under the DRC would be a good idea, although Councilmember Robert Clarke admitted he was just joking when he suggested. However, Infanti and Orona thought it was a good idea, and Brown suggested they try and develop visual examples of correct styles so it would be easier for people to understand what the city wants.

At the end, the council directed Castillo and staff to hold a workshop at the DRC level, but that it would in spring at the earliest.

In other business:

The council voted to approve a request by its transit system manager, RATPDev, for changes in their transit contract. While the changes would cost more money, Public Works Director Rodger Olds pointed out that the transit system is paid for by state and federal funds, so it would not cost the city any money.

With Brown imminent move to the mayor’s seat, Randy Murphy began the discussion on how to fill his vacant District 3 seat. It was quickly decided a replacement would be appointed since a special election would be costly, and, as City Counsel Chelsea O’Sullivan pointed out, the election could not be held until the next general election, which in 2025 would be November.

Murphy said they would start ‘putting out a net’ for candidates right away, while Infanti said the new mayor and councilmembers would probably be sworn in during the next council meeting on Dec. 9.

Feature Image: Solvang business owner Aaron Petersen makes his comments about the city’s sign ordinance during the City Council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Screenshot from Yahoo.

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After working side-by-side to govern the City of Buellton incumbent Mayor Dave King and Vice Mayor David Silva will run against each other for the city’s mayoral seat in the Nov. 5 election.

King was elected as Buellton’s second-ever mayor in 2022 after Holly Sierra termed out. That same year, Silva threw his hat in the ring and won the District 4 City Council seat as the council was transitioning into district representation.

No matter who wins the mayor’s race, the Buellton City Council will not look that much different. King and Silva are the only competitive race on City Council as Elysia Lewis and John Sanchez, whose terms will expire for the city’s last two at-large seats, happen to live in the districts that are open, but both will be running unopposed, Lewis in District 2 and Sanchez in District 3.

Dave King

King said he feels like there were some things accomplished during his first term, but there are also things he still wants to do, and he wants to be in the mayor’s seat for them.

“There are many things we’re still pursing as a city, and I’ve found during my time in the City Council and in the last two years as mayor, that I can get a lot more done when I’m mayor,” he said. “So, I just want to stay on this job and get more stuff done.”

One of the big topics in Buellton was, and still is, traffic along Highway 246, which is the main road through town, and that’s a topic King, a retired California Highway Patrol officer, feels strongly about. The city, however, has been able to reach agreement with the CHP to station some CHP officers in town to cut down on speeding. There’s also progress on narrowing the lanes on Highway 246 to control traffic on the east end of town.

“This is good because if we can get those lanes narrowed on the way out of, or into, town,” King said. “When people come upon a lane narrowing, they tend to slow down.”

King is also seeing signs of progress in capital projects.

“We’ve had the Waypoint bowling alley in the plans, and I’m hoping we can get that started in 6-8 months,” he said. “Also, the old movie theater was purchased and I’d like to talk to the owner about reopening.”

Those two projects are examples of what King wants for Buellton: More things to do for kids and families.

“I’d like to get some progress going on finding land for a baseball and soccer fields,” he said. “Good athletics facilities can brings in traveling teams for tournaments and the like, and bring more money into town.”

King has also touted the development of affordable housing to meet the state mandates, but worries that much of the housing demanded by the state may be incongruous with Buellton.

“I think affordable housing is a good and necessary idea — if it’s done right,” King said, and then referencing the housing complex in progress behind the Albertson’s “For instance [that complex] has apartments that will require way more parking than it has room for and it’s going to increase density and congestion.

“The state’s push for housing has unintended consequences when they try to forces construction in where it doesn’t fit.”

David Silva

For current Vice Mayor David Silva, the catalyst to pursue a run for the Buellton mayor’s seat came in the threat of Buellton’s Meals on Wheels program being taken away earlier this year.

“See the possibility that could happen really got my attention. Over 400 seniors depend on that and it was very possible it could go insolvent,” he said. “And I just thought of my mother-in-law, who is a senior and has dementia, and what if someone just pulled away the resources she has?”

The City Council and Santa Ynez Valley Outreach were able to keep the program afloat, but it gave Silva some thought.

“I thought to myself ‘we never should have let it get that close to being eliminated,'” he said. “We need to be proactively thinking of what the community needs, instead of being reactive, and I thought I would need to take the lead in that; and that’s what made me decide to run for mayor.”

During his time on City Council, Silva has claimed many accomplishments in addition to help keeping the Meal on Wheels rolling, such as funding a record number of inaugural community arts and cultural heritage events, securing funding for the Santa Ynez River Trail, investing in the library, and working to renew and preserve the city’s Urban Growth Boundary while providing thoughtful sites for future housing.

The Urban Growth Boundary is another important subject in the form of Measure C on the November ballot, which would extend the life of the UGB, and add 123 acres to it.

“I’m definitely for that, although it’s up to the voters whether it’s implemented,” Silva said. “We’re running out of space, so I think we can be proactive to add a small bit of land to the north.”

An additional goal he has is to balance the draw of tourists with local needs.

“I fell there’s a need to welcome the tourists, but with an investment and benefit to the locals,” Silva said. “That means creating things that both tourists and locals can enjoy, like splash pads and playground equipment.”

One last goal Silva has for this campaign is getting citizens more involved in the city.

“In campaigning I’m going door-to-door and have gotten some great ideas from people,” he said. “But I’ve also found a lot of people aren’t really engaged in the community.

“As an elected official, I feel I have to take on the responsibility of meeting this people and making them engaged.” 

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