Solvang City Council moves forward on study for controversial development

Public speakers not happy with consultant choice and placement of item on Consent Calendar

The Solvang City Council met on Monday, Feb. 10, for its regular meeting, and it was an item on the council’s Consent Calendar that seemed to get the most attention.

Of course, it was a subject that’s been on the minds of citizens speaking out on the non-agenda Public Communication: The “Builder’s Remedy” application to build a 100-unit apartment complex on Alamo Pintado and Old Mission Road in Solvang, known as the Wildwood development.

The Consent Calendar item was to approve an agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc. to prepare an Initial Study and prepare documents for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance in connection and start toward an Environmental Impact Report for the total amount not to exceed $252,272. 

Public Communication, as usual came before the Consent Calendar, and residents who have repeatedly voiced their opposition to the Wildwood project, objected again on two counts.

The first speaker, Dennis Beebe, expressed his disappointment that the subject was relegated to the Consent Calendar, which are items usually meant to be approved without any discussion and as he said, “you can’t engage with the public on this, as we would like to.”

Beebe then continued on to his second objection: The choice of consultant for the study up for approval, Rincon Consultants.

“I don’t think the contractor, Rincon, has a good understanding of the scope of the project,” he said, pointing out that Rincon proposes just two parcels of the property, when the development is actually planned for five parcels; and that there were 12 studies Rincon planned for peer review, but Beebe said he couldn’t find those studies in the submitted application.

“So, I don’t think this contract is ready for prime time, and I hope you’ll ask the appropriate questions to resolve my concerns,” he concluded.

Subsequent speakers echoed Beebe’s concerns, all requesting that the item be pulled from the Consent Calendar, and put on the main agenda for a future meeting.

Steve Martin agreed there were many factors lacking in Rincon’s proposal, calling it “incomplete” and saying it “could well decide the fate of Wildwood by setting up an unjustified, improper approval” of the project.

When it came time for the Consent Calendar, council did pull the item (6d) concerning the consulting contract while unanimously passing the other consent items.

Planning Manager Rafael Castillo stated that the approval of the contract is just the next step to move it forward so that the project does eventually go before the council, and ultimately is open to public comment.

“The reality is that this is the next step; we need to meet the requirement to move the project forward,” Castillo said. “The EIR is that avenue. We need to move the project along.” Castillo noted the process would take 9 to 12 months.

Ultimately, Councilmember Mark Infante started a motion to approve the contract, but Martin immediately called for a point of order, saying that council couldn’t pass something without it being on the discussion agenda. However, Mayor David Brown and Assistant City Attorney Craig Steele said council was well within its rights to vote on the action, pointing out that the public had commented on it, and it had been pulled from the Contest Calendar for discussion by council.

Infante’s notion stood and was seconded by Claudia Orona. The motion passed 4-1 with Councilmember Louise Smith dissenting.

In other business, council listened to a presentation from Management Analyst Olivia Uribe Mutal proposing increased public surveillance in Solvang.

“While we have a very nice town here in Solvang, there has been an influx of crimes: Theft of tourists, vandalism in public bathrooms, gas siphoned from cars,” Uribe Mutal said. “All are crimes of opportunity, but could have been prevented by increase surveillance. I am seeking direction of expansion of video surveillance.”

Uribe Mutal mentioned possibilities like AI and cloud-based systems that would improve and ease search efforts. She said that could include technology like license plate ID cameras, wi-fi cameras, and drones.

Councilmembers had concerns with cost; when Claudia Orona asked Uribe Mutal the costs, she said it depended on many details of what they might want. That’s why she was requesting direction from council.

Elizabeth Orona expressed concerns about cost and privacy issues, while Infante wondered how much the city reallyneeded license plate ID cameras.

At the end, council instructed Uribe Mutal to get a couple of specific options to study on improving surveillance andthey could move on from there.

The meeting started off with an appearance by young Audrey Smith, the Solvang School student who won the honor of being Mayor for a Day. She was introduced by Brown and led the council in the Pledge of Allegiance, and also sat in the mayor’s chair for City Clerk’s presentation on the ins and outs of her job before departing. Brown said she would take tour of city facilities.

The next City Council meeting will be Monday, Feb. 24, at 6:30 p.m.