By Raiza Giorgi

Faced with financial uncertainty during protracted negotiations with City Hall over a new contract, the board of the nonprofit Solvang Conference and Visitors Bureau laid off much of its staff on Wednesday, including Executive Director Tracy Farhad.

Also laid off that day, July 31, were Digital Media Director Brenda Ball and bookkeeper Lana Clark (not to be confused with local attorney Lana Clark), according to a statement released Thursday by the Solvang Convention and Visitors Bureau (SCVB).

Tracy Farhad

“This was the best job of my life and this is a wonderful community. I hope they continue to promote tourism, because the visitors do not just come on their own,” Farhad said after the announcement was made.

“Pending on-going contract negations with the city, SCVB Special Event Manager and Film Liaison Daniel Lahr and Sales Assistant Susan Lee have been retained for the month of August, and the Solvang Visitor Information Center managed by Dean Klitgaard and his staff will remain open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1639 Copenhagen Drive,” said Jessy Osehan Verkler, the board’s chief financial officer, in the statement.

“Approximately 85 percent of the SCVB annual budget derives from city funding. In the city’s current budget cycle of July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020, SCVB funding was reduced to $600,000 on June 24, 2019, and then (the) contract terminated with a 30-day notice by the City Council on July 8, 2019,” Verkler added.

As the end of the month approached, Farhad presented the SCVB board with three options on Tuesday, July 30, and the board chose Option 3 as a short-term measure while continuing to negotiate a longer-term contract, according to information provided by Interim City Attorney Chip Wullbrandt, who attended the meeting.

That option, headlined “Negotiate new, program-specific contract with city,” included producing the “Solvang Stomp” grape harvest festival in October and Julefest Christmas-season events through Dec. 31, as well as keeping the visitor center’s services and staff.

It also called for dropping all other marketing programs, laying off Farhad, Ball and Clark, and having the volunteer board members manage the remaining staff and programs.

“At my request, the SCVB provided a budget proposal for the first month of Option 3, which I received (Tuesday) night, but with a 4 p.m. (Wednesday) deadline to provide funding,” Wullbrandt wrote Wednesday in an email to the Valley Star. “The amount of that proposal, $25,893, is within the city manager’s contract authority. … we worked diligently (Wednesday) morning with the mayor, SCVB board members and the city manager to get a contract done and signed to save the Visitor Information Center, Solvang USA website and other SCVB assets, all within the city manager’s spending authority.”

“(Wednesday) afternoon, the SCVB was provided a $25,893 check, and the visitor center will remain open without interruption, and the website and other assets will be maintained per SCVB request. The funding also provides for the SCVB accountant to provide SCVB finance information requested by the city,” Wullbrandt added.

“The contract will come to the Council as a consent item for ratification on August 12. The City negotiation team will continue to work with the SCVB subcommittee,” he wrote.

Mayor Ryan Toussaint added in a press release that “August is a busy month for tourism in Solvang and keeping the Visitors Center open during that time was a priority for us all,”.

“We appreciate all the hard work of Dean Klitgaard and his staff at the Visitors Center. This is also a crucial planning time for fall events. By extending funding, we are able to support the Visitor Center ambassadors as well as two full-time staff dedicated to event planning, social media, website maintenance including an events calendar, film and sales. Tourism is very important to the City Council. It is essential to provide helpful information to tourists and give them a reason to return to Solvang with its cherished annual events,” Toussaint wrote.

“Since July 9 … the SCVB has been in good-faith negotiations with city leaders to renegotiate the SCVB’s long-term destination marketing contract. As of July 31 … the city has granted the SCVB a one-month contract running from August 1-31 … to cover the expenses of the Solvang Visitors Information Center and limited promotional activity while negotiations continue,” Verkler said in the press release. … “However, as a result of the amount and short duration of city funding, difficult budget choices had to be made by the SCVB Board of Directors.”

Farhad has been SCVB Executive Director since February 2005 and was instrumental in gaining Solvang the honor of a National Trust for Historic Preservation “Preserve America Community” award in 2009. She also helped organize the year-long 2011 Solvang Centennial Celebration events, as well as develop the Solvang Heritage Walk Audio Tour App, and enhancing city-wide event promotions including Taste of Solvang (March), Solvang Stomp (October) and Julefest (month of December).

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