Regardless of a world pandemic, state- and county-mandated shut downs and ensuing financial impacts, the town of Solvang sits in a wholesome monetary place with a cost-savings funds and long-term financial planning methods put in place by earlier councils, the town’s supervisor reported Monday.
The brand new council typically directed employees to remain the course with minor modifications that may improve metropolis companies as COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed.
“I believe we ought to carry the road for now till we are able to see how we’re going to be doing,” stated Councilman Jim Thomas because the group thought-about choices for the town’s human service grant funding insurance policies and procedures.
The earlier council drastically minimize the grant funds in 2019-20 — to $82,500 from $319,000 the earlier yr — by prioritizing packages that benefitted the town’s seniors. Additionally they excluded ongoing packages from the grant system, as a substitute putting them on the funds as annual expenditures. These included Elverhoj Museum, Solvang Danish Days Basis for Danish Days, and Santa Ynez Valley Rotary Basis for Fourth of July actions.
Councilman Mark Enfante famous the coverage’s present lack of consideration to youngsters’s packages, and Mayor Professional Tem Claudia Orona requested COVID-related reduction packages be thought-about, however the council unanimously agreed to remain the course for now.
“If we’re doing significantly better and the million bucks is again subsequent yr and we’re again to regular, then you’ve got that million {dollars} to place proper again in appropriations with out drawing on reserves,” Metropolis Supervisor Xenia Bradford stated, referring to the lack of greater than $1 million in transient occupancy tax revenues misplaced as a consequence of COVID-related shutdowns.
Metropolis employees was buoyed by Governor Gavin Newsom’s revocation Monday of the newest statewide stay-at-home order.
“What which means for us and our companies … is that we are actually, as a county, again within the purple tier,” Bradford stated.
That tier permits for the return of outside eating and journey for leisure, key modifications for a metropolis whose funds depends most closely on tourism.
In March, the town collected primarily zero in transient occupancy tax as lodges operated at 6 p.c occupancy. The latest statewide closure resulted in a discount to twenty to 30 p.c of capability with one resort closing totally, Bradford stated.
Occasions nonetheless aren’t allowed, which Bradford stated will proceed to influence the town that makes use of particular occasions to draw vacationers and their {dollars}. Drive-in occasions are allowed, however she stated the town doesn’t have any areas massive sufficient to make such occasion an economically viable.
Solvang Chamber of Commerce Govt Director Tracy Beard stated that, whereas companies are opening beneath the purple-tier restrictions, the town ought to make long-term plans to assist companies and the neighborhood ought to future closures happen.
In different funds information, Bradford stated the town has rejected a proposal by Santa Barbara County to extend by 37 p.c Solvang’s contract for regulation enforcement companies by means of the Sheriff’s Division. She stated metropolis managers from the 4 cities served by the county – Solvang, Buellton, Carpinteria and Goleta – have agreed not one of the cities can soak up such a rise. Every continues to work with the county “on workable numbers.”
In different motion, the council voted unanimously to supply a one-time, $10,000 grant to Bethania Lutheran Church expressly for the help of its ongoing meals distribution program. The church has financed, and members and neighborhood at massive have volunteered, at hand out groceries for as much as 1,600 residents per week for the previous 45 consecutive weeks. The Rev. Chris Brown stated 97 p.c of these receiving groceries and private hygiene merchandise by means of this system are from Santa Ynez Valley.
“These are the individuals that harvest our meals, the those that work on the eating places we’re desperately attempting to reopen,” Brown stated.
The council additionally unanimously agreed to proceed stress-free enforcement of its signal ordinance by means of the tip of COVID-19 closures. That discount in enforcement has allowed companies to place up banners stating open standing and present companies provided in addition to directional signage as long as companies maintain an encroachment allow and don’t impede the general public proper of approach.
The council additionally elevated the general public rest room upkeep funds by $10,000 this yr to supply for about 100 extra cleanings targeted on the services high-use durations.
In different information, Solvang Public Works Director/Metropolis Engineer Matt van der Linden introduced the ball is rolling on totally reconstructing Alisal Street from Santa Ynez River to the town limits. The challenge is within the design course of, anticipated to go to bid earlier than the tip of the fiscal yr with work starting in July or August.
The council additionally held its first studying of an ordinance which might codify a brand new Design Evaluation Committee, changing the earlier council’s Branding & Design Committee, which in flip changed the earlier Bureau of Architectural Evaluation.
Underneath the proposed ordinance, every council member would appoint a member to the committee for a two-year time period which aligns with the final election calendar. Membership can be restricted to residents in ZIP codes 93463, 93464, 93441, 93460 or Solvang enterprise house owners, no matter place of residence. The brand new coverage additionally modifications from requirement to suggestion that members provide experience in native historical past or historic preservation, development, actual property, geography, arts, panorama structure or planning.
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