Solvang Council applauds volunteers

 

Members of the Solvang City Council, during its regular meeting on Feb. 25, presented awards, applauded the many volunteers and committees for their excellent handling of the Amgen Tour of California Stage 5 event on Feb. 22, and held the first reading of an updated ordinance that is needed to regulate video service providers within the city limits.

 

City Attorney Roy Hanley reviewed a state law passed in 2006 that requires cities to increase competition in the cable and video industries, which will provide consumers with more choices, lower prices and better technologies.

The updated city ordinance, given its first reading during the meeting, includes a one percent public, educational or governmental use fee, to be charged to providers, as well as expanding the current description of franchise fees. Currently local governments receive up to five percent of gross revenues from cable services.

The new ordinance would specify video service revenues as well. The council voted 5-0 to bring the ordinance back for a second reading.

 

During council comments, council member Jim Richardson discussed an e-mail he received showing the recent vote results for the Indian gaming propositions.

He noted that while the propositions passed on a state level, there was an overwhelming 61 percent “no” vote on all four propositions in all five city precincts. “These are our constituents,” he explained.

“Maybe we should listen to them before we approve any more measures with the casino.”

He added that the recent proposition approvals meant that funds from four of the tribes in the state would no longer be used for special distribution projects but would become part of the state’s general fund.

 

He voiced concern that the city’s special funds might disappear in a similar manner if the local tribe made an equivalent agreement with the state. He also asked the council to vote on placing this topic on a future agenda and to consider sending a resolution to the governor and the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors advising them of the city’s concerns with Indian gaming and its future in the community.

The council voted 3-2 to place the item on an agenda for discussion only. Any action would be reserved for a second meeting.

The city manager, Brad Vidro, was instructed to schedule the item for the end of March or the first meeting in April.

 

Before the council entered a closed session to discuss property negotiations with the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation, Council member Edwin Skytt, mayor pro tempore, reported on the Feb. 21 Santa Barbara County Association of Governments meeting, which he attended as a committee member. He said the group sent information to county planners to refine their report on distribution of housing.

No further action was taken by the group concerning housing in the county, he said.

At the beginning of the council meeting, Mayor Linda Jackson presented a plaque to Betty Goodwin, honoring her for 20 years of service with the City of Solvang.

A retirement luncheon was held Feb. 23 for Goodwin, who also received compliments from all of the council members.

 

During the public communication section of the meeting, Nancy Emerson asked the council to add an item to a future agenda that would consider whether or not Solvang would participate in Lights Out America, an event planned for March 29 as an energy saving program.

Linda Johansen, president of the Solvang Chamber of Commerce, Tracy Farhad, executive director of the Solvang Conference and Visitors’ Bureau, and Carol Petersen, co-chairman of the Solvang Local Organizing Committee, each spoke to the council, listing the highlights of the Amgen Tour and its positive effect on the city.

Their comments were followed by Jackson and the members of the council detailing their perspectives of the Tour.

 

Council member Ken Palmer said he went into this year’s Tour “with reservations, but they are all gone now. I did not hear one complaint — only compliments.”

The next Solvang City Council meeting will be held March 10 in the Council Chambers, 1644 Oak St., Solvang.