[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6643203,"mediaKeyId","2532561-5512007c9854b2399d6b10d0bdb0f4ba","parentId",2532561,"title","Votes at a glance: Solvang council approves consent calendar and Skitt Mesa landscape contract, both 5-0","audioSeconds",1352,"startMs",7108000,"endMs",8460000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2532561-5512007c9854b2399d6b10d0bdb0f4ba&start=7108&end=8460","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2532561-5512007c9854b2399d6b10d0bdb0f4ba/thumbnail_7108000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6643203/Solvang/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Votes-at-a-glance-Solvang-council-approves-consent-calendar-and-Skitt-Mesa-landscape-contract-both-5-0","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6643203-5bd6add49abdc8be6a0175a3c06b42fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1773643202&Signature=eGPilDhOaN8h~3t76g8AlJ97y-zeKVoOXAqitc9R-QM6FEhNn~jFAi~Xp2cca3QSZRGER7Z2UMPsoGW3tpZxZTPfTUVDr7D6ORK1v3SZ-W2ZD87HiqTr25DFa-KkLQQW5ZvZpUETKUCTsqiYGLnO8VpnFkBd9yfzVn~m9ibjFOp4YFuqZmiIDXT8KHHQnUDe6sS~7xrlo38pg0Nj7CsnG4-gA4RH-UljO-btvFxV1AnSYo1bntSu65ExOUt~C7gwUMuCgvNc8Fi63qg5eCEs49Zqov4rrjRW~ZWx5n5d1a89~Z5JzB55L8aGOqlI6DPlDtpfGvP32aFf~dpfKZv-3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Solvang, CA","date","2025-03-11T04:11:35.75Z","article","The Solvang City Council took two recorded formal actions during the March 10 regular meeting.

Consent calendar: The council approved the consent calendar by roll call. The motion was moved and seconded (mover/second not specified in the transcript). Roll‑call votes recorded: Council Member Infante — yes; Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Arona — yes; Council Member Smith — yes; Council Member Elizabeth Arona — yes; Mayor David Brown — yes. Outcome: approved, 5‑0.

BrightView Landscape Services contract (Skitt Mesa LLMD): Council considered and approved a contract with BrightView Landscape Services, Inc. for landscape services associated with the Skitt Mesa Landscape and Lighting Maintenance District (LLMD). The staff report said the contract term would run April 1, 2025, through December 31, 2027, and described the award as the result of a solicitation and proposal review by city staff. The council asked questions about surveys, resident communications and funding sources before approving the contract. Roll‑call votes recorded: Council Member Infante — yes; Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Arona — yes; Council Member Smith — yes; Council Member Elizabeth Arona — yes; Mayor David Brown — yes. Outcome: approved, 5‑0.

Clarifying note on contract amount: The staff‑read agenda text in the transcript contains inconsistent figures for the contract amount (the item text read \"in the amount of $1,098,000 plus a 10% contingency of $27,500 for a total amount not to exceed $302,324\"). Those numbers as stated are internally inconsistent in the recorded text. The council and staff discussed that the Skitt Mesa LLMD is a separate fund, not the city general fund, and that the city collects a management fee for administration. The precise contract dollar amount should be taken from the signed contract or the official staff report posted with the agenda packet rather than the transcript excerpt.

Ending: Both items passed by unanimous roll call. No additional formal actions were recorded during the meeting's minutes for these items.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Solvang City Council Meeting 3/10/2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its March 10 meeting the Solvang City Council approved the consent calendar and a three‑year landscape services contract with BrightView Landscape Services, Inc. for the Skitt Mesa LLMD. Both votes were unanimous, 5‑0.","taxTitle","Solvang, Santa Barbara County, California","taxId",60283,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6643207,"Solvang council asks staff to study urban growth boundary and annexation options amid housing, water and emergency-access concerns",1152,5188000,6340000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2532561-5512007c9854b2399d6b10d0bdb0f4ba&start=5188&end=6340","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2532561-5512007c9854b2399d6b10d0bdb0f4ba/thumbnail_5188000.jpg","/articles/6643207/Solvang/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Solvang-council-asks-staff-to-study-urban-growth-boundary-and-annexation-options-amid-housing-water-and-emergency-access-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6643207-cfdf627249c8c4b5218c3a442a37962c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773643202&Signature=e7yRPKpgKI8WO8XMkb17Cz6h5Gb-GWQ50J9N~g-24SfgTLB6EvDxvBvg~k3B0tCw0McbRDtbv4y9Tvm6eOlQfp8fnD~s8JEcXG7wpzM~uRgR9toPa-CiaZP9ryuGM2hCaqUOeKCk2vZrtM8y40OrcfZEY-ioe53VYwHyXa0L14sTd-mrU9odYiUxfX5pGrKq8pzLUZUfQ1IOOvXPLP1VN3C9d9~E~epKhvRFiMVZU1QpZ~nYogSAjmgv90IFJNlkm73am1tCEhprvGKYE2dPiRqsLqn7maUc4GnjFswD-nHYgSZ7G8o23V~EX06bp8CVzz-NiKDcqrDIiBRsHPBKKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rafael Castillo, planning staff, presented a staff report on March 10 outlining how Solvang’s urban growth boundary (UGB) limits annexation and could constrain the city’s ability to address housing needs, water security and emergency access. Castillo told the council the ordinance was adopted following a 2020 initiative and that its language is ambiguous on key points such as what qualifies as \"immediately adjacent\" for annexation purposes.

Why it matters: Council members and staff said the city faces a midterm challenge: the state’s housing‑planning cycles require the city to accommodate more housing yet Solvang’s small footprint, UGB and limited developable land complicate meeting those targets without annexation, increased density or long-range planning. Council members also raised public-safety concerns about limited ingress and egress during wildfires.

Castillo described three staff options for council direction: do nothing and retain the UGB; direct staff to study ways to amend or appeal the ordinance; or direct staff to codify an urban growth management plan that would interpret the UGB and prescribe findings and procedures for annexation, master planning and infrastructure phasing.

Council discussion touched on the practical implications. City Manager Murphy said annexation and master‑planning processes typically take years, require LAFCO approval, and can be costly; they also can include tax‑sharing and other negotiations. \"If the answer is does it give us more control? Yes, it does,\" Castillo said, describing how a planned approach could tie annexation to infrastructure phasing, financing and responsibility for road and utility improvements.

Council members expressed broad support for a directed study. Multiple members said the council needed to understand what findings would allow annexation under the existing ordinance and whether modest changes could secure water supply, better emergency routes and development sites to meet future regional housing needs. A member of the public, Dennis Beebe, urged the council to ensure public involvement, noting the 2020 petition that led to the UGB.

The council did not vote to repeal the UGB; rather, members directed staff to study options and return with analysis and recommended next steps. Staff said the study would include consultation with the city attorney and noted that any repeal would require a vote of the electorate and further public process.

Ending: Council members asked staff to return with a timeline and scope for study, including opportunities for public outreach and the extent to which annexation options align with water‑supply, emergency‑access and long‑range planning needs.","After a staff report on the city’s urban growth boundary (UGB), council members directed staff to study options to amend or repeal the UGB and to develop a codified growth-management plan. The discussion focused on housing capacity, water supply, and alternative routes for emergency ingress and egress.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6643212,"Solvang hears grant-writing update from California Consulting as city seeks funding for parks and wastewater projects",1089,4210000,5299000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2532561-5512007c9854b2399d6b10d0bdb0f4ba&start=4210&end=5299","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2532561-5512007c9854b2399d6b10d0bdb0f4ba/thumbnail_4210000.jpg","/articles/6643212/Solvang/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Solvang-hears-grant-writing-update-from-California-Consulting-as-city-seeks-funding-for-parks-and-wastewater-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6643212-d41c8b22b3e3daa21a16d091361f8c4a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773643202&Signature=J8eduL4-GnewYdMWFUBuWbEl84u1E5zlMkI~ma3IpR~SJCDxxtucmwHQ576-u5kLll0DwAtN0p0zeaGVOffPsddsVjU7Mx-eToReD-mJb3gHOQ04DtWAiVdoplhlg5CGBKl0ayX0m0Y2XQ3L1vTJ5b-O-NxdiEVLGEG~VJz6dvrzxvPXya8HXXPzRtrQ8k1GJp3yjL2CnDLP3Mi57pma6GP2sdIw319QMjBk~AgRl2-LezYdhuhtFSIS7UbnkoFBtSHDKDu2y1fIAnzpr2PD0ixC39SqOFcZpskR~QDhcBybik~x9-4h06NwdNWCRcBfFJXuQhwe1WL9kZ7drWU4hw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Theresa Sarkeesian, the grant writer from California Consulting, told the Solvang City Council on March 10 that the firm has submitted a mix of local and federal funding requests for the city and is pursuing multiple upcoming opportunities, including a Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) request for trail and exercise-equipment improvements at Hans Christian Andersen Park and Bureau of Reclamation grants tied to large-scale water recycling and planning.

The update, presented during a scheduled presentation and Q&A, explained why some competitive grants have been difficult for Solvang to win and what has changed. \"Most grants would prioritize cities that can determine through various tools ... whether or not the city can compete,\" Sarkeesian said, noting that federal guidance previously favored disadvantaged communities but that recent policy shifts may allow Solvang to compete more effectively.

Why it matters: city officials and consultants said winning external funding would help Solvang advance park upgrades, wastewater-treatment upgrades and other capital projects without drawing on the general fund. City Manager Murphy and council members repeatedly tied the grant effort to larger priorities: water sustainability, infrastructure and community resilience.

California Consulting CEO Steve Simwalian said the firm is watching federal policy closely and continues to prepare applications. \"We're proceeding. We're writing as many grants as we've ever written,\" Simwalian said. He described two recent examples in which federal solicitations were temporarily pulled and reissued with revised guidelines, and he cautioned that the firm cannot guarantee outcomes but will continue to apply.

Sarkeesian laid out specific work the consultant team has done: monthly internal scoping meetings with city staff, agency briefings (EDA on wastewater, Cal OES, USDA and Bureau of Reclamation contacts), and coordination with Senator and congressional offices on appropriations requests. She identified grants already submitted or in progress as local appropriations requests to Senator Butler and Congressman Carbajal and several federal opportunities for wastewater and transportation infrastructure.

Consultants and staff identified several challenges. The city’s small size and previous classification under equity-focused prioritization tools—examples cited included Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool criteria—limited competitiveness for some federal programs. Sarkeesian also listed past local staffing gaps in utilities and public works as hurdles that have since been filled.

On the wastewater project specifically, Sarkeesian said the Bureau of Reclamation and WaterSMART staff recommended pursuing large-scale water recycling and planning grants when the solicitations open this summer. Sarkeesian also said the city’s appropriations request to Congressman Carbajal for about $14,000,000 remains under review and that the office expected to provide an update after March 14.

Council members asked how grant matches are assessed and how the firm estimates the city’s competitiveness. Sarkeesian said match percentages are set in each funding notice (for example, a grant might fund 75% of a project, requiring the city to provide the remainder) and explained that scoring criteria in notices indicate how competitive an applicant will be. Simwalian reiterated that success is measured by return on investment and by securing funded awards over time.

City Manager Murphy said the city has limited in-house capacity and placed importance on external grant expertise. Council members and the city manager discussed the firm’s role beyond submissions—agency introductions, troubleshooting with state and federal program staff, and assisting with earmark language for appropriations requests.

The council asked for updates on specific solicitations; staff and consultants said they would return with status reports as requested and that the city’s next internal grant meeting was already scheduled.

Ending: Council members thanked the consultants and asked staff to continue monitoring the listed opportunities and to report back on outcomes and any recommended next steps.","City-contracted grant writers California Consulting reviewed submitted and prospective grants including a Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) application for Hans Christian Andersen Park and federal opportunities for wastewater upgrades; consultants and city staff described challenges, recent federal policy shifts and next steps.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Solvang council approves consent calendar and Skitt Mesa landscape contract, both 5-0

Solvang council asks staff to study urban growth boundary and annexation options amid housing, water and emergency-access concerns

Solvang hears grant-writing update from California Consulting as city seeks funding for parks and wastewater projects