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Buellton council forms ad hoc committee to explore partnership with Santa Ynez Valley Children’s Museum
Summary
The council agreed to appoint two members to an ad hoc committee to investigate partnership options with the Santa Ynez Valley Children’s Museum at the Williamson/Dairyland site; the museum's executive director asked for city partnership to finish construction and open exhibits.
The City of Buellton agreed to form an ad hoc committee to explore possible avenues of partnership with the Santa Ynez Valley Children’s Museum, which occupies a temporary license on the Williamson (202 Dairyland) property and is seeking support to complete construction and open.
City Manager Scott Wolf explained the museum’s request and told the council the ask is currently undefined: "The purpose of this committee would be to delve into what avenues might be available and return to the council so you can make an informed decision," he said. Executive Director Ashley Jenkins and grant writer Amy Young presented the museum’s plans and timeline.
Jenkins described an outdoor, child‑focused facility for roughly ages 0–10 with exhibits such as a mud kitchen, a "dinosaur dig," a waterway that echoes the local riverbed and a grass hillside for play. "We're committed to opening at the end of this year," she said, and asked the council to consider a city partnership to accelerate construction and sustain operations. Grant writer Amy Young added that the museum is pursuing grants and local partnerships but needs additional runway to complete exhibits and staff programming.
Council members indicated broad support for the concept and discussed financing and timing. Several members said they wanted a separate, deeper budget discussion and suggested the ad hoc committee prepare options to present at that upcoming session. Council agreed the ad hoc committee will be composed of two councilmembers; the council indicated that the mayor and Vice Mayor Mary Lewis will serve and that the committee should meet promptly (committee meetings may be by videoconference to accommodate schedules).
City staff noted legal and insurance requirements will need to be addressed for any formal license or partnership, and that proposed city contributions or fee waivers would be documented and reviewed before any commitment. Jenkins said the museum has phased goals: build and open exhibits (year 1), stand up camps and school programs (year 2), launch after‑school programs (year 3) and stabilize operations by year 5.
The council-approved ad hoc committee is charged with meeting with museum representatives, reviewing financing options (including grants, philanthropy and possible city support) and returning to the council with recommendations for any formal partnership or city assistance.
