Solvang council receives ABC notice on Chumash Casino happy‑hour request; council takes no opposition

The Solvang City Council voted 5‑0 to receive and file a notice from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control that the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians has applied to modify the Chumash Casino Hotel & Resort alcoholic beverage license to allow a 4–8 p.m. “happy hour.” The council’s action on the time‑sensitive item was to accept the ABC notice and not to file formal opposition.

City staff said the ABC notice reached the city after the agenda was posted and that the casino is outside Solvang city limits but the original 2015 license included a condition requiring the tribe to notify the sheriff, county supervisor and the Solvang mayor of any proposed change. The council heard from Sam Cohen, the tribe’s government affairs and legal officer, who said the tribe filed the license modification because other nearby casinos and venues offer happy hours. “The tribe noticed that other, casino tribes were offering happy hours, and our neighbors were offering happy hours,” Cohen told council members.

Cohen said the tribe would keep the license condition requiring continuous food service during alcohol‑service hours. Council members discussed community timing concerns — the proposed 4–8 p.m. window overlaps high‑school dismissal and commuter traffic — and an informal “gentleman’s agreement” was described during the meeting: the tribe’s representatives proposed limiting the initial happy‑hour days to Fridays through Sundays and returning to the city after two to three months with data about impacts. Cohen told the council he had already spoken with the county sheriff’s office and Supervisor Joan Hartman, and that both had indicated support for the request.

Council Member Elizabeth Arona moved and Council Member Mark Infante seconded the motion to receive and file the ABC petition. The clerk recorded a roll‑call vote of yes from all five members present; Mayor Brown announced the motion passed 5‑0. By receiving and filing the notice, the council provided no formal support or written opposition to ABC; staff had explained the city’s options included sending a letter of support, a letter of opposition with stated reasons, doing nothing, or taking another alternative.

No public speakers asked to comment during the item and the council did not adopt a letter. City staff said the item was being handled as a notice to the city under the license condition and that any future request for a city position could be brought back if the council wished to supply a formal letter.