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Council votes to consent to inclusion in Santa Barbara County Wine Improvement District
Summary
The council adopted a resolution consenting to include Guadalupe in a countywide Wine Improvement District; staff and a wine-industry representative said there is no cost to the city or businesses unless wineries locate inside city limits.
The Guadalupe City Council on Jan. 28 voted to grant consent for the County of Santa Barbara to establish a Santa Barbara County Wine Improvement District and to include the city of Guadalupe in that district.
Staff presented the proposed assessment district, which would levy a one-percent assessment on participating wineries’ gross revenues to fund marketing and promotion of the county wine region. Staff said the assessment would be applied only to wineries or tasting-room businesses that fall within the district; existing wine retailers, grocery stores and social clubs are exempt, and there are currently no wineries within Guadalupe city limits.
Alison Laslett, CEO of the Santa Barbara Vintners Association, addressed the council and said Guadalupe’s inclusion would have no fiscal impact on residents or businesses unless a winery established operations inside the city. Laslett explained the district would create a countywide marketing map and promoted region; she said the immediate benefit would be to make Guadalupe shovel-ready for future wine-related business should one locate in city limits.
Council members asked whether the decision was reversible; Laslett said the district is established for five years and will be renewed later; if Guadalupe did not join now the district could be reconstituted without the city for the initial five-year period. After discussion council adopted Resolution 2025-10 granting consent to inclusion in the Wine Improvement District.
