Buellton ratifies $50,000 addition to its aquatics pledge, bringing city support to $500,000

Buellton — The Buellton City Council on Thursday ratified an additional $50,000 pledge to the San Ynez Valley Aquatics Complex, bringing the city's total commitment to $500,000 conditional on Solvang's matching pledge and other campaign progress.

City Manager Scott Wolf recapped the council's prior action to pledge $450,000 and explained the council'to'council challenge that led to the offer of an extra $50,000 if Solvang matched. Pamela Palmer, a project representative attending the meeting, said the campaign had raised about $4.6 million to date and that organizers are seeking roughly $3 million more to reach their goal. Palmer said the $87,000 and other earlier figures discussed elsewhere in the meeting relate to a separate trail impact issue and not to pool fundraising.

Council members expressed support for the supplemental pledge as a way to leverage private contributions and demonstrate regional cooperation; a motion to ratify the additional $50,000 was made and approved by roll call. Vice Mayor Lewis did not participate in substantive discussion of the item because of an employment-related recusal noted earlier in the meeting.

Councilmembers asked the project team to return after the first quarter with updated fundraising metrics; project representatives said small private cultivation events were planned in the new year to accelerate giving.

The vote to ratify the $50,000 pledge carried by roll call vote; council members indicated a willingness to revisit further support later in the next year if needed and if fund-raising benchmarks were not met.