Cheers Greet Solvang Vote to sign up for Santa Barbara County Wine Improvement District | Local news

If the final approval of the County Board of Supervisors at its 11th February meeting, a 1 percent assessment could begin on April 1 on all direct-to-consumer detail sales made to California’s customers of wine properties in uninvited areas . Cities have the choice to be included or deselect.

Everything that already incurs a VAT such as sales of taste, wine club, events, food and merchandise would be subject to this assessment, said Alison Laslett, CEO of Santa Barbara Vintners, who will control the program.

There would be no assessment of wholesale sales or sales outside the state.

District assessment fees must be reinvested in the county’s wine industry’s growth efforts through programs, including marketing and promotional efforts, community industry and government commitment and education, in a focused effort to build the region’s wine reputation and attract new visitors to wine properties.

“I think because it is the industry broad and the industry promoted and does not have an administrative cost to ourselves, I do not see a negative side. I understand (resistance to) mandatory inclusion, but it is actually true for a lot of industries, ”said Mayor David Brown.

Some council members said they had been out and talking to owners of companies that would be included in the district assessment.

“I think the amount of support for this is overwhelming. I’ve been out there talking to many people about this, and I hear that this is a good thing for society, ”said Councilor Louise Smith.

According to the League of California Cities, business improvement districts are programs that taxes on companies or properties for financing services or improvements that directly benefit these companies or properties. While public agencies determine the use of tax assessments, nonprofit associations generally administer the collection and cost of improving district fees.

Improvement districts are abundant throughout the state and vary in focus. Examples include tourist improvement districts such as those seen in Santa Ynez Valley and along the South Coast, lighting districts such as the one in Solvang, the old Pasadena property and business improvement district whose services include sponsoring a film festival, nocturnal pavement and 24- 24- Hour Street Patrols and three Existing wine improvement districts: Amador County Wine Heritage District, Temecula Valley Wine and Agricultural Heritage District and Livermore Valley Wine Heritage District.

The county board gave its first approval at its December 17th meeting. The organization is now seeking consent to district’s inclusion from each of the eight Santa Barbara County towns. Santa Maria voted for admission at his January 21st meeting. LomPoc voted no at his meeting on the same date.

“Lompoc was an interesting circumstance,” Laslett said. “We had two members of the city council who were so closely linked to the wine industry that they got back. Because this is a vote that has to do with the transfer of financing, it still requires a three-person majority. Two voted for it; One voted against. So in this circumstance, a councilor was able to make the decision to remove the city. “

As a result of the cut, Laslett said, vine -related properties in LomPoc will not be included in any promotion efforts from the agency.

“We are not legally allowed to promote the city or wineries in that city if the city chooses to cut out. It’s something we have a big concern about now that LomPoc has cut itself out, ”Laslett said. “The winters are very interested in being gathered and operating as one, and they are very municipal and community -oriented, so it is a concern that we are shared.”

Laslett, Association Board members earlier and present and representatives of several vine-related companies that will be directly affected, spoke in favor of the move. They said that the marketing of the wine industry is designed to pull visitors out of the area, which ultimately also positively affects hotels, restaurants and shops that will not meet the assessment.

Solvang Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tracy Beard spoke in favor of the proposal, just as visited seven -managing director Shelby SIM. His organization oversees the region’s marketing efforts financed through the short -term occupation tax collected from commercial lodging visitors.

“It’s a win. It doesn’t cost the city a penny. It’s another marketing arm for Santa Ynez Valley. It’s a win-win-win. We are a victory for Solvang; Solvang is a victory for us; The Vintners Association with the funding will be a victory for Santa Ynez Valley, ”Sim said.

Representatives of various wineries, tasting rooms and related affected companies stood for the council to speak in support of district formation and related assessment collection and marketing efforts.

They included: Dreamcôte Wine Co owner Brit Zotovich; Seagrape Win cabinets Karen Steinwachs; Dragonette Cellar’s co-founder Brandon Sparks Gillis; Saarloos & Sons Owner Keith Saarloos; Gainey Vineyard Estate Director Steven James; Dierberg and Star Lane Vineyard’s president/winemaker Tyler Thomas; Crown Point Vineyards Estate Director AJ Fairbanks; and Chase Carhartt from Rancho Santa Ynez and Carhartt Family Wines.

Only Luke Sundquist, owner of Calilove and Jalopy Wine Company in Solvang spoke in opposition.

“My fear is basically forced inclusion of everyone,” he said.

He noted a difference in the number of affected properties that Vintner’s Association quotes. While the association claims 160 wineries in the county, Sundquist said there are 320 wineries and added that fewer than half support the association through membership.

“This is an organization that has been about 40 years and everyone knows that they have the opportunity to pay the quota to be a member. I am here to name a lot of the maybe silent majority of wineries that are not here … I’m all for marketing this region; I’m just a little worried about forced inclusion of everyone to pass on this 1% to the consumer, basically, ”he said.