SolvangCity Council voted 4-1 on Nov. 10 to approve a $50,000 increase to the city's previously pledged contribution toward the San Ynez Valley Aquatic Foundation pool project, with Mayor David Brown and four council members voting to support the challenge and Council member Elizabeth Arona opposed.

The motion to increase the pledge was offered by Council member Infante, who said the additional amount was intended as a challenge to encourage other jurisdictions and private donors to step up. "So I would move that we approve the $50,000 challenge," Infante said during the meeting.

City Manager Randy Murphy reminded the council that the city had previously committed $450,000 in Measure U funding contingent on project groundbreaking and that the combined pledge between the two cities could reach $1 million if both increase their contributions. "The council earlier this year committed $450,000 of Measure U funds upon project groundbreaking," Murphy said in his staff report.

Lisa Palmer, representing the Community Aquatics Foundation, told the council the foundation has raised roughly $4.5 million so far and that two additional $50,000 grants arrived after Buellton's recent pledge. "It is helpful ... to see a substantial commitment to the cities and the county who ... will benefit from the facility," Palmer said, adding the foundation was in talks with the Chumash tribe about increasing their participation and noting a project sunset provision in 2028 if construction has not begun.

Debate among council members focused on timing and fiscal prudence. Council member Elizabeth Arona said she favored the project but worried about pledging more now before seasonal revenue uncertainties are resolved and before midyear budget adjustments. "I don't see a compelling reason to put more money now," she said, and cast the sole opposing vote.

Finance staff provided Measure U projections during the discussion. The finance presentation indicated a projected Measure U fund balance but the council reserved final budgetary allocations for the midyear budget adjustment, as staff recommended. Murphy said the requested pledge could be recorded as a commitment now and implemented through the midyear process when the city's available balances would be clear.

The motion included the same guardrails previously attached to the city's commitment (funding contingent on project milestones and construction; roll-over/sunset provisions), and council asked staff to return with any required budget adjustments and language to memorialize the pledge conditions.

Votes at a glance: Consent calendar approved 5-0 (see separate action record); Motion to increase aquatic center pledge by $50,000 passed 4-1 (Infante, Mayor Brown, Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Arona, Council member Smith yes; Council member Elizabeth Arona no). The council instructed staff to handle any appropriations during the midyear budget adjustment.

Next steps: Staff will prepare the formal pledge language and include any appropriation or reserve changes in the city's midyear budget report, and the Community Aquatics Foundation will continue fundraising and seek required construction milestones before city Measure U funds are released.