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Shaping Solvang’s Next 30 Years Starts Now
Hello friends and neighbors,
In case you are not aware, the City Council and staff participate in a facilitated goal-setting session every other year. This open meeting is a foundational conversation that guides the biannual budget process and includes long-range capital improvement planning. This year’s session will be held on Saturday, February 7 at Corque Hotel 400 Alisal Rd, and is especially important as we begin several significant initiatives that will shape Solvang for decades to come.
The community will see some familiar initiatives alongside new longer-range planning work already underway:
Recreation
We are continuing the citywide Master Plan update for our parks, recreation facilities, and program needs. This plan will help prioritize improvements, outline future investments, and ensure our public spaces serve residents well.
Infrastructure
We’re moving beyond the traditional five-year outlook and taking a deeper, longer (30-year) view of the City’s infrastructure needs. This expanded Capital Improvement Program (CIP) will organize and sequence large projects, from road improvements to facility upgrades/replacements, so Solvang can plan responsibly and stay ahead of growing demands. This effort will also include plans to improve traffic circulation on Mission and a more structured plan to get our failing streets and sidewalks back into good repair.
Water and Wastewater
Planning continues for the future of our wastewater treatment plant, one of the largest and most complex infrastructure investments in our city’s history. Advancing this work is essential for environmental compliance, long-term reliability, and community resilience. Additionally, the water delivery system (including underground pipes and above-ground water reservoirs) is in dire need of repair and/or replacement. These long-needed upgrades will cost tens of millions of dollars, and the best way to pay for them may include privatization of all or part of both systems. This will be the subject of many future community meetings.
Planning
Cities across California are navigating new mandates and evolving expectations. As part of this discussion, the Council is beginning to explore potential adjustments to Solvang’s Urban Growth Boundary and evaluate strategies to remain compliant while protecting local character.
This year’s process also launches a broader conversation about what Solvang should look like in 2056 (and beyond) economically, environmentally, and socially. Establishing this long-term vision now helps ensure today’s decisions support tomorrow’s community.
Alongside goal setting, we are beginning the next two-year budgeting cycle (FY 26/27 & 27/28). Clear priorities, paired with a thoughtful funding strategy, will help us meet community needs sustainably while maintaining safety, fiscal responsibility, and resilience.
As we undertake this work, research from Harvard Kennedy School’s Collaborative Governance and Community Trust: Municipal Models for Earning the Trust of Marginalized Communities and organizations such as the Urban Institute in Community‑Engaged Approaches to Evaluating a Collective Impact Effort show that communities with strong resident engagement achieve better planning outcomes and foster greater trust in local government
As the linked studies show, the more residents participate early in the process, the stronger and more grounded our long-range decisions become. I invite you to participate in this session and in the many coming discussions throughout the year, as your voice will truly help shape Solvang’s future.
Best wishes for a Happy and Prosperous 2026,
Randy Murphy, City Manager
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