A bitter struggle over a tourism app owned and developed by Solvang’s mayor has divided the Danish-themed California city for months, culminating this week in a serious ethics overhaul and new accusations of conflicts of curiosity at Metropolis Corridor.
The dispute facilities on ”Solvang Passport” that promotes chosen companies and sights within the well-liked Santa Barbara County vacation spot — typically known as the “Danish capital of America.”
Some Metropolis Council members say Brown’s involvement creates an moral drawback in a city that depends on tourism.
However supporters argue the app is simply one other option to entice guests and assist native companies, reported Newspress.
On Monday, the Solvang Metropolis Council voted 4-1 to strengthen ethics guidelines for elected officers.
The brand new coverage additionally establishes a proper course of for council members to research and censure each other for alleged violations.
“This permits the council and the workers to be extra accountable,” Councilmember Elizabeth Orona mentioned earlier than the vote.
The app makes visiting Solvang extra interactive by encouraging vacationers to gather digital passport stamps at outlets, eating places, and sights across the metropolis, in accordance with the outlet.
Companies utilizing the platform are anticipated to pay $249 per thirty days going ahead, however Brown mentioned it has been free up to now.
He additionally mentioned the mission may develop to different tourism locations past Solvang.
One main flashpoint was the app’s authentic objective to restrict participation to about 100 companies, sparking considerations amongst some retailers that every one native firms wouldn’t have an equal probability to profit.
Nevertheless, the mayor mentioned the quantity can change sooner or later.
Questions concerning the app grew earlier this 12 months when Robert Hargreaves, who owns the Solvang Skate Store, advised council members he had solely realized concerning the mission that day.
Brown later confirmed he’s concerned with the mission, which runs below his firm, G3 Acuity.
Council critics argue the app creates a possible battle of curiosity as a result of Brown is working a non-public tourism enterprise whereas serving as mayor in a metropolis whose economic system relies upon closely on guests.
Tourism generates greater than $9 million yearly in lodge and gross sales tax income for Solvang, and the town plans to spend about $1.1 million on tourism advertising and marketing and customer actions subsequent 12 months.
Issues initially targeted on the app’s use of city-created tourism content material and later expanded to broader questions on whether or not a sitting mayor ought to function a enterprise concentrating on the identical guests as publicly funded metropolis advertising and marketing campaigns.
Brown has since eliminated the city-related content material, added a disclaimer stating the app will not be affiliated with the town, and mentioned he’s contemplating stepping again from managing the platform or licensing it to a different firm.
The dispute culminated within the Metropolis Council approving stricter ethics guidelines, together with new monetary disclosure necessities and a proper course of for investigating alleged ethics violations.
Brown opposed the modifications, arguing they might result in investigations based mostly solely on allegations and be used to focus on political opponents.
