The Buellton City Council voted unanimously on Thursday to pledge $450,000 toward a regional effort to build an aquatics complex at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School.

The Santa Ynez Valley Community Aquatics Complex would restore year-round public swim access for valley residents for the first time since 2020 by refurbishing the high school’s aging facility and adding a new competition pool that has already been purchased. 

The two-pool plan would convert the existing pool into a 25-yard warm-water facility for lessons, fitness and recreation, while the new 33-meter pool would be installed to host high school meets and regional events.

Santa Barbara County was one of the project’s early public backers, committing nearly $250,000 in 2019, according to Lisa Palmer, chair of the Santa Ynez Valley Community Aquatics Foundation. She said early support was followed by a $100,000 commitment from the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians and continued backing from Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation. 

With Buellton and Solvang now pledging $450,000 each, the campaign has raised more than $4.5 million towards its $13.7-million goal.

Palmer called the project a “community asset” intended to serve both school and public needs.

“We’ve designed the facility where you can have school competition and use during the day and community use as well,” she told the council.

During public comment, longtime Buellton resident Judith Dale praised the council’s commitment to the project and emphasized the broader community benefit. 

“You’re making Buellton a real city and a real place to live,” she said. “By God, we need this pool… it will enhance the quality of life for our citizens.” 

Dale, who has lived in the city since 1953, urged the importance of water safety, recalling two classmates who drowned at the beach as children because they never had the chance to take swimming lessons.

Buellton councilmember Carla Mead raised concerns about how responsibilities for running the facility would be shared between the high school district, the cities of Buellton and Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley Community Aquatics Foundation.

With no formal agreement in place yet, Mead asked that Buellton’s role in community programming be clearly written into the city’s pledge. The final motion included that condition.

Councilmember John Sanchez said he supported the project and believed it would not only serve the broader community but also enhance school programming by expanding the athletic events Santa Ynez High School could host.

The council’s motion also included a clause to raise Buellton’s pledge to $500,000 if the City of Solvang agrees to match the additional $50,000. 

With three public agencies now contributing, the campaign has cleared what Palmer described as a key fundraising milestone. She said the foundation hopes to finish fundraising by the end of 2026 and begin construction in 2027.