The purpose of this chapter is to provide an incentive program for the operation and
maintenance of quality hotel facilities which enhance the tourist and travel experience
for visitors to the County of Santa Barbara, provide attractive and desirable visitor
serving facilities and experiences, and assist the county in achieving its economic
development and tourism goals.
In the implementation of this program, the board of supervisors finds:
(a)
The general welfare and material well-being of the residents of the County of Santa
Barbara depend in large measure upon the growth and expansion of the tourism and travel
industries in the county.
(b)
The operation, maintenance, and expansion of the inventory of first class hotels and
renovation of existing hotels to a higher standard in the unincorporated areas of
the County of Santa Barbara will create desirable visitor serving facilities that
will contribute to the growth and expansion of tourism and travel opportunities in
the county, provide employment opportunities for the residents of the county, and
promote and enhance the economy of the county.
(c)
It is in the best interest of the County of Santa Barbara to induce and encourage
the operation and maintenance of first class hotel facilities that would not otherwise
exist, and to improve the existing hotel inventory, thereby creating new sources or
increased amounts of tax revenues for the county's general fund which supports the
public services that the county provides to its residents.
(d)
The authority granted and the purposes to be accomplished by this chapter are properly
local governmental and public purposes for which public funds can be expended and
that the operation, maintenance, and expansion of the inventory of first class hotels
and improvement of the existing hotel inventory is of paramount importance to the
County of Santa Barbara, its residents, and businesses.
