Meeting Summary
Present: Stix, Weirick, Blatz, Francina, Haney
This summary was AI-generated to save you time. It may miss or misstate details — verify against the official recording and the transcript.
At a glance
Historic Preservation and Land Acknowledgement
- The Mayor delivered a land acknowledgement and noted a future discussion regarding a Chumash language sign at City Hall.
- The Historic Preservation Commission presented annual and lifetime achievement awards to four local recipients.
- Chumash elder Julie Stensley joined the meeting to elaborate on the land acknowledgement and the etymology of "Ojai."
COVID-19 Update and Eviction Moratorium
- Staff presented local and county statistics on cases, hospitalizations, and vaccine distribution protocols.
- Council members discussed expanding rental eviction moratorium criteria to be more inclusive of residents.
- Legal counsel clarified the city's authority limits compared to state powers regarding business closures and moratoriums.
Climate Emergency Mobilization Committee Extension
- The committee requested a one-year extension but was advised that a shorter term would maintain ad hoc status under the Brown Act.
- Council approved a six-month extension with stipulations requiring proper meeting notices and public access.
- The committee must report back to the Council within 30 days with a specific work plan.
Regional and County Board Appointments
- The Council confirmed multiple appointments and alternates for regional boards including the Clean Power Alliance and OBGMA.
- Several council members declined or stepped down from specific roles, resulting in new appointments for other members.
- A new liaison position was created for the Chamber of Commerce, which was accepted by Council Member Roy.
Planning Commission Liaison Rotation
- The Council confirmed the rotation of liaisons to the Planning Commission and its subcommittees.
- The motion passed unanimously with the understanding that rotation automatically includes service on subcommittees.
Council Protocols Review
- The Council reached a consensus to direct the City Attorney to draft an amendment adopting Rosenberg's Rules of Order.
- Members agreed to change the regular meeting start time to 6:30 p.m. and direct staff to amend the municipal code.
- A motion to retain the current agenda placement process passed, despite opposition from two members.
Goal Setting Workshop
- The Council agreed to proceed with a goal-setting workshop despite a lack of funds to hire an external facilitator.
- A specific facilitator and workshop structure will be determined and presented at a future meeting for approval.
Taormina Theosophical Community Street Dedication
- Staff presented a report on the financial implications and precedents of dedicating private streets to the city.
- The Council directed staff to solicit consultant proposals to determine the costs and structure of a community special district.
Closed Session
- The City Attorney reported that the Council met in closed session to consider existing and anticipated litigation.
- No reportable action was taken on the litigation items discussed during the closed session.
Full summary
Call to Order and Closed Session Report
- The meeting was called to order. The City Attorney reported that the City Council had met in closed session to consider existing litigation (Santa Barbara Channel Keeper v. SWRCB and City of San Buenaventura v. Abbott) and anticipated litigation. No reportable action was taken on these items.
Pledge of Allegiance and Roll Call
- The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. A roll call confirmed the presence of the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, and all Council Members.
Approval of Agenda
- A motion was made to approve the agenda and was seconded. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion passed.
Presentations: Land Acknowledgement and Historic Preservation Commission Awards
- The Mayor delivered a land acknowledgement recognizing the Chumash tribes. During a brief delay, a suggestion was made to install a sign at City Hall displaying the Chumash word for "Ojai," which the Council noted could be discussed in the future. The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) presented awards via video to four recipients: Darwin McCready and Perry Van Houten received the Annual Historic Preservation Award; Don and Sheila Cluff and Patricia Clark Dorner received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Chumash elder Julie Stensley subsequently joined the meeting to elaborate on the land acknowledgement and the etymology of "Ojai."
Public Communications
- Three members of the public provided comments regarding water levels, the Active Transportation Plan (ATP), and the eviction moratorium and vaccine eligibility.
Consent Calendar
- A motion was made to approve the consent calendar with the exception of Items F and G. The motion was seconded and passed.
- Item F (Commissioner Attendance): This item was pulled from the consent calendar. A separate motion was made to receive and file the item. The motion was seconded and passed.
- Item G (Water Recharge Hardscape Study): This item was pulled from the consent calendar. A motion was made to receive and file the item. The motion was seconded and passed. Staff noted a full presentation on this topic is scheduled for the first meeting in February.
COVID-19 Update
- Staff presented an update on coronavirus statistics, including case surges, hospitalizations, and deaths in Ventura County and locally. The presentation defined a public health "outbreak" and clarified protocols regarding business closures, stay-at-home orders, testing, and vaccine distribution. Following the presentation, Council members discussed expanding the city's rental eviction moratorium criteria to be more inclusive, similar to New York State laws. The City Attorney noted the city's authority differs from state-level powers. Concerns were raised regarding the impact of such measures on property sales. Additional discussion covered vaccine eligibility for seniors and support for community-based vaccine administration sites.
Climate Emergency Mobilization Committee
- Staff and the committee presented a request to extend the committee's term. The committee requested a one-year extension to continue work on greenhouse gas inventories and climate policies, arguing for exemption from Brown Act requirements as a project-oriented body. Legal counsel advised that a one-year extension would likely subject the committee to Brown Act requirements due to the continuing nature of its subject matter, whereas a short-term extension (e.g., six months) could maintain its ad hoc status. Discussion addressed concerns regarding public access, meeting notices, and staff resource allocation. The committee agreed to improve meeting notifications and public access. A motion was made to extend the committee for an additional six months, amended to include stipulations that all meetings be properly noticed and open to the public, and that the committee report back to the Council within 30 days with a specific work plan. The amended motion was seconded and passed.
Council Appointments to Regional and County Boards
- The Council reviewed and discussed appointments to various boards. The following actions were taken:
- California Joint Powers Insurance Authority: The Mayor accepted the appointment; no alternate was appointed.
- Clean Power Alliance: The Mayor accepted the appointment; Council Member Blatz was appointed as the alternate.
- City Selection Committee and Ventura County Animal Services: The Mayor and Council Member Haney continued their respective appointments; Council Member Haney continued as the alternate for Animal Services.
- Economic Development Collaborative: Council Member Blatz stepped down; Council Member Haney accepted the appointment.
- Ojai Basin Groundwater Management Agency (OBGMA): A vote on the Mayor's nomination for the appointment failed. A subsequent vote on Council Member Blatz's nomination passed. Council Member Blatz was appointed, and the Mayor was appointed as the alternate.
- Gold Coast Transit District: Council Member Haney accepted the appointment as Chair; Council Member Roy remained the alternate.
- Ventura County Council of Governments (VCOG): Council Member Roy declined the appointment; Council Member Stix accepted the appointment; Council Member Haney remained the alternate.
- Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC): Council Member Haney declined the appointment; Council Member Blatz accepted the appointment; Council Member Stix was appointed as the alternate.
- Ventura Regional Sanitation District: Council Member Blatz accepted the appointment; Council Member Haney remained the alternate.
- Ojai Valley Sanitary District: Council Member Blatz declined the appointment; Council Member Roy accepted the appointment; Council Member Haney remained the alternate.
- Ojai Valley Green Coalition: The Mayor accepted the appointment; Council Member Stix was appointed as the alternate.
- School District: Council Member Haney declined the appointment; Council Member Stix accepted the appointment as the liaison.
- Budget Committee: Council Member Haney was appointed as an additional appointee.
- Chamber of Commerce: A new liaison position was created; Council Member Roy accepted the appointment.
- Complete Streets Committee: Discussion occurred regarding having the Planning Commission liaison also serve as the Complete Streets Committee liaison. No formal action was taken to change the committee's structure, as it was noted such a discussion would require a separate agenda item.
Liaison Rotation for Planning Commission and Subcommittees
- Discussion occurred regarding the rotation of council liaisons to the Planning Commission and its subcommittees. A motion was made to confirm the liaisons as described, with the understanding that the rotation automatically includes service on subcommittees. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Council Protocols Review
- Staff presented an item to review potential modifications to city council protocols.
- Adoption of Rosenberg's Rules of Order: A motion was made to direct the City Attorney to draft a text amendment to adopt Rosenberg's Rules of Order. The motion was seconded. The council reached a consensus to proceed with drafting the amendment for a future meeting; no formal vote was taken on the adoption itself at this time.
- Meeting Start Time: Discussion focused on changing the regular meeting start time. The council reached a consensus to change the start time to 6:30 p.m., with a typical half-hour closed session preceding the regular meeting. It was agreed to direct staff to amend the municipal code to reflect this change.
- Agenda Placement Process: The council discussed the current protocol allowing the Mayor or any two council members to place items on the agenda at any time. A motion was made to retain the current system. The motion was seconded and passed, with two members voting against it.
Workshop on Goal Setting
- The council discussed holding a workshop for goal setting. It was noted that no funds were available to hire a facilitator. The council reached a consensus to proceed with the workshop, with the understanding that a specific facilitator and structure would be determined and presented at a future meeting for approval.
Taormina Theosophical Community Street Dedication
- Staff presented a report regarding a request from the Taormina Theosophical Community to dedicate their private streets to the city. Discussion centered on financial implications, the potential for establishing a Community Facilities District (CFD) or special district, and concerns regarding precedents. A motion was made to direct staff to develop a formal proposal for a community special district. The motion was amended to specify that the next step would be to solicit proposals for consultants to determine costs and structure. The amended motion was seconded and passed.
Council Member Reports
- Council members provided brief updates regarding an upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. Day event and the Stewart Canyon stream restoration project.
City Manager Report
- The City Manager provided updates on Ventura River litigation, the upcoming agenda for January 26th (including the COVID report, emergency declaration, budget report, mural ordinance, and RTK tile public hearing), and a tentative schedule for an ATP discussion in mid-February. The Mayor requested that traffic speed issues be added to a future agenda. Staff noted a previous funding request for speed reduction measures was returned due to a lack of matching funds. The council discussed addressing this issue in conjunction with the upcoming ATP discussion.