City Council — 2021-01-12

Thanks James. So a call to order, anything to report out Mr. City Attorney?

Thank you Madam Mayor the city council met in closed session and considered two items existing litigation the Santa Barbara Channel Keeper versus SWRCB City of San Buenaventura versus Abbott litigation no reportable action taken second item was anticipated litigation and also no reportable action taken thank

moment. This time we're going to switch over to City of Ojai's Lifetime Achievement and Historic Preservation Award. I love these people because they've contributed so much to our community. And so we're happy to have with us Don Cluff and his daughter Kathy, and we all miss having Sheila with us also very much so. So let me just read a little bit of what was noted on Don and Sheila Cluff.

Donna and Sheila Clough moved to Ojai in 1969. They started managing the Oak Spa, formerly the El Roblar Hotel in 1977. Sheila says about the first time she went to the Oaks, I vividly remember the first time I went to look at the place. The Oaks was built in 1918 and must have originally been quite impressive with its mission style architecture, grand rooms and vast surroundings. When I first saw it however, the bar and dining room had been shut down by the health department yet on porch looked as if it was about to fall off and the pool and deck needed total renovation Much of the original architecture had been destroyed and almost the entire place was swathed in a brown color palette.

Still its potential was obvious, thank goodness. I immediately loved the big stone fireplace in the lobby and what used to be the ballroom would make a good fitness center. The location was ideal right in the heart of picturesque town surrounded by orange and lemon groves and situated in a gorgeous valley. Sheila and Don restored the facade in keeping with the historic look of Ojai and the arcade. They maintained the property for over 40 years as a vibrant business that respected the character of downtown Ojai, while sitting in a bar for how to run a business and sustainably manage tourism in a small town.

Even though the Oaks was not landmarked, the Cluffs restored and maintained the historic property in keeping with the mission style which helped elevate and inspire historic preservation For the entire downtown area, Sheila and Don Clough set an example for future business owners on how to manage a successful business in the heart of downtown that respects and augments the character of Ojai.

And as Darwin knows he's been a part of it we're currently looking at proposing discussing the downtown historic corridor And we are, as I'm sure Darwin would fully agree with, we are pleased honored the way that the Oaks has been taken care of by the Cloughs over these decades. Darwin, the architect can appreciate far more than I the historical significance of what you have there now and so this is fitting.

to receive this lifetime honor. And so we have a Lifetime Achievement plaque, and we'll get that to you safely. Thank you both.

Thank you.

We'd also like to note that sitting with Don is his wonderful and lovely daughter Kathy Clough who has been helping out with the Oaks for quite a long time. I grew up in there. And so she's now doing a great job. Thank you, Kathy for being

here.

Okay. John Williams.

Yeah, my mother is sitting right next to me closer to the computer. Can you hear me?

Yes we can John. Hello? Yes, we can hear you. John, can you hear us?

So she's sitting right next to me. Yes, I can.

OK, great. OK, so we'll go right into our other recipient of the Lifetime Achievement in Historic Preservation and that would be Patricia Clark Dorner. Let me read a summary of the information that was provided for Pat. Patricia Clark Dorner is a fourth generation Ojai rancher, writer, historian, and community activist The Ojai Valley Museum did an exhibit in 2013 titled Historic Ranching Families of the Ojai Valley. This included the Clark family. Pat's family came from Wisconsin and have been in the Ojai Valley since 1868, 1868 just want to emphasize that. Pat raised four children before graduating summa cum laude from the University of California at Santa Barbara earning an honors graduate degree from University College Dublin, Ireland.

The top award in non-fiction writing at the Santa Barbara Writers Conference and teaching at UCSB and Cal State Northridge. Pat has provided many historical stories local history publications include the Sheriffs of Ventura County and Portrait of a Sheriff additionally multimedia productions which include the cemeteries of San Buenaventura A Matter of Grave Concern. Pat has articles For her history of her history, knowledge and personal experiences included within the Ojai quarterly publications. The Ojai Valley Museum's Ojai History website articles that was a member of the City of Ojai Historic Preservation Commission for 17 years.

And Darwin and I know 17 years. That's a long time and we appreciate it very much don't we Darwin?

Yes, and I remember starting on the commission and Pat was still serving. And she would in the Commissioner comments correct all of the grammatical or spelling errors in the minutes every month. We tried to continue that tradition, Pat.

So I'm not sure if you can see it, but I'm holding it up just in case. So this is the Lifetime Achievement Award plaque that we will get down to you as soon as it's safe and we can make arrangements for it. Always a pleasure listening to you. I picture you as one when I think of the go-to people in the Ojai Valley for history, you are definitely at one of those people that people have gone to and that we still got to so go to so.

Thanks for Indulging that, I think we all prefer to have the in-person award ceremonies. But in light of the circumstances, we appreciate Brian Akins, the chair and each of the recipients working with us on finding a way to do that virtually. So I saw a hand go up. Council Member Haney, did you have

something? I'd like to say something after Julie speaks. OK.

All right, so just thank you to each of those award recipients. And we're getting the plaques out to them now in a safe way.

Hi, Julie!

Hi, Julie. Thanks for being here. Hi. Finally, sorry. I was busy today. I should have checked my email earlier.

Now, thank you for being here and I'll give it now that we've done the HPC awards. I'll give it back to Mayor Sticks who is introducing this item.

Sure so Julie, I did the acknowledgement so do you want to say a few words about what that means?

Well, you know, we worked really hard a couple years ago and we put in place just some language acknowledging that the Native community is still with us As an elder, looking at the future of our young ones coming in. I mean it's really important that people realize that although we're protecting our past and the resources and sacred sites and remains that are underground as humans and people still walking this earth, we are encouraging our youngers to come in and to be part of their future and the future Wealth of information and to just move in that place of being present here in this community. Ojai still holds for so many people, that feeling and that presence of the nurturing that this valley has for people. And it comes from the thousands and thousands of years of nurturing nature and vice versa, nature nurturing All of us, even in this time this whole last year.

And unfortunately more into this year people are going towards nature to nature for just a relief a breath of fresh air. I hope that they will keep and continue to do it in a respectful manner but to see the landscape and to know the connection that our people have had with Territories that are vast and including the islands, that sense of spirit is always going to be here. It's always going to be with us.

And as we pray for this future of our communities, as the new people that have moved into this valley that they recognize not only the value now that they have in their purchases here but the other values that Ojai holds for people The sense of security, the sense of just this. When people in Ojai need something we're there for them and we reach out. We all know one another.

The parents know all the kids and the kids know that. And so it is a small town and we wanna keep that And in place and share with people that community, that village. You know as we're coming close to MLK Day in the beautiful Libbey Park I want to always remind people that we are our Central Valley right here in this downtown there are 5,000 to 9,000 year old sites that show and that we have discovered the occupation of our relatives here So, you know I thank you. I thank you for that acknowledgement and that we that are here today will still work with the city and in the outer parts with the county to preserve what is under our feet.

And the work that we all put in with Randy and Bill and Craig Beam And Dawn Teeting, who's I think on with us today listening. So I thank you. I thank you for that acknowledgement. And then Sousa was there something else that you're

going to present? Oh, I already mentioned it in the Council seemed to agree that we should have a sign at City Hall with the Chumash word for OHA.

Yeah so just to add a little bit to that if I may. People, you know for still today, you know say oh I thought it meant nest. So I'm always kindly because it was a poem that was written so long ago and our mountains really suggest that and I think that nurtures the safety and the coziness of our valley but the word for nest is kasap. It doesn't sound anything at all like Ohai or Akhai. So Akhai is the village in the upper valley And where people are even kind of moving that definition a little bit further and saying valley of the moon.

My friend and other Chumash elder here, Brandon Mercado visited you and asked you about that because we really do want people to feel that sense of originality and not kind of mess around with the definitions. So Akai meaning moon or lunar phase, not valley of the moon So with that, thank you so much everybody for all the work you're doing. It's so good to see you. Sometimes I miss you, sometimes I don't after the three years but I always admire the work that has been put into the work you do and it's up to us as the citizens here of the Ojai Valley to let you know what we need and talk these things out. So as much as we can happy new year be safe, be well And prayers for a good, prosperous and short-term virus for this new year. So thank you.

Thank you, Julie. I

like hearing you pronounce ahai. Is that how you say it?

You put

a

little in there so ahai. Nice. Thank you. Thank you. Loyal,

loyal. I guess we're ready for public communications at all.

Thank

you. Nice to see you.

Okay, me shift here.

Thanks, Gail.

Yeah, how many people do we have? We have three people signed up and two showing in the queue. One moment, I want to

check. While we're waiting for Gil, I'll add that we also received 14 written public comments were taken on both ways We had 14 written public comments, eight of which were general and not an item otherwise on the agenda. All of those were regarding the ATP project five comments in favor three opposed. And then we received some written comments on the COVID update and the Climate Action Committee report as well so those were provided to

And those will be posted on the website.

Yes, all the public comments received submitted for the meeting is posted on the website for each meeting so

Thank you Okay and we're ready now if you'd like me to bring in the first person

Great thank you

Okay, and the name is Kimiko Tokita. I apologize if I'm mispronouncing your name but you are in the meeting please unmute your mic

and you can go ahead. Got it. I was wondering if there was any update on the water situation and with everyone being at home with COVID and the water levels?

So, um, the items on the agenda are I'm sorry. Public comment for items not on the agenda is a chance to give you know public comment about a specific topic, but it's not an opportunity to city to discuss items not on the agenda.

Okay well then I'll just keep listening then I was just curious about the meeting

and if it's if We are planning to have an update on that at the next council meeting prior to the January 29th. OK,

great. Thank you so much. Sorry about that.

No problem. Thank you.

Thank you, Kimiko for coming.

And the next person is Leonard Claife. Mr. Claife, go ahead if you're muted on your end please unmute yourself.

I think I'm unmuted yes?

Yes.

Thank you. Good. First of all good evening Before I get to my remarks, Mayor Sticks, congratulations on your victory and thank you for serving. Council Member Francina good to see you back on the council again.

Oh thank you!

When Julie was speaking and pronounced Ahai, my first thought was they must be the lost tribe of Israel because I thought Jews were the ones who went... No, we

have that in Holland

too. I as well. Turning to the reason that I asked to be heard this evening, I happened to tune into the last council meeting and was frankly appalled at the number of people... And not even appalled but disturbed by a number of people who came on to speak against the ATP project. So I am speaking in favor of it My wife, Linda Harmon asked that I make it clear that I was speaking for both of us.

I don't own a bike and I don't walk nearly enough. I drive. I'm not bragging about this but I'm simply stating the fact. Nonetheless, this project has my complete support. Among the reasons I support the project are the following. While I'm a driver rather than a pedestrian or cyclist I recognize and applaud the fact that the car-centric way we have built our cities is no longer a viable model.

We need to encourage bikes and walking. Two, Maricopa Highway is clearly an anomaly along with the small stretch of Highway 33 through Oakview it is the only four lane road in the Ojai Valley approximately eight tenths of a mile To hear people actually express concern that somehow turning this little portion of the valley into a two lane highway will slow evacuation during an emergency is absurd.

I have driven this portion of Maricopa several times since the demonstration has started, and the first thing I noted was that I drive slower as did pretty much everyone else. It's hard to keep one speed at 25 on a four-lane highway that is usually pretty close to empty. It is much easier on a two lane highway, considering that this is a strip of road with a school, a hospital, numerous offices and two retail strip malls driving more than 25 is particularly dangerous.

Police fire and hospital personnel have been consulted and I believe have signed off Which makes sense because emergency vehicles get through Hawaii Avenue, which is busier than Maricopa. The manner in which the demonstration project is laid out with cars parking and bikes closest to the curb is new here and will take some getting used to but they have had this up in portions of New York City of all places for a number of years and drivers learn to cope.

Drivers in Ojai will learn to cope and it'll be a safer city as this project becomes permanent. Thank you for taking the step.

Thank you very much, Leonard.

There are no more public comments.

Okay great thank you very much thanks Gail well can I suggest a two minute break and then we'll come back for the consent calendar? You guys okay with that? Sitting is the new smoking, so everybody needs to stand up.

I would suggest putting your microphones on mute because we're not able to turn the cameras off.

Council members, just an FYI what's showing on the screen is the flag for the break period.

Is it just Ryan and I who hung around?

Are we ready? Waiting for Susan. Susan, can

you hear us? They asked us to mute while you walked away.

Yeah I think Council Member Francina I don't see and Council Member Blatt's I don't see so we can give them a couple seconds

Mayor, I just would like to interject something quickly. I don't think that we can allow our city attorney to ever post that picture of himself next to Ryan ever again. There were way too many similarities there. I thought you two were brothers for a minute. It was frightening.

You're redhead.

As you see my hair is actually more blonde than red, but the photographer When they took those headshots, it got a little color corrected. I saw the mirror laugh and I was laughing. It was like

oh my god look at these two there.

Yeah. I'll have to get that headshot updated particularly with my quarantine hair which is of course much longer than I would ever let it be normally but you can't get a haircut right now.

Oh I didn't know that. Barber shops and hair salons are closed still unfortunately. I don't know where to lay

mine.

God bless the black market, huh? That's

one solution.

There's a lot of black markets going on right now.

Yeah.

All right, moving right along. We have to wait for Ryan, right?

I don't see him and if he can hear us we're on, all right it looks like- Here you go. Okay there we go

yeah. Mayor, I would like to pull out enough

Okay, so consent calendar? Yeah.

Which item Randy? Yes. I have a short comment on G Mayor.

Okay, Randy you want to start? We had a move to approve except for items F and G is that correct?

That would be in order. Second. And unfortunately a roll call vote.

So Mayor on line item F, the only reason I pulled it is a while ago this was a very contentious issue here in Ojai and that was the attendance factor of commissioners. And we went through quite a few discussions on it and as I reviewed the attendance record this weekend, I just wanted to take a second to thank one all the commissioners first of all for all that they do Second of all, for the enhanced showing up to meetings.

I mean in the past we've had commissioners that have had missed eight meetings four meetings five three and as i reviewed this record I was, I was very impressed. Um, and we see we as individual council members, we get to see them work as liaisons to their commissions, but more importantly is this just, I just wanted to recognize, um, And say thank you to the commissioners and again for the, uh, The great job of showing up and doing, in, in, in doing the job. I just wanted to take a second to say that

Especially if I can chime in, especially during COVID. We have had meetings consistently during COVID when a lot of cities haven't because of the challenges that causes and the commissioners are showing up and handling business so it really is admirable.

Thank

you. So do we need a motion to approve F?

Yes, it's to receive and file.

Okay. Move to approve F.

Second. Great. Roll call?

I just want to make a very short but I think positive comment optimistic comment in that this preliminary list of things that potentially could allow us to, by re-engineering our hardscape inside the city limits, enhance the recharge of the basin comes to about 690 acre feet which is a little more than half the annual total consumption of water inside the city limits.

So that's I just want to, it's quite meaningful even though it may seem it's only 698 acre feet. It's still 698 acre feet and we're not done with the ways of maybe identifying our how to re-engineer our hardscape for better slowing storing and recharge so I was very optimistic and with that I'll make a motion to approve the receiving file.

I'll second it.

You know, I think this is the sort of item that the public would be interested in. And I know that it got on the consent calendar because we ran out of time at the last meeting and so I don't know what to do about that if they should have a presentation at some point still Yeah.

And thank you for, thank you for bringing that up. I was debating whether to chime in on that but the reason so we had it on the last meeting as a discussion item with the presentation plan from Watershed Progressive. We had met with them last week to put it on this agenda and what we realized is now that we are at January 12th this was supposed to be a status update But the actual, like drafts are going to be prepared by February.

So we decided rather than have a discussion this week about what's going to come in February and then have another discussion in February that we would just give the status report and then have the presentation and the discussion in February. We have it scheduled for the first meeting in February.

Thank you. That's good.

Okay, so we can move on to the discussion. So Watershed Progressive? We're on item two. Okay so let's move on to COVID report James.

Yeah thank you

and

I'm trying to not have so many PowerPoints So bear with me for one. We are here today, it's not showing up the best way but it works. We wanted to give kind of an update on the latest coronavirus statistics and then a couple of key issues here locally We mentioned at the last meeting, the last thing we said at the last meeting during the COVID update is that with the vaccines starting to roll out there's light at the end of the tunnel but there's still some darkness left before the light at the end. Before the light at the end of the tunnel and so to be you know to be frank that's what we're seeing right now it really is I think December January and February are You know, probably going to be the three most challenging months. Hopefully they're the three most challenging months because we have seen a surge and if you know the goal is to not let that surge continue and to try to address it.

We expected it. We knew that there'd be a surge due to holidays and family gatherings which is the key spreading event right now. And so We as a city pushed that message out aggressively. People probably saw it on Facebook, on Channel 10, on the radio station, on the billboards coming into town but we were asking people to please do what they can to prevent the spread and to avoid family gatherings with other households during the holidays and so That was because we all knew how quickly this could spread over the holidays if that wasn't done. So these statistics here show, reflect that you can see on November 10th which accounts for March when this pandemic started to November 10th so the first seven months of this pandemic we had 15,000 cases in Ventura County In one month from November 10th to December 15th, that almost doubled to 27,000.

And then in one more month from December 15th to January 12th, that almost doubled to 52,000 so you know these numbers reflect that risk that we all were aware of with the gatherings among households. So locally, our numbers reflect much the same story we had 157 cases total over the first seven months and we've almost doubled that from November to December and then we almost doubled it again from December to January so the trend is local as well you know I think We've been fortunate that we've had fairly low numbers, but we need to be cautious and careful to keep that in check. And so similarly you can see from the numbers shown that for hospitalizations, for people in the ICU deaths all of those are trending upwards during this surge. So I met with public health department yesterday and they They have a feeling at this point that surge should start trending back down after the end of this week.

So that's kind of what we're all looking for right now, and hopefully that will occur and it'll start trending in a positive direction. One other point, you'll notice that the testing really increased where over 800,000 people have been tested. Obviously that includes some people who have tested more than once and so it's not necessarily that everybody in the county has been tested but that's a big chunk in the county has made the point that the County of Ventura, countywide has had the highest number of tests in relation to the population.

You know, some people have said maybe our numbers are high because we're testing but you know regardless the reality is the case number is increasing and we need to do what we can to get that surge under control. And this slide it just shows it in another form but it's very similar again you'll notice one quarter of all cases from the beginning we've had 614 cases in the 93023 zip code One quarter of those have been in the last 14 days. So it really is surging right now, so we all need to be careful and exercise caution and care during this time.

So that's kind of the statistics very briefly. We wanted to talk about this because it's something that people are starting to hear more about, and it's a word that causes concern You know, it's the word outbreak. And we wanted to kind of explain to people what that is and what it means because you know, we've all heard about potential outbreaks places and people think that means huge numbers of cases.