Meeting Summary
Present: Stix, Weirick, Blatz, Francina, Haney
This summary was AI-generated to save you time. It may miss or misstate details, so verify against the official recording and the transcript.
At a glance
Drone Delivery Regulation
- Council members discussed concerns regarding local retail impacts, privacy, wildlife, and noise.
- Staff noted potential federal preemption but suggested acting within months to establish local rules.
- The Council directed staff to return in May with a draft ordinance and legal analysis.
Surplus Trolley and Fleet Management
- Staff presented options to auction a surplus trolley or donate it to a nonprofit or Chamber of Commerce.
- The Council approved surplusing the unit and directed the Public Works Director to create a fleet management plan.
- The new plan must assess fleet age, investigate electric or hydrogen conversion, and analyze costs and grants.
Pension and OPEB Liability
- Staff reported accrued liabilities of approximately $5.5 million for pensions and $2.81 million for OPEB.
- Council members discussed the risks of market volatility versus fixed debt costs for refinancing.
- The Council directed staff to maintain the current OPEB Investment Strategy 1 to pay off liabilities by 2031.
General Plan Update and Visioning Workshop
- A facilitator outlined a proposed workshop using a "Merlin approach" to work backward from a future date.
- Council members expressed concerns about the feasibility of a unified vision within a three-hour timeframe.
- The Mayor was designated to lead the workshop, with agreement to extend the duration if necessary.
Tiny Home Ordinance Pilot Program
- A council member requested a term sheet for a revised pilot program be placed on a future agenda.
- The Council agreed to include the item for discussion after a review by the Building and Safety department.
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Standard Plan Program
- A proposal was made to research the City of Los Angeles' pre-approved design program to expedite permitting.
- The Council directed staff to investigate the program and report back on potential adoption or similar services.
Earth-Friendly Pest Management Plan
- A council member requested the 2019 draft plan be placed on the April agenda in honor of Earth Day.
- The motion to add the item to the April agenda was seconded and passed.
Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Voting Delegate
- Staff informed the Council that the SCAG conference would be held virtually on May 6, 2021.
- The Council designated a member to attend the conference as a voting delegate.
COVID-19 Response and Reopening Updates
- Staff reported a decline in case metrics and a shift to the Orange tier, allowing increased capacity for businesses.
- Planning is underway for upcoming events contingent on tier status, while vaccine eligibility expands.
- The Council noted a significant decrease in emergency reserves and an extension of the commercial eviction moratorium.
Public Comment Procedures
- A speaker addressed the Council regarding the Sheriff's Office contract and various policy requests.
- The Council discussed and agreed to remove the specific time limit for public comments.
Ventura Regional Sanitation District
- A council member emphasized the importance of maintaining a publicly operated landfill to prevent private monopolies.
- The update included discussions on in-stream flow analysis and upcoming watershed modeling.
Climate Park Boundaries
- A council member cautioned against defining fixed boundaries for the Climate Park and Memorial Garden.
- The suggestion was made to view the areas as having overlapping common uses instead.
Campus Projects
- Staff presented a map of the city campus detailing current and planned programming including gardens and courts.
- A support letter was sent to the Supervisor's office regarding the Ojai Valley Organics composting facility.
Equity Committee
- A proposal was accepted to add a presentation on a "Potential Equity Committee" to the agenda.
- The presentation is scheduled to occur immediately following other presentations and prior to public comment.
Full summary
Consent Calendar
- The consent calendar was called, covering items 1A through 1F. A motion was made to approve the items. An amendment was proposed to add a sentence to Attachment A, page four, stating that the city opposes state, county, or federal policies that reduce or inhibit local, community-based business viability. The amendment was seconded and passed. The council then voted on the consent calendar as amended, and the motion passed.
Drone Delivery Regulation
- Council members discussed a proposal to regulate drone delivery services, citing concerns regarding impacts on local retail, privacy, wildlife, and quality of life. The City Attorney noted that federal or state preemption could limit the city's authority, though no state legislation was currently pending, and suggested that acting within three to four months might allow the city to establish rules before federal regulations take effect. Concerns were raised regarding the lack of sufficient data, potential impacts on bird populations, noise, and the effectiveness of an ordinance in reducing traffic. A motion was made to place the topic on the agenda for a future meeting to include an analysis and a draft ordinance. The motion was amended to specify the meeting would occur in May, with a provision to allow for a June date if more urgent matters arose. The amended motion was seconded and passed. Staff will monitor legal developments and return with a draft ordinance and analysis.
Surplus Trolley and Fleet Management
- Staff presented information regarding a surplus trolley, noting the city retains five other units in better condition and estimating the auction value of the surplus unit between $7,000 and $12,000. Options discussed included auctioning the unit or offering it to a nonprofit or the Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, a discussion occurred regarding the potential use of trolleys to circulate attendees during Libby Bowl events to reduce parking congestion. A motion was made to approve Consent Item H, which included the surplusing of the trolley, with an added directive. The directive requested the Public Works Director to create a fleet management plan to assess the current fleet's age and quantity, investigate the feasibility of converting the system to electric or hydrogen vehicles in alignment with 2035 and 2040 guidelines, and analyze costs, potential grants, and bulk purchasing opportunities. The motion was seconded and passed.
Pension and OPEB Liability
- Staff and a presenter provided updates on the city's pension and Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) plans. The report noted a current accrued pension liability of approximately $5.5 million and an accrued OPEB liability of approximately $2.81 million. The presenter outlined that investment income is a primary cost driver and discussed the risks of issuing pension obligation bonds or utilizing private placements to refinance liabilities, noting that while borrowing rates are low, investment returns are variable. The Council discussed the risks of market volatility and the difference between fixed debt costs and variable investment returns. No motion was made to proceed with debt restructuring. Regarding the OPEB investment strategy, staff recommended maintaining the current Strategy 1, which projects the liability to be paid off by 2031, noting that increasing contributions or changing strategies was not feasible due to budget constraints. A motion was made to direct staff to remain in OPEB Investment Strategy 1. The motion was seconded and passed.
General Plan Update and Visioning Workshop
- A facilitator provided an overview of a proposed workshop scheduled for Saturday, intended to focus on leadership, visioning, and commitment using a "Merlin approach" to work backward from a future date. Council members expressed varying levels of concern regarding the feasibility of achieving a unified vision within a limited timeframe in a public setting, with some suggesting a focus on management and practical governance goals. Concerns were also raised regarding the adequacy of a three-hour timeframe to develop a comprehensive community vision. It was agreed that the Council should be prepared to extend the workshop duration if necessary. The Mayor was designated to lead the workshop. No formal motion was made regarding the workshop agenda.
Tiny Home Ordinance Pilot Program
- A council member requested that a term sheet for a revised tiny home ordinance pilot program be placed on a future agenda, citing new guidelines from the Housing and Community Development department and experiences in Santa Paula. It was suggested that the Building and Safety department review the term sheet prior to council consideration. The council agreed to include the item on a future agenda for discussion.
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Standard Plan Program
- A council member proposed directing staff to research the City of Los Angeles' standard plan program for ADUs, which offers pre-approved designs to expedite permitting. The proposal included reaching out to architects who developed the Los Angeles plans to determine if they could provide similar services or if the city could adopt the policy. A motion was made to direct staff to investigate the Los Angeles program and report back to the Council. The motion was seconded and passed.
Earth-Friendly Pest Management Plan
- A council member requested that the Ojai Earth-Friendly Pest Management Plan, originally drafted in 2019, be placed on the agenda for April in honor of Earth Day. The motion to add the item to the April agenda was seconded and passed.
Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Voting Delegate
- Staff informed the Council that the SCAG conference would be held virtually on May 6, 2021. A motion was made to designate a Council member to attend the conference as a voting delegate. The motion was seconded and passed.
COVID-19 Response and Reopening Updates
- Staff provided an update on COVID-19 metrics, noting a decline in case numbers, hospitalizations, and ICU usage. The seven-day testing positivity rate had dropped to the Orange tier. Staff outlined changes associated with moving from Purple to Red tier, including increased capacity for retail, indoor dining, gyms, and movie theaters. A new state directive effective April 1, 2021, allows outdoor live events with assigned seats. Planning is underway for Earth Day, Art in the Park, Fourth of July events, and the city's 100th anniversary, contingent on tier status. Vaccine clinics continue at Nordhoff High School, with eligibility expanding on March 15 to individuals aged 16–64 with severe health conditions. The American Rescue Plan Act is expected to provide approximately $1.3 million, though this will not fully cover the $3–$4 million revenue loss. The city's emergency reserves have decreased from $3.4 million to approximately $650,000. The commercial eviction moratorium has been extended through June 30, 2021.
Public Comment and Procedural Matters
- During public comment, a speaker addressed the council regarding the Ventura County Sheriff's Office contract, requesting the creation of a City Commission, mandatory body-worn cameras, improvements to jail conditions, an unarmed crisis intervention team, the release of negotiation documents, the removal of "Blue Lives Matter" imagery, and an end to collaboration with ICE. The council received the comment for the record. Later in the meeting, the Council discussed the time limit currently set for public comments. A council member advocated for removing the specific time limit. The Council agreed to remove the time certain for public comments. No public comments were received during the subsequent public communication segment.
Other Discussion Items
- Ventura Regional Sanitation District: A council member provided an update emphasizing the importance of maintaining a publicly operated landfill to prevent a private monopoly and ensure competitive rates. The member also discussed in-stream flow analysis and upcoming watershed modeling.
- Climate Park Boundaries: A council member cautioned against defining fixed boundaries for the Climate Park and Memorial Garden, suggesting they be viewed as having overlapping common uses.
- Caregiver Certification: Discussion occurred regarding the certification of unlicensed caregivers to ensure safety and eligibility for vaccinations, as well as potential funding requests from the County. No formal motion was made.
- Campus Projects: Staff presented a map of the city campus site detailing current and planned programming, including City Hall, the police station, demonstration gardens, the Children's Memorial Garden, the Stewart Canyon Creek Restoration Project, pickleball courts, and a composting program. A support letter was sent to the Supervisor's office regarding the Ojai Valley Organics composting facility.
- Equity Committee: A proposal was made to add an item to the agenda regarding a presentation by Chiani Dree on a "Potential Equity Committee." The proposal was accepted with the condition that the presentation would occur immediately following other presentations and prior to public comment.
- Council Member Reports: Reports were provided by Council members Ryan, Bill, and Randy. Randy highlighted Women's History Month and International Women's Day, acknowledging specific individuals and noting upcoming events. A clarification was made regarding the City Hall campus committee, confirming that Randy and Ryan are the points of contact.
Adjournment
- The meeting was officially adjourned.