Meeting Summary
Present: Stix, Weirick, Francina, Haney · Absent: Blatz
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
Commission Updates
- The Arts Commission reported on personnel changes and its municipal art collection.
- The Planning Commission advised on a church sign and is reviewing municipal code errors.
- The Historic Preservation Commission aims to present a downtown historic district proposal by August 5, 2021.
COVID-19 Status Report
- The City Manager reported a decrease in cases and hospitalizations while maintaining Red Tier status.
- Updates included vaccination progress, extended testing at Sarzotti Park, and available grants.
- Council members sought clarification on live event definitions and capacity enforcement.
City Domain Name Change
- The City Manager recommended changing the domain to "Ojai.ca.gov" to meet cybersecurity standards.
- The current address will redirect to the new site with minimal reprinting costs.
- The Council approved the motion to authorize the domain name change.
Gas-Powered Equipment Enforcement
- Staff reported 62 citations issued since the ban took effect, with a decrease in violations.
- The Council authorized a collections agreement with Data Ticket Inc. for unpaid citations.
- Staff confirmed the city retains control over citation issuance and hardship exceptions.
Traffic Safety and Speed Limits
- Staff presented options for speed limit modifications, noting legal requirements for enforcement surveys.
- A motion to immediately reduce the Grand Avenue speed limit failed to receive a second.
- The Council approved a motion to explore traffic calming measures and surveys in the upcoming budget.
City Hall Campus Coordination
- Public comment addressed noise concerns from residents near the pickleball courts.
- Discussion focused on expanding a volunteer coordinator's role to manage campus activities.
- The Council approved a motion to explore a Memorandum of Understanding with Tara Saylor.
Pending Agenda Items
- The Earth-Friendly Pest Management Plan is expected to be finalized by the end of the month.
- The Animal Ordinance term sheet targets a May completion date with a planned public meeting.
- The Urban Forestry Resolution update was noted as behind schedule and requested for prioritization.
- Electric vehicle electrification topics are scheduled for the April 13th meeting.
Full summary
Call to Order and Roll Call
- The meeting was called to order. A roll call confirmed the presence of Mayor Sticks, Mayor Pro Tem Weirich, Council Member Francina, and Council Member Haney. Council Member Blatz was absent.
Approval of the Agenda
- A motion was made to approve the agenda and was seconded. A roll call vote was conducted, and the motion passed.
Commissioner Comments
- Representatives from three commissions provided updates:
- Arts Commission: Reported on the departure of two commissioners and the passing of several local artists. The commission noted its municipal art collection and partnerships with local institutions.
- Planning Commission: Reported on the approval of a lot line adjustment in the Taormina area and provided advice to the First Baptist Church regarding a monument sign, suggesting modifications to lighting and materials. The commission also noted ongoing work to review Title 10 of the municipal code for errors and omissions.
- Historic Preservation Commission: Reported on the progress of an ad hoc committee working to designate a downtown historic district, with a goal to present a proposal by August 5, 2021. The commission addressed staffing, noting one vacancy and three members with expired terms seeking reappointment.
Public Communications
- Four members of the public addressed the council:
- One speaker suggested a configuration with separated bike lanes and off-street parking for the Maricopa Highway traffic experiment.
- One speaker expressed concerns regarding potential drone deliveries, citing noise pollution, wildlife disturbance, and privacy issues.
- Two speakers advocated for extending the operating hours of the pickleball courts at Libbey Park to match tennis court hours, citing health benefits, the need to avoid peak afternoon heat, and equity concerns regarding current restrictions.
Consent Calendar
- A motion was made to approve the consent calendar and was seconded. A roll call vote was conducted, and the motion passed.
COVID-19 Report
- The City Manager provided an update on COVID-19 statistics, noting a decrease in cases, hospitalizations, and ICU admissions. The report detailed the current "Red Tier" status and criteria for advancing to the "Orange Tier," including capacity limits for various sectors. Updates were provided on local events, vaccination progress (7,500 doses administered), and the extension of testing at Sarzotti Park through April. Information regarding available federal and state grants was also shared. Council members asked clarifying questions regarding the definition of "live events," timelines for tier changes, enforcement of capacity limits, and vaccine appointment status.
City Internet and Domain Name Change
- The City Manager recommended changing the city's domain name from "OjaiCity.org" to "Ojai.ca.gov" to comply with a Ventura County Grand Jury report on cybersecurity. The current address would redirect to the new address, with costs limited to reprinting letterhead and business cards.
- Motion: A motion was made to approve the proposed domain name change.
- Second: The motion was seconded.
- Decision: A roll call vote was conducted, and the motion passed.
- Discussion: Council members inquired about future recommendations regarding official email addresses, which the City Manager indicated would be addressed in a subsequent item.
Gas-Powered Landscaping Equipment Prohibition and Collections Agreement
- Staff reported on the enforcement of the prohibition on gas-powered landscaping equipment, which took effect 11 months prior. Sixty-two citations were issued, primarily to landscaping businesses, with 56 first-time offenders and six repeat offenders. Homeowners received warnings. Staff observed a decrease in reported violations. Due to two repeat offenders failing to pay citations, staff recommended contracting with a third-party collections agency, Data Ticket Inc., to manage unpaid citations. The proposed agreement includes a minimum monthly fee of $200 and would automate the collection process. The City Attorney noted existing code allows the city to recover collection costs and pursue liens or civil/criminal actions in egregious cases. Discussion focused on enforcement effectiveness, homeowner accountability, and flexibility for hardship cases. Staff confirmed the city retains control over citation issuance and could instruct the agency to pause actions based on specific circumstances. Public commenters expressed support for the ban and the collections proposal, with suggestions to improve reporting processes and hold property owners accountable.
- Motion: A motion was made to authorize the City Manager to enter into the collections agreement with Data Ticket Inc.
- Second: The motion was seconded.
- Decision: Following discussion regarding notification of property owners and legal requirements for citations, the Council proceeded to a vote. The motion passed.
Safe Speed Limits and Traffic Safety Modifications
- Staff presented a report on modifying speed limits, referencing a 2019 directive. Options discussed included signage, radar speed trailers, and a traffic survey estimated at $20,000 to legally justify lower limits. The City Attorney clarified that automatic speed ticket cameras are currently outlawed in California, though pending bills seek to authorize them in specific zones. The city can set speed limits of 15 or 20 mph within 500 feet of schools and in residential/business districts if deemed reasonably safe, though an engineering survey is typically required for enforcement. Public commenters discussed traffic safety concerns on Cuyama Avenue and in the Arbolada neighborhood, citing high pedestrian and cyclist traffic. Advocacy was made for a "Vision Zero" policy and traffic calming measures. Discussion addressed the legal feasibility of lowering the speed limit on Grand Avenue from 30 mph to 25 mph without a traffic survey. Staff confirmed that while the limit could be changed administratively, enforcement would be difficult without a survey as citations could be challenged.
- Motion: A motion was made to immediately reduce the speed limit on Grand Avenue from 30 mph to 25 mph.
- Second: The motion did not receive a second.
- Decision: The motion failed.
- Motion: A subsequent motion was made to accept the City Manager's recommendation to explore traffic calming measures and speed surveys as part of the upcoming budget process and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) funding discussions.
- Second: The motion was seconded.
- Decision: The motion passed.
City Hall Campus Report
- The City Manager presented a report on the history and structure of ad hoc committees for the City Hall Campus, including the Community Garden, Climate Park, and the disbanded Pickleball Court committee. Public comment was received from a resident representing tenants across from the pickleball courts, expressing concerns regarding noise pollution and requesting a halt to play or restricted hours until mitigation is proven effective. Discussion focused on coordinating campus activities and volunteer management. A suggestion was made to expand the role of a current volunteer coordinator, Tara Saylor, to serve as a liaison for the entire campus. Concerns were raised regarding potential conflicts of interest if a volunteer were considered for a future paid position.
- Motion: A motion was made to ask the City Manager to explore a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Tara Saylor to coordinate activities and information dispersal for the City Hall Campus.
- Second: The motion was seconded.
- Decision: The motion passed.
Council Member Reports
- Council members provided updates on external matters, including the Board of Supervisors' approval of a modified conditional use permit for a landfill, the OBGMA's evaluation of CDFW in-stream flow recommendations, potential discussions on liquid metal batteries, the California Coastal Commission nominee selection process, participation in the Family Fund Board, the Ojai Unified School District's "A Place at the Table" event, the upcoming Disaster Council meeting, and a recent vigil against anti-Asian hate.
City Manager Report
- The City Manager announced the city has regained "Tree City USA" status and scheduled a celebratory event for April 22nd at Libbey Park. The Disaster Council meeting was noted as open to the public. Upcoming agenda items for the next meeting were identified as alternative housing options (ADUs) and a review of the tiny homes term sheet. Regarding the pickleball court noise mitigation project, the City Manager stated it is expected to be completed in the first week of April, followed by noise measurements. Regarding the Topatopa concrete work, a permit modification request has been submitted to Caltrans to expedite the process due to safety concerns. Discussion included the possibility of requesting bids prior to permit approval to secure concrete availability, noting risks regarding potential permit denials.
Earth-Friendly Pest Management Plan
- Discussion focused on the timeline for the Earth-Friendly Pest Management Plan, which is expected to be finalized by the end of the month. Once completed, the plan will be presented to the council for review, with a preference to address it at an April meeting. No formal motion was made, and no vote was taken.
Animal Ordinance Term Sheet
- The status of the animal ordinance term sheet was discussed, with a target completion date of the end of May to ensure a thorough draft. The City Attorney noted that outdated language within the ordinance requires updating. A desire was expressed to hold a public meeting to allow community input. No formal motion was made, and no vote was taken.
Urban Forestry Resolution Update
- The urban forestry resolution update was discussed, with a note that the item is significantly behind schedule. A council member inquired about the eligibility of a volunteer, who is the spouse of a council member, to contribute to the review. It was clarified that while the city cannot enter into individual contracts with volunteers, the spouse is permitted to submit comments on public drafts. The council member requested that the item be prioritized for the agenda. No formal motion was made, and no vote was taken.
Electric Vehicles and City Vehicle Electrification
- The timeline for electric vehicles for the post office and the electrification of city vehicles was addressed. Following a request from two council members to revisit the item, it was confirmed that the topic is scheduled for the April 13th meeting. No formal motion was made, and no vote was taken.