Meeting Summary
Present: Stix, Weirick, Blatz, Francina, Haney
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At a glance
Arbor Day Proclamation
- Staff presented a proclamation designating April 30 as Arbor Day and noted the city's Tree City USA status.
- A tree planting ceremony was announced for April 22 at Libbey Park.
- No formal vote was taken on the proclamation during this segment.
Help of Ojai COVID-19 Report
- Terry Wolf presented statistics on emergency rides, meal deliveries, housing grants, and vaccination outreach.
- Council members thanked the organization for their pandemic response efforts.
- No formal motion or vote was taken on the report.
Updated City Council Protocols
- Discussion focused on public comment procedures and the placement of items requested by council members.
- Staff clarified state law requirements regarding public comment opportunities during discussion items.
- The council voted to approve the updated protocols with added language regarding public comment.
Arts Commission Nominations
- Staff reported that two appointments were ready for ratification while two vacancies required further review.
- The council ratified the appointments of Christine Steiner and Eric St. James Lopez.
- The remaining vacancies were deferred for future consideration.
General Plan Annual Progress Report
- Discussion addressed report content regarding energy resources, affordable housing, and recreation site acquisition.
- Staff noted that a development agreement for affordable housing is currently in negotiation.
- The council voted to receive and file the report.
Ojai Valley Planning Review
- The item was initially pulled from the consent calendar for discussion but was subsequently moved to pass without further debate.
- A motion to approve the item was seconded and passed.
Disaster Council Recommendations
- Discussion centered on fire safety programs and the role of the Board of Advisors.
- The council voted to continue examining the recommendations and the nature of the Board of Advisors.
- The motion was amended to include the Fire Safety Council and BEV in the examination.
Moratorium on New Formula Businesses
- Staff proposed an urgency moratorium ordinance prohibiting permits for formula businesses with five or more locations.
- Discussion focused on the necessity of an emergency measure versus a standard review process and code thresholds.
- The council voted to refer the relevant Municipal Code section to the Planning Commission for review within 60 days.
COVID-19 Update
- Staff presented regional statistics showing a slowing of case increases and a move toward the Yellow tier.
- New state guidelines regarding gathering capacity and expanded vaccine eligibility were outlined.
- Staff acknowledged public concerns about mask enforcement and noted meetings with the police chief to address protocols.
Standardized ADU Plan Program
- Staff presented a proposal for a standardized Accessory Dwelling Unit plan alongside other housing options.
- Public comment addressed modular ADUs and potential impacts on town character.
- The council voted to refer the standardized ADU plan program to the Building Appeals Board for recommendations.
Tiny Home Program
- Public comment advocated for modular homes and noted fire protection code requirements.
- Council members discussed coordination with the sanitation district regarding utility requirements.
- The council directed staff to prepare a draft ordinance for tiny homes with specific limitations.
Affordable Housing Project at Franklin and Montgomery
- Public commenters provided background on previous proposals and noted cost challenges for the city-owned lot.
- Council members discussed financial hurdles and the potential for a volunteer task force.
- The council requested the community architect to develop a more specific proposal combining aesthetics and volunteer efforts.
Climate Emergency Mobilization Committee
- Staff presented requests for support of all-electric postal vehicles and policy direction for city electrification.
- Council members debated the scope of the request and budget constraints regarding a 2025 deadline.
- The council adopted the recommendations with a modification to achieve goals as soon as economically practical.
Full summary
Call to Order and Opening Proceedings
- The City Council meeting was called to order on April 13, 2021. A quorum was established following a roll call. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The meeting included a moment of silence and tributes dedicated to the memory of former Mayor Paul Blatz, including remarks from Council Members, the City Attorney, and Ryan Blatz, who announced a memorial service scheduled for April 16.
Approval of the Agenda
- A motion was made to approve the agenda. Amendments were proposed to remove items E, F, G, H, and J from the consent calendar for separate discussion. The amended motion to approve the agenda with these items removed was seconded and passed.
Arbor Day Proclamation
- Staff presented an Arbor Day proclamation signed by the Mayor, designating April 30 as Arbor Day. The presentation noted the City of Ojai's recognition as a "Tree City USA" for 2020 and announced a tree planting ceremony for April 22 at Libbey Park. No formal vote was taken on the proclamation during this segment.
Help of Ojai COVID-19 Report
- Terry Wolf of Help of Ojai presented a report on emergency efforts during the pandemic, detailing statistics on rides provided, meal deliveries, housing support grants, and vaccination outreach. Council Members thanked the organization. No formal motion or vote was taken.
Public Comment (Non-Agenda Items)
- Two members of the public provided comments on items not on the agenda: one regarding safety concerns about bike lanes near the hospital, and another suggesting increased promotion of local hiking trails.
Consent Calendar Items (Pulled for Discussion)
- Adoption of Updated City Council Protocols (Item E): Discussion focused on public comment procedures and the placement of items requested by Council Members. Staff clarified that state law requires public comment opportunities during discussion items and that the City Manager has discretion regarding agenda placement. The Council voted to approve the updated protocols with the understanding that language regarding public comment during discussion items would be added. The motion passed.
- Nominations for Vacancies – Arts Commission (Item F): Staff reported that two appointments were ready for ratification while two vacancies required further review. The Council decided to ratify the appointments of Christine Steiner and Eric St. James Lopez and defer the remaining vacancies. A motion to approve the two appointments was seconded and passed.
- General Plan Annual Progress Report (Item G): Discussion addressed the report's content, specifically regarding energy resources, affordable housing, and recreation site acquisition. Staff noted that a development agreement regarding affordable housing is in negotiation. The Council voted to receive and file the report. The motion passed.
- Ojai Valley Planning Review (Item H): The item was initially pulled for discussion but was subsequently moved to pass without further discussion. The motion was seconded and passed.
- Disaster Council Recommendations (Item J): Discussion centered on fire safety programs and the role of the Board of Advisors (BAB). A motion was made to continue examining the recommendations and the nature of the BAB, amended to include the Fire Safety Council and BEV in the examination and to return the matter as a standalone item. The amended motion was seconded and passed.
Moratorium on New Formula Businesses
- Staff and the City Attorney presented a proposal for an urgency moratorium ordinance prohibiting permits for formula businesses with five or more qualifying establishments for 45 days. Discussion focused on the necessity of an emergency measure versus a standard review process, the rationale for the threshold number, and the current Municipal Code confusion regarding the 10 or 11 location threshold. Public comment was received advocating for a lower threshold and enforcement clauses. Staff clarified that existing businesses cannot be forced to close and that the ordinance requires meeting both a numeric threshold and standardized feature criteria. A motion was made to refer Section 10-2.1713 of the Municipal Code to the Planning Commission for review and recommendations within 60 days, rather than adopting the emergency moratorium. The motion was seconded and passed.
COVID-19 Update
- Staff presented an update on regional statistics, noting a slowing of case increases and a move toward the Yellow tier. New state guidelines effective April 15 regarding capacity for gatherings and events were outlined. Vaccine distribution updates indicated over 13,000 doses administered at the Nordhoff site, with eligibility expanding to all residents aged 16 and older. Public comment was received regarding inconsistent enforcement of mask ordinances. Staff acknowledged the issue and noted meetings with the police chief to address enforcement protocols. Council members discussed challenges regarding verification of vaccination status for events. No formal motion or vote was taken.
Potential Housing Programs
- Staff presented three potential programs: a standardized Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) plan, a movable tiny home ordinance, and a city-owned affordable housing project at 408 North Montgomery Street. Public comment was received regarding modular ADUs and housing impacts on town character. Staff clarified fair housing laws regarding occupancy preferences. A motion was made to refer the standardized ADU plan program to the Building Appeals Board (BAB) to develop a recommendation within 60 days. The motion was seconded and passed. The Council agreed to address the tiny home and city-owned project topics in subsequent meetings.
General Plan Update and ADU Parking Impacts
- Discussion focused on the upcoming General Plan update, specifically the circulation and housing elements. Council members and staff discussed potential impacts of ADUs and tiny homes on parking and bicycle safety. The City Attorney advised that state law preempts the city's ability to set specific parking standards for ADUs, though cities may prohibit overnight on-street parking or implement permit programs. No formal motion was made on this topic.
Tiny Home Program
- Public comment was received advocating for modular homes and noting fire protection codes. Council members discussed coordination with the sanitation district regarding utility requirements. A motion was made to direct staff to prepare a draft ordinance for tiny homes, incorporating specification changes and limiting the number of units. The motion was seconded and passed.
Affordable Housing Project at Franklin and Montgomery
- Public commenters provided background on a previous proposal for a cottage-style development on the city-owned lot, noting cost challenges. Council members discussed financial challenges and the potential for a volunteer task force. A motion was made to request that the community architect develop a more specific proposal for the site, combining aesthetics, innovative design, and volunteer efforts. The motion was seconded and passed.
Agenda Reordering
- The Council discussed reordering the agenda to address the Climate Emergency Mobilization Committee item earlier to accommodate a committee member's schedule. A vote was taken to approve the reordering. The motion passed.
Climate Emergency Mobilization Committee
- Staff presented requests for a letter of support for all-electric U.S. Postal Service vehicles in Ojai and policy direction for converting city buildings and vehicles to electric. Public comment was provided outlining goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Council members debated the scope of the request and budget constraints regarding a 2025 deadline. A motion was made to adopt the committee's recommendations with the modification that the goal for carbon neutrality and electrification be achieved "as soon as economically and otherwise practical" rather than by a specific date. The motion was seconded and passed. Staff agreed to gather feedback on priority projects for a future meeting.
Council Member Reports
- Reports were provided on solid waste management challenges, pickleball equipment, Sewell Park revenue, Camarillo Street planters, the Ventura County Museum of Art, and Maricopa Street safety. No formal motions were taken on these reports.
City Manager's Report
- The City Manager announced that May 27 has been approved as Emergency Preparedness Day. An RFP was issued for a demographer to assist with redistricting. The ATP project was scheduled to return to the agenda on April 27. The status of a Caltrans permit for a brewery was noted as being in progress. No formal motions were taken.
Curb Cut Permit and Bids
- Discussion occurred regarding a Caltrans permit for a curb cut in front of Topa Brewery. It was noted that bids for the project are scheduled for presentation at a future meeting. No formal motion, vote, or decision was recorded.
Earth-Friendly Pest Management Policy
- Discussion took place regarding the rescheduling of the Earth-Friendly Pest Management Policy. It was confirmed the policy will be brought back for discussion in May. No formal motion, vote, or decision was recorded.
Adjournment
- The meeting was adjourned.