City Council — 2021-06-08

Climate Emergency Mobilization Committee Transition

• Council addressed the dissolution of the committee as members resigned to work independently.
• Leadership agreed to revisit forming a new city committee in September.
• The transition was acknowledged as beneficial for continued environmental action.

Reach Code Review and Amendments

• Staff reported that no new construction was subject to the code in the past six months.
• Former committee members recommended removing exemptions for ADUs, affordable housing, and commercial equipment.
• Council voted to adopt a technical ordinance fix and table exemption changes for six months.
• Future review of the code's impact will occur during the next cycle.

Staff and Manager Reports

• Updates were provided on the Morse Quarry closure, waste diversion, and recent community events.
• Council requested adding cannabis economic expansion and Rosenberg Rules training to future agendas.
• The Emergency Chain Ordinance moratorium will return as an urgency item to pause permitting.

• Here is a summary of the City of Ojai Council meeting transcript:

Climate Emergency Mobilization Committee Transition

• The Council addressed the dissolution of the Climate Emergency Mobilization Committee. Five members, including Phil White and Jim, have resigned to continue their work as an independent citizen action group, freed from Brown Act constraints. The Council agreed to revisit the potential formation of a new city committee in September. The Mayor thanked the former members for their expertise, noting that while the format will change, the community still needs their resources and that the transition was viewed as a "win-win" for environmental action.

Reach Code Six-Month Review

• Staff presented a status report on the Reach Code adopted six months prior, which requires electric components (e.g., no gas stoves) in new residential and non-residential construction.
• Status: In the last six months, the city approved one single-family residence and five ADUs. None were subject to the code requirements due to exemptions or prior permits.
• Technical Fix: Staff recommended a minor "fix-it" ordinance to clarify the effective date and remove a reference to State Energy Commission approval that was deemed unnecessary.

Recommendations from Former Climate Committee

• Phil White (former committee member) presented recommendations to remove several exemptions from the Reach Code, arguing that cost-effectiveness studies from the California Energy Codes and Standards Program show all-electric construction is the lowest-cost method. Specifically, the committee recommended eliminating exemptions for:
• Attached and freestanding ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units).
• Deed-restricted affordable housing.
• Restaurant equipment (cooking only).
• Pool heating and backup generators.

Public Comment

• Speakers included supporters of the Reach Code changes (Jan Dietrich of 350 Ventura County, Jay Simmons, Rudy Gonzales on grid reliability) and opponents (Wendy Larner, who called the changes overreach and questioned the utility-funded data). A debate occurred between Phil White and Council members regarding heat pump efficiency and costs.

Council Deliberation and Voting

• A significant portion of the meeting focused on the process for vetting the Climate Committee's recommendations:
• Proposal: Council Member Francina moved to direct city staff to vet the recommendations.
• Amendment: Council Member Blatz amended the motion to send the recommendations to the Building Appeals Board (BAB) for public engagement and transparency. This amendment was rejected (2-3).
• Alternative Motion: Council Member Blatz offered an alternative motion to adopt only the technical "fix-it" ordinance and table the Reach Code exemptions for six months to gather more data on the code's impact.
• Outcome: The Council passed the alternative motion (4-1) (Council Member Francina voted against it). The "fix-it" ordinance will be introduced, but changes to the exemptions will be revisited at the next cycle of reviews in six months.

Council and Manager Reports

• Reports: Updates were provided on the Morse Quarry closure plan, Oxnard landfill waste diversion, the successful Emergency Preparedness Day event, and the opening of the Thursday Night Farmers Market.
• Upcoming Agenda: Next month's agenda will include the final budget adoption, ADU ordinance standard plans, the cannabis tax review, and the unveiling of the city's centennial logo.
• Future Agenda Items: Council requested adding a discussion on cannabis economic expansion (dispensary locations) and Rosenberg Rules training. They also decided to bring back the "Emergency Chain Ordinance" (moratorium on formula businesses) to the next agenda, likely as an urgency item, to pause permitting until the Planning Commission completes its review.

Meeting Adjournment

• The meeting adjourned with a reminder of upcoming deadlines and the next meeting date.