Meeting Summary
Present: Stix, Weirick, Blatz, Francina
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
Pride Month Proclamation
- The Mayor presented a proclamation designating June 2021 as Pride Month in Ojai.
- The proclamation recognized LGBTQ contributions and commemorated the Stonewall riots.
- No formal motion or vote was taken on the proclamation.
Lighting and Landscaping District Assessments
- Staff reported a projected $180,000 surplus allowing for future curb and street tree repairs.
- Council discussed the scope of work and potential future voter approval needs under Proposition 218.
- The Council adopted a resolution ordering work and levying assessments for 2021 without an increase.
Arcade Plaza Maintenance District
- Staff reported the district had erased deficits and held a $10,000 fund balance.
- Council discussed funding sources for plaza benches, which staff indicated would likely come from the general fund.
- The Council adopted a resolution levying assessments for fiscal years 2021 and 2022.
COVID-19 Updates
- Staff noted Ventura County moved to the yellow tier with a state-wide full reopening scheduled for June 15.
- Council discussed educating businesses on mask mandates and OSHA regulations with the Chamber of Commerce.
- The Council received and filed the update regarding hybrid meeting formats and event planning.
Budget Workshop and Community Organization Funding
- Staff reported a projected deficit reduction to approximately $24,514 contingent on Rescue Act funding.
- The Council committed $50,000 to the Ojai Valley Museum and directed staff to adjust the draft budget.
- Staff was instructed to transfer funds from the Transient Occupancy Tax to cover expenses for the Museum, Chamber, and Fire Safe Council.
Climate Emergency Mobilization Committee Charter Review
- Staff recommended converting the ad hoc committee to a standing committee to ensure legal defensibility.
- The committee representative announced plans to dissolve official status in mid-July to avoid Brown Act constraints.
- No formal motion was made regarding the committee's status or the creation of a new committee.
Reach Codes Six-Month Review and Amendments
- Staff recommended a "fix-it" ordinance to clarify the effective date and remove unnecessary references.
- The Council voted to table consideration of exemption recommendations for six months to allow for further data collection.
- The Council passed a motion to adopt the ordinance fixing the effective date while deferring other changes.
Future Agenda Items
- The Council agreed to add a discussion on cannabis economic base expansion to the next meeting.
- A request was made to schedule a closed session for a City Manager performance evaluation.
- The Council agreed to consider a moratorium on new formula business permits pending Planning Commission review.
Closed Session
- No closed session report was provided in the meeting summary.
Full summary
Call to Order and Administrative Matters
- The meeting was called to order with a quorum present, followed by the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. A motion was made and seconded to approve the agenda; the vote passed. The Mayor presented a proclamation designating June 2021 as Pride Month in Ojai, recognizing LGBTQ contributions and commemorating the Stonewall riots, and announced the 30th annual Ojai Pride March. No formal motion or vote was taken on the proclamation. No commissioner reports were provided. The Council announced that no meetings would be held in July. The Mayor reviewed meeting protocols regarding civil discourse, staff questions, and public comment responses.
Consent Calendar
- A motion was made to approve the consent calendar items, which included road maintenance, library tax, and assessments for lighting/landscaping and Arquette Plaza maintenance districts. Public comment was received in support of the items. The motion was seconded, and the vote passed.
Lighting and Landscaping District Assessments (Districts 1, 3, and 4)
- Staff reported that following a voter-approved 5% annual increase between 2012 and 2016, the districts moved from a deficit to a projected $180,000 surplus, allowing for future repairs to curbs, gutters, and street trees. Council members discussed the scope of work possible with the surplus, the potential need for future voter approval under Proposition 218 for larger projects, and questions regarding light counts, earmarking funds for Drown Street, and Edison tariffs. Staff noted that Edison tariffs had not changed and efforts to regain pole ownership had stalled. Public comment was received supporting deficit reduction and improvements to Drown Street. A motion was made and seconded to close the public hearing; the vote passed. A motion was made and seconded to adopt the resolution ordering work and levying assessments for 2021 without an increase; the vote passed.
Arcade Plaza Maintenance District
- Staff reported that following a 2002 renovation and a 2012 voter-approved 5% annual increase, the district had erased its deficits and held a $10,000 fund balance. Staff recommended levying assessments for fiscal years 2021 and 2022. Council members discussed proactive maintenance assessments and whether plaza benches would be funded by the district or the general fund; staff indicated benches would likely come from the general fund. Public comment was received noting a lack of opposition from businesses and suggesting additional greenery. A motion was made and seconded to close the public hearing; the vote passed. A motion was made and seconded to adopt the resolution levying assessments for the Arcade Plaza Maintenance District; the vote passed.
COVID-19 Updates
- Staff provided an update noting Ventura County had moved to the yellow tier, allowing increased capacity for various sectors, with a state-wide full reopening scheduled for June 15. Masking requirements for mixed vaccination status indoors were discussed. City Hall and Council/Commission meetings were scheduled to adopt hybrid formats starting mid-June. Updates were provided on upcoming events, including the 4th of July and Music Festival. Council members discussed educating businesses on mask mandates and OSHA regulations, and staff proposed working with the Chamber of Commerce. Issues regarding outdoor dining permit extensions were addressed. Public comment was received regarding the analysis of the COVID-19 emergency. A motion was made and seconded to receive and file the update; the vote passed.
Budget Workshop and Community Organization Funding
- Staff presented the third budget workshop, reporting a projected deficit reduction from $150,000 to approximately $24,514 due to higher revenues and restricted fund usage, contingent on $650,000 in Rescue Act funding. Measure C funding was reported at $750,000, leveraging additional grants for approximately $3.8 million in Capital Improvement Projects (CIP). New CIP items included City Hall campus improvements, Sarzotti Park modifications, e-bike charging stations (future years), and solar panels. Council members questioned e-bike stations, insurance costs, staffing, and park features. Public comment was received regarding the Ojai Valley Museum's financial challenges.
- Regarding community organization funding, discussion focused on the Ojai Valley Museum, Chamber of Commerce, and Fire Safe Council. A motion was made to commit $50,000 to the Museum, seconded, and passed. A motion was made to direct staff to adjust the draft budget by transferring $178,500 from the Transient Occupancy Tax to the CIP to cover expenses for the Museum, Chamber, and Fire Safe Council. The motion was seconded. A caveat was expressed regarding working the items together, and a request was made for a report on the cost of an in-house economic development position before final adoption. The motion to direct staff to adjust the budget passed. Discussion also addressed solar panels versus climate mitigation, with the City Hall bathroom renovation deferred to a future fiscal year.
Climate Emergency Mobilization Committee Charter Review
- Staff recommended converting the ad hoc Climate Emergency Mobilization Committee to a standing committee subject to the Brown Act to ensure legal defensibility, noting the committee had exceeded the typical six-month ad hoc limit. The City Attorney advised that continuing ad hoc status increases legal risk. Public comment was received from the committee representative, who announced the committee would dissolve its official status in mid-July to avoid Brown Act constraints but would continue as a citizen action group to submit a final report. Council members discussed the committee's departure and the potential for forming a new committee in August or September. No formal motion was made regarding the committee's status or the creation of a new committee; the item was closed without a vote.
Reach Codes Six-Month Review and Amendments
- Staff presented a status report on the Reach Code ordinance, noting only one single-family residence and five ADUs had been approved, none subject to new electric appliance requirements due to exemptions. Staff recommended a "fix-it" ordinance to clarify the effective date and remove unnecessary references to California Energy Commission approval. Public comment was received regarding exemptions for ADUs, generators, affordable housing, remodels, and swimming pools, with recommendations to delete or modify these exemptions. Council members and the public discussed cost-effectiveness, grid reliability, and heat pump performance.
- A motion was made to direct staff to vet the exemptions recommended for removal by the Climate Emergency Committee and to introduce an ordinance clarifying the effective date. An amendment was proposed to refer the vetting to the Building Appeals Board (BAB) instead of staff. The vote on the amendment to refer the matter to the BAB failed. Subsequently, an alternative motion was proposed to introduce the ordinance fixing the effective date and to table the consideration of the Climate Emergency Committee's recommendations for six months to allow for further data collection. This alternative motion was amended to include a commitment to review the item again in six months. The vote on the alternative motion to table the recommendations and adopt the effective date ordinance passed.
Council Member and City Manager Reports
- Council members reported on the Morse Quarry final surface plan review, the City of Oxnard's decision regarding the Tolland Landfill, the success of Emergency Preparedness Day, and the grand opening of the Thursday night farmers market. The City Manager reported on upcoming projects, including the Libbey Park turf remodel and curb cut improvements. Upcoming public hearings for the final budget adoption and accessory dwelling unit ordinance were noted, along with the review of fire hardening options, the centennial logo unveiling, and cannabis tax data review.
Future Agenda Items
- The Council agreed to add a discussion on cannabis economic base expansion or diversification to the next meeting's agenda. A request to schedule a closed session for a City Manager performance evaluation was seconded. Regarding a request for a moratorium on chain store permits, the Council agreed to place the item on the next meeting's agenda to consider a pause on new formula business permits until the Planning Commission completes its review. It was noted that any urgency ordinance would require a four-fifths vote. A request was made to schedule a future session to review the Rosenberg Rules and edit council protocols.
Adjournment
- Following a brief exchange regarding a hard copy substitute document related to protocols, the meeting was adjourned.