City Council — 2022-03-22

Reach Code Exemption Policy

• Council Member Haney proposed mandating all-electric transitions during electrical panel upgrades instead of immediate exemption removal.
• Discussion balanced urgent environmental mandates against housing affordability and standard review process concerns.
• The Council established a Joint Ad Hoc Committee to review exemptions and consider incentives for low-income residents.
• The committee will submit a detailed review and recommendation back to the Council within two months.

• Based on the transcript of the Ojai City Council meeting, here is a summary of the suggestion and resolution regarding the Reach Codes discussed and voted upon during the session:
• ### 1. The Core Policy Suggestion (Proposed by Council Member Haney, Speaker 07) Rather than a blanket removal of all exemptions, the suggestion made to the Council focused on a meter-based and upgrade-triggered approach for existing housing stock. Key elements included:
• Electrical Panel Triggers: If a homeowner undertakes a remodel or upgrade that requires doubling the size of their electrical service panel (e.g., upgrading from 60 amps to 120/200 amps), the new code would mandate a transition to all-electric appliances.
• Incentives for Fixed Income: Recognizing the city's demographics (low income, fixed income, aging population), the suggestion emphasized creating incentives and financial support rather than just mandates.
• Education & Support: Utilizing entities like the Green Coalition or City staff to help residents assess their electrical/environmental needs and navigate the transition (pricing, equipment, etc.).
• Avoiding "One Size Fits All": Acknowledging that Ojai has very little new construction (only 3 new homes in 3 years), the suggestion argued that targeting existing home upgrades/panel replacements would be more effective than focusing solely on new development.
• ### 2. Conflicting Views
• The Mayor (Speaker 32): Pushed for the immediate removal of all exemptions to "stand up for children and the planet," citing health and safety hazards associated with natural gas.
• Council Member Ryan (Speaker 08): Argued that removing exemptions could hurt housing affordability and cost of living. He also expressed concern that the immediate vote bypassed the Planning Commission's standard review process.
• Council Member Francina (Speaker 35): Emphasized health and safety, noting that current exemptions put renters and low-income residents in harm's way regarding indoor air quality.
• ### 3. The Final Resolution (Adopted Motion) To balance the urgent need for policy with the need for better data and community support, the Council voted on the following motion:
• Create a Joint Ad Hoc Committee:
• Composition: Two Council members (specifically those who voted against immediate exemption removal), two members of the Climate Emergency Committee, the City Manager, and the City Attorney.
• Task: Review all Reach Code exemptions raised during the meeting, gather feasibility data, and consider specific incentives and barriers for low-income residents.
• Timeline: Report back to the Council with a detailed review and recommendation within two months.
• ### Summary of Action Taken The Council decided not to shut down the exemptions tonight. Instead, they accepted the suggestion to review the Reach Codes thoroughly with a specific focus on how to support the community economically and educationally while achieving environmental goals. This allows for a more tailored approach than a blanket ban on exemptions.