Meeting Summary
Present: Stix, Haney, Francina, Weirick
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At a glance
Temporary Use of Lower Libby Courts for Pickleball
- A motion to authorize temporary pickleball use at Lower Libby Courts for August and September failed due to lack of a second.
- Council members received updates on an ongoing acoustical study and noted continued public debate over facility conflicts.
- The Council passed a motion directing staff to complete the Parks and Recreation study and report findings before implementing any plans.
Election Reform Measures
- Staff presented legal and financial analysis regarding ranked choice voting and the transition to an appointed mayor.
- A motion to place a ranked choice voting measure on the November ballot failed after a roll call vote.
- A separate motion to eliminate the directly elected mayor position in favor of a rotating council-selected mayor passed.
Full summary
Agenda Item 1: Temporary Use of Lower Libby Courts for Pickleball
- The Council discussed a proposal to temporarily allow pickleball play on two courts at the Lower Libby Tennis Court Complex during the summer months. Public comment was received from representatives of the Ojai Valley Tennis Club (OVTC) and other residents. OVTC representatives opposed the use of the specific courts, citing Resolution 1018 which grants the club priority use, and noted their previous funding of $240,000 in facility improvements. Concerns were raised regarding transition logistics, potential court damage, liability, and noise levels, with some speakers suggesting Soule Park as an alternative location. A Council member clarified that the original intent was a temporary solution for recreation during extreme heat, not a permanent change.
- A motion was made to authorize the City Manager and the Pickleball Association to coordinate the temporary use of two courts at the Lower Libby facility for August and September, with a requirement that the courts be restored to their original condition by the end of September. The motion was not seconded and consequently failed.
- Later in the meeting, the Council received an update on the Parks and Recreation Ad Hoc Committee regarding pickleball. Staff reported that an acoustical sound engineering study is in progress, with four proposals from engineering firms under review. Public comment continued to address the conflict between tennis and pickleball users, with tennis advocates emphasizing the preservation of the historic tennis tournament and pickleball advocates citing the need for facilities and relief from heat. Concerns were raised regarding noise ordinances and the displacement of noise to different neighborhoods.
- A motion was made to direct staff to work with the Parks and Recreation Commission to complete their study and report back to the Council with findings and recommendations regarding pickleball facilities and noise mitigation, rather than proceeding with a temporary summer plan at that time. The motion was seconded and passed.
Agenda Item 2: Election Reform Measures (Ranked Choice Voting and Appointed Mayor)
- The Council discussed two proposed ballot measures intended for the November ballot: a measure to transition from a directly elected mayor to an appointed mayor, and a measure to implement ranked choice voting (RCV). Staff and the City Attorney provided information on the legal and financial implications, including the potential cost of redistricting (estimated at $75,000) if the measures did not resolve current districting requirements. It was noted that under current state law, general law cities are not explicitly authorized to adopt RCV, which could lead to legal challenges, whereas adopting a city charter could resolve this authority issue.
- Public comment addressed the history of the elected mayor, with some speakers arguing it created dysfunction while others supported it for voter accountability. Regarding districts, some speakers argued that small districts are undemocratic and that an at-large system with RCV would better represent minority voters, while others expressed concern over the high legal costs associated with potential litigation.
- A motion was made to submit a resolution to the voters asking whether to authorize, at the discretion of the City Council, the use of ranked choice voting to elect city offices at-large, thereby amending the Municipal Code to no longer elect Council members by district. The motion included an amendment to the ballot language changing the wording from "require" to "authorize at the discretion of the City Council." The motion was seconded. Following a roll call vote, the motion failed.
- A separate motion was made to submit a companion measure to the voters regarding the elimination of the directly elected mayor position in favor of a rotating mayor selected by the Council. The motion was seconded. Following a roll call vote, the motion passed.