Meeting Summary
Present: Stix, Francina, Lang, Whitman
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
2022 Crime Statistics Presentation
- Police Chief Newman reported significant decreases in violent and property crimes alongside a 22% rise in traffic collisions.
- Staff clarified that enforcement focuses on safety hazards rather than criminalizing homelessness under current case law.
- The department confirmed procedures for storing personal belongings and initiating the 72-hour parking rule upon tagging.
Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Tenant Protection Ordinance
- The ordinance establishes a 4% annual rent increase cap and expands tenant protections to those residing for 30 days.
- Council members amended the definition of eviction to include any action requiring a tenant to vacate.
- A friendly amendment adjusted the review period for owner-occupancy exemptions from six months to 12 months.
- The Council voted to pass the ordinance as amended following discussions on administrative costs and scope.
Active Transportation Program Update
- Staff presented a $4.74 million grant project to improve bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure on Maricopa Highway and Ojai Avenue.
- Phase One can proceed immediately, while Phase Two requires acquiring right-of-way for 29 parcels, some potentially via eminent domain.
- Construction costs are projected to exceed the original budget by approximately $2 million due to inflation and supply chain issues.
- The Council approved moving forward with the project while directing staff to identify budget savings to cover additional costs.
Closed Session
- No closed session report was included in the provided meeting summary.
Full summary
Call to Order and Administrative Matters
- The meeting was called to order by Mayor Betsy Stix, followed by a roll call confirming the presence of the Mayor and all Council members, and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. A motion was made and seconded to approve the agenda; the motion passed. The Consent Calendar was subsequently discussed, a motion was made and seconded to approve it, and the motion passed.
Presentation: 2022 Crime Statistics
- Police Chief Newman presented a report on 2022 crime statistics for the City of Ojai. Key data points included a 33% decrease in violent crimes against persons, a 15% decrease in crimes against property, and a 17% decrease in Part Two offenses compared to the previous year. Arrests decreased by 14%, while calls for service increased by 225. Traffic collisions increased by 22%, and 486 traffic citations were issued. The average response time for Priority One calls was 6.4 minutes. Chief Newman outlined future initiatives, including high-visibility patrols, foot and bicycle patrols, and continued homeless outreach. Following the presentation, Council members and the public inquired about homeless outreach, specifically regarding the Martin v. Boise case law, the 72-hour parking rule, and the handling of personal belongings. Staff clarified that while criminalizing homelessness is prohibited, enforcement applies to safety hazards and independent crimes. It was confirmed that belongings of individuals taken into custody are stored in a locked box at the city yard, and the 72-hour rule commences upon the issuance of a tag or slip by deputies.
Public Communications
- The Council received public comments on various topics not on the agenda, including the Ojai Art Center Theater productions, the closure of the family shelter, road improvement projects, the City Attorney's role and compensation, stakeholder committees, Council governance and ethics, electric vehicle charging station installations, and concerns regarding closed sessions and Brown Act compliance.
Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Tenant Protection Ordinance (Second Reading)
- City Manager Ben Harvey presented a report on the ordinance, which proposes a maximum annual rent increase of 4% with an appeal mechanism for higher increases, and expands tenant protections to those residing for 30 days. The ordinance defines four no-fault eviction reasons and requires relocation assistance of two months' rent or $5,000, whichever is greater. Modifications from the first reading included a clarified definition of eviction, a "good faith intent" requirement for owner occupancy evictions, and an exemption from relocation fees for landlords who lived in the unit for at least six months prior to tenancy and intend to reoccupy it.
- Public comment was received from numerous residents and stakeholders. Supporters cited personal experiences with displacement and the need to protect tenants from rent gouging and dishonest evictions. Opponents and those urging caution raised concerns that the ordinance does not address the root cause of the housing shortage, that the 4% cap is not inflation-adjusted, and that it disproportionately affects small landlords while exempting single-family homes and newer construction. Specific recommendations included extending the "right of first refusal" for tenants evicted for remodeling, implementing a sunset clause, and utilizing mediation processes. Staff and the City Attorney clarified that the ordinance applies to multi-family units for rent stabilization, while tenant protections apply more broadly, and that state law prohibits rent stabilization on single-family homes.
- Council discussion focused on implementation, scope, and amendments. Concerns were raised regarding the registration process, administrative costs estimated at $125,000, and the potential impact on short-term rentals. Staff clarified that the ordinance applies to tenancies rather than individual tenants and that single-family dwellings owned by individuals are exempt from relocation fee provisions. A typo regarding the definition of "rental unit" was identified and corrected to "dwelling unit."
- Council Member Whitman moved to amend the definition of "eviction" to broaden the scope beyond unlawful detainer actions to include any action requiring a tenant to vacate. The motion was seconded. Council Member Lang proposed a friendly amendment to change a specific timeframe in subsection 222 from six months to 24 months, which was subsequently amended to 12 months and accepted. Council Member Rule suggested adding a sunset clause or establishing a housing task force, which was opposed by Council Member Whitman. Following the acceptance of the amendments regarding the 12-month review period and the definition of eviction, the Council voted on the motion to pass the ordinance as amended. The motion passed.
Active Transportation Program (ATP) Update
- Staff presented an update on the ATP project, a multimillion-dollar initiative funded by a $4.74 million grant to improve bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure on Maricopa Highway and Ojai Avenue. Designs are approximately 99% complete. The project is divided into two phases: Phase One (Maricopa Highway) and Phase Two (Ojai Avenue). Phase One can proceed immediately, while Phase Two is contingent upon acquiring right-of-way for 29 parcels; eight have been acquired voluntarily, five are in negotiation, and 16 remain, potentially requiring eminent domain. Construction costs are projected to exceed the original budget by approximately $2 million due to inflation and supply chain issues.
- Staff and project designer Steve Reason provided an overview of the designs. Phase One includes a road diet on Maricopa Highway, reducing it from four lanes to two, with a two-way bike path on the south side and a buffered bike lane on the north side. Phase Two includes decomposed granite walkways and shared roadways in the downtown area. Staff noted that modifying the project scope carries a significant risk of losing the entire grant funding. Council members discussed the financial impact, the necessity of involuntary acquisition, and safety concerns at specific intersections.
- A motion was made to move forward with the entire ATP project as presented. A friendly amendment was proposed and accepted to direct staff to proceed with the project while simultaneously working with the budget committee to identify savings in other areas to fund road paving, maintain reserves, address climate action, and support staff compensation. The motion, as amended, was seconded. The motion passed.
Future Agenda Items
- City Manager Ben Harvey outlined the proposed agenda for the April 11 meeting, which includes the Affordable Housing Committee, the Building Code Update, the first budget workshop, and authorization for a Council member to attend the Southern California Association of Governments annual conference. It was noted that the cannabis lounges item is scheduled for April 25, and due to the rescheduling of the Affordable Housing item, one item from the April 11 agenda must be moved to April 25 or May 9. Council Member Rule reported on the Green Coalition's World Cafe. No formal motions were moved, seconded, or voted upon in this segment. The meeting was adjourned.