Meeting Summary
Present: Stix, Francina, Rule, 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
SB 1383 Compliance and Organics Recycling
- Presenters outlined state mandates to divert 50% of organic waste by 2022 and 75% by 2025.
- The residential program utilizes three weekly barrels, requiring food waste to be bagged for hygiene.
- New processing facilities in Limonero and Mountain View are needed before commingling waste is possible.
- The waste hauler and consultant remain responsible for ensuring the city's compliance reporting to CalRecycle.
Arts Commission Strategic Plan
- The Chair presented a five-year strategic plan covering grants, education, technology, and public art.
- The Commission requested a modest budget increase to fund a professional assessment of city-owned art.
- Staff noted the request would be reviewed for potential inclusion in a revised budget for future Council consideration.
CalPERS Retired Annuitant Position
- Staff reported on the appointment of Lindy Palmer as Interim Public Works Director under CalPERS hour limits.
- The position remains listed for recruitment purposes while Palmer continues in the interim role.
- The Council approved the appointment and adopted the resolution to formalize the arrangement.
Cannabis Lounges and Dispensary Zoning
- Staff presented options to allow consumption lounges and expand dispensary locations beyond industrial zones.
- The Council directed staff to draft an ordinance permitting dispensaries in the C-1 zone east of Park Road.
- The motion also authorized cannabis consumption lounges in the C-1 zone east of Park Road and the MPD zone.
- Existing dispensary allowances in M1/MPD zones were maintained, with co-location left to business owner discretion.
Budget Workshop (Fiscal Year 2023-24 General Fund)
- Staff presented a preliminary budget showing a $196,000 shortfall driven by inflation and rising costs.
- Discussion focused on balancing the budget through adjustments to deferred maintenance, staffing, and reserves.
- A motion to increase the General Fund reserve goal from 50% to 80% was not advanced for further review.
- The Council agreed to schedule future discussions on revenue streams and prioritizing pending agenda items.
City Manager's Report and Future Agenda Items
- Updates were provided on upcoming items including a formula business ordinance and housing element status.
- The selection of Planning Commission members was rescheduled to June 13th due to agenda constraints.
- The Earth-Friendly Management Policy was added to the list of future agenda items.
Closed Session
- No closed session report was included in the provided meeting summary.
Full summary
Call to Order and Roll Call
- The meeting was called to order, and a quorum was established following a roll call. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Approval of the Agenda
- A motion was made and seconded to approve the agenda. The motion passed.
Presentation: SB 1383 Compliance and Organics Recycling
- Representatives from EJ Harrison & Sons, Agriman, and Gold Coast Recycling presented an update on compliance with State Bill 1383, which mandates the diversion of organic waste. The presentation outlined state requirements to divert 50% of organic waste by 2022 and 75% by 2025, noting the state is currently behind these targets. Details were provided regarding the residential program, which utilizes three weekly barrels for recycling, trash, and organics. Presenters clarified that food waste must be bagged within the organic barrel to maintain hygiene and protect the commodity, as current infrastructure requires separation before processing. Updates were given on the Limonero and Mountain View facilities, which are being developed to process food and green waste; commingling is not yet possible until these facilities are operational. Questions were addressed regarding the separation of cooked versus raw food (not required), the inclusion of compostable items, and multifamily housing compliance. It was confirmed that the waste hauler and consultant are responsible for ensuring the city's compliance reporting to CalRecycle. No motions or votes were taken on this item.
Commission Reports: Arts Commission
- The Arts Commission Chair presented a five-year strategic plan organized into six areas: grants, education, technology, public art, communications, and commission health. The Commission requested a modest budget increase to fund a professional assessment of city-owned public art and to increase grant funding by approximately 10%. No formal vote or decision was taken on the budget request during this segment. Staff noted the request would be reviewed for potential incorporation into a revised budget for future Council consideration.
Public Comment
- Public comment was received on various topics not on the agenda, including arts and culture updates, meeting procedures, public safety concerns regarding shoplifting, financial capacity and deferred maintenance, website accessibility, the ATP project cost overruns, the Reach Code, and legal fees. No motions or votes occurred on these items.
Discussion Item: CalPERS Retired Annuitant Position
- Staff presented a report regarding the appointment of Lindy Palmer as Interim Public Works Director. Due to CalPERS regulations limiting retirees to 960 hours of work per year, the position remains listed for recruitment purposes, though Palmer is recommended to continue in the interim role. A motion was made and seconded to approve the appointment and adopt the resolution. The motion passed.
Consent Calendar
- The Council reviewed the consent calendar. Item 2C, regarding city warrants and expenses, was pulled for discussion. This item included a payment of approximately $29,870 to the law firm Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger for legal services regarding the Simply Ojai v. City of Ojai lawsuit. Discussion ensued regarding the payment, the circumstances of the firm's hiring, and confidentiality. The City Attorney explained the hiring was approved in a lawful closed session and covered past services. Following discussion and public comment, a motion was made and seconded to approve the entire consent calendar, including the previously pulled item. The motion passed.
Discussion Item: Cannabis Lounges and Dispensary Zoning
- Staff presented a report on allowing cannabis consumption lounges and expanding dispensary locations. The report outlined four key questions for Council direction: whether to allow lounges, applicable regulations, permitted locations, and dispensary zone expansion. Three zoning options were presented: current industrial zones (M1/MPD), the C-1 zone east of Park Road, or the entire C-1 zone. Staff noted that allowing lounges would require an exception to the city's general smoking ordinance and likely include air filtration and odor control standards. Public comment was received from proponents arguing for destigmatization, accessibility, and economic diversification, and opponents raising concerns regarding public safety, traffic, and noise. Council discussion focused on moving dispensaries out of the industrial zone and varying opinions on the scope of lounge permissions.
- A motion was made to direct staff to prepare an ordinance allowing existing retail cannabis dispensaries to expand into the C-1 zone (excluding the downtown commercial sub-zone) and to allow cannabis consumption lounges in the C-1 zone east of Park Road. The motion also directed staff to maintain existing dispensary allowances in the M1/MPD zones and allow lounges in the MPD zone. The motion left the decision on co-location to business owner discretion, subject to future ordinance details. The motion was seconded. The Council voted on the motion, and it passed.
Discussion Item: Budget Workshop (Fiscal Year 2023-24 General Fund)
- Staff presented a high-level overview of the proposed General Fund budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24. The presentation outlined projected revenue of $14.9 million and expenditures of $15.1 million, resulting in a preliminary shortfall of $196,000. Expenditure increases were attributed to inflation, rising insurance costs, and four priority categories: deferred maintenance, staffing, liabilities (retiree medical and pension), and reserves. Staff indicated that balancing the budget would require adjustments to these areas. Public comment was received regarding tax increases, community grants, homeless services, and the timing of new positions.
- Council discussion addressed the feasibility of increasing revenue streams and the reserve goal. A motion was considered to direct staff to prepare a resolution to increase the General Fund reserve goal from 50% to 80%; however, the motion was not advanced for further review. The Council agreed to schedule a future discussion on methods to increase revenue streams and to create a prioritized list of pending agenda items. No formal motions were passed or failed during this segment.
City Manager's Report and Future Agenda Items
- The City Manager provided updates on items anticipated for future agendas, including a formula business ordinance, a Habitat for Humanity concept review, a flag policy, and a housing element status update. Discussion occurred regarding the scheduling of the budget workshop, noting that the next seven council meetings are fully booked through July. It was discussed that moving items to consent or scheduling a special meeting might be necessary. The selection of Planning Commission members was rescheduled from May 23rd to June 13th due to agenda constraints. The status of the cannabis ordinance was addressed, with the City Manager noting it is in the drafting phase. A request was made to add the Earth-Friendly Management Policy to the list of future agenda items, which was agreed upon.
Adjournment
- The meeting was adjourned.