City Council — 2023-06-27

Meeting Summary

Present: Stix, Lang

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The Historic Preservation Commission proposed installing a plaque honoring Harry Hunt Sr. on the City Jail.
Council requested further objective review of the commemorative language before final approval.
A motion passed to authorize the plaque placement pending final Commission approval of the text.

The HPC requested authorization to continue monitoring the Matilija Middle School property for historic significance.
Discussion addressed public concerns regarding the process and the School District's readiness to engage.
Council approved the request for the Commission to proceed with research and further analysis.

Staff presented the Historic Structures of Merit list for review regarding demolition and alteration.
The City Attorney advised that individual property owner notice is required before formal adoption.
The Council directed staff to notify current owners and update the list for a future meeting.

The HPC requested an update on the latest California Environmental Quality Act guidelines.
The City Attorney agreed to provide a presentation to the Commission or City Council.
Council approved the education request and authorized funding capped at one thousand dollars.

The meeting was called to order. A motion to approve the agenda was made and seconded. The motion passed.

The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) presented a proposal to install a plaque on the Ojai City Jail to honor Harry Hunt Sr., a former one-armed constable. The proposal included specific language derived from an oral history provided by Harry Hunt Jr. and his daughter. During discussion, a Council member suggested the language undergo further objective review before final approval. The City Attorney advised that the Council could approve the placement subject to final Commission approval of the precise language. A friendly amendment was made to include this condition. A motion to approve the placement of the plaque, subject to final Commission approval of the language, was made and seconded. The motion passed.

The HPC requested authorization to continue monitoring and studying the Matilija Middle School property for potential historic significance. Public comment included concerns regarding the use of the term "historic district," the readiness of the Ojai Unified School District to engage in the process, and the potential impact on the district's decision-making. HPC members clarified that their role is advisory and that the current request was for permission to conduct research, not to designate landmark status. The City Attorney noted that research and analysis do not impact the school district's rights, whereas a future landmark status designation would. Council members discussed concerns that the School Board trustees felt blindsided and were not prepared to engage, while others noted the HPC's code responsibility to monitor potentially historic properties. A motion to allow the HPC to move forward with research and further analysis was made and seconded. The motion passed.

The HPC presented the Historic Structures of Merit list, originally developed approximately 11 years ago, intended to identify properties requiring review prior to demolition or significant alteration. The City Attorney advised that while the list could be moved forward, it could not be formally adopted at this meeting because individual property owners had not been provided the required individualized notice, particularly given property transfers since the original study. A motion was made to direct staff to provide notice to current property owners regarding the sites of merit list and to bring the matter back to a future council meeting for adoption. The Council also requested that the list be updated. The motion was seconded and passed.

The HPC requested an update on the latest California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines. The City Attorney offered to provide a presentation at a future HPC meeting, with the option to also present to the City Council. Discussion ensued regarding funding for the training from the contingency budget, with a suggested cap of $1,000. A motion was made to approve the education request and the associated funding cap. The motion was seconded and passed.
The meeting was adjourned.