City Council — 2023-08-08

Pickleball Court Dispute and Soule Park Negotiations

• Council addressed noise complaints and the expiration of the current Memorandum of Understanding.
• Motions directed the City Manager to convene a stakeholder committee to find a solution.
• Management instructed to restart negotiations for facilities at Soule Park and the School District.
• A specific date was requested for a final decision on the City Hall courts to address liabilities.

Executive Search Firm for City Manager

• Council reviewed three proposals ranging from $28,000 to $36,500 for recruiting a permanent City Manager.
• Proposals were evaluated based on cost, diversity commitments, and experience.
• The council voted to proceed with public Zoom interviews with all three firms.
• Urgency was emphasized to complete the recruitment before the December holiday slowdown.

Interim City Manager Goals and Objectives

• The Interim City Manager presented eight priority items including recruitment and General Plan updates.
• Council requested grouping related items to clarify priorities regarding growth management.
• Discussion included re-instigating a committee with school trustees to coordinate land use issues.
• The council approved the priority list while deferring a formal motion on the School District committee.

Council Member Reports

• The Mayor Pro Tem reported on Ventura County Animal Shelter policies regarding no-kill status.
• Members discussed the complexity of the issue noting a hearing is already scheduled.
• A report was given on a successful Red Cross and School District evacuation simulation.

Meeting Summary

1. Pickleball Court Dispute & Soule Park Negotiations

• The council addressed the ongoing dispute regarding pickleball courts at City Hall versus alternative locations like Soule Park. Discussions centered on noise complaints from neighbors, the health and wellness of players, and the expiration of the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on January 1, 2024. The council passed three motions to resolve the issue:
• Stakeholder Committee: Directed the City Manager to develop a plan for convening a committee of all stakeholders (neighbors, pickleball players, tennis players, and parks department) to find a solution.
• Negotiations: Directed the City Manager to restart negotiations for Soule Park (permanent facility) and the Ojai Valley Unified School District (interim facilities, specifically Matilla Hall or similar properties).
• City Hall Deadline: Directed the City Manager to recommend a specific date ("date certain") for the council to decide the future of the City Hall pickleball courts to address resident concerns and potential legal liabilities.

2. Executive Search Firm for City Manager

• The council reviewed three proposals from executive search firms for recruiting a permanent City Manager. The proposals ranged in cost from $28,000 to $36,500, inclusive of expenses.
• Decision: After considering cost, diversity commitments, and experience, the council voted to proceed with public Zoom interviews with all three firms to select the winner. The City Manager emphasized urgency to complete the recruitment before the December holiday slowdown.

3. Interim City Manager Goals and Objectives

• The Interim City Manager presented a preliminary list of eight priority items for the upcoming term, including:
• Recruitment and onboarding of the new City Manager.
• Retention of Public Works Director Lindy (CalPERS compliance).
• Recruitment for the Recreation Manager position.
• Completion of the General Plan update (with a focus on growth management philosophy).
• Financial system upgrades and long-term capital budgeting.
• Discussion: Council members requested related items (such as Housing Workshop and Growth Management) be grouped to clarify priorities. They also discussed re-instigating a "2-2 committee" (two council members and two school trustees) to improve relations and coordinate land use issues with the School District.
• Decision: The council approved the priority list with oral addendums. A formal motion to establish the School District committee was deferred to the next meeting.

4. Council Member Reports

• Animal Services: The Mayor Pro Tem reported on an advertisement regarding the Ventura County Animal Shelter's "no-kill" status and behavior-related euthanasia policies. Council members discussed the complexity of the issue, noting a hearing is already scheduled.
• Disaster Resiliency: A report was given on a successful Red Cross and School District evacuation simulation held in July as part of the wildfire resiliency plan.

5. Adjournment

• Following the completion of the agenda, the meeting was adjourned.