City Council — 2023-08-30

Affordable Housing

• The Council agreed to fund an expert-led workshop with economists and developers instead of a standard town hall.
• Implementation of SB 649 for local affordable housing preference was marked as a priority to enact before new projects.
• Habitat for Humanity project design and parking issues require a subcommittee report before returning to the full Council.
• Housing strategy must integrate with climate action goals and address school capacity concerns.

Infrastructure & Capital Projects

• Staff requested direction on the high-priority ATB Project Phase One due to funding risks and Caltrans deadlines.
• Sarzotti Park plans require a complete design revisit to align current needs with available funding.
• Pickleball facilities will proceed with a Soule Park plan and a committee to negotiate long-term transition details.
• Future street repaving projects need better upfront planning to manage budget limitations and physical constraints.

Public Safety & Environment

• Fire hardening efforts will be tied to emergency evacuation planning and coordinated with the Fire Safe Council.
• The single-use plastics and balloons draft ordinance is marked for action despite remaining enforcement challenges.
• Council will decide whether to adopt the tour bus urgency ordinance permanently or modify it after a one-year review.
• Draft amendments for tree protection and an Earth-Friendly Pest Management Policy remain pending.

Council Operations & Staffing

• Interim City Manager emphasized realistic expectations regarding accomplishments due to limited administrative capacity.
• Council members requested protocols for consistent staff report quality and submission timelines.
• A distinction was drawn between a legal Code of Conduct and a general Code of Ethics, potentially requiring a drafting committee.
• The City Manager will synthesize Council input into a written Work Plan to track progress on prioritized items.

Ojai City Council Agenda Prioritization Workshop Summary

Meeting Purpose

• The Ojai City Council convened with Interim City Manager Mark (Speaker 26) to prioritize legislative and project items for the upcoming period. Due to limited staff resources and a large list of pending items, the Council utilized a "dotocracy" system to rank priorities. Several items were identified as "stars," meaning they should move forward without formal ranking due to urgency or simplicity.

Key Discussion Areas

• Affordable Housing:
• Workshop Design: The Council moved away from the standard "town hall" format, agreeing instead to fund an expert-led workshop featuring economists, lawyers, and nonprofit developers. The goal is to provide specific, actionable data on Ojai's housing options (near, mid, and long-term).
• SB 649: Implementation of SB 649 (allowing local preference for affordable housing) was marked as a "no-brainer" priority to be enacted before approving new projects. Outreach is needed to address public concerns about potential discrimination.
• Habitat for Humanity: The project requires re-evaluation. Issues regarding parking and design (specifically 6 vs. 8 units) need a subcommittee report before returning to the full Council.
• Integration: Housing strategy must be tied to climate action (reducing commuter emissions) and school capacity issues.
• Infrastructure & Capital Projects:
• Pickleball: Two prongs were discussed: initiating the Soule Park facility plan (doable) and forming a "people of goodwill" committee to negotiate a long-term transition plan between City Hall courts and the proposed facility.
• Arbolada Sewer: A pre-crisis study was recommended to avoid emergency costs later, though payment methods remain an issue.
• ATB Project (Phase One): High priority. Funding is at risk due to Caltrans deadlines and escalating budgets. Staff needs Council direction to resolve the strategy immediately.
• Sarzotti Park: Design is outdated (2017). With $650,000 in funding waiting, the plan needs a complete revisit to align with current needs.
• Streets & Pavement: Discussions highlighted the complexity of street repaving projects, including trade-offs regarding curbs, gutters, tree roots, and budget limitations. Future projects need better upfront planning to avoid costly change orders.
• Public Safety & Environment:
• Fire Hardening & Emergency: The Council agreed to tie fire hardening into emergency evacuation planning, noting limited evacuation routes. Coordination with the Fire Safe Council is preferred to avoid reinventing the wheel.
• Single-Use Plastics/Balloons: A draft ordinance exists but enforcement challenges remain. Marked for action without ranking.
• Tour Bus Ordinance: An urgency ordinance is currently in place. The Council will decide whether to adopt it permanently or modify it after a one-year review.
• Tree & Pest Management: Draft amendments for tree protection and an Earth-Friendly Pest Management Policy are pending.
• Council Operations & Staffing:
• Staffing Constraints: Mark emphasized that the city is operating with interim staff and limited administrative capacity. Council members must be realistic about what can be accomplished within the current workload.
• Staff Reports: A need for consistent, high-quality staff reports was noted. Council members suggested protocols for late submission (e.g., supplementing online on Monday).
• Ethics & Protocols: A distinction was drawn between a Code of Conduct (legal/financial conflicts) and a Code of Ethics (general behavior and business practices). A committee may be needed to draft a comprehensive code.
• Work Plan: Mark will synthesize the Council's input into a written Work Plan to track progress on these prioritized items.

Conclusion

• The meeting concluded with the Council voting on priorities via the dotocracy system. The City Manager committed to returning with a Work Plan that reflects the Council's priorities while accounting for staffing realities. The session was deemed productive, providing clarity on the sheer volume of tasks facing the city and the necessity of resource allocation.