Meeting Summary
Present: Stix, Whitman, Rule, Lang, Francina
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At a glance
Minutes from May 14th Meeting
- The Council amended the minutes to clarify that no formal action was taken to recuse Council Member Ruhle.
- A substitute motion was passed to include original language with specific attendance details for the closed session.
Lavender Inn Expansion
- The Council approved permits for expanding the Lavender Inn to include three modular units, a pool, and an outdoor bar.
- Approval included a lot line adjustment, reduced setbacks, and a reduction in required parking spaces.
- Mayor Pro Tem Whitman recused himself from the discussion and vote due to a familial relationship with the architect.
Salary Schedule Amendment
- The Council adopted a resolution to raise salary ranges for three director positions to match regional market rates.
- The amendment also added a Tier Two to the Trolley Driver Retention Program to aid staff retention.
- A minor correction was made to the resolution text to adjust the maximum salary range by $4 before passage.
Uniform Regulations for Board and Commission Appointments
- An initial motion to allow each Council member to nominate one commissioner failed during a roll call vote.
- The Council subsequently passed an amended motion requiring consensus among the Mayor, a rotating Council member, and the Commission Chair.
- The new process mandates that all applicants be interviewed by the three-member nominating committee before nomination.
Installation of Stop Signs
- The Council approved resolutions to install stop signs at the intersections of Grand Avenue with Drown and Mercer Streets.
- A separate resolution was passed to install a stop sign at the intersection of Cuyama Street and Church Road.
- Discussion addressed safety concerns and the balance between traffic engineering data and observed driving conditions.
Future Agenda Item: Ballot Measure
- Council members discussed the potential inclusion of a tax-raising ballot measure for the November 2024 election.
- The group identified the July 1 city clerk submission deadline and expressed a desire to discuss the item in June.
- No formal motion was made, and the item was designated as a future agenda topic for staff preparation.
Closed Session
- The Council met in closed session to discuss real property negotiations regarding 601 East Ojai Avenue.
- Public employee performance evaluations for the City Manager and City Attorney were also considered.
- No reportable action was expected or taken on these items during the session.
Full summary
Call to Order and Roll Call
- The meeting was called to order with a quorum present. The roll call confirmed the attendance of Mayor Stix, Mayor Pro Tem Whitman, and Council Members Ruhle, Lange, and Francina. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Approval of Agenda
- A motion was made to approve the agenda and seconded. The motion passed.
Public Communications
- Several members of the public addressed the Council regarding various topics:
- David Marin presented the Ventura County Civic Alliance's 2023 State of the Region Report, covering demographic shifts, economic trends, and a declining birth rate.
- Bill Miley addressed fire district clearance standards on public lands, the lack of replacement for dead street trees, and a request to include plumbing in the proposed homeless shelter design.
- Ama Okibo advocated for making the Ojai Youth Council a permanent fixture, prioritizing water conservation, and addressing homelessness with lasting solutions.
- Larry Steingold commented on the Art in the Park event, requested improved cleanup for future festivals, supported the Youth Council concept, and urged the Council to plan for a permanent homeless facility with proper amenities.
- Kathy Hartley thanked the Council for establishing the Ojai Youth Council.
Consent Calendar
- A motion was made to approve the Consent Calendar with the exception of Item D (Minutes from the May 14th meeting) and seconded. The motion passed.
Minutes from May 14th Meeting (Item D)
- Discussion focused on amending the minutes to reflect attendance at a closed session regarding a claimant. Mayor Pro Tem Whitman moved to add language stating that the City Attorney recommended Council Member Ruhle recuse herself, followed by a list of attendees. Council Member Ruhle made a substitute motion to include the original language with an addition clarifying that no action was taken by the full Council to have Council Member Ruhle recuse herself. The substitute motion was seconded and passed.
Public Hearing: Lavender Inn Expansion (Item 2)
- The Council held a public hearing on the Planning Commission's recommendation to approve permits for the expansion of the Lavender Inn at 214 East Matilija. Mayor Pro Tem Whitman recused himself from the matter due to a familial relationship with the project's architect. Staff outlined the proposal, which includes remodeling an existing office building, adding three modular structures to increase units from nine to twelve, installing a swimming pool, and adding a shipping container for an outdoor bar. The proposal involves a lot line adjustment, setback reductions, and a parking reduction from 15 to 14 spaces. The proponent presented details on economic feasibility, traffic impact, and design elements. Public comment included support for the project, clarification on current room counts, and questions regarding criteria for granting reductions in setbacks and parking. Council discussion focused on the project's alignment with community character and the role of the Historic Preservation Commission. A motion was made to approve the resolution adopting the plan development permit, design review permit, lot line adjustment, and conditional use permit. The motion was seconded and passed.
Salary Schedule Amendment (Item 3)
- The Council discussed a resolution to amend the salary schedule for the Public Works Director, Community Development Director, and Finance Director, and to add a Tier Two to the Trolley Driver Retention Program. Staff presented data indicating current salaries for the three director positions are approximately 25% below regional market rates. The proposed amendment would raise the monthly salary range to improve competitiveness and retain an interim Public Works Director. Public comment expressed concerns regarding the magnitude of the increase, the scope of the salary comparables analysis, and the lack of Budget Committee review, while other commenters supported the increase for staff retention. The City Manager addressed financial questions, noting the city's general fund expenditures and reserves, and clarified that the Budget Committee has not met in over a year. A motion was made to adopt the resolution amending the salary schedule. The motion was seconded. During discussion, a correction was noted regarding a typo in the resolution text, adjusting the maximum salary range for the three director positions by $4. The motion was put to a vote and passed.
Request for Council Direction on Uniform Regulations for Board and Commission Appointments (Item 4)
- Staff presented a request for direction on drafting a uniform ordinance to govern appointments, terms, removals, and absences for all city boards and commissions to address inefficiencies in the current system of five separate ordinances. Staff proposed a system where each council member nominates one commissioner, with appointments requiring ratification by a majority of the full council. Discussion focused on residency requirements, term lengths, and the composition of the nominating committee. Public comment expressed disappointment at revisiting the issue and suggested models requiring agreement among the Mayor, council liaison, and commission chair. Council members debated the potential for political override and the preference for retaining a collaborative nominating committee. No motion was made, and no decision was reached during this portion of the meeting; the item remains pending.
Revision of Commission Appointment Ordinance
- Discussion continued regarding the selection process for city commissions, focusing on ensuring collaboration and preventing unilateral nominations. Proposals included requiring consensus among nominating committee members and mandating interviews for all applicants. A motion was made to adopt a selection process where each Council member nominates one member for a five-person commission, with specific provisions for the Planning Commission and term limits for Commission Chairs. This motion was seconded but failed upon a roll call vote. The Council returned to a motion to revise the current ordinance. This motion was amended to require consensus from the nominating committee (Mayor, rotating Council member, and Commission Chair/Vice-Chair) to bring a nomination forward, with the stipulation that all applicants must be interviewed by all three committee members. The amendment also specified that if a nomination fails at the Council vote, it returns to the nominating committee. The amended motion passed upon a roll call vote.
Installation of Stop Signs (Grand Avenue, Drown Street, Mercer Avenue, Cuyama Street, and Church Road)
- Staff presented a request to adopt resolutions installing stop signs at three intersections: Grand Avenue and Drown Street, Grand Avenue and Mercer Avenue, and Cuyama Street and Church Road. The proposal cited safety incidents and aggressive driving. Public comment included support for the signs as well as concerns regarding the lack of traffic data and potential unintended consequences. Discussion ensued regarding the necessity of traffic engineering assessments versus the Council's authority to act on observed conditions. A motion was made to approve the stop sign at Cuyama and Church but requested additional studies for the Grand Avenue locations. The Council subsequently divided the issue into separate motions. The first motion was to adopt the resolution installing stop signs at Grand Avenue and Drown Street, and Grand Avenue and Mercer Avenue. This motion was seconded and passed. The second motion was to adopt the resolution installing a stop sign at Cuyama Street and Church Road. This motion was seconded and passed.
Councilmember Reports
- Council members provided brief reports on recent community events, including an open house at the Rec Center, the "Art in the Park" event, and the installation of a new transit stop. No formal motions were made.
Public Announcements and Updates
- Rachel Lang reported on upcoming community events, including the Progress Pride flag raising and the Pride celebration ceremony. Weston Montgomery addressed public comments, confirming that submitted letters are being read and that a response regarding the cottages is forthcoming.
Future Agenda Item: Ballot Measure
- Council members discussed the potential inclusion of a ballot measure regarding tax-raising methods for the November 2024 election. The statutory deadline to place an item on the ballot was noted as August 9, with a city clerk submission deadline of July 1. Council members expressed a desire to discuss the matter in June to allow time for staff preparation. No formal motion was made, seconded, or voted upon; the item was identified as a future agenda topic.
Closed Session
- The Council adjourned to a closed session to consider constituent real property negotiations regarding 601 East Ojai Avenue, and public employee performance evaluations for the City Manager and the City Attorney. It was noted that no reportable action was expected on these items.