Meeting Summary
Present: Stix, Whitman, Rule, Lang, Francina
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
Cabin Village Project Site Vetting
- The Council directed staff to initiate a public site vetting process for the Lower Public Works Yard.
- This vetting will include planning and CEQA analysis rather than a formal site selection process.
- Results will be presented at a future Planning Commission meeting.
Residency Ordinance Adoption
- Council members debated an amendment requiring officials to reside in their district within 180 days.
- A substitute motion to adopt the ordinance as written was proposed and seconded.
- The Council voted to approve the ordinance without the proposed time-limit amendment.
Traffic Motor Officer Proposal
- Staff presented data showing significant increases in traffic accidents and injury rates in 2024.
- Council members debated enforcement versus alternative measures like speed monitoring signs.
- A motion to hire the officer for a one-year trial period failed during the roll call vote.
- The Council ultimately passed a motion to not approve the hiring recommendation.
League of California Cities Delegation
- Staff requested the designation of a voting delegate and alternates for the annual conference.
- The Council appointed the Mayor as the voting delegate and Councilmember Lange as the alternate.
- Councilmember Whitman was designated as the second alternate for the delegation.
General Plan Contract Modification
- Staff requested a budget increase from $55,000 to $150,000 for additional technical studies.
- The expanded scope includes gap analysis and market analysis for tourism and economic diversification.
- The Council approved the contract modification as recommended by staff.
Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget Surplus Allocation
- Staff proposed allocating approximately $3.4 million in surplus funds across various operational and capital needs.
- The Council approved specific allocations totaling $467,500 for security, IT, and non-profit projects.
- A motion passed to convene the existing Budget Committee to review the remaining unallocated funds.
Community Wildfire Protection Plan Adoption
- Staff presented the completed 2024 plan as a living document for risk mitigation and grant funding.
- Council discussion clarified that the plan is not legally binding and does not determine insurance rates.
- The Council adopted Resolution 24-XX to approve the plan without delaying for a public workshop.
Closed Session
- The City Attorney reported on significant exposure litigation related to the Cabin Village project.
Full summary
Call to Order and Closed Session Report
- The meeting was called to order with a quorum present. Mayor Sticks participated remotely under Assembly Bill 2449 due to a medical situation. The City Attorney reported on a closed session regarding significant exposure litigation related to the Cabin Village project. The Council directed staff to initiate a public site vetting process, including planning and CEQA analysis, for the Lower Public Works Yard site for the Cabin Village project, rather than a site selection process. This vetting will be presented at a future Planning Commission meeting.
Approval of Agenda
- A motion was made and seconded to approve the agenda. The motion passed via roll call vote.
General Public Comment
- Public comment was received on items not on the agenda. Speakers addressed the lack of updates on the 2025 Libbey Bowl concert season, the location of the Cabin Village project, the publication of the Ojai Outlook, housing anxiety and displacement, traffic safety at the intersection of North Korea Road and Maricopa Highway, and the entrance orientation of the Cabin Village project relative to Persimmon Hill.
Consent Calendar
- A motion was made to approve the consent calendar with Item D pulled for separate discussion. The motion was seconded.
- Item D (Residency Ordinance): Council Member Whitman moved to pull Item D. Council Member Rule moved to "call the question" to end debate and proceed to a vote. Council Member Whitman proposed adopting the ordinance with an amendment requiring council members to find a residence in their district within 180 days. Council Member Rule moved a substitute motion to adopt the ordinance as written. Council Member Francina supported the substitute motion. Council Member Whitman argued for the necessity of an objective time limit. The motion to adopt the ordinance as written (Council Member Rule's substitute motion) was seconded by Council Member Lange. The motion passed.
- Remaining Consent Items: The motion to approve the remainder of the consent calendar (excluding Item D) passed via roll call vote.
Discussion Item: City of Ojai Traffic Motor Officer 2024-2025
- Chief Newman presented a staff report proposing the hiring of a dedicated Traffic Motor Officer to address traffic safety concerns, including distracted driving, speeding, and e-bike violations. The report noted an 18% increase in traffic accidents and a 70% increase in injury accidents in 2024. The estimated cost is approximately $325,000 annually.
- Public Comment: Speakers expressed varying views on the proposal. Some opposed the officer, citing cost, potential community backlash, and the preference for data collection via interactive speed signs or education-first approaches. Others supported the officer, citing personal injuries from speeding drivers and the need to deter aggressive driving.
- Council Discussion: Council members debated the necessity of enforcement versus alternative measures such as speed monitoring signs and education. Council Member Whitman proposed a motion to approve the expense with instructions regarding enforcement focus and hours. Council Member Lang opposed the officer, citing concerns about community comfort and potential profiling, and supported alternative measures. Council Member Rule proposed a substitute motion for a one-year trial period with data collection. Council Member Francina made an alternative motion to forego the motorcycle officer and allocate funds to interactive speed monitoring signs and fire safety initiatives; the City Attorney noted that redirecting the budget to specific alternative uses would require a future agenda item. Council Member Rule subsequently made a substitute motion to approve the hiring of the Traffic Motor Officer for a one-year trial period with a directive to collect data on effectiveness.
- Vote Outcome: A substitute motion to approve the item with a one-year trial period and a directive for staff to return with collected data was made and seconded but failed upon roll call. The original motion to not approve the item recommendations was then brought forward, seconded, and passed.
Appointment of Voting Delegate and Alternate for League of California Cities Conference
- Staff presented a report regarding the requirement to designate a voting delegate and alternate for the 2024 League of California Cities annual conference. A motion was made to appoint the Mayor as the voting delegate, Councilmember Lange as the alternate, and Mayor Pro Tem Whitman as the second alternate. The motion was seconded and passed.
General Plan Contract Modification (Climate Action Plan and Economic Diversification Element)
- Staff presented a request to modify the contract for the General Plan update, increasing the budget from an estimated $55,000 to $150,000 to include additional technical studies, a gap analysis, and market analysis. Discussion addressed the scope of work and the necessity of the studies for understanding tourism impacts, climate effects, and economic diversification. Public comment raised concerns regarding cost and the need for data on tourism's carbon footprint. A motion was made to approve the item as recommended. The motion was seconded and passed.
Distribution of Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget Surplus Funds
- Staff presented a report on the allocation of approximately $3.4 million in general fund surplus funds. The proposal categorized items into tiers based on operational needs, cost savings, and policy decisions. Specific allocations included funding for future Cabin Village operations, security contract extensions, Boyd Gym improvements, IT security assessments, public works site surveys, city branding, pension benefit contributions, and contributions to the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy and Ojai Valley Green Coalition. Special fund recommendations included the purchase of an electric trolley, an all-electric passenger van, HVAC electrification projects, and electric SUVs.
- Public Comment: Speakers addressed the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy nursery project, the Ojai Valley Green Coalition, the need for a Budget Committee, the lack of a formal protocol for funding non-profits, and the inclusion of water management and fire-scaping initiatives.
- Council Discussion: Staff clarified that the $404,000 proposed for electrification and climate mitigation is an initial assessment fund. Discussion ensued regarding whether to approve specific line items immediately or refer the entire surplus to a Budget Committee. Arguments were made to include specific non-profit projects in the immediate approval.
- Vote Outcome 1: A motion was made to approve specific allocations totaling $467,500, including unhoused contract security services, IT security assessment, site survey for the lower public works yard, Ojai Valley Land Conservancy surface parking lot, and Ojai Valley Green Coalition. The motion included a provision that the remaining surplus funds would be considered by the Budget Committee. The motion passed.
- Vote Outcome 2: A second motion was made to convene a meeting of the existing Budget Committee as soon as possible to consider the remaining unallocated funds and provide recommendations to the Council. The motion passed.
Ojai Valley Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)
- Staff presented the completed 2024 Ojai Valley Community Wildfire Protection Plan, described as a living document intended to guide wildfire risk mitigation and serve as a funding mechanism for grants. The plan includes a digital dashboard with risk mapping data. Public comment included support for the plan and concerns regarding the document's complexity and the need for a public forum before adoption. Council discussion addressed the legal status of the plan, public outreach, and potential impacts on insurance rates. Staff clarified that the plan is not legally binding and does not determine insurance rates.
- Vote Outcome: A motion was made to adopt Resolution 24-XX to approve the 2024 Ojai Valley Community Wildfire Protection Plan. A substitute motion to delay adoption and hold a public workshop was proposed but not adopted. The original motion to adopt the plan passed.
Future Agenda Items
- The Council discussed whether to proceed with the next agenda item or postpone it. It was determined that the item was not time-sensitive. The Council decided to defer the item to a future meeting.
Public Comment and Closing Remarks
- Councilmember Jeff Raines provided a report regarding his attendance at Ventura County Transportation Commission meetings, discussing the "free ride" initiative and potential applications for the local trolley system. Councilmember Leslie Rule expressed appreciation for staff recognition. The meeting was declared finished and adjourned. No formal motions were moved, seconded, or voted upon during this segment.