Ojai City Council Regular Meeting

Agenda Item Revisions

• Three agenda items were pulled for additional review or deferred to future hearings.
• Finance committee composition requires further process examination.
• Climate action group applications need more time for public engagement review.

Trolley Fleet Purchase

• Staff proposed purchasing two used propane trolleys to stabilize service.
• Discussion covered maintenance, fueling, and future route planning.
• A motion passed to approve the purchase of the two trolleys.

Public Relations Strategy

• Council discussed social media management and engagement strategies.
• Members weighed the use of volunteers or interns versus paid staff.
• Staff was directed to refine the communication strategy.

City Branding Materials

• Council members expressed mixed feedback on proposed branding designs.
• Staff was directed to return in May with additional options.
• Potential subcommittee guidance was suggested for future review.

Police Annual Report

• Commander Newman presented 2024 crime statistics and response times.
• A transition in reporting systems prevented year-over-year comparison.
• Statistics included calls for service, arrests, and crime categories.

Joint Meeting Schedule

• Staff presented an annual schedule for Council and commission meetings.
• A 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM time slot was recommended for sessions.
• Motion passed to approve the annual schedule.

Personnel Salary Amendments

• Specialty pay was authorized for recreation employees with gymnastics certifications.
• A new Human Resources Risk Manager classification was created.
• Liability concerns including insurance and safety reviews were addressed.
• Motion passed to approve the salary schedule amendments.

Tiny House Ordinance

• Draft ordinance regulates movable tiny houses separate from ADU rules.
• Provisions include size limits and infrastructure requirements for plumbing.
• Council approved the ordinance on first reading with specific amendments.
• Public workshop and second reading are scheduled for May and June.

Closed Session

• Report discussed performance evaluations for the City Manager and City Attorney.
• No reportable action was taken during the closed session.

Meeting Summary

Closed Session and Agenda

• The Council opened with a report from the closed session. Discussions regarding performance evaluations for the City Manager and City Attorney were noted; no reportable action was taken. Following a roll call, the Council addressed agenda changes.
• Item 3 (Finance and Budget Committee): Pulled for additional review regarding committee composition and process.
• Item 5 (City Council Protocols): Pulled to a future hearing to allow more review time.
• Item 1e (Climate Action and Economic Diversification Groups): Pulled by staff (Mr. Seibert) to allow additional review of applications and public engagement opportunities.
• Agenda Approval: A motion was made and seconded to approve the agenda as amended. The motion passed.

Consent Calendar and Administrative Items

• Items were processed from the consent calendar. Items A, B, and D were approved. Items C, D, and F were pulled for discussion.
• Item C (Trolley Purchase): Staff discussed purchasing two used propane trolleys to stabilize service while awaiting a delayed electric trolley. Discussion covered maintenance, fueling, and future routes. A motion was made and seconded to purchase the two trolleys. The motion passed.
• Item D (Professional Services/PR): Discussed social media management and engagement strategies. The Council discussed the use of volunteers or interns versus paid staff and clarified communication goals. Staff was directed to refine the strategy.
• Item F (City Branding): Discussed proposed branding materials. Council members expressed mixed feedback on the design. Staff was directed to return in May with additional options and potential subcommittee guidance.

Public Reports and Comments

• Police Report: Commander Newman presented 2024 crime statistics. The report noted a transition in reporting systems prevented year-over-year comparison. Statistics included calls for service, response times, arrests, and crime categories.
• Public Comment: Larry Steingold addressed the advisory groups, the budget committee threshold, and the Cabin Village project testing schedule. Staff provided an update regarding the project timeline for May.

Joint Meeting Schedule

• Staff presented an annual schedule for joint City Council and commission meetings, recommending a 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM time slot.
• Motion: Approve the annual schedule.
• Outcome: Motion passed.

Personnel and Salary Schedule

• Gymnastics Pay: A proposal to authorize specialty pay for recreation employees with USA Gymnastics certifications was presented. Liability concerns were discussed, including umbrella insurance and third-party safety reviews.
• HR Risk Manager: A proposal to add a Human Resources Risk Manager classification was presented. A retiree from the City of Camarillo was identified for the role.
• Motion: Approve the salary schedule amendments for gymnastics pay and the new HR Risk Manager classification.
• Outcome: Motion passed.

Tiny House Ordinance

• Community Development Director Lucas Seibert presented a draft ordinance to regulate movable tiny houses. Key provisions included separating tiny houses from ADU ordinances, limiting size to 440 square feet and height to 14 feet, and addressing infrastructure requirements.
• Discussion: Topics included lot limits, parking requirements (none proposed), and plumbing options. Septic connection was discussed as cost-prohibitive. Compostable toilets were proposed as an alternative for properties without sewer access.
• Public Comment: Daniel Griffiths (Ventura Tiny Homes) expressed support for affordable housing options. Bill Miley expressed opposition regarding safety and storage.
• Amendments: The Council considered amendments to cap the program at 20 units for the first calendar year, allow compostable toilets, and disallow septic connections.
• Process: Staff proposed a public workshop in May and a second reading in June.
• Motion: Approve the ordinance on first reading with the stated amendments and schedule.
• Outcome: Motion passed.

Closing

• Council Member Mang agreed to assume an additional commission liaison role. A request was made to place an indemnification item on a future agenda. The meeting was adjourned.