Meeting Summary
Present: Gilman, Lang, Rule, Whitman, Mang
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At a glance
Agenda Modification
- The Council approved moving Item 6 to follow Item 2 to facilitate public comment.
- This change was made to assist with attendance decisions for specific agenda items.
City Attorney Recruitment
- Five proposals were received for the City Attorney position following the RFQ closure.
- Submissions will be distributed to the Council for review prior to a closed session.
- A closed session to discuss proposals and determine next steps is scheduled for August 12th.
Trolley Driver Recruitment
- Strong interest was noted, though challenges include incomplete applications and preference for full-time roles.
- Two candidates are currently undergoing background checks with additional interviews scheduled.
Cabin Village RFQ
- Concerns were raised regarding the RFQ timeline and potential non-compliance with state contract codes.
- The City Clerk confirmed the notice is being reissued with a new deadline of July 25th.
- Responses received during the initial period will be held until the new deadline.
Traffic Safety Update
- A motorcycle officer has begun enforcement on bike paths and parks, targeting e-bike issues.
- The police department has acquired four new e-bikes for officers to support this effort.
- A presentation on the traffic safety campaign is scheduled for the August 12th meeting.
Ojai Care Policy
- The Council adopted a resolution to codify state laws and inform the public of rights regarding vulnerable populations.
- The title was changed to "Ojai Care Policy" and language was added to include perceived protected classes.
- Sections regarding police task forces were removed as inapplicable to Ojai's contract sheriff arrangement.
- Implementation and training sections were retained but deferred pending a City Manager report on feasibility.
Feasibility Study for Bryant Place Properties
- A request was made to investigate specific properties as a potential site for a homeless shelter or affordable housing.
- Public comment included significant opposition citing safety concerns and lack of infrastructure.
- The Council voted to pause the specific feasibility study and revisit the topic during future workforce housing discussions.
Salary Schedule Amendment
- The Council approved a 2.5% cost of living adjustment for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
- Two new classifications, Assistant to the City Manager and Deputy City Manager, were added to the schedule.
- The amendments are effective as of July 7th.
Chamber of Commerce Agreement
- The Council authorized a three-month pilot professional services agreement with the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce.
- The agreement, not to exceed $27,300, aims to support economic development and tourism management.
- Staff described the arrangement as a low-risk "rent-to-own" approach to test the partnership.
Future Agenda Items
- A proposal was introduced to authorize $100,000 in rental assistance for families affected by detention or deportation.
- Council members discussed scheduling a special meeting on fire preparedness and an ad hoc committee.
- Staff indicated that City Attorney submittals will be provided to the Council for review before public discussion.
Closed Session
- The Council confirmed a closed session will be held at 5:00 p.m. on July 29th.
- An open session is scheduled to follow immediately at 6:00 p.m. on the same date.
Full summary
Meeting Opening and Agenda Approval
- The regular City Council meeting for Tuesday, July 8th, was called to order following a roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance. A suggestion was made to move Item 6 to follow Item 2 to facilitate public comment and attendance decisions. The suggestion was seconded, and with no objections raised, the agenda modification was approved.
Commission and Staff Reports
- No commission reports were received. The City Manager's report was acknowledged as previously delivered. The Human Resources and Risk Manager provided updates on two recruitment efforts:
- City Attorney Recruitment: An RFQ opened on May 19th and closed on July 3rd, receiving five proposals. Submissions were to be distributed to the Council for review. A closed session to discuss proposals and determine next steps was scheduled for August 12th.
- Trolley Driver Recruitment: Strong interest was noted, though challenges included incomplete applications and a candidate preference for full-time, benefited positions versus the available part-time, non-benefited roles. Two candidates were undergoing background checks, with additional interviews scheduled.
- A moment of silence was observed for former commissioner Jamie Bennett. The City Manager announced the availability of a pocket-sized downtown Ojai map at City Hall.
Public Communications
- Public comments were received on various topics:
- Library Programs: The Regional Librarian promoted the summer reading program and listed daily activities.
- Cabin Village RFQ: A resident raised concerns regarding the RFQ timeline and potential non-compliance with the California Public Contract Code. The City Clerk responded that the notice was being reissued with a new deadline of July 25th to ensure compliance; responses received during the initial period would be held until the new deadline.
- Film Screening: Speakers announced an upcoming screening of The Wedding Banquet at the Ojai Playhouse.
- Traffic and Safety: A resident discussed bicycle safety, the Peace Vigil crossing on Ojai Avenue, and tensions between vigil and counter-protest groups. The Mayor noted the crossing light is high on the Capital Improvement Project (CIP) list. Another speaker questioned the status of trolley driver hiring; the City Manager clarified the process was ongoing due to licensing requirements.
- Flood Preparedness: A speaker urged prioritization of flood mitigation measures, including debris basins and warning systems.
- Energy Code: A speaker encouraged adoption of the Flexpath Energy Conservation Code. Council Member Rule inquired about awarding additional points for fire hardening measures; the City Clerk indicated this would be investigated.
- Parade and CERT: A speaker encouraged support for the July 4th parade staff and promoted the Comprehensive Emergency Response Team (CERT) program.
- City Attorney Transparency: A speaker urged the Council to make applicant names and applications public and to hold an open session rather than a closed session.
- Sole Source Contracts: A speaker questioned the use of sole-source bidding for professional services regarding an accounting firm. The City Manager explained that the Municipal Code allows selection based on reputation and specialized skills due to the complexity of the city's financial systems. The Mayor noted that bidding information is available on the city website.
Consent Calendar
- Council Member Mang requested clarification on warrant line items regarding payment frequency and supply charge breakdowns. The City Clerk confirmed the annual nature of one item and stated a detailed breakdown of supply charges would be provided. A motion was made to approve the consent calendar, seconded, and passed via roll call vote.
Traffic Safety Update
- Following the consent calendar, Council Member Whitman requested an update on bicycle enforcement. The Police Chief reported that a motorcycle officer has begun enforcement on bike paths and parks, targeting e-bike issues. The department has acquired four new e-bikes for officers. A presentation on the traffic safety campaign and an introduction of the motorcycle officer were scheduled for the August 12th meeting.
Agenda Item 2: Ojai Values Act 2025 (Ojai Care Policy)
- Council Members Lang and Rule presented a resolution to adopt the Ojai Values Act 2025, developed in response to community concerns regarding safety and federal actions affecting immigrant, LGBTQ+, and reproductive rights communities. The resolution aims to codify existing state laws, provide staff direction, and inform the public of their rights. Council Member Whitman distributed a copy of the Ventura ordinance for comparison.
- Public comment was received from numerous speakers. Supporters emphasized the need to protect vulnerable populations, provide clarity on rights, and ensure local agencies do not cooperate with immigration enforcement in ways that harm the community. Speakers from Ventura and Oxnard expressed solidarity. Concerns were raised regarding LGBTQ+ youth safety and access to gender-affirming care. One speaker questioned the necessity of a new ordinance given existing state laws (SB 54) and raised concerns about legal costs.
- Council discussion focused on the draft content, comparisons to the Ventura policy, and legal implications. Specific sections regarding valid warrants, prohibitions on compliance, and sensitive locations were discussed. Amendments were proposed and adopted:
- The title was changed to the "Ojai Care Policy."
- Language was added to the preamble to explicitly include individuals perceived to be members of protected classes, including disability and neurodiverse communities.
- A parenthetical phrase in Section 1.8 regarding "immigration judges" was struck to avoid ambiguity.
- Sections 3A and 3B, pertaining to police task forces and reporting requirements specific to Ventura, were removed as inapplicable to Ojai's contract sheriff arrangement.
- Sections 6 and 7 regarding implementation and training were retained but deferred pending a City Manager report on feasibility and costs and Council authorization of funding.
- "Whereas" clauses from the Ventura policy were added to cite relevant state laws.
- A motion was made to adopt the Ojai Care Policy with the aforementioned amendments. The motion was seconded and passed.
Agenda Item 3: Feasibility Study for Bryant Place Properties
- Council Members Mang and Whitman presented a request to investigate the feasibility of the 914, 915, and 917 Bryant Place properties as a potential site for a homeless shelter or affordable housing. They noted the property's flat terrain and potential cost savings. The Mayor and City Clerk clarified that this was a new request to evaluate a different property, not a reconsideration of the previously voted Cabin Village project location.
- Public comment included significant opposition from local business owners and residents citing safety concerns, lack of infrastructure (sidewalks, lighting, utilities), narrow access roads, and the private nature of the easement. Supporters argued the study was necessary to explore all options for workforce and affordable housing. Staff noted that a feasibility study would require a clear project description, significant time, and funding, and that the City currently lacks the bandwidth to undertake another major housing project alongside existing initiatives.
- Council members debated whether to proceed with a specific study on these parcels or integrate the inquiry into a broader goal regarding workforce housing. A motion was made to pause the feasibility study for this specific property and revisit the topic during a future discussion on Goal 1E regarding identifying opportunities for workforce housing. The motion was seconded and passed.
Salary Schedule Amendment and New Classifications
- Staff presented a proposal to amend the city salary schedule to include a 2.5% cost of living adjustment (COLA) for the 2025-26 fiscal year, replacing a previously proposed 1.8% adjustment. The proposal also included adding two new classifications: Assistant to the City Manager and Deputy City Manager. Public comment supported the 2.5% increase but suggested backdating the effective date to January 1st. Council discussion addressed the effective date and the necessity of the new classifications. A motion was made to accept the staff recommendation to amend the salary schedule to include the 2.5% COLA and add the new classifications, effective July 7th. The motion was seconded and passed.
Professional Services Agreement with Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce
- Staff presented a proposed three-month professional services agreement with the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce to support economic development, business retention, and tourism management. The agreement, not to exceed $27,300, was described as a pilot program. Council members questioned the timing relative to the ongoing goal-setting process. Staff and the Chamber Executive Director explained the agreement was a response to prior Council direction to move quickly, allowed for a "rent-to-own" approach to test the partnership, and involved minimal financial risk. A motion was made to authorize the City Manager to enter into the three-month agreement. The motion was seconded and passed.
Council Member Reports and Future Agenda Items
- Council members provided reports on the successful Fourth of July parade and community events. Regarding future agenda items, one Council member proposed authorizing an agreement with the Help of Ojai for rental assistance for families affected by detention or deportation, with a proposed amount of $100,000. Another Council member proposed a special meeting on fire preparedness, including the creation of an ad hoc committee and revisiting the Fire Safe Council proposal. The City Manager noted scheduling constraints and suggested July 29th as a potential date. The Council also discussed the upcoming RFQ process for a City Attorney, with staff indicating submittals would be provided to the Council for review prior to public discussion or selection.
Scheduling of Closed and Open Sessions
- The Council discussed scheduling an upcoming meeting to include both a closed session and an open session. The group agreed to hold the closed session at 5:00 p.m. on the 29th, followed by the open session at 6:00 p.m. The schedule was confirmed by consensus.
Adjournment
- The meeting was adjourned.