Meeting Summary
Present: Lang, Rule, Whitman, Mang · Absent: Gilman
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
Chief of Police Departure
- Chief Jenkins delivered a farewell address and presented challenge coins to Council members.
- Council members offered remarks thanking Chief Jenkins for his service.
- Chief Tyler Abbott is scheduled to begin his tenure the following week.
Historic Preservation Commission Awards
- The Annual Award for the Ojai Playhouse restoration was presented to David Berger, Robert Kubiak, and Kerry Miller.
- The award for Stephen Adams was postponed due to his absence and deferred to a future meeting.
- The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to the Parsons family and David Brown for their stewardship of the Gables of Ojai.
City Manager Report
- Three licensed trolley drivers are currently undergoing pre-employment background checks.
- The transition to the HDL online portal for business licensing is scheduled for February 4.
- The city is seeking reimbursement from the county and Cal OES for recent storm damage expenses.
Accountant Services Contract
- The council approved retaining M.V. Chang and Associates to assist with daily operations and audit preparation.
- The contract amount was increased from $75,000 to $160,000 to address the vacancy in the accountant position.
- Approval included a condition to address the salary scale for the accountant position at the earliest feasible opportunity.
Legal Services for Tax Dispute
- The council approved legal fees for conflict counsel regarding a Transient Occupancy Tax administrative proceeding.
- Staff clarified that the administrative decision would be binding unless appealed.
- The City Attorney's Office could not represent the city due to a conflict of interest.
Passed 4–0 · unanimous
Ida Bailey Services Contract Extension
- The council approved an amended contract extension strictly limiting the scope to year-end closing and accounts payable implementation.
- The not-to-exceed amount was increased while the scope of work was narrowed from the original recommendation.
- An initial motion to direct a committee review of the scope failed before the amended motion passed.
Ordinance 970 – Citywide Engineering and Traffic Survey
- The council approved the first reading of an ordinance to reduce speed limits on Country Club Drive, Foothill Road, Fairview, and Quiama.
- The ordinance is required to legally post new signs with an anticipated effective date in late February.
- Staff noted a new state bill allowing speed limit reductions in school zones without traffic studies.
Passed 4–0 · unanimous
Resolution on Oil and Gas Drilling
- The council approved a resolution opposing proposed oil leases off the coast of California.
- Staff outlined a plan to submit the resolution via online portals, U.S. mail, and notifications to representatives.
- The resolution aims to place the City of Ojai's opposition into the public docket for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
Passed 4–0 · unanimous
Saraswati Park Playground Survey and Community Survey
- The council approved a specific survey for the grant-funded playground reconstruction at Saraswati Park.
- The broader community survey was postponed indefinitely to refine questions and dissemination plans.
- Discussion focused on survey methodology and privacy considerations regarding address verification.
General Plan Update: Economic Diversification Survey
- The council approved revised survey questions for the Economic Diversification element of the General Plan Update.
- Staff refined the questions into a hybrid format allowing respondents to answer as both residents and business owners.
- Proposed additions regarding employee salary ranges were advised against in favor of using census data.
Passed 4–0 · unanimous
Future Agenda Items
- The council agreed to add agenda items regarding Cabin Village contract compliance, contracting versus direct hiring, and property consolidation ordinances.
- Discussion regarding property acquisition for housing equity concluded without a decision to add the item to the agenda.
Full summary
Meeting Call to Order and Agenda Adjustments
- The meeting was called to order with a roll call confirming the presence of Mayor Pro Tem Lang and Council Members Rule, Whitman, and Mang. Mayor Gilman was absent. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Mayor Pro Tem Lang requested a reordering of the agenda to prioritize the Traffic Survey and Traffic items due to scheduling constraints and timeliness. The proposed sequence moved Item 12 to position 11, Item 14 to position 12, Item 11 to position 13, and Item 13 to position 14. A motion was made and seconded to approve these changes. The motion passed.
Presentation: Chief of Police Departure
- Chief Jenkins delivered a farewell address, thanking City Manager Ben Harvey, the City Council, and staff. He noted that Chief Tyler Abbott would begin the following week and presented challenge coins to Council members. Council members offered remarks thanking Chief Jenkins for his service.
Presentation: Historic Preservation Commission Awards
- Brian Akins of the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) presented awards. The Annual Award for the Ojai Playhouse restoration was recognized for recipients David Berger, Robert Kubiak, and Kerry Miller; the award for Stephen Adams was postponed due to his absence, and the plaque presentation was deferred to a future HPC meeting. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to the Parsons family and David Brown for their stewardship of the Gables of Ojai. Mayor Pro Tem Lang presented the award.
City Manager Report
- City Manager Ben Harvey provided updates on three topics:
- Trolley Service: Three fully licensed drivers are undergoing pre-employment background checks, and a new brochure has been updated.
- Business Licensing: The transition to the HDL online portal is scheduled for February 4. Temporary licenses will be issued in the interim, and the city will continue to accept checks and cash.
- Storm Damage: The city is seeking reimbursement from the county and Cal OES for expenses and damages from recent holiday storms.
Public Communications
- Members of the public addressed the council on various topics, including concerns regarding unreliable trolley service, the City Manager's conduct in light of an upcoming lawsuit, billing and budget issues with the Cabin Village Project, e-bike safety, an upcoming political event, transparency regarding public records and bidding, and project proposals including an Ojai Dam Project, an Eco-Living Village, and an AI-driven electric trolley system.
Consent Calendar
- Council Member Whitman requested to pull Items 7, 8, 9, and 10 from the consent calendar for separate discussion. A motion was made and seconded to approve the remaining consent calendar items (Items 3 through 6). The motion passed.
Passed 3–0 · unanimous
Item 7: Accountant Services Contract
- The council discussed the retention of M.V. Chang and Associates for accounting services due to a vacancy in the accountant position. Staff reported that recruitment efforts have been unsuccessful and that the firm is assisting with daily operations and audit preparation. Council members expressed concern over the lack of 2025-2026 actual figures and the delay in year-end reports, though staff indicated unaudited actuals are expected by the end of January. Discussion also covered the contract scope, the increase in the contract amount from $75,000 to $160,000, and the status of financial system improvements identified in previous reports. Public comment urged increasing the salary scale for the accountant position. A motion was made to approve the expenditure with the condition that the salary for the accountant position be addressed at the earliest feasible opportunity. The motion was seconded. The motion passed.
Items 8 and 9: Legal Services for Tax Dispute
- These items concerned legal fees for an administrative proceeding regarding the application of Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) to services at two hotels. Staff explained that conflict counsel was required as the City Attorney's Office represents the Council. Discussion clarified that the administrative decision would be binding unless appealed. Public comment questioned the scope of the tax application. A motion was made to approve Items 8 and 9. The motion was seconded. The motion passed.
Passed 4–0 · unanimous
Item 10: Ida Bailey Services Contract Extension
- Discussion centered on extending the contract with Ida Bailey for finance system implementation and year-end closing support. Staff emphasized the consultant's role in launching the accounts payable module and finalizing the trial balance. Public comment suggested delaying approval for a subcommittee review. An initial motion to approve the contract as recommended and direct the Finance and Budget Committee to review the scope was made and seconded. This motion failed. An alternate motion was proposed to amend the contract by increasing the not-to-exceed amount while strictly limiting the scope of work to the year-end effort and the accounts payable/purchase order module implementation. The motion was seconded. The motion passed.
Item 11 (formerly Item 12): Ordinance 970 – Citywide Engineering and Traffic Survey
- The council considered the first reading of an ordinance to adopt the 2025 Citywide Engineering and Traffic Survey. The ordinance includes reducing speed limits on Country Club Drive, Foothill Road, and Fairview from 35 to 30 mph, and on Quiama from 25 to 20 mph. Staff noted the ordinance is required to legally post new signs, with an effective date anticipated around the end of February. Public comment inquired about Grand Avenue, which was not included in the reduction, and requested enforcement of existing signage. Staff also noted a new state bill allowing speed limit reductions in school zones without traffic studies. A motion was made to approve the first reading of the ordinance. The motion was seconded. The motion passed.
Passed 4–0 · unanimous
Item 12 (formerly Item 14): Resolution on Oil and Gas Drilling
- City Manager Harvey presented a resolution opposing proposed oil leases off the coast of California, noting the item was added to the agenda following a system error. The resolution aims to place the City of Ojai's opposition into the public docket for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. Staff outlined a plan to submit the resolution via online portals, U.S. mail, and notifications to representatives. Public commenters urged adoption, citing environmental history and air quality concerns. Council Member Rule expressed support but noted policy protections are vulnerable to reinterpretation compared to the city's Rights of Nature Ordinance. Council Member Whitman moved to approve the resolution, and Mayor Pro Tem Lang seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Saraswati Park Playground Survey and Community Survey
- The Parks and Recreation Commission presented a recommendation regarding a grant-funded playground reconstruction at Saraswati Park. Staff proposed a specific survey for the project and recommended tabling the broader community survey indefinitely to refine questions and dissemination plans. Discussion focused on survey methodology and privacy considerations regarding address verification. Public commenters suggested including demographic questions and expanding the scope to Soule Park and bike path connectivity. Council Member Whitman moved to approve the Saraswati Park playground survey and to postpone the community survey portion indefinitely. Council Member Rule seconded the motion. The motion passed.
General Plan Update: Economic Diversification Survey
- Community Development Director Lucas Seibert presented revised survey questions for the Economic Diversification element of the General Plan Update. Staff reported that questions were refined following consultations, resulting in a hybrid format. Discussion addressed the survey logic to allow respondents who are both residents and business owners to answer both sets of questions. Council Member Whitman proposed adding questions regarding employee salary ranges; staff advised that such data might be better gathered through direct outreach or census data. Public commenters suggested testing the survey and returning to focus groups. Council Member Whitman moved to approve the survey with noted adjustments, and Council Member Rule seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Passed 4–0 · unanimous
Council Member Reports and Future Agenda Items
- Council members provided reports on upcoming events and legislative priorities. City Manager Harvey provided revenue breakdown figures, noting the Transient Occupancy Tax constitutes approximately 27% of the general fund. Council Member Whitman requested future agenda items regarding a status report on contract compliance for the Cabin Village project, a report on policy regarding contracting versus direct hiring, and a review of an ordinance from another community regarding property consolidation. Council Member Rule seconded the request for the Cabin Village report. The council agreed to add these items to the agenda for future discussion.
Future Agenda Items: Property Acquisition for Housing Equity
- Discussion occurred regarding a proposal to investigate the city or residents purchasing property to address housing equity and affordability. Members expressed skepticism regarding feasibility and costs, while others clarified the topic falls under affordable housing. No formal motion was made, seconded, or voted upon. The discussion concluded without a decision to add the item to the agenda.
Adjournment
- The meeting was adjourned at 9:49 p.m.