Ojai City Council, Regular Meeting

Contract Amendment (Ide Bailey)

• Council approved an amendment to the accounting contract for year-end efforts.
• The motion limited the agreement by scope rather than a strict dollar cap.
• This ensures costs remain tied directly to the work performed.

Traffic Ordinance (Ordinance 970)

• Council passed the first reading to adopt the Citywide Engineering and Traffic Survey.
• Speed limits will decrease on Country Club, Foothill, and Fairview Drive to 30 mph.
• Quiama Road was reduced to 20 mph while Grand Avenue remained at 30 mph.
• Signage is scheduled for installation upon the ordinance effectiveness in February.

Oil and Gas Drilling Resolution

• Council approved a resolution opposing federal drilling on California coast and public lands.
• Staff will forward the document to federal authorities and U.S. legislators.
• Discussion clarified the difference between this policy and Rights of Nature ordinances.

Parks and Recreation Survey

• Council approved the specific survey for the Saraswati Park playground grant.
• The broader community survey portion was tabled indefinitely to allow staff planning time.
• Question eleven was modified to include a none of the above option for residency.

General Plan Update (Economic Diversification Survey)

• Council approved revised survey questions for the Economic Diversification element.
• Logic was updated to allow respondents to identify as both residents and business owners.
• Requests to collect salary data were declined to avoid survey fatigue.
• Staff plans to increase outreach to youth and business owners for diverse responses.

• # Ojai City Council Meeting Summary
• Date: Meeting held in January 2026 (context implies 2025 planning/2026 actions) Location: City Council Chambers, Ojai, CA Adjournment: 9:49 PM
• ## Agenda Item 11: Contract Amendment (Ide Bailey)
• Topic: Amendment to contract with Ide Bailey for year-end accounting efforts and implementation of the accounts payable purchase order module.
• Discussion: Council debated whether to set a specific dollar cap ($95,000–$100,000) or limit the contract by scope.
• Decision: The motion passed to amend the existing contract. The focus was placed on limiting the scope to specific essential tasks rather than setting a strict "not-to-exceed" dollar increase, ensuring costs were limited to the work performed regardless of the final total, though a specific cap was discussed.
• ## Agenda Item 12: Traffic Ordinance (Ordinance 970)
• Topic: First reading of Ordinance 970 adopting the 2025 Citywide Engineering and Traffic Survey.
• Action: Legalizes speed limit reductions based on the study presented in November.
• Specifics:
• Reductions: Country Club Drive, Foothill Road, and Fairview reduced from 35 mph to 30 mph. Quiama reduced from 25 mph to 20 mph.
• Exclusions: Grand Avenue speed limit remains at 30 mph as data did not support further reduction.
• Timeline: Signs to be posted upon ordinance effectiveness (expected end of February). Second reading scheduled in two weeks.
• Public Comment: Residents expressed support for safety but questioned why Grand Avenue was excluded (30 mph vs 25 mph). Others requested enforcement of existing signs.
• Outcome: Motion to approve passed.
• ## Agenda Item 13: Oil and Gas Drilling Resolution
• Topic: Resolution protecting California coast and public lands from federal oil and gas drilling/exploration.
• Rationale: City Manager and Council noted the impact on local air quality (exhaust drift) and environmental risks.
• Discussion: Council Member Rule highlighted the difference between policy resolutions and legal "Rights of Nature" ordinances, noting the city's existing Rights of Nature Ordinance which grants legal standing to ecosystems.
• Outcome: Motion to approve the resolution passed. Staff will submit the resolution to federal authorities (BOEM), U.S. Senators, and Representatives.
• ## Agenda Item 14: Parks and Recreation Survey
• Topic: Survey regarding the Saraswati Park playground reconstruction grant.
• Decision: Council approved the specific Parks & Rec survey but tabled indefinitely the broader community survey portion to allow staff more time for planning.
• Adjustment: Survey question #11 modified to include a "None of the above" option for residency location to ensure data on visitors/non-locals is captured without excluding respondents.
• ## Agenda Item 15: General Plan Update (Economic Diversification Survey)
• Topic: Revised survey questions regarding the Economic Diversification element.
• Discussion:
• Logic: Survey structure updated to allow respondents to identify as both a resident and business owner to answer relevant sections of both surveys.
• Salary Data: Request to ask businesses for salary ranges (to assess living wage employment) was declined to avoid survey fatigue; staff suggested using census data or direct outreach for specific business data.
• Outreach: Staff will increase efforts to reach youth and business owners to ensure diverse demographics in responses.
• Outcome: Motion to approve the revised survey passed.
• ## Council Reports & Future Agenda
• Events: MLK Day event scheduled at Libbey Park (10:30 AM – 1:00 PM).
• Financials: City revenue is predominantly driven by Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) at ~27% of the general fund.
• Future Items:
• Status report on Cabin Village contract compliance.
• Policy review on contracting vs. direct hires (institutional memory).
• Potential ordinance to address property consolidation (neighbors buying adjacent properties to create compounds).
• Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 9:49 PM.