Meeting Summary
Present: McCattin, Simms, Akins, Walker, Moore, Passaccia · Absent: Hanson
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At a glance
Agenda Approval
- The commission reviewed and approved the agenda for the current meeting.
- One commissioner abstained from the vote due to absence from the previous meeting.
Public Communications
- Staff introduced Addison Hernandez, a new Associate Planner, to the commission and public.
- Hernandez noted he has been with the city for approximately one and a half weeks.
Minutes Approval
- The commission approved the previous meeting's minutes with a specific correction.
- The correction clarified that trail signs are guaranteed not to fade for 10 years per side, implying a longer total lifespan.
Public Hearing: Sign Permit for 208 East Ojai Avenue
- Staff presented a sign permit application for the Naturalist establishment with a modified hand-painted design.
- The applicant agreed to paint the flower on the wood to align with Ojai Arcade design guidelines.
- The commission approved the sign permit as modified following a public hearing with no comments.
Historic Resources Reports (HRRs) and Master List
- Staff initiated a search of city files to identify existing HRRs and offered assistance to reduce search burdens.
- The museum will continue organizing HRRs accumulated over the last decade for incorporation into the city file.
- A plan was established for a commissioner to work with a council member to add an HRR status column to the master list.
Ventura and Ojai Valley Railroad Heritage Trail
- The commission decided to print brochures for Ojai Day with sponsorship details marked as "To Be Determined" pending Council approval.
- Staff confirmed trail signs are being fabricated and are on schedule to ship by the end of the month.
- Installation of the signs is expected in November, with a total project cost estimated at approximately $51,000.
Historic Resources Survey Update
- The survey team completed the reconnaissance phase, identifying approximately 170 properties as potential historic candidates.
- The next phase involves reviewing Sanborn maps and aerial photos to narrow the list of candidates.
- The final list will identify properties requiring further study, excluding approximately 95% of Ojai properties from immediate historic review.
Ojai Day Booth and Schedule
- The commission decided to consolidate the booth location to the jail site due to manpower constraints.
- A "walkabout" was planned to distribute brochures and engage with other organizations at the event.
- A specific schedule was created for commissioner availability, including setup, shifts, and breakdown times.
Maintenance and Protection of City-Owned Landmarks
- Staff confirmed a professional was hired to remove graffiti from a brick wall at the back of the arcade.
- Code compliance is actively working on related issues in the arcade plaza.
- Staff acknowledged a report of remaining blue paint on a building and stated they would investigate.
Informational Items
- Staff confirmed the Fire Battalion Chief is scheduled to speak at the next meeting.
- Commissioners provided updates on their responsibilities and availability for upcoming events.
- The commission noted a discrepancy in the City Beautiful Awards date, accepting the January 12, 2027 presentation date to Council.
Adjournment
- The commission reviewed the tentative schedule for upcoming meetings.
- A motion was made and passed to adjourn the meeting.
Full summary
Agenda Approval
- The commission reviewed the agenda for the current meeting. A motion was made to approve the agenda. The motion was seconded. The vote passed. One commissioner abstained due to absence from the previous meeting.
Public Communications
- A new staff member, Addison Hernandez, was introduced to the commission and the public. He identified himself as an Associate Planner who has been with the city for approximately one and a half weeks.
Minutes Approval
- The commission reviewed the minutes from the previous meeting. A correction was proposed regarding the description of trail signs. The minutes originally stated the signs were "good for 10 years." A commissioner clarified that the signs are guaranteed not to fade for 10 years per side (double-sided printing), implying a longer total lifespan. A motion was made to approve the minutes with this correction. The motion was seconded. The vote passed.
Public Hearing: Sign Permit for 208 East Ojai Avenue
- Staff presented a sign permit application for the Naturalist establishment. The applicant had previously been asked to replace a sticker-style poppy design with a hand-painted version to better align with the Ojai Arcade design guidelines. Staff confirmed the applicant agreed to paint the flower on the wood. Staff recommended approval of the permit as modified. The public hearing was opened and closed with no public comments. A motion was made to approve the sign permit. The motion was seconded. The vote passed.
Discussion Item: Historic Resources Reports (HRRs) and Master List
- Staff reported on the creation of an electronic file for HRRs. Staff explained that they have initiated a search of city files to identify existing HRRs, noting that older reports may have different titles or formats. Staff offered to assist commissioners or volunteers in accessing these files to reduce the burden of searching physical paper files. The commission discussed the process of verifying which properties have HRRs. It was noted that the museum has been accumulating HRRs over the last decade and will continue to organize them for incorporation into the city file. A plan was established for a commissioner to work with a council member to review files and ensure a column is added to the master list indicating which properties have an HRR.
Discussion Item: Ventura and Ojai Valley Railroad Heritage Trail
- Staff presented a brochure for potential sponsorship of trail signs. The commission discussed the feasibility of distributing this brochure at Ojai Day. Concerns were raised about the specificity of the sponsorship details (e.g., price points) before Council approval. It was decided that the commission would use its budget to print brochures for Ojai Day to generate interest, with sponsorship details marked as "Coming Soon" or "To Be Determined" until Council approval is finalized. Staff confirmed that the signs are currently being fabricated and are on schedule to ship by the end of the month, with installation expected in November. The commission discussed the cost of the project, estimating approximately $51,000 for all signs, and noted that the city has previously funded a portion of the project.
Discussion Item: Historic Resources Survey Update
- Staff provided an update on the historic resources survey. The survey team has completed the reconnaissance phase, identifying approximately 170 properties as potential historic candidates. The next phase involves reviewing Sanborn maps, aerial photos, and other records to narrow this list. The full context statement is expected to be completed by the end of the month. Staff explained that the final list will identify properties requiring further study (such as HRRs) for landmark designation or major alterations, excluding approximately 95% of properties in Ojai from immediate historic review.
Discussion Item: Ojai Day Booth and Schedule
- The commission discussed the logistics for the Ojai Day booth, scheduled for October 17. It was decided to consolidate the booth location to the jail site rather than maintaining two separate locations, citing manpower constraints. The commission agreed to use the jail location for the primary booth and to conduct a "walkabout" to distribute brochures and engage with other organizations. A schedule was created for commissioner availability:
- 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Setup (Commissioner Walker, Commissioner McCattin, and others).
- 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Commissioner Neeson (setup and morning shift).
- 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Commissioner Sims.
- 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Commissioner McCattin.
- 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Commissioner Walker.
- 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Commissioner Aikens.
- 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Commissioner McCattin and Commissioner Sims (breakdown).
- All Day: Staff member Brian (at the jail).
- The commission noted that some commissioners would be available for additional shifts or walkabouts as needed.
Discussion Item: Maintenance and Protection of City-Owned Landmarks
- Staff reported on the status of graffiti removal on a brick wall at the back of the arcade. Staff confirmed that a professional has been hired to remove the paint appropriately and that the work is being coordinated with the property owner. Staff also noted that code compliance is actively working on related issues in the arcade plaza. A commissioner reported that blue paint/graffiti on a building previously reported as addressed is still present. Staff acknowledged the report and stated they would investigate.
Informational Items
- Education Update: Staff confirmed that the Fire Battalion Chief is scheduled to speak at the next meeting.
- Commissioner Reports: Commissioners provided updates on their respective responsibilities. One commissioner noted that they would be absent for a meeting due to a family commitment (son's wedding) but would be available for Ojai Day. Another commissioner noted their availability for Ojai Day and their role in the Red Cross booth.
- Future Agenda Items:
- November 10: City Council meeting to ratify HPC Resolution 26.
- November 12: HPC meeting to discuss the Ojai Unified School District property (El Nino concerns).
- December 8: HPC Annual Awards.
- January 12: HPC City Beautiful Awards presentation to Council.
- The commission discussed the timing of the City Beautiful Awards, noting a discrepancy between the previously stated December 8 date and the current January 12 date. A commissioner stated on the record that the January 12, 2027 date for the City Beautiful Award presentation would be acceptable.
Adjournment
- The commission reviewed the tentative schedule for upcoming meetings. A motion was made to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded. The vote passed.